Hiking on the Applachian Trail

Hiking…one of our all time favorite activities! Yesterday was the first nice day in a long time. It was time to head out for our first dog-trekking adventure, an all day hike with Shadow. The weather was perfect. Cold when we started out, so cold I wished I’d worn gloves, but then in the low ’60’s during the day, bright and clear and sunny. We packed sandwiches and apples, water and dog cookies for Shadow, put her blanket in the back of the car and headed for the Blue Ridge Mountains to pick up the Appalachian Trail. We drove for about an hour and a half through the most glorious fall countryside imaginable. Bright crystal blue skies, orange, gold and crimson trees interspersed with the loblolly pines that are omnipresent in this part of Virginia, and rolling green fields dotted with placid cattle and sheep. We drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway’s winding, twisting hills through tunnels of bright golden autumn foliage, parked the car, hooked up Shadow’s leash and off we went.

The hike took us down a short slope, then up a trek over rocks, and around winding hillside. The hills were covered with autumn leaves. We saw not a single soul along the trail the entire day. At one point, the steep hillside turned abruptly into a cathedral of gold. We were on a narrow ledge trail with a steep drop off to our left and a steep slope to our right. Suddenly the trail opened up to a flat section with the tallest tulip tree forest I have ever seen. Great soaring black trunks of trees over 100 feet tall, crowned with golden foliage. The light filtered through, golden and bright, and we just stopped to drink it in for a long while. Soaring vistas greeted us at every turn. Through the trees we spied the Blue Ridge Mountains, hillsides painted as if by an impressionist’s brush dabbed in crimson, rust, ochre and gold.

After hiking for two hours up and down steep slopes we crossed a road and came to a long suspension foot bridge over a gurgling deep river. The bridge swayed and creaked with every step. Shadow took one look at John, then immediately and steadily walked over the bridge, taking her cue from him and trusting him completely. It was such a profound moment for us both to realize that this shy, timid and frightened shelter dog now completely and lovingly trusted us. She would follow us to the ends of the earth if we asked her to. Throughout the entire day, she behaved as if she had always walked on trails. We kept her leashed, but she followed us over rocks and streams, by waterfalls and up steep hillsides, jumping over logs willingly.

We stopped hiking around 12:30 and sat on logs by the side of the trail, then turned to head back to the car. And now the difficult part lay before us. Our legs ached and we realized that the way back was almost entirely uphill, with a steep elevation change. We took it slowly and it took almost an hour more to get back then to head out. Shadow did well until about mile 8. My left leg had a Charley horse that wouldn’t stop, and we were all aching and sore by the time mile 10 and something came up and our car was back in sight. But as I walked that last half mile, I thought of all those I loved who could no longer walk this trail…and I gave thanks to God for every ache and pain, for it meant I was fit enough to hike one of the rugged and difficult mountain trails.

Shadow lay down on the back seat of the car and snoozed for the ride home. We took the scenic route and drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway, then back through Lynchburg and into Appomattox where we picked up Chinese food for dinner. I was exhausted, so I missed my friend Eni’s presentation at church last night, which I am sorry for…I had been looking forward to her talk to the women’s prayer group, but I honestly couldn’t even walk to the door, much less get into the car and stay awake to drive into Farmville, go to the lecture and head home.

What a glorious day. Shadow was tired last night, but this morning she was racing around again chasing her ball. As for the humans, we are tired and sore but happy.

I love to hike. I love to be out on trail. Give me a horse for a trail ride or a long hike any day. Give me fresh mountain air and God’s beauty and the ones I love the most with me the whole day and I am happy. Although Pierre did climb into my backpack the night before when we took out our hiking gear, we did have to leave him home. Too bad cats can’t hike!

I am back to work today, sore in body but clear of mind, looking forward to more hikes with our amazing German Shepherd, a rescued dog who has turned out to be the best dog we’ve ever owned.