I Have Been To The Mountain Top

[Gvac]

This past August I had the opportunity to go through the Smoky Mountains, entering in Tennessee and exiting in North Carolina. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and incredibly moving. The scenery is absolutely gorgeous, and there are tons of places to pull over to the side of the road and hike the trails. You can even drive up to the highest point of the Smokies, Clingmans Dome. Here's one of the pics I took when I was there -

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s109/GregRotten/MountainTop.jpg


Of course the pictures never do justice to what you've seen firsthand (especially since I shrunk the size and resolution) but I think you get the idea. There are clouds on eye level and even below you. The other ranges vanish behind the haze that hangs there for most of the year, and you see wildlife of all kinds.

Even though I've been vacationing and visiting family in Vermont and New Hampshire my whole life, the Smoky Mountains mystified me more than any other range I've ever seen, for some reason. There was a magic there, especially when I stood atop the highest peak. I just stood there looking out at everything, and nothing in particular. Then the thought occurred to me that a Native American could have stood exactly where I was standing centuries before and he'd have seen exactly what I was seeing. Nothing had changed. The mountains and all the life contained within them cared little who was President, what baseball team was in first place, how much money someone made, etc. And the outcome of these scenarios didn't change a thing in the Smoky Mountains. They thrived and survived, completely unaffected and unchanged.

It really, really put things in perspective for me. Then, as all these thoughts were flooding through my mind, a hawk appeared out of nowhere. He was just circling, effortlessly, high above the entire mountain range, never flapping a wing. That son of a bitch was the lord of all he surveyed. I loved him for it.

The last thing I thought before I left was that I never wanted to hate anyone or anything again.

I have absolutely no idea why I posted all this (and I always rail against long posts) but I guess I was just wondering if anyone ever had a similar life-changing experience, where your entire focus and perspective get readjusted.

[Badinia]

That sounds amazing!

I, too, am always frustrated by how my pictures fail to convey the fricking GRANDEUR of mountainous terrain. Did a gig in Wenatchee, WA recently (Apple Capital!) and drove in at night, and I knew we were in the Cascade mountain range somewhere, but when the sun came up, we were surrounded by the fricking purple majesties, it really was breathtaking, especially once I had coffee.

But also- I was in Sri Lanka, and we were eating dinner where they kind of cater a fancy picnic on the beach, and it was night, and there's the ocean, and I stood up, wine-drunk, and walked into the warm Indian Ocean, and it kind of blew my mind, too- and had that feeling of Tom Waits, of looking at the stars that were the same stars back home.

[zildjian361]

G wow that's a far way from Bar 9 NYC ,ithink igotta go back to peru ,or back to NYC anyway i hope you had a great time:wink:

[Stankfoot]

I've always wanted to hike the section of the Appalachian Trail that goes through the Smoky Mountains ....

[K.C.]

I have absolutely no idea why I posted all this (and I always rail against long posts) but I guess I was just wondering if anyone ever had a similar life-changing experience, where your entire focus and perspective get readjusted.

First time I stood on the edge of the Mississippi.

I always understood what some of the great American writers were talking about, but i finally understood it.

[britneypablo]

I used to live in a place called Mountaintop PA inbetween Wilkbarre and Hazelton and i hated almost every moment of it

[Ritalin]

You can see the Grand Canyon on TV or in pictures a million times, but the first time you see it in person it takes your breath away.

Or you're just not alive.

[GreatAmericanZero]

i drove through that last weekend. Drove from Kentucky to NC

[SinA]

i sooooo have a boner for the smokey mountains right now.

[Annie Waits]

You can see the Grand Canyon on TV or in pictures a million times, but the first time you see it in person it takes your breath away.

Or you're just not alive.

that's true, i had tears in my eyes the first time i stood on the rim....then i lived there for 4years and i can't wait go back someday

[epo]

In 2003 I ran the Pikes Peak Ascent Half Marathon. Running up that mountain was probably the greatest bit of perspective of life that I have ever received as a person.

You are starting a race in a village that looks like this:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3272/2772967358_41234b862c.jpg

Running up trails that look like this:

http://www.jeremyandannie.com/wp-content/themes/ocadia/ppm.jpg

And finishing in conditions like this:

http://www.p2.tc/uploads/media/pikes%20finish%20line.JPG

A mountain can teach a man many things. Perspective, discipline and drive can all be found on that mountain.

[pittphantoms]

I can confirm the Pikes Peak insanity.

I drove to the top once - it started raining as I got to about 10500 feet - one of the strangest days of my life. I saw a real Ram on the cliffs at about 11000 feet... I was so out of it when I got to the top from the lack of air... I left my keys in the car and the door open as I walked around (thankfuly nothing happened)... bought a t-shirt in the gift shop - and was TERRIFIED the entire way down. I will never forget calling my family from the top of the mountain for not other reason than I was absolutely loopy... one of the strangest things that ever happened to me.

I heard about the run, and I hear they also race motor bikes to the top. I cant imagine how any of that is possible after driving to the top.

It was well worth the drive.

[Badinia]

Epo- Holy F!

[A.J.]

Did you have a smoke at the top of the Smoky Mountains?

[Friday]

this last visit to the valley that is Las Vegas was all I needed to make my final decision to re-locate. It was a combination of driving, once again, through the city and the suburbs and seeing the beautiful mountain tops all around me... and holding my wonderful nephew in my arms while my dad looked on.

There is something out there that makes me feel happy... it may be the ever present sunshine even in the middle of winter.

Sunshine and mountains can do wonders for a person's soul, ya know...

[BronxJohnny]

Thats so cool GVAC, never knew you were so deep brother, a similar experience for myself was looking out over the ocean on a full moon and realizing that the worlds roadway is the ocean. It gives off a profound feeling of just being on the same oceans as explorers,slaves, and great humans. GVAC you ever think what looking down on earth would be like from space? Also being that you travel so much whats the coolest piece/part of Earth you've ever seen? Bye the way its good to know there is still some country left for old men.

[Fez4PrezN2008]

Damn you Gvac, I grew up and lived 45 mins away from GSMNP until 7 yrs ago when I moved to this midwest tundra. You have made me more more homesick than ever :glurps:

[Gvac]

Thats so cool GVAC, never knew you were so deep brother, a similar experience for myself was looking out over the ocean on a full moon and realizing that the worlds roadway is the ocean. It gives off a profound feeling of just being on the same oceans as explorers,slaves, and great humans. GVAC you ever think what looking down on earth would be like from space? Also being that you travel so much whats the coolest piece/part of Earth you've ever seen? Bye the way its good to know there is still some country left for old men.

Ha! You prick!

Yes, I have wondered what the astronauts must feel when they see our planet from the heavens. I can only assume it must be even more humbling than when we look up at the stars and realize we're only one tiny drop of water in the ocean that is the universe. Still beautiful, though.

And I've seen some gorgeous things in my travels, both natural and man made, but to me the sights are secondary to the thoughts and feelings they stir up within you. Going by that criteria, this most recent trip of mine to the Smoky Mountains left the greatest impression. That is most likely due to the state of mind I was in, and I'm sure my next vacation will become my new favorite.

Damn you Gvac, I grew up and lived 45 mins away from GSMNP until 7 yrs ago when I moved to this midwest tundra. You have made me more more homesick than ever :glurps:

Sorry brother!

I hope you get back there soon. It's life affirming.

[yojimbo7248]

Gvac, thanks for posting the picture and what you wrote about the Smokies. I grew up backpacking in the Olympics and Cascades in Washington and the Selkirks and Coastal Range in BC. I used to hike a lot around Wenatchee where Badinia had her show. Anyway, I have to admit I am a little biased against East Coast hills and mountains. I have always assumed that hills and mountains on the East Coast will be a disappointment after growing up in the NW. I miss the feeling that you were describing and I haven't done a good enough job finding those spots on this side of the country. I also need to explore the VT and New Hampshire mountains more.

[west milly Tom]

II hiked the Southern Presidentials in New Hampshire over memorial day. We hiked up 4800 feet from the notch to lake of the clouds hut well above the tree line. It was a truly moving experience.

[ecobag2]

A mountain can teach a man many things. Perspective, discipline and drive can all be found on that mountain.
My Dad left early on and a mountain moved in with Mom.

It certainly wasn't my real father - but at the same time... well - I know things because of that mountain. I know the meaning of courage.