Autumn Excursions
I have written about this before but from time to time, I like to escape to the mountains for a little revitalization. Having some time away is always a great way to clear my head and relieve some tension. Which is why I did just that this weekend.
On Friday evening, I packed up my Jeep Wrangler with camera equipment, sleeping gear, food and headed towards North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains. Since the trip would take about two hours, I was a little hesitant beforehand. It’s that time of year when the days are getting a little shorter and sunset is coming more quickly. Driving through the mountains and national forest service roads in the dark aren’t exactly my idea of fun so I wanted to get there pretty early.
Unfortunately my streak of tardy departure times put me at my destination, Wayah Bald, right as the sun was setting. On the bright side, I got to experience golden hour in the Nantulaha National Forest. I wasn’t the only one either — when I arrived, there was quite a crowd which I thought was unusual. Crowds have never been typical during my previous trips to Wayah but this time there were tons of people as well as an ongoing wedding ceremony. In addition to the unexpected crowd, I was also surprised to see “No Camping Here” signs, dashing my hopes of camping there. Luckily for me, the town of Franklin wasn’t far away and the local Walmart parking lot was a serviceable camping spot.
The next morning, I woke up before sunset and headed back to Wayah Bald hoping to catch sunrise. Imagine my surprise when I saw many of the vehicles from the night before. I assume they took the “Here” in the “No Camping Here” to literally mean the spot the sign was posted in. Either way, I was treated to a magnificent sunrise over the beautiful Smoky Mountains. The must have ignited my creative flame because from that moment on, I could barely put the camera down.
This was an intended side effect. My mountain excursions tend to put me in a more relaxed state, perfect for creating.
Relaxation wasn’t the only benefit. My time at the bald was filled with a few well-timed encounters: one with a couple who provided me with some key intel for scenic drives to catch the peak colors, another with an awesome couple who had tent camped at the Bald’s shelter after hiking a portion of the Appalachian Trail (AT) and a fellow Jeep couple who “ducked” while I was exploring the Wilson Lick Ranger Station. Each of these interactions offered great conversation and allowed me to remember why I love traveling to these out-of-the-way places.
After receiving some great navigation tips, I headed down US-64 E through Cullasaja Gorge to the town of Highlands. The by-way was the definition of scenic, complete with peak fall colors. From there, I took US-106 south until I finally arrived back in Georgia. While this route was out of the way, it offered some of the best views of fall foliage.
Once I was back in Georgia, I stopped in the town of Clayton for a visit to my favorite store, Wander North Georgia, before heading west towards Hogpen Gap. I was hoping to get as much of the peak fall colors as possible and the drive there fulfilled that desire. This drive, like so many others I have taken, were a great chance to unwind and reset. And while the crowded overlooks and influx of other leaf peepers were a bit of an annoyance, it is difficult to be upset with people who are choosing to opt outside.
No one has any singular claim on the therapeutic nature of the outdoors. It is open to anyone who wants it, if you are willing to explore.
