On Saturday September 29, 2018, my son and I ventured to Wautaga Lake to spend some quality time together. I have not been to this area in several years. We decided to park at the AT parking area on Wilbur Dam Road, a small pull off where the Appalachian Trail crosses the road. It is section 4 by the Appalachian Trail Guide to Tennessee-North Carolina.
On July 5, 2014, Tammy, Leah, my dog Ares and I made the trek from Dennis Cove to Wilbur Dam Northbound. This nice hike crosses the Pond Mountain Wilderness area into the Cherokee National Forest. This was one of Ares last hikes. He does not like bridges and getting him to cross them became more and more difficult over time. I ended up carrying my 60lb hiking companion across more than one log bridge.
The AT at Dennis Cove is a popular destination due to the scenic Laurel Fork Falls. I have hiked the short distance to the falls several times. It is a sweet little hike with a beautiful payoff. On this day in July we would get our photo ops of the Falls then push past them on what for me was new trail. We hiked down to where the high water trail branches off from the AT and then we were off into new territory. We climbed, and climbed we did switch backs and more switch backs. For over 1.5 miles we climbed. The world was verdant and green, the deep green of summer in full growth. The trees were fully leaved and we walked through tunnels of greenery. The low hanging bushes were flowering and we walked on carpets of white blossoms. As we climbed I sweated until I did not have a dry stitch of clothes on. We then trudged along getting a little break from the arduous climb.
What goes up must go down…and so we did. As we descended on more switch backs we came to a place where the view opened up and we could look down on our destination. Wautaga Dam looked so tiny off in the distance, the lake sitting in the mountains picturesque. It looked so far away. It was a combination of challenge and the disheartening realization that we still had a long way to go.
As Shane and I got out of the Jeep and headed south on the AT, I told him about the time I did the whole section. Our goal on this day was the Wautaga Lake Shelter a 2.5 mile hike over a rocky knob then across the large earthen Dam to walk the edge of the lake a little ways. We thought about going all the way to US 321, but we talked ourselves out of that.
This day was about time in one another’s company, reconnecting and discussing the curve balls that life can throw unexpectedly. How do you redifine yourself when, through no desire of your own, your circumstances drastically change? I don’t have answers only examples from my own experiences. He will have to wend his way through the next few months like we made our way up and over carefully navigating treacherous ground, climbing obstacles and stopping to enjoy beautiful scenery and appreciating the fact that we were not cut adrift alone.
The trail crosses the top of Wautaga Dam and looking one way the lake stretches out between the ridges and sparkles in the sun light. People were out on water craft enjoying the day, their laughter and distant conversations audible. Looking the other way the mountains stretch out into the distance.
We walked to the shelter, and illegally loitered there eating a snack. This area has been closed to all human activity except through hiking on the AT. It is illegal to camp or hang out due to bear activity. We didn’t see any bears and we limited our break to an energy bar and a few sips of Gatorade before we headed back. The paved Dam access road has a pretty steep grade I noticed as we made our way back retracing our steps. There are several places along where the views of the lake are very pretty.
Life is about moving forward no matter what happens or what obstacle presents itself. If you keep your head up and one foot in front of the other the payoff is there.
MrsSmithsLifeUnexpected 