On Wednesday February 24, 2021, I got an unexpected day off work due to being exposed to the Covid-19. I guess everything has a bit of a silver lining. I decided to quarantine in the great outdoors. This particular day, being a weekday and the end of February, I did not expect to run into many folks out and about on the trail. My second solo hike of 2021 turned out to be a sweet little adventure up a Creek. The weather was absolutely awesome for a winter day. It was in the mid to upper 60’s and the sun was out. The sky was an intense blue, I just stood and drank it in with my eyes a couple of times, holding on to its promise of better days ahead.
There is a miasma in the world this past year that refuses to abate. It seeks to engulf us all in its unpleasantness and hold us there with or without our consent. I choose to turn my back on it and seek the beauty, the peace, the joy and the promise that is ours. This life was never meant to be such a dark and fearful struggle. My Sis had told me that this trail was not a difficult hike, the 4.1 miles to backcountry campsite 64 doesn’t have a lot of elevation change. It is a very pleasant hike accompanied by the sound of Noland Creek as it makes its way towards Fontana Lake. It sounded like the perfect hike for this day.
I drove to Bryson City and headed towards the Road to Nowhere. Noland Creek Trailhead is a short distance from where the Road ends and there is plenty of parking for hikers. Leaving the parking I crossed a bridge and headed down to the trail, the trail runs under the bridge, one direction takes you a short hike to the Lake, the other heads up into the mountains and the network of trails I am marking off my list one by one. Noland Creek Trail is an old road bed, so the trail is wide and very well defined. It is easy walking with gentle inclines for most of the hike.
The scenery was the best part of this hike, the creek was flowing, burbling and chattering along. There are several places were nice foot bridges cross the creek, as it meanders its way down the mountain. The sun shone and the water sparkled. It was beautiful. I took my time, stopping to watch the water and listen to one of the most soothing sounds in nature. Stress, what stress? It flowed away with the water. For the most part, it was as I thought it would be, I saw only 5 other people the whole day. Due to mask mandates, everyone courteously masked up on approach and maintained adequate social distancing, which this trail was wide enough to easily allow. Words were spoken in passing, and contact was deliberately minimal.
The campsite was totally empty when I arrived there, it is located at a trail intersection with Springhouse Branch Trail. There is a horse rail and several picnic tables set up around this heavily used campsite. I sat at one and munched my snack. I enjoyed soaking up the ambiance of my favorite National Park. The sun moved across the sky, and I started back, retracing my steps. Some areas were in shadows now that had been lit by the noonday sun. I made good time getting back to my Jeep. This hike was a fun, easy hike and a much needed time out from the world.
Nature is a balm to a bruised soul. Take time to get outside and just be.
MrsSmithsLifeUnexpected 