On Saturday, March 6, 2021 I set out to do a loop hike with my sis and my best friend and ended up doing an in and out hike on Newton Bald Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I contacted my sis and told her I was fine with whatever trail she chose and she picked a 10+mile loop combining Newton Bald trail with Mingus Creek. I have done both of these trails in the past, but Donna and Rhoda had done neither, so off we went. We took two vehicles and on our way to the trail head we agreed to meet at the Oconaluftee visitor center. At the visitor center Donna ran into a couple of friends and told them about our hike and we all agreed to make a day of it together. What followed made a profound impression on me.
Our new friends were special people. The young lady was battling a disability that severely hampered her mobility. Witnessing her battling her body with her extraordinary spirit was something I will never forget. I was awestruck by her sheer stubborn determination to overcome. It was inspiring to see her determination. Her partner took great care with her as he balanced her determination and effort against the difficulty of the terrain and the trail. This is no easy trail. Newton Bald trail is 5.3 miles of at least 3000 + elevation gain. The last time I did this trail was a solo hike on which I encountered a Sow and 2 cubs. It was a definite thrill to see these magnificent animals in the wild and even more thrilling when we left each other alone to go about our day.
Rhonda and I blazed the trail and ended up ahead of the group. We stopped and waited for them to catch up. I told the tale of my bear encounter when everyone caught up and we all had a good laugh. We set out again and at 3.3 miles in we stopped to wait on our fellow hikers again. The climb is fairly intense in places and our pace significantly slower as we accommodated our new friends. It was after 2:00pm when they caught up to us and we all decided that it would be best if our new friends headed back down. Rhonda and Donna talked and decided they would finish the loop and I continued up the trail with them to the intersection with Mingus Creek. We were in serious hiking mode then and we parted company knowing we each had about the same distance to cover. I headed back down to meet our new friends.
I hustled back down Newton Bald trail to catch up with our new friends. I managed to catch them about a mile from the trail head. I could tell it had been a hard day for them, but they were not complaining and we had some great conversation as we made our way back to my Jeep. It was sunny, but it was a bit chilly when the wind blew. The inlcine on this trail isn’t always steep, but it is relentless. Coming back down it, I could feel it in my knees. We were on the trail for over 5 hours. I drove the couple back to their vehicle and sat and waited for Donna and Rhonda. It didn’t take very long for them to emerge. It was a good little hike and a good day.
It is so easy to get caught up in whatever problems one is battling. I got a good solid dose of perspective on this hike and drove home feeling very grateful that there are people in the world who defy their limitations and strive to overcome obstacles in their lives.
MrsSmithsLifeUnexpected 