How It All Began
Being born and raised in Miami doesn’t always provide with the opportunity of being in the great outdoors and if you venture out its usually to the beach or any other related activity. You know, all the great outdoor activities that tropical climates tend to lend themselves to. This means that if you're not doing one of those things that you’re usually surrounded by an urban landscape. Disclaimer, if you have not visited Florida, we are not exactly known for our lush mountainous landscapes. Even more so Miami.
The story with my needing to get out hike began just a little over a year ago. November of 2020, a few things had taken place in my personal life and I decided to take a spontaneous trip to Asheville, North Carolina. I figured that visiting a place like Asheville would get me away from the noise and put me out of cellphone range. I reflected on the last time I hiked, which was in the Camelback Mountain of Arizona a few years prior and how freeing it was.
Back to Asheville, so a quick search on good old Google yielded and led me to the Graybeard trail. Little did I know how unprepared I’d be for the trek. So, I went on my merry way and did the usual thing, bought snacks, water and I was off. Now this should have been the first sign of how the day was going to go, but I got lost on my way to the trail and overshot the parking lot on top of not being able to find it. After about half an hour, I finally managed to find it and parked.
Sign number two soon appeared for how the day was going to go for this guy right here. I got out of the car, grabbed my bag and didn’t even bother to read the sign or posting that you usually see at the begging of every trail. I just saw that it read Graybeard trail and set off like the expert I’m not. This is the point and time where I tell you that Asheville and the Blue Ridge mountains offer some great views and waterfalls which I enjoyed as I made my trek.
Fast forward to a few hours into the hike as the trail markers became less frequent and the forest more dense. About a mile or mile and a half away from the top of the trail, I decided it was time to turn around due to the time, lighting conditions and not seeing anymore trail markers let alone not having a source of light if I did stay out till dark. This is where the real problem began. I quickly lost the trail and the markers. Now you may be asking yourself, how if I was on something resembling the trail did I notice that it wasn’t? Well, that is a good question that not even I have the answer to. I just know that it didn’t feel right in the gut nor did it look familiar.
So, I turned around and just began to walk until it all look familiar again. Eventually, I found my way back on to the trailing sped up. This was not the end of the difficulties I faced though. See buddy here wasn’t exactly in the best physical shape and was carrying some extra pounds around the waist. That mixed with missing cartilage in the knees and a downward trek with some drops did not equal to a good time.
By the end of the hike, not only was I in a bit of misery due to the massive knee pain I was experiencing but I also got to witness fire rescue transporting someone off the trail about fifty feet from the parking lot. These things should have been enough to scare off a city slicker like myself, let alone anyone who would not have experience hiking as well but it didn’t. It turned something inside of me on. This would later ignite the need to go on my first real solo trip to two of the United States most beautiful national parks, where the real need to go hiking would hook me and the real journey began.
Thank you for letting me share my experience with you and if you like this post there will be more to come. Please give me a follow on my instagram @miamiguyhikes. Until the next time.
Miami Guy Hikes
