Date: 2008-10-22
From: erwin, tn

To: past big bald spring
Miles today: 18.8

Coming out of Erwin today we had a climb. This is a usual occurance as we usually have a descent out of the mountains down to the road/coming into each town which means an ascent coming back out of town. So I just expected to grind up the hills like normal but man was I wrong and pleasantly surprised this morning...climbing, climbing until we came around the other side of the mountain to a breath taking view of close mountain tops, clouds, sunshine and the river in the valley below. Usually you see the base of a mountain with its peek in the clouds, but this morning we saw something new. The first thing that grabs your attention is the bright glow of the white clouds that were illuminated by the sun, but the clouds hung at a different place this time not being the highest thing around, they had settled into the valley below, hiding the middle of the mountain. So you saw the rolling tops of the mountains and then the layer of clouds. Almost like the mountain tops were floating on top of the clouds. Then close to the bottom of the mountain the clouds were transluscent enough that you could see the river flowing below in the valley. With the sun brightly shining just above the peeks it was as if you expected the angels to be singing in the background. It all seemed so close that I felt like I could jump out into the clouds, take a little nap out on them. So we admired the view and then moved on but to our amazement we came around the corner again to get a second viewing, this time from a little different angle. What a way to begin the day! Like nature was shouting a "good morning!" to you. Lofty mountain granduer. "when i look down from lofty mountain granduer and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze; then sings my soul" Most of the day was climbing close to 2000ft up then down then up 900ft then down then up 1600 ft then down etc....we arrived at the shelter and ate dinner, then decided to move on a little further so as to take some miles off tommorows hike. Im so glad we did this as we hiked over big bald mt right before sunset. We could see for 360 degrees, layers upon layers of mountains around us close and far off. The angle of the sun cast unique shadows upon the mountains while highlighting certain areas. Which created such unique shapes out of the light and dark. Ive also noticed that the lighting and the angle of the sun changes so much through out the day, making everything look so different. In the evening before sunset the lighting gives off a warm inviting look, often with direct rays of sunlight piercing into the forest.   I think that in the early morning and right before sunset tend to be some of the most beautiful times to be out, some of my favorite times. As we kept hiking we watched as the sunset right in front of us. We were descending back down into the trees so our view wasnt so clear, but still beautiful none the less. The light changed from a clear "normal" sunlight to an almost neon redish orange onto the ground around us. I was trying to stare at the sunsetting while watching my footing and looking for a good spot to set up our tents. The bright red orange sun disappeared behind the mountain top and the sky began to turn to an almost bright red. So we set up our tents, hung our food bags in the tree. I think this is one of the first times that I have watched the sunset out here as we are usually down lower at a shelter or it is hidden by the trees. But as the days get shorter, im sure that we will be walking into the sunset more often. So much beauty that we observed today, so many great surprises! I lay peacefully content in my tent.