Andrew's Bald (elevation 5860 feet)

The day I spent hiking up to Andrews Bald was one of the best days of my life. How could I consider this short hike in The Great Smoky Mtns. National Park one of the greatest days of my life and place it on my personal best list? It's wasn't a momentous occasion like the birth of a child or a wedding or a job celebration or even finishing a marathon. Just simply a day spent in the quiet company of a good friend in a place with the most spectacular views.

Have you ever had a day that you would like to relive? Do it over to make the memory last? I haven't gone back to this trail but I think about it, and the day spent on it, often.

We both needed a break from school and had made a last minute decision to go to the mountains for the day. We entered the park and drove by the Sugarlands Visitor Center. As we headed up the mountain we cruised by the visual landmarks - The Chimneys, Mt. LeConte, Newfound Gap - we had briefly discussed hiking to Alum Cave Bluffs, but decided to head as high as we could and see what we could find.

We found the trail leading from Clingman's Dome on a lazy fall day. The mist that normally surrounds Clingman's Dome eluded us here. The Red Spruce and Fraser Firs that lined the trail and ringed the bald artfully framed the bottom of the beautiful vista. The trail was relatively easy - a four mile round trip hike - two miles in we came what I can best describe as a meadow on a mountain top. Not rough or rugged but grassy and smooth - no trees that blocked the views of Fontana Lake and the North Carolina mountain range that faced us. The day was sunny, the wind was light & both gently brushed our faces.

We didn't talk about anything earth shattering rather I think we were both aware that my friend was graduating the following spring and we both knew that our joined paths would soon branch away from each other. We talked about nothing in particular. At times we sat in silence and just took in the view. We pointed out things the other didn't notice. For a while we sat back to back propping each other up. I looked at the wildflowers and wondered how this place existed without my prior knowledge to this day? It was so beautiful. I soaked up my Vitamin D quotient for the rest of the year.

I don't know why I get so nostalgic when I think of the day. Maybe it represents the transition my life was getting ready to take. Maybe it just simply represents the happiness that I was experiencing in my life.

Andrews Bald is definitely one of my "Wide Open Spaces" - a place in the clouds / a foundation of stone / But what it holds for her, she hasn't yet guessed.

In my journey to find the pieces of myself I have lost - I'm finding comfort in returning to the places I have loved the most. The beach - the mountains - old friends I have lost touch with - letting new friends into my life. If I could relive that day - I would pay more attention to the path that led me to the meadow - the stones I stepped on - the protectiveness of the trees. And I would have opened my eyes wider to path that led me away from this mountain top that I have always loved.

Andrews Bald - elevation 5860 feet - the memory of this day helps me to revisit the elevations of my life and find the simple girl who I used to be.