This last week Pastor Eric, Aaron and I decided to start hiking the Appalachian Mountains in North Georgia for our 23rd birthday. Plans were to leave on Wednesday morning at 7:30am and arrive around 4:00pm. We would leave Eric’s truck at the finishing point and my truck at the starting point. We then would hike to Eric’s truck and drive back on Saturday to pick up my truck. We wanted to hike 42 miles in 3 days but our plan was destroyed because of a series of events which prevented us from leaving until almost 11am. Because now we had lost almost a whole day for some odd reason we said, “Since we now only have 2 days let’s just go all out and hike 52 miles!” We parked Eric’s truck 52 miles away and drove my truck to the starting point; Springer Mountain. That night we went to bed at 11pm with great expectations.
The following morning we packed our bags and began hiking at 9:30am. We were so excited to be hiking the AT enjoying nature, telling ourselves this was going to be easy: “Man, most people
only go 8 to 10 miles a day, but we are college athletes (cross country runners). This will be a breeze!” So on we went, the first 6 miles feeling okay. We then stopped for a 20 minute lunch break. We were nearly out of water and the next water stop was 7 miles away. After 2 and a half more hours of hard hiking we eventually arrived at the creek to fill up with water. We were dying of thirst so this was incredibly refreshing. At this point we began to realize that we may have made a mistake deciding to hike 52 miles (though none of us would admit it out loud).We had hiked 13 miles and the next water stop was 5 miles away, but we were tougher than that: “We’re not going to get water until mile 23.” So on we hiked at our blistering pace to get water. Finally after complete exhaustion we arrived at mile 23 at the water spot, but there was a problem. It was 7:30pm and our camp ground—Dockery Lake was still 3 miles away. At 9pm it is pitch black in the mountains (a situation you want to avoid). We had the choice of filling up right there or hiking to our campground where there was water anyway. Of course, in all of our wisdom Aaron and I said, “Let’s just hike to our camp ground and then get water so we don’t have to hike in the dark.”
Eric was completely exhausted and told Aaron and me to go on ahead and set up our tents. So Aaron and I left with the thought of 3 miles to water. As we were hiking we noticed the sun setting faster than we expected. Therefore, Aaron and I began running up the mountain giving it everything we had. We did this strenuous hiking for 30 minutes and said to ourselves, “We’ve
got to be getting close.” This is where this story gets interesting.10 minutes later there is still no sign of the creek. Aaron and I begin to get a little worried. Another 20 minutes went by and still no creek. At this point it was almost pitch black, 8:50pm. Aaron pulled out his flash light and we began to sing songs so we wouldn’t surprise any bears (It’s amazing how difficult it is even to talk when you are this dehydrated). At this time we were going down a side trail and left a note on the ground to show Eric where we went. Another 40 minutes went by and still no sign of water! Aaron and I agreed that we had to go back and find Eric. One we couldn’t go any longer and two Eric could be in danger.
Off we went back tracking our steps calling out, “Eric! Where are you?!” This went on until we finally found Eric completely exhausted: “Guys, we’re going to have to set up our tents right here and get water in the morning. We’re not going to make it. We’re going to have to hike back to the truck tomorrow.” We got into our tents at 10:40pm completely dehydrated and exhausted. That night was misery. All night we had cold chills in 85 degree weather and heat fever because we were so dehydrated. I did not fall asleep until 5:30am because of this and we woke up at 7am. We had hiked 30 miles when the map had said 26 miles. We found out that the map mileage was marked based on the horizon, not including the ups and downs and switchbacks of the mountains.
It is now 7am, Friday morning. It has been 21 hours since we started hiking and we have gone 30 miles. Our new plan is to find water at the station that is 5 miles back at mile marker 23. From there Aaron and I will hike back to my truck and pick up Eric on the Highway at Woody Gap. In misery we begin our hike back just trying to make it to water. We hike for 5 miles and finally arrive at the water sign we saw the night before at mile 23. We began rejoicing and shouting, “Water this Way!” (I can’t tell you how much joy flowed through me at this moment).
We have hiked 35 miles but to our dismay we could not find the water. Not until almost another mile and a half did we find a spring of water about the size of my two hands. It was at this moment that we were at an all time low in our lives praying for God to show us water. At first we could not drink the water because we were so dehydrated. We soon ate breakfast and filled up our water jugs. At 10:45am Aaron and I set out to hike the rest of the day to pick up my truck. We took off our 40 pound backpacks and just used fanny packs and our camel packs. We hiked nonstop (except for 2 ten minute stops to fill up water) for 6 and a half hours at under an average of 20 minutes per mile (this is fast for hiking up mountains).
This was the most difficult thing I have ever done in my entire life. I know for a fact that I could not have made it those last 23 miles without my brother by my side and of course God’s help. In 30 hours we had hiked 60 miles and I still feel the pain even as I write. God taught me many
things from this trial.First, he broke me of my pride. That Friday night when we could not find water Aaron and I were repenting for thinking so highly of ourselves. We realized that we were nothing without God. Secondly, He showed me the POWER OF INPUT. We had the choice of bringing a trail guide and getting advice from experienced hikers. But we chose to do it all on our own. Imagine how enjoyable it would have been if we would have received input, and direction before we started. At the 40 mile mark Aaron and I stopped to talk to an experienced hiker that had been hiking since 6 years old. He was shocked out how far we were going and told us, “Experienced hikers only go 10 miles a day. You guys are going 30. You guys are hiking at an unsustainable pace.”
Therefore, it is my goal from now on to get input from others. I now that my ideas alone will be powerless. But with your help we can change this world. I am asking for your help. I am asking that you as a parent will pray for this junior high group and give your advice and input of what you think we can do to make this group more effective. Whatever you think can make this group better please tell me about it. This is why I have created this blog so that you can post your comments and great ideas! I know that this is going to be a team effort. If we all work together no telling what we can accomplish for God.
