During Fall Break in 2005, it was decided that a big group of us should head to the Great Smoky Mountains for a little camping and hiking.
from left: Jennifer Rocha, Alex Liollio, Anna Adams, Alex Ford, Caroline Madigan, Alex Schriber, Josh Agner. Travis Burns, Andy Francis, and Mark Phillips would join us later on.
One of the first things we did was hit up the ice cold waters of one of my favorite places in the whole world, the Midnight Hole in Big Creek. Keep in mind, it’s October, probably 60 degrees outside, and this water is like 50 degrees. It’s 50 degrees even in the middle of summer. Regardless, Liollio was the first one submerged. After a little time, and a little condescending comments concerning our manhood, Josh Agner and I joined him on the towering boulders that line the swimming hole.
We decided to do some flips:
The next day we headed to the foggy pastures of Max Patch. We hauled our gear to the campsite, a spot tucked away in a small grove of trees a step off of the Appalachian Trail. A spot that was ill prepared for what was about to come crashing down onto its serene setting. The eerie light that filtered through the thick mist and brown leaves was a prelude of the night to come.
Let me make a very long story short. What followed that evening was a string of events that would scare even the strongest of souls. A combination of macaroni and tuna, a constant rain, a wild turkey, a slimy lizard, missing long johns, wet boots (not from the rain), and a powerful fist to the face would threaten friendships and frighten Mother Nature.
But we banded together to overcome the hardships, and our eyes were opened to the beauty of nature and to the simple truth that all we need in life is a good camping spot and our closest friends.
It pleased Liollio when he found that we had all arrived at the same conclusion.
- posted by Alex Ford
