Asheville Part II – The nature

I couldn’t bare to leave Asheville without seeing nature and mountains, and doing at least one hike. Since I work from 9 – 5 during the week, it doesn’t leave much time for exploring. At least the way exploring should be done (IYKYK)!

The first week living in my Airstream flew by! I spent a few evenings sketching or getting this blog started, and the hours just disappeared. By the way, do you know how to tell what your passions are? Take notice to moments you’re so absorbed in a task you don’t notice your stomach growling, or that it’s already past your bedtime. Those are the things that bring happiness. Strive to do them more and make them a larger part of your life!

Asheville’s Nature

Anyways, I digress. After a busy week of work and play, I decided I would spend the day hiking on Saturday. That morning I popped up Google and quickly found several posts about a million different hikes in the area. I read and heard some things about the Blue Ridge Parkway, and quickly decided that’s what I needed to do. I jotted down 3 different trails and their mile markers along the Parkway I wanted to do, and went on my merry way.

If you decide to take a spin along the Blue Ridge Parkway, fill up your gas tank, and empty your other tank first. There isn’t much along this scenic route in terms of businesses, but it’s totally worth it.

The first trail I headed to is called Craggy Gardens Pinnacle. There’s a picnic area and a visitor center about 0.8 miles from each other. Also a beautiful, open meadow somewhere in between. I parked at the picnic area and started the hike from there. It was a steep uphill the entire way to the meadow, leaving me out of breath despite being in pretty good shape.

The trail itself was beautiful – areas full of roots, mixed with entire slabs of rock faces, and areas of smaller rocks and pebbles. There were wild mountain flowers everywhere – white, yellow, and purple with bumble bees and butterflies flying about.

Arriving at the meadow was perfect timing to catch my breath and take in views of the distant blue mountains. It immediately reminded me of one of the first guided meditations / visualizations that I did. Okay, let me explain..

Meditating in nature

Over the past few months I’ve been dabbling more into the world of altered states of consciousness. Learning about the amazing power of our minds. This is probably a little out there for some people, but if it is, then stop being so closed minded. It generally goes along with the concept of the Placebo Effect, which everyone has heard of, but seriously underestimates. How don’t more people talk about the fact we can heal from the craziest diseases by JUST believing that they can? In many cases it’s equally, if not more effective than whatever complete bullshit drug being tested. And with absolutely zero side effects. End Rant.

This particular guided meditation started off by visualizing some beautiful, peaceful place in nature. What I visualized was a huge open mountain meadow, with a field full of yellow wild flowers. Tall trees in the distance, and a little creek near by. The sun shining perfectly between the trees, hitting my face and warming me to my core.

The next part of the meditation was imagining someone you love and trust beckoning you to the clouds (it was an astral projection meditation). I visualized my Grandmother, who passed away when I was in college. I realized as an adult my Grandmother was my biggest source of love, trust, and safety I had as a child. Her passing left an inconsolable hole in my heart, however she’s my biggest source of strength. I’m not a very emotional person, but every time I talk about her I have to hold back my tears.

Growing up I spent a lot of time with my Grandmother because both of my parents worked, and my Brother hated me. I have several memories sleeping at my Grandparents house. I would up in the middle of the night crying because I was anxious about my Mom working so late.

As a 4 year old a lot of things don’t make sense. I had fears my mom would get in a car accident, or something else terrible would happen and she would never return. My Dad was around when I was that age, but I never had an emotional connection with him. I don’t think he knew how to have one with me, or anyone for that one matter. I don’t blame him for that – it’s something you accept and love the person for regardless.

When I would wake up crying in the middle of the night, my Grandmother, or Nan as we affectionately called her, would hold me and console me until I fell back asleep or until my mom would come home from work in the middle of the night. She became my source of comfort and strength. She was also my biggest role model because she was the kindest, wisest, most giving, and strongest woman I knew.

Beautiful meadows

For some reason that particular visualization of the yellow mountain meadow combined with my Nan’s presence really stuck with me. I’ve thought of it several times since, almost as if it really happened and I was recalling a fond memory. When I climbed to that mountain meadow, it was like deja vu. I had already been there in my mind, and then I got to experience it with my body and physical senses.

On my way down the mountain, I went along a short side path to a Gazebo with an amazing view of the valley. At first I was alone to admire the scene and watch yellow tiger swallowtale butterflies flutter about the flowers.

Remember what I said about coincidences?

The silence didn’t last long, as I heard someone approaching. A few moments later, two women in their 70’s strolled up with their walking poles, audibly out of breath. Naturally we struck up a conversation and the older of the two seemed very interested in learning about my story. I was extremely impressed that she just hiked up that steep mountain. Especially because from the sounds of it, she had issues with her breath. After speaking, it sounded like she was gasping for air and had a hard time with her voice. However she didn’t seem to care in the slightest. She had such pure blue eyes, and seemed to have a kind soul to match.

One woman asked for my name, and when I said it, the other sort of gasped in shock. She said, “did you say Marissa? My name is Marisa, with one s! I never hear anyone else with that name!”. She pronounced her name with the emphasis on the ‘i’, more like the Spanish pronunciation.

Remember when I said I don’t believe in coincidences (read about it in my life changing road trip story)? Well, this is one of those things. I told her about how I met a woman at my campsite with a cat named ‘Punkin’, and mine is named ‘Pumpkin’. So this was the 2nd time in my first week traveling of such situations. I take that as a sign I’m on my destined path, doing exactly what I should be doing at this moment.

After I got back to my truck I typed in the next hike I had on my list. Even though it was 30 miles down the road, the GPS said it was a 2 hour drive! I underestimated the conditions that the windy mountain road would have on travel time.

Waterfalls and Crocs

Since I didn’t want to drive 2 hours for a 2 hour hike, and 3 hours back home leaving Pumpkin alone that long, I searched for another hike close by. I originally planned to do Graveyard Fields because of the falls, so I searched for other falls near by and found Roaring Fork Falls.

On my way to Roaring Fork, I passed by the Craggy Meadows Visitor Center and pulled off to stop. At that point in the mountain, at that time of day, there was a layer of mist rolling through. It was like being in the middle of a cloud and I had to stop and look closer. Afterwards I saw a reference to the Smoky Mountains, and immediately understood! The smoke rolled around the mountain side, like an eerie scene from a scary movie where everyone gets murdered.

After passing several more pull-off points along the Parkway, I made it to Roaring Fork. This was a super easy trail, and 90% of it was just gravel rock which I don’t consider a hike. There were a dozen people at the falls when I walked up, but there was plenty of room to explore.

I recently bought my first pair of Crocs. Inspired by my friend Leizle who wore them all the time and boasted about the 4×4 mode they had. I packed them with me anticipating a dip in the water. And I’m so glad I did because they were just what I needed!

After jumping to a large rock in the middle of the stream, I put on my Crocs and put them in 4×4 mode. In case you never owned a pair and don’t know what that means.. It’s when you slide down the heel strap because that lets you do more without the risk of them falling off.

With 4×4 mode engaged, I walked around the shallow pond at the bottom of the fall without worry of stepping on a sharp rock. I walked downstream a bit where no one else could get to. Then sat on another large, moss covered rock taking in the views and sounds of the water bubbling about. I meditated here for a few minutes before making my way back home to start packing for my next adventure.

If you missed my first post about exploring Asheville, check it out here.

You can plan all you want, but life has its own plans for you.

Me