In Which I Return From the Far South

...WELL, in case you didn't already guess, Alex decided to take a rather, eh, prolonged vacation last week and part of this week, traveling to the far reaches of South Carolina and Georgia to visit some old friends there. Not as though it's unusual for Alex to disappear from his blogs for long periods, but...it matters not! I am back, for those few who are interested!
...Much indeed has happened since I updated the world on my life, and in fact the past few weeks do seem like some kind of unreal dream. Having spent the past 8 months burying myself in schoolwork and studies, nearly locking myself away in my room with the schoolbooks like Brad Voeller, having an entire month of a break was both a beautiful relief...and painful. There is some truth to the old rumor that it can be just as hard to stop working and fighting, as to start and continue.
At any rate, there's no way I can tell you all even half of what has happened in the past few weeks in one post, so I'll start at the beginning and perhaps tell the story over a couple of posts. As opposed to Alex's usual ramblings on life, this might actually be interesting, don't worry.
But all in all, never fear! Even if this rambling blog bores you, rest assured, now that Alex is back, I have begun and picked up again all work in full! And in fact chances are high that over the next few months I won't be going anywhere, so I'll have no excuse for slacking. Spires of Savarica, Reborn Humanity, the Bible studies, AND this blog will once again be kept up fully!

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Two weeks ago, though it seems much longer in the past, myself, Sam Herson, and Matthew made it to Grayson Highland State Park and Mount Rogers National in Virginia, after a long drive and much anticipation. Disappearing up into the mountains for a weekend for massive hiking, camping, and backpacking adventures was like a streak of incredible fortune for someone who had spent all winter behind a cold stack of books like myself, so as we wound our way up into the beautiful mountains and reached the park, the three of us were ready to test ourselves out on the trails. And indeed we did.








As we parked the car and jumped out, Matthew, the oldest one, the host of our trip, AND the driver (And thus the leader) quickly went over the maps and compass while me and Sam organized the various packs of equipment and supplies. Somehow we got organized and strapped on those packs (which we learned to despise three days later), and went to stand by Matthew and the map.
Looking over his shoulder, I glanced narrowly up at his darkened, gray eyed face before offering my doubts.
"We're going there?" I pointed.
"Yep, that's it!" He offered a smile, though I read some concerns in his countenance.
"That's at the bottom of the river, and less than two miles off."
"We can do two miles!" Sam offered with his usual energy, but that wasn't my point.
"Well yeah, but that's definitely not the Appalachian Trail! The hiking shelters are further up!"
Matthew glanced over and shot me a rather sarcastic, knowing look. "You wanna hike five and a half miles straight up those slopes in four hours, Alex?"
I shrugged. "It depends. Whatever you say, man."
"Alright then." Without further comment, he shouldered his pack. Being the expert camper, Matthew always had the best equipment and knew (mostly) what he was doing. Definitely more than we did, that was for sure.
Without further ado, the three of us professionals attacked the lower slopes of Mount Rogers of Virginia...and nearly killed ourselves on the first mile.
We journeyed down into some pretty looking wooded areas, cool and quiet, much like the foothills not far from my own home in fact. Streams and brooks flowed past, under the gathering clouds and shadows of the massive slopes towering over us.







On reaching the bottom of the falls, Matthew checked the map for us again while me and Sam studied the small river. "WE should be close!" He called back from his perch further up the rocks, and disappeared back onto the trail again. Scrambling after him, the two of us, the followers after the Master Camper, made it to the top and ran after him.
We reached a lower meadow where a lovely waterfall flowed down and created a stream surrounded by trees, where we three found the shelter marked on the map. I noted with interest that on the western horizon, beyond the towering peaks, dark clouds were gathering. Not a good sign. Good to be near a shelter.
Me and Sam were just coming out into the semi-clearing when Matthew's shout reached us, aimed at no one in particular but the map. "Are you serious?!" Exchanging worried glances, me and Sam picked up speed and reached the site, some distance ahead, where Matthew was fuming. We started likewise fuming.
The 'shelter' we probably big enough to be a large refrigerator, two walls and part of a ceiling, and probably big enough for one of us to fit in. Standing up.
"A rain shelter." I muttered, with a grim sigh. Sam nodded, never really one to lose his temper or ever get mad at anything that I knew of. Mostly.
Matthew growled. "Are you kidding me?"
"Dude, this is bad."
My comment got looks on both sides. "What you mean?" Sam asked.
"I mean there's no other shelter between here and the AT trails. Unless you guys want to sleep in the car for the night." I added sarcastically. That wasn't an option and they knew it.
"...They told me we could camp here!" Matthew fumed.
Sam laughed. "I bet they did."
I started thinking fast. Since we couldn't camp here and even hope to stay all three of us dry, there was two options: Go back to the car or family campgrounds, which would set us way off track, or go ahead and try to make the AT trail before sundown.
Make a guess which we did.
Correct.









After several reassurances, careful calculations, and a lot of refilled water bottles, we tackled the slopes of Mount Rogers, the highest point in Virginia, with a vigor. It had been decided after some heated debate that we would go all out: Attempt to make the AT trail, 6 miles up, in 3-4 hours of daylight. And to our credit, we did make it, I'm glad to say. Somehow we crawled up those slopes.
It was a brutal climb. Let no one deceive you, the first day of any long camping trip is always the worst. Not being used to tugging an extra 40 pounds apiece on our backs we huffed and growled and grit our teeth as we struggled up the rocky slopes and mountainsides. From now on I will honestly pity and sympathize with Frodo and Sam as they struggle up the slopes of Mount Doom.
Though when we took a break from our travels, panting for water, I will admit the landscape was beautiful. Breathtaking, in fact. It was lovely to look from high up and see the world spread out below you, with the dark and violent clouds somewhat mingled with sunlight and gentle, green slopes bordering darker green forests. Looked like Vantainian slopes, in fact. I made a mental note to add this state to my list of places to travel through and visit when I turned 18-19 and went on a nationwide adventure. After college, of course.



After we got past the lower rocks and steep slopes, coming out on the peaks and ridges above, the travels went well and easily. The pretty landscape reminded me of New Zealand almost, from what I knew of it, and all of us were pleased to reach the Appalachian Trail Shelter as the thunder began to rumble. Though we did have to share the shelter with a few other wayfarers, it wasn't bad at all. The night was pitch black, stormy and cold, though we stayed fairly warm and dry, reading our Bibles and books under Matthew's flashlight in the dark.
As I put away my Bible for the night, I looked up with interest half buried under various blankets to see what my two comrades were up to before I went to bed. Sam was already half asleep, and was in fact looking at his cell phone screen. I grinned wryly. There was no way that cell phone got service up here, at 6000 feet altitude, but...he was a texting addict, especially when it was his girlfriend that he was trying to text. Suppressing a chuckle I looked to Matthew, who was reading.
I glanced at the book he was reading. I nearly turned over and went to sleep...when the author's name caught my eye. I knew that name.
Joshua Harris.
I stopped immediately, and glanced again at the title. "Dug Down Deep," by Josh Harris. My brow furrowed.
"What's that?" I asked bluntly, nodding to the book.
Matthew looked up and smiled faintly. "Oh, just Harris' newest book, came out just a little bit ago. Very good, I like it a lot."
"Really?" As far as I knew, Josh Harris had written several books and all on the same subject almost, from dating and relationships to broader topics like marriage and purity. I wondered what he was working on now.
"What about?" I queried.
"Ah, it's about mostly how important it is for us as Christians to lay our foundations on orthodoxy and Scripture, as opposed to traditionalist and conservative beliefs." Matthew answered. My ears pricked up at that. That...sounded like something I would write a book about, nearly!
I nodded vigorously. "Ah, really? Now that sounds cool!"
"It really is!" Matthew went on, "So many Christians today just rely on traditions of churches or conservative doctrine, or even laying aside Scripture for...well, many things. In other words, religious morality and conservative tradition aren't good enough."
That sounded like my kind of truth. Dangerous and painfully true. He smiled in spite of myself. "I'm so going to have to get that book when I get home."
Interestingly, when Matthew wasn't reading it and we were taking breaks, I was. A beautiful work that everyone should read, too! I could name a few names, big and small, who prefer tradition and supposed morality over the knowledge of Scripture and God for foundations...but I won't rant tonight.
However, the trip wasn't over. The next day we made across the AT trails and headed for Thomas Jefferson National Reserve, where we ran into...some interesting people and events. I shall post later on the next (and much cooler) half of the adventure!