Author Archives: In Frost, Out Fire

Chapter Sixteen: Sassafras Mountain

On our fifth day in the woods, I woke with a renewed promise to myself and to my sister. She needed me as much as I needed her even though those needs were different. I sometimes needed closeness, she sometimes needed space. I sometimes needed chatter, she sometimes needed silence. And she most certainly didContinue reading “Chapter Sixteen: Sassafras Mountain”

Chapter Fifteen: Sasquatch

Nine and half miles, our longest day of hiking yet. We strolled into Hawk Mountain Shelter; were greeted as “the Yoga Sisters;” met with the grossest privy this side of the Mason-Dixon; discovered that when surrounded by other males, Greg was inclined to take their side; punched Yukon Cornelius, started a fireside brawl, settled everythingContinue reading “Chapter Fifteen: Sasquatch”

Chapter Fourteen: Lost on Impulse

          Edgar Allan Poe dubbed it “the imp of the perverse,” that strange impulse to yank the steering wheel to the right and drive off the road; wondering, when you are on the edge of high place, how close you are to stepping off. Something about the power of momentum, force, pull, weight, raises theseContinue reading “Chapter Fourteen: Lost on Impulse”

Chapter Thirteen: Thank You, Trail

           I spent an inordinate amount of time on the trail thinking about eating. It was now Tuesday, our fourth day of hiking, and our bear canister held enough food to get us to the Above the Clouds hostel the next evening. Sassafras Mountain now stood between me and the Twix bar I had begunContinue reading “Chapter Thirteen: Thank You, Trail”

Chapter Twelve: All the Young Dudes

In honor of the coming Easter Sunday, our hiker friends from the Len Foote Hike Inn had hidden an assortment of gummy bears, sweet tarts, and other treats, in the bear box at the Springer Mountain Shelter. Most hikers, having heard this shelter could be counted upon to be filled early in the day, continuedContinue reading “Chapter Twelve: All the Young Dudes”

Chapter Eleven: Summit

As we walked in the grassy meadow that lay atop Springer Mountain, a renewed energy gripped my sister. She clamored about the rocky outcrop which bore a bronze plaque with the raised image of a hiker, just a hiker who might be any of us. It was dedicated to Benton MacKaye, whose vision had helpedContinue reading “Chapter Eleven: Summit”

Chapter Nine: Dirty Dancing at the Len Foote Hike Inn

The Len Foote Hike Inn, deep in a pocket of Appalachia, invited visitors to go backwards in time and enjoy the community of other hikers, resisting the urge to check in with the outside world. Its no-cell-phone policy found me wandering back down the trail to text our parents, to let them know we wereContinue reading “Chapter Nine: Dirty Dancing at the Len Foote Hike Inn”