From the City to the Trail

I’m a city girl. I love the variety of people, the bright lights, and the spectacular buildings that tower overhead. So, you can imagine my surprise when my parents informed me that I’d be spending the summer with my aunt, uncle, and cousin in a small town in Georgia. The last time my cousin Tamara came to visit me, she told me about the beautiful parks around the state. She explained how she often goes hiking and camping with her parents. I told her that the most hiking I had ever done was through the shops and stores in the city. Although I was unsure about what to expect, I could not wait to try something new for the summer.

The day I arrived at my aunt and uncle’s home, we all sat down to a nice dinner. During the meal, my uncle suggested that we spend the next day hiking in Amicalola Falls State Park. With enthusiasm, I agreed, and we decided to go to bed early so we would have energy for our hiking excursion.

I was ready to go early in the morning. I looked at myself in the mirror. Before the trip, I had purchased a new pair of really great sneakers with red stripes on the sides. I thought I looked like a true hiker. My cousin Tamara took one look at me, giggled, and said I had to change my shoes. She explained that my feet would get blisters and I would not be able to walk. Although my shoes were very comfortable, Tamara said hiking required shoes with soles thick enough to protect my feet from rocks. Fortunately, she was able to lend me a pair of her hiking boots.

We hit the road in my uncle’s van, and I gazed out the window and took in the scenery. I wasn’t used to seeing so much nature. About two hours later, we finally arrived. I got out of the car, and with awe, I looked up at the Appalachian Mountains. Like the buildings in the city, they towered overhead. We began to walk and found a path that would lead us to the top of the falls.

At first as we walked, the atmosphere felt odd. Perhaps I just felt out of place for a moment. I noticed how quiet it seemed on the path. We knew there were other people hiking, but we did not hear any of them. Instead, I heard the birds chirping and the squirrels chattering. There were sudden movements in the tangles of plants on the ground that must have been scurrying animals. These noises were much different from the buzz of traffic and busy streets. Tamara knew many of the plants that we encountered. I explained to her how, last December,

I bought a soft, velvet-like shirt because I loved the way that it felt. Now, I saw what looked like velvet on the trees and ground! She told me it was moss. I looked above me. The green canopy overhead filtered out most of the sunlight, but just enough flickered through to create a dancing pattern of light on the ground. No one told us to be quiet, but somehow Tamara and I automatically spoke in hushed voices, almost as if we were in a museum.

Despite the overwhelming beauty, my scented hand lotion, though it smelled wonderful earlier that morning, seemed to be attracting every mosquito and gnat in Amicalola Falls. I was turning into one enormous mosquito bite.

I soon forgot the bugs as we reached the top of the falls, though. The sound of the water grew to a roar as we got closer. The sight was hypnotizing. The water did not look like water so much as poured white foam. Uncle Ed said it was 729 feet down to the bottom of the falls, but it felt much farther. It didn’t even seem like what I was looking at was real. I felt as if I were looking at the canvas of a great artist.

Mesmerized by the view before me, I was startled when Aunt Patricia spoke, disturbing the stillness of the moment. She announced that it was time to begin our descent. On the way back down, I devised a plan in my head. I’d convince my parents to come with me next time. They would really enjoy hiking. Perhaps, I could even persuade them to take me camping!