The morning mist settles in the crevices of the valleys so that only the rolling mountain tops covered in green stretch as far as the eye can see. As the sun rises, the mist drifts out of the valleys, revealing their great depths. Out here, nothing can limit me besides my own courage. No cities, few roads, a vast amount of nature to explore in every direction, such is the freedom that I experienced in the Smoky Mountains. Freedom allows people to see the world themselves, to decide their own path, and to think openly about life.
Below the trees and on the open rock outcrops, beyond cell phone reception and technology that demands global awareness and pressures of appearance, I could look into myself without distraction. Like the mist in the valleys, the fog in my mind drifted away allowing me to see the true landscape of my life. For me, life is not about money, a successful career, or anything material; life should be enjoyed with experiences and relationships.
My trip to Red River Gorge brought me into friendship with many people, who I might otherwise have never met. Without technology, we occupied ourselves with each other’s company and card games. Since we were all sleeping in tents together, we made an effort to keep good relations, a practice which many people neglect to use in the modern world. Technology and the fast pace of society limits the amount of social interaction between people, but in the isolation of the mountains, speech and action are one’s only forms of communication.
Although we were in the wilderness away from society, we were always active and never bored. From sunrise to evening we were out hiking rough-terrain and climbing fifty feet and higher up cliff sides. By the end of each day, we were scraped and bruised and our muscles tingled with strain. The feeling could not be described as pain but as pride in our accomplishments. The cuts and splotches on our skin were our battle wounds, earned from our fight against the wall. Victory came not from reaching the top of every climb, rather it was gained by overcoming our self-doubts and climbing higher than we had ever thought possible.
The Smoky Mountains taught me about myself. Unlike the busy world, where people rarely find time to reflect on their lives, the wilderness gave me time each day to sit down by myself without anyone else in view and listen to my own thoughts. Even on the rock face – hanging from a rope, clutching to the rock, staring up at the expanse to go – no voice and no perspective other than my own interrupted my concentration.
Climbing may take two people, but it is a solitary sport for the most part. My route, my risk, my choice is all that matters. It is a freedom that I embrace with enthusiasm. Out in the Smokies, on real rocks, there is no route marked out, no designated holds, nothing except the climber and nature. No one can say what you are capable of, you must prove it to them and to yourself.
Scaling a cliff gives me a perspective unlike any that the rest of the world can provide. When climbing, I saw every detail of the rock and creatures inches from my face and also the broad landscape in full from my perch at the top of the mountain. Internalizing the beauty of nature, I reflected on the details of my life and the larger picture portrayed and found pride in my accomplishments and ambition for my future.
The Smoky Mountains gave me independence by allowing me to reflect on my life and make conscious decisions by myself that brought me lasting friendships and great accomplishments.
About the Author: I love to travel and camp in nature, away from big cities and lots of people. It is one of my dreams to visit all of the US National Parks before I die. I am currently a college sophomore studying Writing and Geography.
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