It was 5:30 am and the alarm went off way too early. I had made plans to chase a new waterfall and get out of the city if only for a few hours. The morning was cold and the sun had yet to rise, but the day promised to bring sunshine and warmer temperatures.
So we all bundled up, and started the long drive east.
We were headed to Crabtree Falls and after more than an hour on the road, we turned onto the Blue Ridge Parkway and the final trek of the drive to the trailhead.
Last year, Chris and I spent a long weekend in Brevard, NC for a mini vacation and hiked over 7 falls in the Brevard/Asheville surrounding area. I specifically chose Crabtree Falls for two reasons. It was one that we did not see last time we were in this area and it was only a 2.5 mile hike.
We were 2.8 miles away from the trailhead and suddenly, we could go no further. The Blue Ridge Parkway was closed from that point forward and we were left with only two choices, walk from here or turn around and go home. We parked the truck on the side of the road, did the math, and took off on foot knowing we were adding an additional 5.6 miles to our hike. My planned 2.5 mile hike just became an over 8 mile journey.
As we walked the Blue Ridge Parkway, the peace of being absolutely alone was palpable. All I could think about was, “this is what it would be like if we were in a Walking Dead episode”, minus the zombies. The parkway was deserted and we had miles to go until we reached the trailhead.
The parkway sign for the falls gave us hope that we were getting close and gave us a reference for how far we had already traveled.
Once the Crabtree Falls visitor center came into view, I was temporarily relieved that we made it back to civilization until I realized, even the visitor center was abandoned for the season. We were completely alone in this place!
We finally made it! The trailhead for Crabtree Falls was straight ahead! After checking out the trial map, we decided to not hike the loop but instead take the short path down and then back the way we came. This shortened our trail hike from 2.5 miles to only 1.8.
The falls was only 0.9 miles away now, and I was thrilled and excited that the payoff was near.
Crabtree Falls was at the base of a frozen wonderland. Mud had turned to ice and the trail was hidden beneath the snow. The roar of the falls could be heard from the ridge line as we slowly made our way down the icy trail.
When we rounded the last switchback and the falls came into view and the whole journey was suddenly worth the extra miles.
Seeing the falls for the first time took my breath away. How can you capture a scene so perfect and seemingly untouched by man.
From this angle and that angle, the shutter clicked over and over again. The search was on for that one perfect capture that represents my time in this isolated place.
But as morning passed and a warmer afternoon found us, we had to start our journey back to the truck. Crabtree falls was one of the most beautiful falls we have ever had the honor to stand in front of!
We were happy that we did not let the road closure stop us from taking the 8.2 mile journey. The return trip was long and an uphill battle, literally, but Crabtree Falls was worth every step.
Asheville definitely took me out of my comfort zone, but for a short while this week, I felt happy and complete! A day spent hiking and finding our own adventure was exactly what I needed to re-energize my soul and help me get through the last few weeks of this contract!
Travel Nursing is full of surprises and is not always “perfect” but it can be worth it! I hope to find a few more adventures here in Asheville before it’s time to leave, but if not, this hike was definitely one for the books! We laughed at our luck of having a road closure and high fived each other for surviving the over 8 mile unplanned adventure!
Keep following along because I truly have no idea what next week holds! Only 4 weeks left here in Asheville!