Graybeard Mountain

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Graybeard Mountain – Montreat – 2/25/12 – Felt Like 8 Miles
Each year in late February my church, Avondale Presbyterian,offers a women’s retreat in Montreat, NC, the small community next to BlackMountain whose most famous citizen is Billy Graham.  We take over William Black Lodge, sharemeals, laughs, a guest speaker for the weekend, maybe some games,and experience a renewing of relationships and an injection of faith into thesoul.  On Saturday afternoons some of thewomen go into Black Mountain for lunch and shopping, and some go hiking up toLookout Mountain, a lovely scenic spot that isn’t too far in distance but takessome work to get to.  I’ve been toLookout a few times so I like to go off exploring the other trails aroundMontreat.
This year I advertised a strenuous hike, and perhaps Ididn’t sell it well because I only got one taker, our associate pastor,Jane.  In years past Jane had done a lotof hiking and backpacking, but work duties and life have not allowed room forsuch things in recent years.  So…what’sit like to spend the afternoon with your pastor?  A gift.
We scavenged food from the snack table and walked downAssembly Drive (aka Graybeard Trail), talking 90 miles an hour, and walked pastthe trailhead sign.  We ended up insomeone’s driveway and turned around. Story of my life – lost before I start. In my defense, the roads at Montreat are small and winding, kinda liketrails…
Near the trailhead we crossed Flat Creek on a veryimpressive bridge.  There was a definitechill in the air but a very clear blue sky. Hats and gloves all day today and keep moving!
Very early in the hike we met a guy wearing a kilt, a bitunusual.  He was a member of the localtrail club and his first question was, “Do you have a current map?”  Well, let’s see.  I pulled out my one-page map and indeed itwas not the newest edition.  Kind sirproduced a new map from somewhere in his pack (not his kilt, I was watchingclosely) and showed us that the trail had been rerouted with gentleswitchbacks.  Hmmm…how much mileage doesthat add?    Mr. Kilt did not say.  But who cares?  We’re hiking on a spectacular winter day.
I was delighted to find that Jane is a good person to hikewith.  She has an extensive knowledge ofplants, identifying emerging foliage, and appreciated stopping to ponder thelittle things near the ground and overhead. We were both ready for some nature time and didn’t solve any bigtheological questions…or did we?  Moreand more I think that just leaving the questions behind and getting outside inGod’s world really is the answer.
The trail was in great shape, as are all the Montreat areatrails that I have hiked on (thanks to Mr. Kilt and his trail maintainerfriends).  There are sufficient blazesand few obstacles.  We rock hopped acrossthe creek several times and had a good workout on the steep sections andswitchbacks. 
We crossed an enormous boulder field and speculated on what itwould have been like the day those big rocks tumbled to their restingplaces.  Huge trees were growing bravelyout of narrow cracks.  This little fellowwill split the rock someday. 
At Walker’s Knob Shelter we took a snack break.   Looks pretty cozy for awindy or rainy night.
Jane I hiked for several years (hours) on the supposedly3.5-mile trail toward the summit of Graybeard Mountain, but we finally had to callit quits because of the lateness of the hour. The compulsive completer in me was very conflicted, but there was no wayto tell how far away the summit was.  Itcould have been 100 yards or another half-mile and we had run out of time.  Didn’t want to miss dinner, after all!  Here we are to prove that we got thisfar. 


 Some of the awesome views along Graybeard Trail

On the return trip we investigated this quirky tree, ahollow middle that we could see through but lots of “outside”.  Is that a metaphor for a church retreat topicor what?
Icicles dripping along the trail – I told you it was cold
Just a few short steps from one of the switchback turns isGraybeard Falls, trickling today

The walk down was quicker, of course, and we made it back tothe William Black Lodge in time for a quick shower and a hot meal.  But, come on, line dancing after dinner?  Well, if you insist...
I love to think of nature as anunlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, ifwe will only tune in.  ~George Washington Carver
God writes the gospel not in the Biblealone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars.  ~Martin Luther