Last Tuesday was an unexpectedly hard day for our household, and it is something we are still sort of in the
middle of.
What started off as a fantastic weekend camping with friends (where
our extra-grouchy dog was the most chill she has ever been and got lots
of love) ended with Sophie being terribly sick.
Daniel took her to the vet
first thing Tuesday and we learned through x-rays that she has a significant growth
that appears to be pressing on all of her organs and does not seem to be allowing her to digest
food properly.
There's a good chance it is cancer.
Her bloodwork showed she had possible liver
damage and the overall prognosis wasn’t good. After seeing the bloodwork, the vet specifically told us she had a 10% chance of recovery.
The vet gave her fluids for
dehydration and anti-nausea medicine, then sent her home with us so we
could love on her and spoil her for at least 24 hours.
Daniel brought her home and we
immediately cancelled all
plans for Tuesday and Wednesday and decided to take a spontaneous drive
to the mountains to
hike as a family. Daniel rode in the very back with her while I drove us up to Huckleberry Knob on the Cherohala Skyway outside of Tellico Plains.
Our Sophie loves to hike with us. She loves to stop and smell the
roses (really any flower in her path). She loves to run free on the open
balds. So we let her do all of these things.
The four of us talked about all of our good memories with Sophie over the last
eleven years and just took the time to enjoy being with her, not getting home until
midnight that night.
We were actually supposed to start school last Wednesday but decided
to wait since everything felt a bit upside down. For five nights Sophie
got me up every couple of hours. It was exhausting and emotional.
Sophie
didn't (and doesn’t) appear to be in pain and is still enjoying long daily walks with
Daniel at Green Gorge. We talked about end of life plans, but couldn’t quite bear to make the call that seemed
to be on the horizon.
That was last week. Friday night she finally pooped and all of her
energy bounced back. She quit waking us (me) up at all hours and is
eating again. We have no idea what to expect in the future, but for now
she is doing leaps and bounds better.
We have been
walking through joy and sorrow and the knowledge that her time with us
is limited, but are also incredibly grateful for this gift of extra time with our thirteen-year-old girl who still seems so much like a puppy.
This year we had to postpone our Mother's Day adventure. But on Memorial weekend we were finally able to go. My pick was the Huckleberry Knob hike on the Cherohala Skyway.
If I am being truthful, I am generally the
kind of person who doesn't like to do the same trip twice. However, I am
finding that there is joy in repeating experiences and finding something,
or somewhere, you truly love and returning again and again.
This was our third trip to Huckleberry
Knob, and perhaps the best. As we drove, we all recognized different
landmarks. Mostly random places we have stopped to let the kids pee on
the side of the road over the years! Hah!
The first time we came,
I carried Isaac to the top on my back and Jack probably whined about
the two-mile walk. Last year, Isaac was the one doing the whining. This
year, they raced each other to the top, and then back to the car!
Jack had the idea to bring his kite this year. Initially I told him no. But after explaining that whatever he brought he would have to carry, we came to an agreement. He carried his kite, as well as his own snacks and water, and his rain jacket. Isaac volunteered to carry his own backpack with snacks and water as well. We have come a long way from that first time of me carrying Isaac and Daniel carrying all the other stuff!
Hiking and adventuring with my little family is probably my greatest joy in life. I look forward to returning to Huckleberry Knob again.
Thankfully, even though it was raining all around us, and we even heard some thunder in the distance, we didn't get rained on!
After our hike, we drove back down the mountain with Isaac insisting that Daniel drive Hyper Speed while he gleefully laughed in the back. We got back down to an open restaurant that is creek side that we have stopped at before.
I took the kids to wade in the water, while Daniel braved the line. People were fairly good about distancing themselves. We enjoyed coke floats and hot dogs (for the kids) by the creek. It was a lovely day.
Past Mother's Day Adventures:
Monte Sano Hike (a couple of weeks after Mother's Day), 2012
Last weekend was a long weekend (Columbus Day/Canadian Thanksgiving) and I was determined that our family should do something together outside. The only problem was that it was supposed to rain pretty much the entire weekend. And Daniel had been feeling a bit under the weather.
But with a promise that I would do all of the planning, packing, and driving, I convinced him that we should go to the Cherohala Skyway to do a hike (or two).
There were a couple of things I wanted to check out – a short hike to Hooper Bald (last year we visited Huckleberry Knob), a stop at the Indian Boundary Campground, possibly going to the Joyce Kilmer Wilderness to walk among 400+ year old trees, and if we had time, a stop at Bald River Falls.
Daniel pretty much told me I was crazy and we could do one, maybe two of the things on my list...
We agreed that since we had already visited a bald on the Cherohala Skyway (technically two, since we backpacked to Bob Bald years ago), that we should go and see the virgin forest.
As we drove the length of the skyway, the temperature dropped more than twenty degrees at the highest point. The leaves changed from green to yellow to red to barren trees the higher we ventured.
When we neared Hooper Bald, we drove into a cloud with very little visibility. It seemed silly to do the hike, even if it was short, if we couldn't see anything. So we pressed on across the mountains to the Joyce Kilmer Wilderness.
Driving brought back memories – first we passed the Turkey Creek campground. I mentioned that I thought we had camped there before. I later checked my blog and discovered that we had indeed camped there with friends in 2008. As we crossed the mountains, we passed the turn off for Stratton Meadow that lead to Bob Bald. I had a feeling we had been there before too. A look back on my blog confirmed my suspicions of an overnight backpacking trip seven years ago (in 2010).
As we pressed on I continue to be shocked that Daniel and I biked up the North Carolina side of the Cherohala Skyway to Santeetlah (the highest point) ten years ago (2007). A) I still have a hard time believing that we I did that ride and, B) I'm pretty sure we must have been a little crazy (it was pre-kids after all!).
Anyways, once again we found ourselves exploring this beautiful area of the country.
The Joyce Kilmer Wilderness was named after the poet, Joyce Kilmer, who died during WWI. One of his most famous poems is "Trees."
I think that I shall never see
A poem as lovely as a tree
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast
A tree looks at God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair
Upon whose bosom snow has lain
Who intimately lives with rain
Poems are made by fools like me
But only God can make a tree
The Little Santeetlah Forest was original spared the saw due to a series of bankruptcy by different timber companies. It is said that this little cove of giant poplars was left by the loggers because they admired the big timber and couldn't bring themselves to cut the giant trees. Eventually the last owner, Gennet Lumber Company proposed preserving the large trees and the Federal Government was able to purchase the extraordinary tract of land for $28/acre in 1936. And so this last virgin forest of the East was spared the saw.
The trail is a two-mile figure eight that meanders through the woods, next to giant poplars. Currently one of the loops is closed due to fire damage, but we were still able to walk among the giant trees.
While we hiked, Daniel shouted at Jack to S T O P. Jack has a habit of running ahead on the trail. He almost jumped directly on a black snake that had decided to take the opportunity to cross the trail at the same time we were sauntering by. Thankfully it wasn't a poisonous snake, and thankfully Jack listened and stopped when his daddy yelled.
I love being in nature and getting to spend time with Daniel, introducing our kids to wonderful sights like the Cherohala Skyway and a virgin forest. I love making new memories as a family and reminiscing about old trips.
After completing our hike, we drove back across the Skyway. I was vetoed by my family in regards to stopping to hike Hooper Bald (no clouds on the way back). They did appease me a let me stop a few times to take photos.
On our last stop Jack and I saw two bald eagles circling high above our heads.
Our final stop was at Indian Boundary. The kids played in the sand on the beach and Jack swam for a bit as the sun set behind the mountain. It was so peaceful – the perfect way to end our afternoon. We can't wait to go back and camp and take our kayaks.
We didn't have time for Bald River Falls, but went on to Tellico Plains for supper. We almost stopped at Hardees because we had no cell service and we didn't know where to eat.
Jack said no to Hardees and we drove back to the historic area and found a diner that was open.
As luck would have it, it was a pickin' hall and Saturday night is when the locals come and play. So we ate a delicious dinner while listening to good music. It was an unexpected way to end a wonderful day.
Back in 2007, what feels like a lifetime ago, Daniel and I took a trip to western North Carolina where Daniel convinced me to bike part of the Cherohala Skyway.
On that trip, we started on the NorthCarolina side at Hooper Cove, elevation 3,096 ft., and biked 9 miles straight up to Santeetlah, elevation 5,377 ft., before heading back down to our car. Did I mention it was my first experience road biking? Or that most of this bike ride was on a 9% grade?
Anyways, nine years later we decided to take our kids to hike a trail that is located on this same section of the Cherohala Skyway.
As we drove up the hills and through the many turns, I was a bit shocked that we had actually biked up this road. We told Jack about our feat, but I'm not sure that he believed us... I'm not sure that I believe us! Thank goodness for pictures to prove we did it.
For this adventure, we decided to do a hike to the top of Huckleberry Knob. The bald can be accessed from the Huckleberry pull off, with a starting elevation of 5,300 ft. At 5,560 ft., Huckleberry Knob is the highest point in the Cheoah Ranger District.
From the parking lot, we walked over Oak Knob before ascending Huckleberry Knob. At 2.5 miles round trip, this was a very easy hike for our family.
As always, it took a little while to get Jack in the mood for hiking. I think he is like his mama in that hiking in the woods is ok, but running across wide open spaces with endless views provides a thrill that fuels his desire to hike.
Once we reached our destination, we enjoyed the beautiful 360º views. We pointed out Oak Knob that we had walked across and even found a section of the Cherohala Skyway in the distance. Jack was amazed.
On top of Huckleberry Knob is a small cross with a plaque that tells the history of a group of men that died on the mountain and were buried in the 1800s because they were unprepared for the weather – the temperatures can drop up to 20º on the Skyway. When we left Tellico Plains, TN it was 80º, when we reached our trail head it was 65º.
After we explained the meaning of the cross, Jack told us, "I'm always going to be prepared. I don't want to die up here." Good plan, Jack!
We had a snack break before heading back down to our car. Since we had a little time before dinner, we decided to check out the Bald River Falls, located about 6 miles off of the Tennessee end of the Cherohala Skyway.
We were surprised to find so many cars at this destination, but the falls were worth the visit. They are located right off of the road, so many people just took a photo from the bridge in front of the falls. We opted to climb down to the river to get our feet wet.
While splashing around, Jack informed us that it was the most awesome-est day ever. As parents, there is no better compliment.
I felt a little bad dragging Jack away from the water, but we did let him do a little free climbing, with Daniel's help of course.
It really
was an awesome day. The weather was perfect, we were outside spending
time with the people we love most in the world. Not too bad for a little
impromptu trip.
And who knows, maybe we will come back and bike the entire 36 miles of the skyway one day!
