Best Laid Plans: The Trek

A year of inevitable delays and finally pressing “Let’s go!”

Last summer, my husband and I followed several hikers via YouTube and Trek on the great Triple Crown trails. Watching their travels inspired us to want to break out of our weekend warrior routine. But a long-distance hike just doesn’t seem possible in our current circumstances. Then I watched the Backpacker Radio episode where Chaunce described his hike on the Foothills Trail and thought, «This is it! This is the trail we were looking for!»

We begin laying the groundwork to hike the Foothills Trail in November 2024. We check work schedules and submit PTO requests. I purchased the FarOut guide and a printed copy of the Foothills Trail Conservancy trail guide and began plotting an itinerary. And then the storm came…

Like its big brother, the Appalachian Trail, the Foothills Trail took a side hit from Hurricane Helene. The storm washed away much of the trail infrastructure, such as bridges and stairs, swallowing campsites and spitting them out like sour milk. The Foothills Trail Conservancy urged hikers to reconsider their plans and promised that the entire trail would be cleared as quickly as possible.

And so it was! When researching and planning our trip, one thing that came up time and time again was the enthusiastic and tight-knit Foothills Trail community. The trail’s strong network of volunteers immediately stepped in and started cleaning things up. Chainsaw crews cut through the rubble and made the road reappear. Bridges were rebuilt and campsites renovated. Gradually, sections were cleared and hopeful conversations on the internet proposed that a full walk might be possible by spring 2025.

And then came the fire. Artificial. Not accidental.

Hikers were once again advised to avoid the area. We reviewed our plans again and chose another weekend trip closer to home. Fortunately, although the east end of the trail from Sassafras Mountain to Table Rock State Park was damaged, on April 13^thFoothills Trail Conservancy announced the entire trail was open.

Open, but not 100% recovered, the president warned. «There are many areas that are still unrefined and need to be smoothed and drained. The campsites still need repairs and it is a work in progress…»

This is the issue when it comes to our jobs. My husband and I have a fairly generous PTO compared to other fields and we are fortunate to have some degree of flexibility. However, as I like to explain, my job is flexible except when it isn’t.

Most people hear that I’m a teacher and assume I have summers off. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Physical therapy schools, like many graduate health care programs, operate year-round. My teaching load fluctuates throughout the academic year, but luckily, summer is my busiest semester. Please join me in appreciating the irony of a teaching job with the busiest times being May, June and July.

But honestly, we didn’t want to hike the Foothills Trail in the summer. The heat in the southern Appalachians in June, July and August is juicy. As temperatures climbed into the mid 90s with almost equivalent humidity, we decided to wait a little longer. We were looking ahead to fall, anticipating less humidity, lower temperatures, and perhaps late foliage.

Finally, after a full year of delays, I’m excited that we have a start date and transportation arrangements. Our bags are packed and we are ready to go!

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