**Invite only. Must bring a growler of beer and ingredients for a potluck as an "entry fee."**
I fired off a text to OJG last Tuesday afternoon...
"So just kinda sunk in that I'm not a backpacker...
Do you happen to have an actual backpacking pack and some trekking poles?"
Though I've spent countless miles and hours roaming mountain tops and tramping through forests... I have NEVER actually put on an actual backpacking pack and hiked in gear for an overnight stay. Most of my long efforts have been a single push with the absence of sleep. Though backpacking (mostly fastpacking) has always sparked my interest... I just haven't broke down and invested in the gear. Thankfully I have adventurous and generous friends that will let me borrow their gear from time to time.
"Don't think I'm going to make it to Oak Mtn... Hump has the backpack and poles."
I met Hump Thursday afternoon at Oak Mtn to pick up the pack and poles and for a chilly night trail half marathon...
Once we wrapped up... I scooted on over to the Beer Hog and filled up my favorite growler with some local goodness for the fun run...
Since I had to take a half a day off on Wednesday to spend 4.5hrs getting 6 crowns on my top teeth... I couldn't bring myself to ask off a half day on Friday. So as soon as the clock struck 4pm I headed home, made a quick dinner, grabbed my gear and hit the road for the 5hr drive to the Smoky Mtns.
Initially I had hoped for that half day off so I could get up to the Smoky Mtns mid afternoon and up to the lodge a little after dinner. The late departure would have had me starting my hike up the mountain around 11pm and I didn't want to disturb anyone who was already asleep by rolling in around 1am. Instead... OJG offered me a place to stay at their cabin near the NOC. Even though it was an hour away from Alum Cave trail head... it was nice to throw down the sleeping bag in a warm environment opposed to the back of my car. I arrived at the cabin a little after midnight, laid out my gear for the weekend and finally fell asleep around 1am.
My first alarm went off at 430am. I turned on the lamp and dozed in and out of sleep until my 3rd alarm went off at 500am. I heated up my breakfast burrito and was on the road by 515am heading towards the trail head.
I started my hike up Alum Cave around 630am. I knew it would be slow moving with the heavy pack and ice on the trail so I gave myself a 2hr window for a leisurely hike up to the lodge. It was an absolutely gorgeous morning! I got up to the Alum Cave Bluff as the first light started hitting the distant mountains. I made sure to stop and take a Candice Burt Selfie for Matty Fierce...
There was more ice on the trail than I expected. Most of it was very visible but I managed to find a well blended sheet and took a pretty hard fall which bloodied my thumb a bit. But like the old saying goes... "a bloody thumb is better than a busted growler."
It was evident as I made the last turn up towards the lodge that we had been blessed with a picture perfect day for fun run.
I arrived at the lodge about 30 minutes before the fun run was supposed to start. I walked around a bit searching for signs of life and finally heard a muffled voice coming from a room off the main dining hall. I walked around back and opened a door to a small room full of people. Though I had actually never met a single person in the room... the atmosphere was warm and inviting... it was like walking into my Mamaw Tiny's kitchen full of close family members. I firmly believe there is no such thing as "strangers" among mountain lovers and adventurers. Initially Ash and Dan were going to join me for the fun run... it was to be a DayQuan/NighQwon/Phootwan adventure... but life happens and unfortunately they couldn't make it.
After JP finished his spiel about the details of the fun run... he showed me to my cabin where I quickly changed clothes and packed my vest. After a few introductions and a quick picture... it was time to set out for a long, fun day on the trails!
We started down the Trillium Trail...
It was a little slow moving at first with the ice and clustered group...
The ice started to disappear and people began to spread out once we really got into the descent. For the first couple of miles I got to chat with a super chill guy named Seth. I was almost disappointed to tail away from him when we arrived at Trillium Gap. He continued down Trillium and continued straight towards Brushy Mountain.
What I really love about these types "fun runs" is the flexibility and non competitive attitude behind them. If you wanted to run hard you could run hard. If you wanted to go check out sights and places that were not on the route... you could venture off as you please. If you wanted to stop at the half way point and start drinking colbeer... you could stop at the halfway point and drink colbeer. From the get-go I had looked at this fun run as a laid back, enjoyable but tough effort in the mountains. I hadn't really had a long outing in the mountains since October and was looking to get a lot of solid climbing and time on my feet. Since I hadn't been up to Brushy Mtn in years I took advantage of the fun run flexibility and opted for the half mile or so out and back to the summit. I did not disappoint. This summit is especially beautiful in the summer when the rhododendrons are in bloom!
I removed my jacket before heading back down to rejoin the Trillium Trail. Once I got back on the trail I started the long descent passing Tori (I think?). After scaling a downed tree... I managed to misplace a step and take a tumble. Good news: Tori didn't see my fall... Bad news: I tweaked my ankle a bit. Though the ole ankle felt weak the rest of the day and would still be a little bruised and swollen come Monday morning... it loosened up by the time I hit Grotto Falls.
After connecting a trail over to the start of the Rainbow Falls trail... I met up with a group that was chilling at the start of the trail.
I spent the entire ascent of Rainbow with this group (Jeff, Ted, Chas Scott, Ryan)
Just before we arrived at Rainbow Falls... we came across Jennifer Pharr Davis soaking up some warm sunshine with her youngest. It's always cool to see complete badasses out and about :)
We continued the ascent and passed through some areas that had been scorched by the recent fires. Still can't believe the devastation they caused....
When we got back to the lodge (roughly the half way point) I stuffed my face with some donuts and mini Snickers. I had eaten the second half of my Arby's roast beef sandwich during the Rainbow ascent but was still hungry. After refilling my soft flasks I set out down the Boulevard Trail towards Charlies Bulge with the Indiana crew: Jeff, Ted and Chas.
Charlies Bulge (aka: Charlies Bunion if you want the technical and real term) was packed with tourists. The Bulge is easily accessible from Newfound Gap which makes it one of the top destinations along the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee.
After hanging out a bit on the Bulge... we started the trek back up towards the lodge.
The trail was mostly ice free but there were a few semi sketchy spots where it took some slow navigating...
Those pinks shorts tho.... how can you not love this guy?!
The fun run just so happened to also be Chas's 29th birthday! We calculated that a quick little out and back to Myrtle's Point would just so happen to perfectly allow Chas to run 29 miles... so of course... we Myrtle'd it up!
I am extremely grateful that the Indiana boys let me tag along with them all day!
We took the final steps down to the lodge to wrap up a glorious 29 mile/ 7700ft gain fun run!
After a quick change into warm clothes, we all grabbed a beer and hiked up to the Cliff Tops to watch the sunset.
Once the sun disappeared over the horizon we hiked back down to the lodge in a soft blue-orange glow.
We all crammed into the kitchen for a delicious mac and cheese dinner!
After singing happy birthday and presenting Chas with a birthday brownie...
The "entry fees" were put to good use...
It was fun talking and getting to know so many people. I spent a good amount of time talking with Ryne and Jeff of Nashville. It turned out that we had a few mutual friends and great passions for "fun run" self supported type adventures. I'm really looking forward to venturing out with these guys in the future!
After my fair share of "entry fees" I was ready to call it an early night. Maybe it was the lack of sleep or the 34 miles/10,000ft of gain day... but I found myself saying goodnight and walking back to my cabin far earlier than expected. The city lights twinkling in the distance were pretty... but the sky was gorgeous. A bright thumbnail moon and a million stars lit the frigid walk back to the cabin. It didn't take long before I was warm, cozy and drifting to sleep in my sleeping bag.
I woke up a little after sunrise the next morning and headed down to the kitchen for some breakfast. JP and company cooked up some delicious maple glazed cinnamon rolls and an egg-kale-bacon blend that was heavenly. After some warm conversation and hot coffee I said my goodbyes and started the run/hike back down the mountain.
I am so thankful to have been a part of what I have dubbed the "Ultra de LeCoontay." These are the types of weekends that reignite my love for mountain adventures and the culture and people that come along with them. Long, hard efforts in beautiful Appalactic terrain with not so stranger-like strangers... this is what mountain running is all about.
to move or raise to a higher place or position;
lift up.
to raise to a higher state, rank, or office; exalt;
promote.
to raise the spirits; put in high spirits.
Elevation [noun el-uh-vey-shuh n]
the height of a place.
the act or result of lifting or raising someone or
something.
a place (such as a hill) that is higher than the
area around it.
I am not big into making New Year's Resolutions or
lists. I feel like you don't need a certain day to instigate a change in your
life. If you want a change... you literally can start immediately. But for some
strange reason I felt compelled to make a few private goals/resolutions for
2016. My thought was if I made an actual list and remained aware of these goals
throughout the year... I would be more likely to follow through and stay true
to them.
Race less and shift my main focus to pure,
unscripted adventures and experiences for myself and others
Become a more authentic version of myself
without fear of judgement
Form deeper and more intimate relationships with
my friends and family
Open my heart and mind to create a deeper
connection with God and the universe
Support Kati while she's wrapping up her
master's degree and encourage events/activities that SHE wants to do
Practice patience: with people, my dreams
and long term goals (ie: moving)
The result? One of the most rewarding and happiest years of my life.
In July I got a message from Liz of Lululemon
asking if I wanted to grab a cup of coffee and chat. I met Liz last year when I
filled in for someone at the Lululemon wiffle ball tournament at Avondale
Brewery. The event was so much fun. We played wiffle ball, drank colbeer and
then had dinner. But for me...the most intriguing part of the whole day was at
dinner. During dinner...we were asked a series of open ended questions
that prompted us to really take a step back and self-reflect. We then wrote
down specific goals for the upcoming months. I loved this because I felt like I
got a little glimpse and insight to the Lululemon culture. It was a business
culture and mindset that I had NEVER experienced before within a company. It
felt as though Lululemon was looking to transcend from simply selling
clothing...to genuinely trying to better and enrich people's lives. However...
since it was a last minute ordeal... I really didn't get a chance to converse
with Liz for more than a few minutes.
So when Liz asked if I wanted to grab a cup of
coffee... I jumped at the opportunity. After a few sips of black gold and
surface chatter... the conversation went deeper...
"What's your story?"
I’ve actually been asked this question a lot and
I've come to find that this is one of the hardest damn questions to answer.
Where do you start? What do you share? What do you keep to yourself? Does this
person sincerely want to know your story or are they just waiting for you to
finish so they can tell you their own story? Liz gave off a sincere vibe so I
found it easy to open up to her and be more vulnerable in what I shared instead
of merely rattling off from my rehearsed "what's your story?" script. I even told her about a moment
where God spoke to me directly...a moment that I have only verbally shared with
a handful of individuals. Our conversation concluded with Liz telling me that
she will stay in touch about an idea floating around Lululemon that involved
trail running. That idea would eventually become Lululemon: Elevation.
I was stoked when I received an email saying that I
had been nominated by the Lululemon store in Birmingham to potential go on a 3
day trail running journey. I immediately filled out the application and hoped
for the best. A few weeks passed and I received another emailing confirming
that I had been chosen! I was extremely excited but still had to talk with my
boss about taking the time off from work since the dates fell in the middle of
the week. Trail running adventures, weddings and concerts had already burned
almost all of my vacation for the year... but thankfully I have an amazingly
supportive boss that recognized this as a great opportunity and allowed me to
take off some extra days.
Things got kicked off with Lululemon: Elevation
with a photo shoot on my home trails of Oak Mountain State Park. Morgan and
Jessica of Lululemon brought a change of clothes while James Acomb brought his
bad ass photography skills. Morgs and Jess's warm smiles and caffeinated
happiness paired with James' laid back-easy going style created a hella fun
morning! Huge thank you to the girls at Lululemon for the wardrobe and to James
for making me look waaaaaaaaaaaaay cooler than I am!
pic: James Acomb
To keep things interesting and exciting... Kelly,
the brain child behind Lululemon: Elevation… kept the details vague and
presented the group with the basics. We were going to hop on a bus with people
from all over the region and run 3 trails in 3 states in 3 days. Lululemon
Ambassador Sonia Steely helped choose the routes and trails we would be running
in Alabama and Georgia but since she was not as familiar with local trails in
North Carolina...she reached out to me to help plan the last day. I instantly
knew which route would be the perfect end to this adventure.
Day 1:
Mount Cheaha | Alabama | Elevation: 2,411 feet
I had a good feeling this trip was going to be
amazing when I arrived at the airport to find Kelly holding a sign with a cat
on it. I knew this trip would be phenomenal when I discovered that not just
one...but TWO other people on this trip also had 3 legged cats!!
pic: Alison Hoover
After everyone's flight arrived we were shuttled
over to our bus and had lunch as we made our way to our first run destination.
Our group contained individuals from all over (Oklahoma, Kansas, Louisiana, Florida,
Tennessee, and North Carolina) and some who have never truly experienced
mountain running. I was really excited for these people to explore the trails
and mountains that I consider “home” and to be fully engulfed in nature for a
few days. I’m extremely fortunate to live in a place and have a job that allows
me to hit a trail every single day of the week if I choose...and more often
than not... I get the opportunity to spend multiple days and extended weekends
running in the mountains. Every single time I get the opportunity to link
multiple days in the mountains... I always
walk away with a renewed spirit and a deeper appreciation for the natural
environment. Knowing how the mountains personally affect me... it left me more
than a little curious to see how a 3 day mountain binge would speak to the
others.
pic: Alison Hoover
Before setting off on our first run of the trip...
Sarah gathered us in a circle and went through a short guided meditation focusing
on grounding and connecting our mind and body to the earth. I absolutely LOVED this. Some people were a little
anxious and thought this was a "race" of sorts...but the guided
meditation helped clarify the vision of what this journey was REALLY about.... "to expand and
elevate both our physical and mental capabilities." It was becoming
clear to the group that this experience was to be more than miles...
pic: Alison Hoover
Sonia led the group onto the trail and we almost
immediately began to climb what we locals have dubbed "Blue Hell." My
good friend Hunter Lane was there for the day so we stuck together and
ran/hiked up Blue Hell…
pic: Alison Hoover
We even scrambled off trail for a little side quest
to catch a view...
pic: Hunter Lane
After a quick meet up with the group to snap a few
pictures at the "Alabama's Highest Point" sign...we set off again for
Bald Rock. A few runners took a hard right on the road heading away from Bald
Rock and ended up at the park's entrance. I viewed it as a blessing in disguise
since it gave us the chance to hop off the road and follow a new-to-even-me
rolling single track back to Bald Rock. We eventually winded our way around the
mountain to the top and headed along the boardwalk out to the overlook. We
couldn't have asked for a more beautiful first day....
Since our group didn't get a chance to follow
Sonia's planned route down to the shelter to sign the book...we broke away and
started down the mountain. Double D (Dwayne) and I bolted out front and made a
quick, chatty descent to the shelter. After climbing back up to Bald Rock we reconvened
at the bus with the rest of the group for some colbeer and a change of clothes
before dinner.
At dinner we received a note from our local store, a snazzy Lululemon: Elevation
backpack, and my favorite souvenir of the trip... a leather bound journal...
Day 2:
Springer Mountain | Georgia | Elevation: 3,780ft
We had arrived to our rooms at Serenebe after night
fall so we really didn't get a chance to explore the community. After a quick
breakfast... We walked around exploring Serenbe for a few minutes before
loading the bus to Amicalola State Park.
Pulling into the park brought back a flood of
forgotten memories surrounding this area. The last time I was in Amicalola
State Park was in 2013 when I slogged across the finish line of my first “real”
ultra (Georgia Death Race) with an ex-Army Ranger. We both started feeling
rough around mile 40 so we linked up for the last half of the race. Needless to
say...the conversations we shared and the stories David told from his
experience in the military were AMAZING. I was very thankful I had someone
there suffering alongside me through those last 30 miles.
We unloaded the bus and Becky took us through
some pre-run stretches.
pic: Erin Rydzinski
The plan was to take the Appalachian Approach Trail
to Springer Mountain, refuel at the parking lot and retrace our path back to Amicalola for a solid 17ish miles. Since we had such a wide variety of
runners within our group... I knew there would be different pace groups but I
was still hoping to get a chance to run and connect a little with everyone. A
few miles in I found myself alone in Midpack Land… moving too slow and slightly
too fast for company. I came across a sign at mile 4.5 indicating the turn off
for the Hike Inn. I had always wanted to check out the Hike Inn but had never
had the opportunity so I decided to take the 2 mile detour…
I hurried back to the original trail, caught back
up to a bigger group and ran/hiked with them all the way to Springer Mountain.
A few days before our own visit to Springer
Mountain… Karl “Speedgoat” Meltzer set a new Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the
entire Appalachian Trail that ended at Springer Mountain. After 45 days, 22
hours and 38 minutes… Speedgoat finished his journey in the wee morning hours,
touched the plaque on the southern terminus of the AT and walked down to his
van for a beer. I love that guy.
pic: Red Bull
The NEXT day… someone made a rather outrageous
claim… saying that they beat Speedgoat’s record. I won’t go into details of her
claim because it’s just annoying and makes my head hurt… but this is her.
pic: a liar
So of course… being on Springer Mountain a few days
after all of this drama… we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to poke a little
fun…
I, Zachary Andrews, set a new Appalachian Trail FKT
of 22 days, 43 mins and 21 seconds…
Even Jamil said it to be true...
But my new friend Coleen supposedly did it even
faster… but her attempt did not count and shall be void because she did not
follow the “shirtless” pic rule…
My rumbling tummy let me know that enough
tomfoolery had taken place on the summit and I needed to make my way down to
the parking lot for lunch.
pic: Alison Hoover
The sandwich provided was delicious but not
appetizing. I was in a good spot nutritionally so I opted for a Clif Bar and an IPA
before heading back onto the trail. My goal on the second half was to catch up
to Sonia, Jeffers and Big D (Dillon) and spend some time with them. I was 2ish
miles behind them so I really needed to push it if I had any chance of catching
them. I was settling into a good rhythm heading down into Nimblewill Gap when I
snagged a loose rock, twisted my ankle and took a tumbled down the trail. As I
stood up I noticed a backpacker staring at me. This old timer had just
witnessed me toppling down the side of a freakin mountain and all he has to say
is…
“You’re in 9th place.”
Instead of trying to explain what we were all out
here doing… I steered the conversation towards the details of his hike so he could lead the
conversation while I worked through some rehab for my ankle. After a few
minutes of small talk and rehab… I felt my ankle settle back into place and I parted ways the backpacker. A huge thank you goes out to Dr Beard of the FARM. His rehab
techniques have saved me a few times now from on trail mishaps!
I started the climb out of Nimblewill Gap when I
bumped into Big D and plopped down on a rock beside him…
Big D was feeling crampy and didn’t have an appetite
but seemed to be settling into his temporary residence in Bonk City quite
nicely and with a positive attitude. He insisted that I carry on and enjoy my
run… but the words didn’t match the look in his eyes.
Being vulnerable is one of the hardest parts about
being a man. We live in a world that is absolutely terrified of being
vulnerable. Our society has created this fallacious notion where if an
individual shows emotion, asks for help or expresses themselves in a way that's
not "normal" or "manly"... they are “weak” and are to be
scrutinized and banished to the 6th Circle of Hell for heresy. People get so
wrapped up in judging others and trying to prove each other wrong that they
miss out on connecting with unique individuals. People judge. That's how it is
and how it’s always been. And if you are one of these people that say "I
don't judge people"... I will be the first person to call you a liar.
Judging someone doesn't make you a bad person. Judging someone and then
proceeding to tell them why they are wrong or why they should change... instead
of being open and accepting... makes you a bad person... and more importantly… an
asshole. Just because YOU think or believe something... doesn't necessarily
make it right or truth for everyone else. The beautiful thing about life is
that every individual gets a chance to express and interpret existence in their
own little way. I’ve come to find that life and the connections you make with people become
increasing more genuine and pure the more vulnerable and authentic you become.
“When we
were children, we used to think that when we were grown up we would no longer
be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability... To be alive is to
be vulnerable."
- Madeleine L' Engle (author of A Wrinkle in Time)
Any time I go out on the trail in a group setting like this…
I tend to over pack my vest just in case someone needs extra food/water/etc.
This was Big D’s longest trail run to date so he wasn’t quite sure what he
would/wouldn’t need to get him though. He hadn’t eaten much but didn’t think he
could stomach any gels… luckily I had packed 2 packs GU chews that he could
scarf down. After a steady supply of
electrolyte tablets and handing over 2 of my soft flasks full of water… he
started feeling a little better. We briefly caught up to Wilfred who shared his
bag of happiness with us (AKA: SOUR PATCH KIDS!!!). Wilfred pulled ahead and it
was back to just me, Dillon and the quiet forest… but we knew we were getting
close once we started crossing wooden bridges…
We heard a gleeful shout from Ali (our lovely photographer
for the trip) as we popped out onto the service road for the final climb to the
parking lot…
pic: Alison Hoover
This is what this trip was all about. Being authentic. Being
vulnerable. Not holding back.
Elevating each other
to become better versions of ourselves.
pic: Alison Hoover
I’m extremely grateful for the time I got to spend with Dillon on the trail... but even more grateful for the conversation we had later that night. Nothing but respect for that man.
pic: Mandy Oakes
We spent the rest of the evening at the Laughing Bear Lodge
eating…
pic: Steve Kellett
Playing…
pic: Steve Kellett
Lounging around this rad place…
And enjoying the cooler temperatures around the fire…
pic: Steve Kellett
Day 3:
Mount Mitchell | North Carolina | Elevation: 6,684ft
Like I said earlier… when Sonia asked me for route options
around Mount Mitchell for the final day… I INSTANTLY knew which route
would be the perfect end to this adventure. We were to start at the Black
Mountain Campground and follow the 5.6 mile Mount Mitchell Trail climbing 3,600ft
to the summit the highest peak east of the Mississippi. Being one of the
hardest continuous climbs in the region… this route is known to be a “rite of
passage” and I felt it fit in perfectly with the theme and motives that
encompassed this trip. Though day 3 would be the hardest route of the trip… it definitely
would not be the toughest. I partly chose this route because it would force everyone to move at a slower pace.
These enchanting mountains hold a certain mystic, ancient beauty that I have
yet to find anywhere else and I wanted everyone to truly observe
and be fully engulfed in its majesty. Mount Mitchell has personally helped shape and purify my trail running/adventure mindset and my hope and prayer behind
choosing this route was that each individual would walk away with an experience
that moved and excited their soul. There is something ridiculously
satisfying about starting at the bottom of a mountain and climbing to the top.
You could feel the excitement as we unloaded the bus and started getting ready…
pic: Dillon Jones
After a quick stretch session we
headed upwards…
The day was shaping up to be my
favorite type of running day: misty and gloomy. There really is no better way
to experience Mount Mitchell than under these conditions. It’s truly magical. Unlike
the previous days… I WANTED to be
alone for the ascent to this summit. I wanted my breathing, footsteps and the
forest to be the only sounds I heard….
I got my wish and disappeared
into a peaceful state of euphoria…
As I neared the top… the voices
of fellow wanderers snapped me out of my trance…
pic: Alison Hoover
My mind was flooded with
wonderful memories when my feet hit the pavement for the last push to the
summit. And like the Pitchell adventure… I received the same, grey, cloud
covered view… but it couldn’t have been a more perfect view.
Instead of heading back down to
the bus… I made my way back down the trail. I was hoping to capture a few
pictures of other runners making their way up the mountain. Everyone single
person I passed was enjoying themselves…
But Becky and Coleen stole my
heart. The excitement and wonder on both of their faces radiated joy, peace and
pure happiness.
“I did not quite know what magic felt like until I traveled
through the sounds, smells and sensations of Mountain Mitchell State Park… a
place where you can deeply connect to yourself and everything around you. A
place where answering emails, returning phone calls, impressing your neighbor
and the façade of who you are disappears into the fog and mist. A place where
“experience” has meaning and life is revitalized by the vibrant wonders of the
forest. I left a piece of my heart there and filled the voids with aw and
wonder.” - Becky
I fell in line after the last group passed and tailed them
to the summit…
Perhaps I was an Australian Shepard in a past life?
The summit was the
site of a well-deserved celebration and I thoroughly enjoyed sitting back and
observing everyone’s happiness…
pic: Alison Hoover
Even the heavens opened up and provided the first view I
have EVER had on Mount Mitchell…
pic: Megan Conner
Once we loaded the bus and started heading back down to a
lower elevation… we really got some spectacular views!!
Dinner that night was really special. We each had the
opportunity to stand up and share a little about our experience or a moment
from the trip…
pic: Steven Kellett
It was really moving to see how every single person was
impacted by this trip in one way or another…
pic: Steven Kellett
Day 4:
Asheville NC to Birmingham AL | Elevation: 36,000ft
We left out of Albert’s Lodge early Friday morning and
stopped in Burnsville for breakfast.
pic: Aaron Hewitt
Coffee in hand… Sonia and I set out to explore the quaint little
mountain town while we waited for our food…
Maybe the caffeine had me excited…
pic: Sonia Steely
Or maybe it was the fact that I was stupid excited about our
next destination… my favorite city on Earth…
pic: Julio Lajara (aka: Best Roomie Eva)
We had a few hours to kill in the city before we needed to
make our way over to the airport. We all ventured off our separate ways to explore.
I’m not sure why… but this eclectic city holds my heart. It’s
so vibrant and full of life. It feels like home.
My main goal in Asheville was to find a rock shop. My wife
loves rocks and the last time we were in the city we stumbled upon a cute
little rock shop tucked away on a side street. Though I couldn’t recall the
name of the rock shop we visited years ago… Becky and Coleen accompanied me to
a new rock shop called Enter the Earth where we each sifted through hundreds of
beautiful rocks. After researching and speaking with the assistant in the
shop I settled on 2 rocks for Kati…
Blue Lace Agate - “said to assist in communication, self-expression and helps bring
calmness and confidence” – I felt it was fitting since Kati is becoming
more authentic and true to herself daily. She also just started a new
vlog!
Celestite – “said
to have gentle, soothing and uplifting energies” – I was sold on this rock immediately.
The Celestite rock’s description and color matched Kati’s eyes perfectly. Her
eyes were one of the first things I fell in love with and they have always been
soothing and uplifting when I’ve been down and out.
I also purchased a rock for myself:
Polychrome Jasper – “said to be a stone of tranquility, balance and strength. It is said to
provide stamina and determination, grounding, support and nurturing qualities.
It can connect a person to ancient earth memories.”
When we left the shop I parted ways with Becky and Coleen.
They went vegan and I went Wicked Weed.
pic: Aaron Hewitt
We all congregated for the last time and toasted to one
amazing trip before heading to the airport.
I can’t express how appreciative and thankful I
am for the opportunity to have been a part of Lululemon: Elevation. It’s so
refreshing to see a company with such a progressive mindset that is genuinely interested in enhancing people’s
lives and impacting the community in a positive light. A special bond was
formed with the people on this trip and I look forward to continuing those
relationships. Life doesn’t always provide the means for one to completely break
away… but this trip blessed me with a chance to do just that. To break away
from my normal routine and really step back and evaluate what’s truly important in my life. I am walking
away from this trip with more than just good memories… I’m walking away
with an elevated life.
“One’s mind… once stretched by a new idea… never regains its original dimension.”
