The gate at Swift Run Gap was closed, so I couldn't drive to Bootens gap as I've been doing every New Year's day for the past five years. Hightop was only 2.9 miles south on the Appalachian Trail, so I changed my plans thinking that the shorter/easier hike would be better than not hike at all. 8:49 AM, 34 degrees, and good weather forecast, where else would I rather be this day? Got on the trail to realize that the layer of snow on the ground was about one foot deep. It took me almost forty-five minutes to walk the 1.2-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail from Swift Run Gap to the bottom of Hightop Mountain. I have fond memories of this place. Jim Lehman took me there the first time I went hiking on the Shenandoah National Park. The views of the valley below, the open space, the mountains across were astounding on that day. On a second occasion, during a backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail four years ago, I spent a night in a nearby shelter. I had looked forward to spending some time by the overlook the following morning but fog and rain veiled the views on that May day. So, arriving at the bottom of the mountain on New Year's day brought back some great memories. Hightop is a relatively easy wal. From the Skyline Drive the hike is approximately 1.7 miles. Yet, the snow made this climb exhausting (or else I must be terribly out of shape). I enjoyed every step of the climb, though: The peacefulness of a quiet morning, the cold smell of winter, the sound of the crunchy snow breaking with every step I took... I cannot seem to ever get tired of solitude and nature. How could I? Hiking is always a very spiritual time when I feel very close to God.
I often think that God loves hiking too, so he jumps joyfully every time I put my boots on. How do I know that? I hear his voice when I'm in the woods. Nowhere else I get such an extraordinary peace of mind and thought. I've taken many important professional and personal decisions while hiking. Besides, God always rewards me for this special time with him: Today it was the Shenandoah Valley frozen before my eyes. The fog, the clouds, the ice, the snow, the Massanutten mountain... what a great sight at 10:30 in the morning. Happy New Year!
