Mile 395. Roan Highlands.

I close my eyes.   Then open them.   I close my eyes again, rubbing to be sure.   And open them, slower this time.

Yes.  This is heaven.

Every view in the Roan Highlands demands a sense of quiet awe.   A rocky pathway pulls me into a sea of tall green grasses interspersed with glacier-placed white boulders.  Endless layers of soft blue mountains frame every direction - each layer a darker hue than the one before.

Round Bald leads to Jane Bald, which leads to a 0.6 mile side trail to the 6200-foot pinnacle Grassy Ridge Bald.   Bald bliss in triple succession. 

I turn around like Maria on a hills-are-alive-mountainside.   Beauty is everywhere.    I want more.

Jerry greets me as we pass on the narrow trail.   Jerry lives in a small cabin on Roan Mountain; and he walks the highlands for his daily exercise.   “You plan on staying the night?   There are some great stealth sites up there - perfect place to watch the sunset.   And the sunrise is incredible.  360 degree views of both.”

“Oh no,”  I reply.   I need to get in more miles to catch up to my friends after losing hiking days to VomitFest and New York City.   “I don’t have enough water; and it’s best I keep going.”

“You can have my tea,” Jerry offers his unopened bottle of peach tea, my favorite.

“Thank you again for such a kind offer,” I say, as I dutifully head back down to get back to the proper trail route.    It’s starting to getting late.

Half way down, though, a little voice stops me.    “What am I doing?    Did I come out here to savor these moments?   Or did I come out here to be type A achievement girl.”  I take a couple steps.   And I stop again.   The little voices are louder this time.   “Why am I here?”

Convinced, I turn myself around.   And I hike back up to look for Jerry.   “Is your tea offer still good?  I’d like to change my mind.”