Having settled on the near-impossible goal of hiking the Skyline Trail, we had prepared for weeks to succeed. As usual, I overpacked everything imaginable, including space blankets, because why not? After reading numerous accounts of failed attempts that sometimes turned into emergency rescues, I wanted to have everything we could need. The car loaded to the top, we headed out and later reached our cabin. Maverick and Atticus quickly settled into vacation mode while I continued checking weather conditions like any good introvert would. Deciding to call it a day early in the evening, we made sure the packs were ready for the next morning.

The morning started with a very anti-vacation alarm waking everyone up. We quickly got ready and headed out for the trail. Parking at the Cedar Bluff Trailhead, as many others recommended, we gathered our things, and I learned my thermos was not, in fact, leak-proof. I’d always been under the impression that drinking coffee was the fastest way to wake up your brain, but was quickly proven wrong when boiling-hot liquid ran down my side from the thermos, not so safely tucked into the cup holder’s side pocket. It was truly one of those laugh so you don’t cry moments, and a rough way to start our venture. After taking a moment, I was finally ready to hit the trail, so I thought.

The Skyline Trail is roughly eight and a half miles of maddening switchbacks that seem to have been carved out by a drunk squirrel. It will test your patience and willpower, but most importantly, your ability to find the trail itself. Cutting through steep hills, grasslands, and rivers, this trail has beautiful views. I highly recommend using a trail app to track your progress and notify you if you’re off the path. We brought a large water bladder backpack each, an assortment of snacks, and a packed lunch. The hike took about seven hours and left all three of us exhausted. About halfway through the tread on both my boots came off awkwardly, flapping as I walked. Our saving grace was the trekking poles, but we still suffered a few falls. I can’t say enough about how important it is to have waterproof, above-ankle hiking boots. The trail does come with one warning sign, and I can say with certainty that it’s warranted. Once you get a few miles in, it’s very quiet, and you are very much on your own. The park requests that hikers check in before beginning and again upon completing the trail. We did see several deer and even baby armadillos along the way. There were also a lot of snakes near the trail and in the river. The strangest part was that it doesn’t end where you parked, but instead a mile and a half down the road. Maverick made the valiant offer of locating our vehicle while Atticus and I waited in the shade of a bridge near the river. To say I was impressed by his ability to jog 1.5 miles to find our car after about 7 hours of trekking through the woods would be an understatement. Shortly afterward, he returned as the conquering hero with the car, and we all sat happily enjoying the air conditioning blasting.

The rest of the trip was spent checking out shops and restaurants around town. We also went to the river for a relaxing day and found that the frigid water feels great on sore muscles after a hike. The frequent thunderstorms were also a great opportunity to sit on the back porch of our cabin and enjoy nature. Having completed the highly strenuous Skyline Trail, we’re already planning the next adventure.