Normally, I’m more of a mountaintop guy. I plan my trips around seeking the endless views and high grassy meadows of the upland ridge lines.
So, when my backpacking class decided to spend our two-night backpacking trip at the dark bottom of the Chattooga River Gorge in the Ellicott Rock Wilderness, I must confess my heart was a little letdown. The gorge walls are steep, with extensive tree cover, meaning that expansive views aren’t really in the cards. It also has a reputation for raining — a lot.
Now, this was a trip targeted at beginners, so I knew the mileage would be a change of pace for me. I usually plan to do eight to 10 miles a day, with little time to do anything but hike and sit on the mountaintops.
I also usually backpack alone, trekking into the depths of the wild for solitude, or occasionally with my girlfriend, but never with a pack of almost 15 people.
So this six-mile flat hike spread out over two days was a little different. It meant a different style of backpacking, one I’m not used to.
But it was a great new experience.
I loved spending time at the places we went to, searching not for a particular place but just a nice spot to hang out. It was great spending time around the campfire, swapping stories and making friends.
The river also impressed me. The rushing rapids and mist coming off in the morning were just as beautiful as any vista. And taking the time to swim through the rapids in the icy water is a fantastic memory I won’t forget.
All in all, it was a great trip that exposed me to a different, less hardcore style of backpacking, one which I hope to do again in the future.
