NC to VA: The Happiest Known Time

The Happiest Known Time

I propose we enter Happiest Known Time into the hiking vernacular.

In Hot Springs, I found a sticker with the words “Happiest Known Time” written on it. Ever since, I have adopted the term as my new trail mantra.

Bad weather? That’s okay I won’t go so far today- I’m here for the Happiest Known Time. Lots of people passing me daily? That’s okay, I’m here for an HKT. I interpret the phrase as a call to relax, soak up the experience, and have fun every day. Whether suffering through hard trail conditions, or relishing in a spectacular view, there is no place I would rather be.

I intend to cherish every moment of this trail and maybe I’ll just have the Happiest Known Time in life too.

NC to Damascus

In the smokies this year, it was impossibly wet. Between the Nantahala and the smokies, it rained 14 out of 14 consecutive days. As disheartening as that much rain was, I never lost my smile. There were certainly times where I was frustrated with the weather, but, I still hiked on with a smile on my face multiple times a day. I even made a little game out of the different types of mud I found.

The rain stopped just in time for the second half of the smokies. The second half of the smokies had some of the best views I have ever seen. They were made all the better because of the dreary weather conditions that had preceded them.

Max Patch

After the Smokies, came one of my favorite sections of trail this year. Between the smokies and Hot Springs, I truly felt like I was living the Happiest Known Time.

Max patch, in particular was an amazing experience. I reached the summit just in time to see the entire 360° view that is so famous. And within less than 2 minutes, the summit was transformed. A thick cloud completely obscured the view and clung to the mountain for an entire lunch break. One of my new core memories of the trail was running off into a cloud on the summit of Max Patch and then running back. My trail group and I were all trying to see how far we could go before being swallowed by the cloud.

In Hot Springs, I took 2 days off. It was there where I first discovered the Happiest Known Time sticker.

Big Bald

The section between Hot Springs and Erwin was also amazing. I ate 4 microwave pizzas right before a hard climb (made significantly harder as a result), saw a cool waterfall, and summitted Big Bald. I hit Big Bald on a beautiful, clear day. The sweeping views were beyond epic. It was my first time seeing Virginia on trail (even if it was just a blurry blue blob).

Erwin

I took another double zero so that I could celebrate one of my trail friend’s, Island Girl, birthday.

We went out to a bar; I rode sidesaddle on Island Girl’s bicycle on the way to a Mexican restaurant- we may have crashed; and, we swam in the Nolichucky. Oh, and I learned how to play spoons-move over Balsam Ridge. Erwin quickly became one of my favorite trail towns.

The Roan Highlands are one of my favorite places period. They are a series of balds which stretch for several miles. Each one offers views which will genuinely take your breath away.

Watauga Lake to Damascus

Watauga Lake came next. Instead of hiking 20+ miles, I kayaked across the lake during an aquablaze. It’s an officially sanctioned alternate route. Not a bad way to celebrate my last day as a 24-year old.

On my birthday, I celebrated turning a quarter century with a 21 mile hike into Damascus. In the process, I crossed the TN VA border into my new home for the next five weeks.