A North Carolina Mountaintop

The first day of 2024 I set off on another solo trip. Backpacking and car camping all through Tennessee, North Carolina and Kentucky for five full days. One night I slept on this mountain, near the border of North and South Carolina, at this abandoned fire tower. Carrying as much as my pack could possibly hold, I hiked to the summit, made dinner and set up camp for the night. Sunset was one of the most incredible that I had ever seen and the night sky was much of the same. The brightest stars I had ever experienced on the Eastern coast. I awoke around 1am to loud pounding on my tent. Thinking that my luck may have finally run out and a curious bear may be outside, I grabbed my bear spray and quickly jumped out of my tent, half asleep. To my delight it had only been a strong gust of wind but after that I did not sleep much. Instead I just laid there and took in the bright stars and city lights far off in the distance. The night was cold despite my zero degree sleeping bag and warm clothes but this has to be one of my favorite nights I have ever had on the road.