A few months ago with the weekend on us, we decided to go hiking on Sunday. We wanted to try a spot that would be new to us while not requiring a lot of drive time. The Deep Creek area of the Smoky Mountains is near and has many trails, a number of which we have not been on, even though we frequent the area. One we had noticed, Stone Pile Gap Trail, was located just off of the Indian Creek Trail. We had gone down this trail a short ways a couple of times to where it crosses Indian Creek via a log foot bridge. We had always stopped there because we were uncertain where it went. One day we took the Tom Branch Road which is an unpaved road out the backside of the park. Along the way we found signs for the Thomas Divide and the Stone Pile Gap Trails. With this information we had a start and end point.

The April morning was clear with the temperature cool for hiking. We parked in the little spot at the trailhead off of the Tom Branch Road. The Thomas Divide Trail is itself about 14 miles long beginning at the Newfound Gap Road and ending at the Thomas Branch Road. We would follow the Thomas Divide Trail for a little over a mile to the beginning of the Stone Pile Gap Trail. After about a quarter mile we saw the Wiggins – Watson Cemetery. It rests on top of a hill and the sun was casting shadows of the trees surrounding the site. There appeared to be around seventy-five grave sites. There were many flowers and the area was well tended. What I have found so striking about the mountain cemeteries I have seen is how quiet they are. “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust” and a beautiful spot to end one journey and begin another.

The trail starts with a pretty steep incline. In about seven-tenths of a mile it ascends 300 feet to where it levels for about a half-mile and then descends 450 feet to Indian Creek. We take our time and I am again grateful for a hiking partner who is patience with me. Along the trail we see some trees blooming. I believe they are Dogwoods. With the trees and sky in the background they look as if they are floating. The feeling is surrealistic and I enjoyed each minute.

We saw a lot of butterflies as well. I have noticed that they seem to like spending time on the muddy puddles. I will sometimes take their picture, but I never like them because of the background. Being curious as to why they like mud (and truthfully, other yucky stuff) so much I did a Google search. Turns out this is a pretty common behavior for butterflies and moths. According to one website I read the best guess for this behavior is they are after salts and amino acids which play a vital part in their life and reproduction cycle.

Wow the insights that come to me by just watching, exploring and being open. This behavior I perceived in such a negative light is really part of a life process for these beautiful insects. As I reflected on this I transferred that insight to my life experiences and reaffirm that the way I see stuff is just that: the way I see stuff. And carrying that a step further I reaffirm, that since I am not all that unique, the way other people see stuff is just that: the way they see stuff. I also think about the fact that the butterfly is just following its nature and has no concern for what I think or believe about it. A worth goal for myself to work towards.

We continue our walk with a lot of silence and occasional conversations. When I reflect back I realize that these moments are the reason we moved here. Few things speak to me as loudly as the silence of the mountains.

We reached the foot bridge and had our lunch. We have been here a few times before but never from this direction. The intimacy of our simple conversation anchors in my soul and I am truly at ease in my skin.