We woke up and were ready to leave our campsite at about 8:45 a.m. on May 4th and we decided to take some family pictures on a pretty rock in our campsite. We all took turns laughing at different poses we were making and somehow trying to put off the hike ahead of us. See we were camping at 3000 ft. and we had to make it to 4000 ft. over the next few miles on a very steep road and were uncertain about the Dolly Sods everyone kept telling us about. At about 9:15 we left camp and started our ascent. It was a slow go and we were taking our time moving at about 2.4 miles an hour taking many pictures and getting spring water to drink. The wind was blowing pretty hard, but it did this all night so we thought it was normal. After about 1.5 hours we could see ahead the trees were getting short and it looked like a summit. Sure enough the sky got bigger and the wind blew harder but we were excited to be at Bear Rocks a lookout at the Dolly Sods. We stopped at the sign to take a picture and GentleFir walked a little ways ahead and a gust of wind started pushing her to the edge of the rocks. I ran to her with the big cart which was being pushed sideways by these gusts of approx. 70-80 mph, and when I got to her we heard KatyDid scream and when we looked back she was being blown towards the edge with her cart sideways (the cart was moving but the wheels were not turning). I ran to KatyDid, but the wind was almost completely stopping me from getting there because my backpack was acting as a sail in the wind. When I finally reached her I told her to get to her mother and hold themselves together around the big cart and I would take the smaller one. As soon as KatyDid left the wind blew the 40-50 pound cart out to my right side and it took everything in me to hold on to it. The cart was like a flag stretched out on a windy day, the wheels were not on the ground. When that gust stopped I ran with the cart past GentleFir and KatyDid to a pile of boulders and turned the cart on its side between two of the large rocks, and then set my backpack there also. I went back to take GentleFir's backpack from her and we slowly moved everyone to the spot where the gear was. We were safe for the moment but still trapped about 200 yards from where we needed to be and we had to get back into the open to move. Gust after gust pelted us with gravel and sand to the point where KatyDid's new sunglasses were shattered and GentleFir had to remove gravel from her lip. Finally we just moved what we could and I came back for the rest after we got to where the wind was only about 40-50 mph. We continued to walk to our next point about 2 miles ahead where we were hoping to camp. On the way KatyDid told me if this is ADVENTURE she is not adventurous. After surveying everything we realized we lost our water bottles, some food, and KatyDid's Gummy Bears, I think they are probably in Maryland somewhere. We made it to the campground and thought our fun was over for the day, but after looking at the map we noticed there was camping about 6 more miles ahead and it was still early so we left for the next camp site. In this place you can only camp in designated areas or at least 300ft off the road due to unexploded ordinance left by the military many years ago. So we had to find another campground before camping. A hiker a few years ago detonated some ordinance with his campfire. When we arrived there was a large sign saying NO CAMPING. It was about 2:30pm and we were pretty tired from the ordeal earlier but we knew the next definite place was 10 miles away. So, we set out to descend the mountain we were on and we walked until about 9:00pm and had to get a ride the last 1.5 miles thanks to a trail angel named Steven Thompson. There are many things we could say about this day, but one thing I learned is, I think I know how a flag feels. God truly blessed us and protected us. We are shown daily of his loving kindness and mercy. He is worthy to be praised. Hallelujah
In Christ,
Grounded Haug
In Christ,
Grounded Haug
