The Smokies - June 2017

At Charlie’s Bunion

I’ve been putting off writing this post - for a couple reasons. First, it’s a tough one for me. Very emotional. Second, I don’t remember all the details because it was so long ago and this was before I started spreadsheet planning, and I can’t just reach out and be like, “Hey, remember when we went to the Smokies? Where did we go on this day?”. But I decided to do it because I want to continue to remember the details that I do, and because this trip is so important to me.

In June of 2017, I had just graduated dental school and Ben had just graduated college, and we were both sitting at home doing nothing. Residency starts on July 1st and his job didn’t start until September. We took advantage of our time off when everyone else was working to go on a road trip, just the two of us. And I’m so grateful we did.

We did no planning for this trip until the last minute. I drove to Maryland on Sunday, June 4th and got there at 22:30. I remember sitting on the floor in the family room with our laptops looking up where to go, what to do and booking hotels. We had decided on the Great Smoky Mountains because it was drivable - a long drive, but doable. The plan was to go to Nashville for a night on the way there. Nashville isn’t exactly on the way, in fact it’s a three hour detour, but it was close enough that we felt we should leap at the opportunity. Ben had heard of Asheville and wanted to visit on our way home. I’ve heard of Asheville plenty of times since this trip, but this was the first time learning of it.

Day 1: June 5 - Nashville

We left at 9AM. We took the Honda Fit. Our route took us through Virginia for a long time, via 81-S. I remember passing JMU. It was about an 11 hour drive to Nashville. As we were driving through the city, it was dark out, and there was quite a bit of traffic. We found a place to eat (The Diner Nashville). I remember I had shrimp and grits, and I feel like Ben had Nashville hot chicken. After dinner, we walked around the city.

It was a total coincidence, but that night, the Nashville Predators were playing and they were in the finals for the Stanley Cup. Throughout the city, entire blocks were closed off, and people brought their camp chairs to watch the game, projected on screens at the end of the block. There was a lot of excitement, people cheering even as they were walking down the street. Ben would yell, “Go Preds!” to some people as we passed them. He was always excited for you and with you. We walked by the Grand Ole Opry and the Titans stadium to a bridge (John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge). We stayed at La Quinta.

Day 2: June 6 - Great Smoky Mountains

I remember walking around again a little in the morning, and I feel like one of the country music awards was happening around that time. I don’t know if it was the CMAs or another one, but I remember walking by an outdoor stage, with the letters for whatever acronym nearby.

I remember the guy at the hotel recommended we visit Chattanooga for something specific (i don’t remember what it was), but we didn’t have time. We drove to Great Smoky Mountains NP, three hours away.

Our first hike was Abrams Falls. Ben brought his suit (my dad’s hand-me-down), and got changed at the top of the falls. We had a good time taking pictures. This is where “Man discovers dysentery” was taken, and where this facet of Ben’s legacy was born.

We drove around Cade’s Cove at sunset. I remember seeing a van full of what I think were Amish girls at one of the pull offs.

We had dinner at the Smoky Mountain Brewery. I feel like we got burgers and inhaled them so fast.

We camped, near a small river or stream - maybe Abrams Creek campground? I really don’t remember.

Day 3: June 7 - Great Smoky Mountains

We went to Grotto Falls. Again, Ben brought his suit, but also his Maryland flag.

We went into Gatlinburg for lunch. Since there is no cell service in the park, I checked my voicemails while we were at the restaurant. I remember I had a call from Jersey Shore. I called them back and the man I spoke to said I failed my drug test. I think I told him that wasn’t possible. I remember saying or asking about whether eating everything bagels would affect it, to which he barked back, “why would you say that.” I was in full panic mode. I went back to our table and told Ben what had happened and sent an email to my Program Director. I don’t know exactly what happened, but days later, my Program Director told me everything had been sorted out and not to worry.

After lunch, we went back into the park to Clingman’s Dome, to begin our hike. My plan was to hike to Alum Caves, and Ben’s (secret) plan was to hike to Mount LeConte - meaning I’m pretty sure he intended to go all the way up to the summit from the beginning, he had no intention on stopping half way at Alum Caves. That’s what I believe anyway. The was strenuous but not hard/technical. There stairs most of the uphills. This hike is when Ben taught me that if you stop and look at mountains in the distance, if it looks like they’re moving, you’re dehydrated. We reached the summit in time for sunset. Our timing could not have been better. There is lodging at the summit and we saw some people come out of their cabins with a cup of coffee to watch the sunset. Watching the colors of the sky and the vista of mountains was so peaceful. This was the first time I hiked down in the dark. It wasn’t dark when we started, but luckily Ben had his headlamp and I had a flashlight. He made bear calls all the way down the mountain, “woooo WEEEEEE"!”

Day 4: June 8 - Great Smoky Mountains

We started early on a hike to Charlie’s Bunion. Part of the trail is on the Appalachian Trail. When we got to the bunion, it was very foggy, obscuring the views. We hung out there long enough that it cleared.

As we left the park, we stopped at Mingo Falls, part of the Smokies but in North Carolina. We made coffee with his camp stove. Wore the suit and took “getting ready for work” photos. We climbed in the waterfall. I almost wiped out by climbing on a slippery log.

We drove to Asheville, and had dinner at Wicked Weed Brewpub. Asheville already had a cool vibe to it. After dinner we walked around the city. We stayed at the Country Inn and Suites. We each had a queen bed to ourselves. We had nothing planned for the next day, so we were researching what to do.

Day 5: June 9 - Asheville

According to Timeline, we went to the Pigsah National Forest (Sam Knob, specifically). I know that we hike Black Balsam Knob and drove the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was a gorgeous drive. Rhododendrons everywhere. We drove and made stops every now and then. I know we hiked Craggy Pinnacle, and saw a bear from the lookout - it was just chilling and hanging out on the side of the mountain.

We drove home this day, and stopped to eat at Due South BBQ.

Concluding Thoughts

I wish I remembered more of this trip. I wish we had the opportunity to spend more time and make this trip longer. I wish we had the opportunity to go on more trips like this. But most of all, I am so so grateful that we got to do this at all. It is a trip I will always treasure.

Ben has inspired me in so many ways, even before he passed. He was fearless. He was so funny, so thoughtful.

Top of Mount LeConte