A couple of weekends ago, my friends and I took it upon ourselves to hike to the top of Blood Mountain. For me it proved to be an amazing experience seeing that it was my first time ever hiking to the top of a mountain. Blood Mountain receives the largest amount of hikers annually, is a key part of the Appalachian Trail, and is the sixth tallest mountain in the state of Georgia (4,459 feet). Luckily our group was able to find parking and the trails weren't loaded with other hikers.
You will find many small streams on your way to the top.
Normally I would go into a bit more detail about the hike itself. However, I would much rather everyone experience the hike for themselves. I will say that it is a hell of a lot of fun and the views are truly spectacular. No matter how much I write, I truly couldn't capture the stunning beauty of Blood Mountain and the terrain that surrounds it. The only word of advice I would give is to bring these things:
1. Sunglasses.
2. Lots of water.
3. A good pair of shoes, preferably hiking boots.
4. Plenty of snacks.
5. A peaceful mind.
Landon checking out one the many shelters that dot the Appalachian Trail.
With that being said, I leave you my dear reader the opportunity to go out and experience Blood Mountain for yourself!
A group of friends and I spent our afternoon hiking the very peculiar Arabia Mountain in Lithonia, Georgia. Without a doubt Arabia Mountain has proven to be one of the most interesting hiking experiences I've been on so far. With a total elevation of only 954 feet, the mountain itself isn't very tall. Truly, it's the land surrounding Mount Arabia that really makes it a special place.
The spectacular view from atop Arabia Mountain.
Originally, many of the areas around Arabia Mountain served as a quarry. The most obvious evidence of a quarry existing was the large slabs of granite lying around. Also, you will find an abandoned building that looks somewhat like a jailhouse on the grounds. What makes Arabia Mountain so special in my mind is the various types of terrain. One moment you are walking over nothing but rock and then you find yourself in dense forest with more decayed structures.
Slabs of granite left over from the old quarry.
For those who love the outdoors, hiking, and seeing history I highly recommend you pay a visit to Arabia Mountain. Those looking for an extremely challenging climb and rough terrain will be disappointed however. The mountain's grounds consist of many bike and dog friendly trails that do provide a challenging walk. But instead of the trails I recommend you go a bit off the beaten path to experience what Arabia Mountain truly has to offer.
This evening I decided to go and see Spike Jonze's new film "Her", featuring Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson and Rooney Mara. "Her" throws the viewer ahead in time into the life of Theodore, whose occupation is to write love letters for other people and appears to be extremely lonely. Without giving much of the plot away, Theodore begins to fall in love with an Operating System named Samantha voiced by Scarlett Johansson. It is during his time with Samantha that we see Theodore confront the issues of loneliness and unhappiness. I could write an entire post about this film because it truly is brilliant. Furthermore, I feel that "Her" is a film that everyone regardless of age should experience. However, the real topic of this article is my own take on loneliness and how I've learned to deal with it.
At one point or another, everyone will feel lonely. Although it's not always easy to admit, I've felt lonely myself. Regardless of why people feel alone, I believe it's very important to not let this kind of thing drag you down. One of the first things I've learned is that life isn't a perfect ride. Hearts can be broken and feelings will be hurt. Life most definitely brings forth bad experiences, but it also has good experiences. Instead of feeling alone every day for whatever reason, I focus on making each day valuable and memorable. We are only on this planet for a short period of time. I believe you shouldn't waste that precious time feeling alone and unhappy. I'd much rather make each day its own adventure and see who I meet along the way. Whoever or whatever it is your looking and hoping for, is out there somewhere. The real challenge is actually looking yourself.
"At the innermost core of all loneliness is a deep and powerful yearning for one's lost self." - Brendan Francis
