Hiking Smith Mountain

What did y'all do on Labor Day? We decided to drag our kiddos on a hiking adventure in the blazing 95 degree Alabama heat to Smith Mountain in Dadeville, Alabama. Yeah we're kinda crazy like that! Some of our crew really wanted to go while others were less than thrilled at the idea. But hey, we didn't have anything else going on so why not go exploring? Family bonding at it's finest, right, lol.

We have never before ventured to this part of Alabama and I was super excited to see what it had to offer. Despite warnings that some of the trails were not fit for 'small or unruly children' (the Smith Mountain website's words, not mine), we decided to go there anyways. We were hoping some of the trails would be suitable for our little ones. Ha! Sometimes ignorance is bliss, eh?

Smith Mountain Historical Fire Tower trails are nothing short of spectacular in more ways than one, I can assure you of that fact! Labor Day 2019 we officially put our motley crew to the 'hiking test' ~ and we actually lived to tell about it (which is nothing short of a miracle!). What was suppose to be a quick and easy leisurely ONE hour hike turned into a two hour battle of strength and endurance for ALL of us! 

My husband did offer to carry Lydia on his back at the start of our adventure, but I was stubborn and didn't want to adjust my baby carrier settings. I had no idea it was going to be such a difficult hike or I would have let him carry her. There were too many instances to count where I was scrambling on all fours up and down and all around the many, many rocks that made up the Smith Mountain Fire Tower trails. Thankfully we never fell and she had a grand ol' time, never the wiser of how strenuous the hike was for dear old mama, lol.

The trails were steep and blanketed with huge rocks. When we reached the top of the trail a fellow hiker was impressed that our three year old had made it up the trails (so was I!). He just so happens to be my little hiking buddy, and he asks every week when are we going to go hiking again ~ melts my heart, especially since some of my people give me a whole lot of grief when I announce we're going on a hiking adventure {{sigh}}.

Once we reached the top of Smith Mountain, the views were absolutely breath-taking!!!! A few of my older children climbed the fire tower and took this picture over-looking Smith Lake. 

 Last week I posted how we had only ever had one incident hiking where I was slightly worried about our safety. Well, make that two times now. {{Groan}} The trails at Smith Mountain were terribly marked. Very, very confusing is putting it mildly. I assumed since the trail heading up the mountain was so intense that perhaps the returning trail might be just a tad bit easier ~ I was wrong. Not only was it steep and many sections had you sliding down on your rear, but most importantly it was NOT marked well AT ALL!! It took three wrong turns before we found a trail that eventually lead us back to the van. And it wasn't even a trail but a service road. Never a dull moment in our life, folks.

It isn't often my oldest gets to go hiking with us, but this trip he was able to join us. He was a good sport jumping into pictures and even suggesting pictures I should take. It was a lot of fun having the entire family hiking and enjoying the great outdoors together.

Massive pinecones aren't something you see too frequently on Alabama trails, but this particular hike we were all amazed at the monster-sized pine cones we found lying along the trails. 

After a major detour we eventually found our way off the mountain and back to our van. We were all soaked to the bone with sweat and ready to eat our picnic lunch. While Daddy and big sister were getting the food ready and refilling water bottles, the boys filed in for this final picture of the day. It's a rare treat to get a picture of all the boys in the family. 

Believe it or not, this over-picture-taking mama was so enamored by the views and bluffs at the top of the mountain that I did not get a picture of the fire tower. {{insert eye roll) So this is a screen shot of one I found online, lol. 

Here's a little history lesson on Smith Mountain Fire Tower: The fire tower was originally erected in 1939. It was built by the Alabama Power Company in an effort to keep a visual lookout for forest fires. The tower and surrounding 10 acres rotated ownership between Alabama Power and the Alabama Forestry Commission over the years. By 1980 technology improved to the point that there was no longer a need for a manned fire tower. Unfortunately, the tower was left to ruins and the land became a dumping ground. In 2010 the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association acquired the deed to the land and tower. With the help of volunteers and donors the tower has been restored and the land is now a beautiful place to explore. 

While I was quite surprised at how difficult the hike was, we all made it and we all drastically improved our abilities in rock scrambling and hiking in general. We had an acute lesson in confidence building and perseverance. We laughed, we struggled, we got frustrated, but most importantly we spent time together as a family in God's beautiful creation. The Lord's grace and mercy overflowed, especially as mom and dad were kind of panicky at one point ~ anxious to find a way off the mountain. 

Was our little adventure hiking Smith Mountain drama-free HA! NOT hardly!! But, I'm glad we went, I'm grateful for the memories we made, and I would do it all over again, even knowing what I know now. That's the perks of being a perfectly imperfect family: we try, we get knocked down, but we pick ourselves right back up and keep on going ~ all the more stronger for challenges we conquer. Not to mention the pictures and stories we have to share are epic!

With Love and Hope,
Jennifer