By Marc Cavaretti
“The Mountains are calling and I must go." – John Muir
This quote by John Muir plays over and over in my head all day long. “I must go." It is felt in every cell of his body and mind that he must escape into the wilderness, to retreat to the trees and streams and become one with the wild. This phrase is like a tick embedded into my subconscious. I can feel it taking over and invading every other thought, destroying them, and forcing its way to the forefront. I must go.
I am the typical American; I have all the things I am supposed to have. I have two cars, a house, and a beautiful wife and daughter. I truly do have everything one could ask for in life. I work for a decent sized company and make an adequate wage. My wife and I live in Asheville, North Carolina, smack-dab in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The area is eclectic and eccentric; a mix between hippies young and old, businessmen, and young families line the streets of downtown. Whatever you are searching for, you most likely can find it in Asheville. That is why we moved here almost 3 years ago from Florida.
Originally transplants there from separate parts of New York State, we found ourselves moving to the mountains to see what they offered. When we arrived in Asheville, I noticed how small it was, but how big of a personality it has. It is a beautiful little city nestled between mountain ranges. The architecture is magnificent, the trees sprawl as far as the eye can see, and the culture is enthralling. And the mountains, oh the mountains!
The mountains themselves are nothing you will find out west. They are forests top to bottom with subtle rolling ridges that poke out of the morning fog. They mainly offer hiking over climbing, which is okay because I am not much of a climber. And by that I mean not at all. Until we moved here, I wasn't really anything of an outdoor guy. I knew I liked camping,but I never went, and I knew I liked fishing, but I never found the time to go. Moving here though, has caused something in my cells to stir; an overwhelming urge to go outside, to go for a walk, run, or bike ride, an urge to go and jump in a stream, or climb a tree; it has become something physical more than mental. A need more than a desire when I look out at the mountains. I stand at work and the thought is there. I go to sleep and it plays over in my dreams. I see the mountains and I want to start walking to them.
I say that I want to go into the forest and explore, and I want my family with me. I want my daughter to experience nature in its grandest. To appreciate what has been put in front of us. Until recently I had not seen nature as it is intended. I had been focused on the daily grind. I want to start an adventure, to fulfill the wanderlust that has taken over my soul and to share it with the people I love.
I feel the spirit of adventure has really grown in me as of late. I am not sure of the spark that started this roaring fire of mine, but I do know that there is little that would be able to extinguish it. The spirit of adventure lives in every human being. This curiosity has driven people back into the woods to live like their ancestors, to explore uncharted seas, and to head west. It is something in our core that drives us to explore the unknown and challenge ourselves. We all may get distracted by everyday things, but I feel that at some point in one’s life you must cut out all distractions and travel. Whether it be a hike in a park or a journey around the world, it is important to experience what is out there.
Life is an adventure. It is a series of memories that we string together in hope that they live on after we are gone. Life is about exploring and experiencing and I see that in my daughter. She is so curious, fearless, and excited about anything new. I have looked at her many times and thought, “She has figured it out." She has life figured out. As we grow older, more factors cloud our senses and we start to skew it until it is gone and we are left searching for it. What is life? How should I live? I can only think that I must live like my daughter. Live adventurously. Live and explore. Live curiously, fearlessly, and discover new things.
I hope to continue this as our journey continues. Documenting the places and things we discover along the way.