After weeks of holding civil and criminal Superior Court, dealing with attorneys zealously representing their client's interests, a multitude of laws needing to be interpreted, constructing legal instructions to the jury, and sentencing defendants to probation or jail what does a Superior Court Judge do to unwind and get some rest and relaxation?
     How about golf ten times so far this year, sailing on the Cape Fear once a month in a 16 foot ComPac daysailer and twice a year hiking for three or four days at a time on the Appalachian Trail. In fact, I have just come back from such at trip with my head clear and feet sore.
     For the past 20 years my former law partner, James D. Smith, and I have sectioned hiked the Appalachian Trail (AT) 875 miles from its southern terminus in Springer Mountain, Georgia to the end of our latest hike at the base of Hawk Mountain near Big Meadows in Northern Virginia in the Shenandoah National Park. Once in the late Spring around Memorial Day and in the first full week of October, we take off for the wilderness with our wive's blessings and prayers that we come home in one piece. We try not to discuss The Law. Last week from Thursday to Sunday, we hiked 35 miles on the AT in fine weather offering many 60 mile "to the end of the world" views of the Virginia piedmont to the east and Mount Massanutten, the Shenandoah Valley and the Allegheny mountains to the West. The trail here is very close to the 90-mile Skyline Drive and follows the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The elevation is between 2500 and 3500 feet with many rocky ascents and descents over mountains called Hightop, Roundtop, Weaver, Saddleback, Hazeltop, Bearfence, BaldFace, Lewis, and Blackrock. Few people, mostly section hikers, were on the AT though the Skyline Drive and its facilities were crowded for the weekend. Many folks were taking side trails to waterfalls and looking at the fall color which was somewhat disappointing because there had not been a hard freeze that will intensify the foliage color.
     Animals seen on the trail were gray squirrels, chipmunks, red-headed woodpeckers, over twenty buck and doe deer and fawns, many that would come within a few feet of the us while nibbling on grass and ferns, and bears. Jim saw two cubs up a 40-foot up a tree that scrambled down to find their mother and late on the same day, I heard a noise and saw a very large male bear scurrying away from me up the mountain. These were the first bears we have seen in 20 years of hiking on the AT and both occurred on the same day 10 miles apart. It was a thrill to see all of these animals in their pristine native environment. Many leaves had fallen hiding the many small rocks that covered the trail taking a toll on the feet. Mountain wildflowers and shrubs were past their peak but blue astors and golden witch hazel were still in bloom.
     Jim and I are covering 60-70 miles a year on the AT and our pace will have to pick up to finish the 2160 mile length at Mount Katahdin in Maine before we are 65. Sore feet, a few strained calf muscles and unforgettable memories will sustain us until we continue our quest next May. I am now relaxed, refreshed, and ready to dispense justice. Call your next case.