I disappeared into Acadia National Park last week and I have absolutely no regrets.

It’s a busy season on the island, so finding a place to settle down and use WiFi was quite the challenge. And to be perfectly honest, I didn’t really want to do that. There was too much to hike. (If you keep up with my photos on Instagram or Facebook…just a warning: there’s still more to come.)

The hiking in Acadia is pretty different from what you typically find in Tennessee. There’s a LOT of change in elevation. I love that…but I am also incredibly challenged by that. Hiking five miles in east Tennessee is nothing compared to hiking five miles along trails in Acadia. I finished every day completely exhausted, but eager to do it all over again the next day!

One of my favorites was North Bubble. It’s not the highest summit or the most popular trail (but it is pretty well-traveled). Somehow though, it wound up on my list. The night before, I mapped out my route – starting at Jordan Pond, heading up North Bubble and then looping up to Conners Nubble and coming back down to summit the South Bubble. My bag was stocked and ready to go.

And that morning, I didn’t even stop to make coffee.

I got to the parking lot and immediately took off along the trail. I started working my way around a few “mosey-ers” who were working their way around the pond.

Then things picked up…and I headed up. And up. And up.

I beat everyone to the summit.

Then I sat down and cried.

Crying on mountains and in the midst of trees is not unusual for me. The woods have always been a safe space…that’s where I go to deal with all of the feelings that get overwhelming in normal circumstances.

Leaving Nashville hasn’t been easy. There are days when the relationships that I’ve left seem too big to carry. And there are days when I think about packing it all in and going back.

Then I look ahead…and I look around. I stop to consider all of the stories that have unfolded over the past five (?) weeks. The people I’ve met and the challenges I’ve faced and the moments of peace that I’ve experienced. I don’t know what’s next and I’m not completely sure what’s behind…but I’m just really glad that I’m “here.”

It’s like summiting a foggy mountain. You can’t really see the whole picture…but you know that what ever is out there is breathtaking. And you celebrate that you get to experience this tiny piece of it.