*Hangover Hike*

What a day, what a hike, what a crew!


Hiking to the Hangover has been on the Shuler bucket list for quite some time.  We attempted to do this hike last winter but it was not successful.  When we got back from vacation in Nahunta, Rance looked online to see when the US Forest Service would be closing the access roads for the winter and it indicated Wednesday, January 1st.  Unfortunately at this point it was New Year's Eve so we quickly realized we would have to wait until springtime (which I'd then be 8 months pregnant) which would then get pushed to the fall possibly.  We were disappointed to say the least.  Rance ended up calling the US Forest Service that Wednesday to confirm the date and they indicated they would be PUSHING the date back until Monday, January 6th.  HALLELUJAH TO THE LAMB!!!  It was then that we picked Saturday for our big day hike to the Hangover. 


We were super pumped that Lindy, Autumn, Ben and Frank all wanted to join us on this adventure.  The really fun part is that it snowed all the days leading up to the big hike.  You know what that means?!  We walked through at least 6 inches of snow in many areas of the hike which made it more strenuous but so beautiful.  Not to mention, it was around 18 degrees when we started the hike that morning and I am pretty sure it did not get much warmer than the 20's the remainder of the hike.  This day was full of sweet conversations, lots of laughs, fun bonding time, singing praises to the Lord, and a serious physical workout over the entire body!  


Here we go....

Coondog, me, Gina before the hike began!

Rance, Frank and Ben

Celebrating 18 weeks of pregnancy by
climbing a mountain LITERALLY!

LOVE that Lindy brought her dog Ivy!

Can you find Rance's gum that he stuck on the tree to save for later?!?!

GROUP SHOT as we climb!  Molly (Ben's dog) came with us too!

Surrounded by WHITE!

my boo is amazing at capturing random moments!

Are we there yet?!  NOPE!  If you notice, it looks like I changed clothes a million times when really I was either shedding or adding layers depending on whether I was moving or stopping!

You cannot begin to imagine what I was seeing before me...

No picture on earth would do what we saw justice!

These 3 thoroughly enjoyed their time ON TOP of the hangover!  It was so brutally cold and the wind was UNREAL.

Rance and Frank look like they are on top of the world!  That's what it felt like.

me and Baby Boy made it to the TOP!!!



To think DADDY spoke this view and these mountains into existence!

Gina just taking a moment to capture the view!

It's such a TINY area full of rocks to stand on with a 360 view all around!

I'm sorry if I am boring you with pictures but I'm really not sorry! :)

I'll never forget how cold we were in this moment...

...we could not feel anything!  Thankfully it was only when we were standing ON TOP that we felt this way!

At this point, we had completed our day hike!

THANKFUL for our day together!

HIKE = SUCCESS!

If you are ever in Robbinsville or come for a visit and are up for a hike - this is the one to go on!!! 

Guess what the best part was at the end?!  Since Jess (Ben's wife) was unable to go with us because of little Wyatt not being able to handle the frigid temperatures - she had us a full pot of chili ready to eat at their house when we were done!  WHAT A BLESSING!