Last weekend, my 15-year-old son, Cooper, and I found ourselves in the Great Smoky Mountains. We’d planned a short hike a few days before, and I was grateful we didn’t find an excuse to cancel, as we so often do with our busy schedules. We settled on Spruce Flats Falls, a short 1.7-mile trail that the GAIA GPS app rated as “easy.”
The trail began at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. As soon as we parked, Cooper’s eyes lit up. “Dad, I’ve been here before!” he exclaimed. It turns out he came here for an overnight field trip in the fourth grade at Tate’s School. It was a funny moment, realizing that a place that felt new to me was actually a part of his childhood memories. The dorms where he stayed looked exactly the same and he was capturing photos – I’m sure to send to his best friends who were his best friends back, then 6 years ago. This 4th grade field trip to Tremont was before covid, and unfortunately the last field trip of his elementary school years. April and I have always lamented about how much Cooper missed in 5th and 6th grade due to the pandemic. His older sister got to go to Space Camp in Huntsville, AL and colonial Williamsburg, VA. Cooper’s class missed both of those.
After walking around the facilities, we set out on the trail under a canopy of green, with the most perfect early September weather. It was a “false fall”—a crisp, cool day that hinted at the season to come without the crowds or the cold. The air was fresh, and the sun filtered through the leaves, creating a beautiful patchwork of light and shadow on the path.
The trail itself, while rated as easy, was a good workout. It was a labyrinth of roots and rocks—not a smooth path. Without the distraction of a phone or an easy, predictable path, we had to focus on the trail and on each other. We talked about school, friends, video games, and a million other small things. These aren’t always easy conversations to have with a teenager, but the rhythm of the hike seemed to open the door.
The Spruce Flats Falls themselves were well worth the effort. They were absolutely magnificent, cascading over mossy rocks and a vibrant green backdrop. The sight of the falls was a perfect reward for our rocky hike. We found a large boulder downstream from the falls, sat down, and had a sandwich. It gave us a moment to just pause and take in the scenery before we started our trek back up the hillside.
After the hike, we had an uneventful and quiet drive back home listening to Cooper’s favorite music – which I am noticing is including some 70’s and 80’s classic rock music which makes me proud. I had some knee issues the next day that reminded me that I am not, in fact, 25 anymore. It was a minor inconvenience, though, and it was a funny reminder of the day.
This trip was a good lesson in a lot of things. It taught me that an “easy” rating on an app isn’t always what it seems and that getting a teenager to talk sometimes just takes a little effort and a change of scenery. It also reinforced that hiking is more than just a physical activity. It’s a way for Cooper and me to stay connected and keep the lines of communication open. We’ve decided to make it a regular thing. I’m already looking forward to our next rocky, root-filled, and challenging adventure—and the great conversations that will come with it.
