Welcome to MacRae Peak!

Trail to Transformation

Hiking for Hope & Healing

In preparation for my Appalachian Trail thru hike in 2025, I took a week-long hiking and backpacking journey to the North Carolina High Country!

One of the Most Dangerous Peaks in the Southeast - MacRae Peak

And I was foolish enough to make the climb . . . alone. As part of my training for the 2025 thru hike of the Appalachian Trail, I took a week-long hiking & backpacking trip to the North Carolina High Country!

Day 1: By those working in the center by the Swinging Bridge (Grandfather Mountain), I was encouraged to take Grandfather Trail to MacRae Peak. This page chronicles that adventure.

Grandfather Mountain

State Park & MacRae Peak

Challenges

  • Traversing rock-face mountain side using cables

  • Climbing steep cliffs & narrow passages

  • Climbing ladders along the mountain face

A Better You is What You Need

Grow, learn, and build friendships - the way friendships should be created . . . through trust, actively helping, and encouraging the people around you. This is an opportunity for US Service Member Veterans to challenge themselves, expand thier world, and become a better version of themsleves.

Backpacking

Day pack to full pack, learn to carry your equipment to successfully accomplish the mission. What's in your pack? Be ready for what life brings you!

Camping

Investing in yourself takes effort. Embody the whole person you want to become, and allow the path of life guide the way forward.

Decision Making

What is your compass? Your values? Your destination? Where are you going in life? How will you know you arrived? Don't be left behind.

Meditation

Know thyself! And know how the universe around you works. Harmonize you with your environment to become the best version of yourself.

Climbing MacRae is Not for the Faint of Heart

Steep Slopes - Narrow Passage Ways - And LOTS of Rocks

Nothing But Cable

Reaching MacRae Peak is less about climbing and more about intestinal fortitude. It's not a hike; it's an obstacle course. In part, you must use cables and ropes to climb the sheer cliff face.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

That's right; I said it. And I squeezed through with a full 30-pound overnight pack. It's as narrow as it looks. Part of the many obstacles to reach the peak.

Stairway to Heaven

It just might be. From a distance, you can see a ladder climbing up. There are a few of these ladders along the way. All of them intimidating. All of them risky. All present their own challenges. Climb up or go back.

Danger Ahead!

This is at the beginning of the trek. The climb to reach the summit of MacRae peak is full of dangerous obstacles. ONLY EXPERIENED HIKERS & CLIMBERS SHOULD ATTEMPT! So, what am I doing here? I asked myself the same question. My answer: Face my fears and leave them on the mountain to die.

Having read the warning, I continued on my way. I knew the risks, and I knew my fears. And the only way to overcome them was to face them. The fear of heights was only one of my challenges. I took this journey alone. It was up to me to make the trip a success. And that's what I came here to do.

0.9 Mile Hike

Deceptively Short

No Guts

No Glory

5,845 ft.

Elevation Above Sea Level

Taking on the Challenge

What does it take to take on one of the most dangerous peaks (not the tallest, just one of the more dangerous) in the Southeastern United States? A deep breathe and a steady focus on what you came here to do. With this as my intent, I went on to traverse the obstacles, climb the cliff face, and hold on for dear life!

Test Your Limits

Why Do We Climb Mountains?

Expand Your Horizons

Why Do We Climb Mountains?

Copyright 2024. All Rights Reserved.