The Stairs I Almost Didn't Photograph

Spent Saturday climbing Mt. Mitchell, camera heavy around my neck, stopping every few steps for that perfect shot. Trees catching light just right. Views that made my legs forget they were burning. But the stairs? Almost walked right past them. Nothing Instagram-worthy about weathered wood and metal railings. Just the honest truth of what it takes to get somewhere worth going. Every step up, every breath that hurt a little. Took dozens of photos that day—sweeping vistas, dramatic clouds, all the stuff that screams 'adventure.' But this one, these unremarkable stairs, is the only one I keep looking at. Sometimes the journey up matters more than the view from the top. Sometimes the ordinary parts tell the real story. #HikingTruth #MountainMoments #TrailLife #Travel