Quite A Climb

Story By Bradley Robertson Photos By Hannah Lester

We are blessed in our neck of the woods with rivers, streams, woods, waterfalls and plenty of wildlife to enjoy. We often forget the luxury of Alabama and all its beauty has to offer. And so much of it is right in our own backyard.

Lake Martin has been a local hotspot for decades. It’s known for its calm, fresh waters and enjoyment for families beginning in early spring and lasting well into the fall season.

Here’s a cool fact for you, Lake Martin is a man-made lake. It was constructed between 1923 and 1926 and is part of the Tallapoosa River. The lake is a reservoir of Martin Dam which is used to generate hydroelectric power for the Alabama Power Company.

There is a lovely spot I recently found — the Smith Mountain Fire Tower. I had seen a few friends post pictures of the adventure but I knew little of its location or value to our community.

I took it upon myself, and my two boys, to scope it out and see what this local adventure was all about. It proved to be a delightful outing, and the view from the top of the old Fire Tower was spectacular.

Smith Mountain Fire Tower is located just a few miles off Highway 280 in Jackson’s Gap. It took us all of 20 minutes by car to reach the parking lot of the hike, leaving out of N. College St in Auburn.

Upon arrival, there were few other cars and a small parking lot surrounded by woods. There was a large gate directly in front of us that we learned was the old access road for rangers to drive up and down. To the left and right of the larger gate, were two small paths that both lead directly up to the fire tower.

We took off by foot, hiking to somewhere we had never been. This has got to be one of my favorite things about adventure; having no clue at all as to where you are going, but the excitement of what you will find around the corner.

In less than 15 minutes, we had made it to the fire tower. The trail was well kept and easy to follow with

white paint markings every few yards. The canopy of trees and lake sightings in the distance make for all the feels of outdoor life.

Upon arrival, there are steps leading up to a landing with large maps and information about the history and preservation of Smith Mountain and Lake Martin. There is an old chimney in the middle of a rock wall which used to be the office for the rangers and watchmen looking over the lake.

Soon enough, my boys spotted the grand Fire Tower and up the mountain we went, dodging boulders to see all that we could see. The tower rises 80 feet above Smith Mountain and has been restored and open to the public since June 2012.

With no hesitation and the safety of railing on the tower, we made our way to the top. The view of Lake Martin is panoramic, and you can see Alabama for miles and miles. We stood still, staring at the horizon, taking in the wonder of our view.

I love how our perspective can change in an instant just by altering our vantage point. What once was large, now seemed small. Things we could not see before, we now could.

We all looked up minutes later and began to follow the maps above our heads that pointed out directions and landmarks of Alabama. One map pointed out Auburn in relation to our standing and another showed us Mt. Cheaha and Camp Hill.

We didn’t leave the top of the tower quickly. I stood still and peeled oranges for us to enjoy and listened to the small talk of my boys. For when you see something spectacular, there is no need to run away from it as if it’s chasing you. You might as well take it all in, for you never know when you’ll see it again.

We ate oranges and in true boy fashion they asked if they could throw the oranges off the tower to see where they would land. I declined their offer. They both mentioned that it would make a nice snack for the local critters and although they were right and very convincing, I did not give in.

We eventually walked back down the tower. We took a few pictures and had a bit more fun on the mountain before hiking back to the car. Braxton said he got his hiking fix for the summer and Shep asked when we could return with Sissy to go swimming.

In a time such as this, with uncertainty everywhere, I physically saw that my point of view can be turned and shaped into something new just by moving in a different direction; an idea I hope I can hold onto in my day-to-day living.

But what I experienced most was the simple idea of time to play with my boys. Whether old or young, how often do we find time to play? How often do we make time for fun and adventure?