Hey, Asheville, Stephanie here. 👋 Last week, I popped over to Mars Hill University to experience one of their special annual traditions — the Bailey Mountain Hike.
MHU President Tony Floyd created and hosts this tradition for new students each year, alongside faculty members. In his words, the experience is a great metaphor for students’ first year of school: more challenging than they expect, but incredibly rewarding if they stick with it.
What we tried:
It was a beautiful day in Mars Hill, and everyone was super excited to hit the trail. But before we got started, students + faculty enjoyed: a live performance by MHU’s award-winning Bailey Mountain Cloggers to get us into the Mountain Lion spirit. 🥾
What not to miss:
The Bailey Mountain Cloggers are 20-time national champions — and they did not disappoint. After their performance, we started our hike to the top.
What we’re still talking about:
The view from Checkpoint 1 is breathtaking. Not only can you see the base of the mountain where the hike began, but also down into campus and the lines of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
President Floyd was right — the hike is challenging, but very rewarding. I loved watching students put their phones away and connect with teachers, each other, and their beautiful campus on a deeper level during the hike. This year, ~350 students participated in the hike.
How you can experience this:
This hike is open to all Mars Hill University students, alumni, and the public. If you’re a prospective student (or know one), Fall 2023 applications are now open.*
Things to know if you go:
- Experience: Bailey Mountain annual hike
- Price: Free
- Website: https://www.mhu.edu/
- Address: 100 Athletic St., Mars Hill, NC
- Social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube *
