I was nine years old when my Granddaddy died in May of 1981. I remember only fragments of that day—the expression on my grandmother’s face, the muffled voices of family and friends, and the sense that someone truly important had been lost. My Granddaddy was an icon. He and my Grandma both embodied many of the values associated with the Greatest Generation: service, hard work, humility, faith, and perseverance. Granddaddy served in World War II, and returned home to become a successful agri-business entrepreneur and community leader.
Years later, my great aunt shared a story about him that connected with me in a profound way. He grew up working the fields of the family farm, which were interspersed within thousands of acres of Longleaf Pine forest. By the 1940s, much of the Southeast’s original Longleaf Pine ecosystem had been harvested for its valuable heart pine lumber. The forests surrounding the Jeffords farm were among the few remaining exceptions. Those woods were rich with Bobwhite Quail, and quail hunting became one of my Granddaddy’s greatest passions.
As the story goes, the day before he left for basic training, he spent the entire day alone in those woods with his bird dog. He chose the forest as a refuge before an unimaginable storm. I don’t know exactly what he was thinking on that day. I don’t know how he processed the weight of the moment. But I know where he chose to be. He chose to be outdoors.
I know he found joy in watching a bird dog work. I know he loved the explosive rise of a covey of quail. I know he practiced conservation by leaving birds behind to sustain future populations. I know the day’s harvest often became dinner for family and friends. But I suspect that day afield was about much more than hunting. I suspect it was about reflection. I suspect it was about clarity. I suspect it was about finding peace in a world that suddenly felt uncertain.
In large part, I can trace my love of the outdoors to that family legacy. Quail hunting involves a lot of hiking, and hiking has become my favorite outdoor pursuit. Hiking serves as the foundation for many outdoor pursuits, including upland bird and big game hunting. Exploring the wilderness with a tree climber on my back in search of a new perspective has always been my favorite part of deer hunting. Hiking is how I explore new places, challenge myself physically, connect with others, reflect on life’s important questions, and experience the natural world on a deeper level.
The modern age has shown me that outdoor adventures are profoundly linked with our well-being. There is a hard-wired relationship between the natural world and our humanity. Time spent in natural places helps keep us grounded, balanced, curious, and capable. It clears away mental clutter and helps us recenter around what matters. I decided to define a simple strategy for how I will engage outdoor adventures that bring lasting insights; Adventure Enlightenment.