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 in action. | GIF by the AVLtoday team

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.

Checkpoint No. 1 is a perfect spot for a picturesque photo op, or to simply sit and enjoy the view. | Photo by the AVLtoday team

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.

A big hike deserves a great photo op. | Photo by the AVLtoday team

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 *