The Story Behind Comet Haley

I'm Haley, a hiker, storyteller, and chronic chaser of the next adventure. My husband, Jon, shares this obsession, which often takes us far from home.

It all started in George Washington National Forest. When Jon and I started dating, we went on our first overnight camping trip on Tibbet Knob. Like a true gentleman, he carried my extra pack with everything I thought I'd need for a night outdoors. I even brought a book and other things to occupy my time, but I didn't end up using any of them. Time slipped away between the towering trees, campfire conversations, and sunset over the mountains. Before I knew it, it was time for bed.

I nervously lay in my hammock, praying that no spiders crawled into my sleeping bag and animals avoided our campsite. I stayed awake longer than I wanted to, listening to every rustle of leaves and mysterious sound coming from the woods. Eventually, I fell into a restless sleep, hoping I wouldn't freeze in my sleeping bag.

The next morning, I awoke to early dawn light shining on our campsite. I felt warm, cozy, and bugless. The hammock was so much more comfortable than the spider-filled tents on uneven ground I'd slept in as a kid. Plus, I'd climbed all this way to camp on top of a mountain! I was instantly hooked.

We didn't know it then, but that forest became more than just a place to camp. I fell in love with the sweeping views, the challenge of summits, and the intimate moments at camp. One beautiful autumn day in 2022, we trekked up to Kennedy Peak, where Jon proposed right at sunset. The next year, we hiked through the rain to exchange vows on the Massanutten Storybook Trail. The Virginia mountains became my favorite place in the world.

Unfortunately, we couldn't stay in the Mid-Atlantic forever. A few years after we married, we were whisked away to the South. Though I missed the Blue Ridge, I couldn't wait to see my native Southern states in a new light. Little did I know that this move would change everything.

After looking for trails around our new home, we decided to knock another national park off our list: Mammoth Cave. It was unlike anything I'd experienced before. The caves themselves, the ghost stories, and the dramatic history truly inspired me in a new way. I developed a fascination for Appalachian folklore and other trail stories across the country.

I found out my hometown sat on the shores of the most haunted lake in the country, only a short drive away from Springer Mountain. I hadn't been back in decades; my parents had moved a few hours west when I was young. I visited with some family I'd missed and became even more interested in the local tales and folklore.

The ghost stories, strange phenomena, and haunted history gave the trails so much more interest and meaning. Comet Haley is where I blend it all: the views, the experiences, and the local legends that make each hike memorable. Here you'll find detailed trail guides, regional history and folklore, and the occasional tale about getting it wrong in the woods. What started as a personal record of our adventures has grown into something I hope helps you find your own path through the forest. If you're in love with the mountains and the stories they keep, you're in the right place.