As I drove further and further from town, I looked for the nondescript road that would lead me to my adventure. No big sign, no road name. A neon-orange rock on one side of a dirt road and an unknown animal skull atop a post on the other side — perfect, I had found my way.

As I stood on the brown hillside, chilly rain showering down, and mist swirling through the surrounding mountains, I nearly had to pinch myself to believe that my feet were finally standing on the grounds of Hogwarts.

With each step, the metal beam shook as cars and trucks sped past overhead. The loud rumbling was simultaneously exciting and, when considering how close the cars were, intimidating. Within inches on either side of my feet was the open air and an 800-foot drop to the river below. Ahead lay 3,000 more feet of steel and our path to the other side.