Faith, Folklore, and Friends

The Appalachian Trail is a 2200 mile hiking trail that extends from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. The trail goes through the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where we were staying a few weeks ago. The Appalachian Trail passes through the Smoky Mountain National Park, and we have taken short hikes on it there. However, I have no desire to walk the whole trail.  Really?  2200 miles without indoor plumbing?  I love communing with nature just fine, but when it is time for bed, I'd rather commune with a Hampton Inn. Our Baby Boy planned to hike it one summer a while back.  He worked out with heavy packs for weeks before, made food packages for us to send him at certain points, and spent lots of time with maps.  He flew to the start (or end?) of the trail in Maine to begin his journey.  He successfully climbed Mt. Katahdin and started the 100 mile Wilderness hike.  He used a water purifier that make him extremely ill, and ...

  On Saturday, December 14th, we attended the 38th annual Festival of Christmas Past celebration at the Sugarlands Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This celebration highlights the Christmas culture in Appalachia.    Around Christmas time, people gathered in churches, homes, and schools and many of them celebrated the holiday through music, storytelling, and crafts. Festival of Christmas Past allows us to pause and remember some of these traditions. ~  Kent Cave, North District Resource Education Supervisor.   There was plenty of old-time music, including a group of Scared Harp and shape-note singers. The Christmas trees decorating the building used all handmade ornaments.  There were demonstrations of weaving, rug making, and quilting on the inside.  It was a cold, rainy day, but they managed to make apple butter and apple cider outside.   We enjoyed all the music and storytelling. ...