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 ...

You can find Jackson Falls on the Natchez Trace Parkway at Mile Marker 404.1, within walking distance to the Baker Bluff Overlook. There are bathrooms and a picnic area by the Parkway, but the falls cannot be seen without a hike to the bottom of the hill.  It is a little steep, but there is a good walkway with rails for most of the way.  It is worth the walk. This cave is along the path.  We wondered about the creatures that might make their home there, but we did not attempt to check it out.  There are limits to what we will do for adventure. It was too cold to stick our feet in the water, but I'm definitely going back next July or August and give it a try. To stand here among all this beauty makes a body feel a little small.  

We have passed this sign on the Natchez Trace Parkway a thousand times and never stopped.  Last Friday, we decided to find out what was there.  From the road, there is not much to see, but if you take the trail into the woods, it will take your breath away. There are several waterfalls, and all of them are gorgeous. T These shots do not show all the falls; getting to the bottom required a steep climb over wet rocks and it was way too early in the morning for me to be that adventurous. Hopefully, you can see enough to make you want to pull over the next time you are driving the Parkway.  It is located near Mile Marker 392.

Monte Sano State Park is built on the eastern slopes and top of Monte Sano Mountain in Huntsville, Alabama.  The park was built in part by the Civilian Conservation Corps and opened in August, 1938. Monte Sano is a Spanish term meaning Mountain of Health. The park offers lodging in rustic cabins, camping, picnicking, and many hiking and biking trails. I was there last week with a few of my favorite people for a writing retreat. It was dark when we finished and started home. I was amazed at the lack of light pollution, with a busy city humming right over the mountain top.  It was dark enough to see innumerable stars and easy to imagine that we were the only people for miles around. They are open from 7:00 AM until sundown for day use.   We are planning to spend the day there this fall after the leaves change.