Fire Tower

Yesterday our weekly hike took us to Kingsport, Tn to Bays Mountain Park and Nature Preserve. We had Logan in tow again, so it seemed like the perfect relaxing little day trip. We walked around and visited all the animals and birds, then hit the trail to the fire tower at the top of the mountain. 

It seemed perfect. The trail alternated between flat, then slight inclines, and just a few bigger hills. We encountered countless squirrels and one garter snake who was very unhappy with us for walking by him. Roots of the trail side trees showed through the ground, making beautiful designs where they crossed over one another and jutted in and out of the ground. There were quaint little foot bridges and this one striking tree that looked like it was sculpted. 

We all moved along at a good pace until we moved off of the Lakeside Trail and on to the Fire Tower Trail itsself.

Let me just say that as much as last week's hike was a disappointment, this week we made up for it with steep hills with almost sand-like trails that cause our feet to slip. The picture above is the last picture I took of the trail because I was concentrating more on just getting to the top so we could come back down. On top of the challenge of the trail, we made the rookie mistake of not taking enough water. I had slipped a 32 oz bottle that I had been sipping on into my bag, thinking I had barely had any of it, but didn't pay attention to the fact that there was only about 1/4 of the bottle left. I tried my best to ration it, and we didn't touch it until we were almost to the top. We each took a sip, and an extra for Logan, and that left just enough for a drop on our tongues at the top.

  One we got there, I decided to sit with Logan while Nate climbed the tower. I was going to go up after him, but the steps were loose and rickety, and my legs were a little rickety in their own right, so I resolved to stay on the ground.

The nice clear picture of the mountains is one that Nate took from the tower. On the ground, we couldn't see quite as much for the trees. But we had our own veiw of what I am assuming is the Holston River.

The trip down was, as you would expect, easier. We were all tired and thirsty, and ready for dinner. Logan crashed out on Nate's shoulder, which I wished we all could have done. We made it back about 45 minutes before the park closed. Then we rebuilt our strength with chick-fil-a, and, for Logan and I, a fantastic bowl of coffee, caramel, and marshmallow frozen yogurt (topped with graham cracker crumbs, cheesecake bits, caramel drizzle and a brownie chunk!) from Sweet Frog.

This week I plan to concentrate through the week on building up a hiking pack to take with us every trip and which will be used exclusively for that purpose. This should ensure that we do not end up out with no water again. And also, I will be trying to be more active through the week, because if I learned one thing yesterday it is that boy oh boy am I out of shape!
According to the map from Bays Mountain, we hiked a total of about 3 1/2 miles yesterday. Elevation at the base of the Fire Tower is 2,405. Elevation at the Kingsport Reservoir, where our trail began is 1,835.

http://www.baysmountain.com/
http://www.baysmountain.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Visitor_MapOpt.pdf

Taking (the hike to) the Leap!

So today's hike to Lover's Leap at Natural Tunnel in Duffield, Va...I am slightly disappointed. I haven't made this hike in over five years, and I really had it in my mind that it was more challenging. Even with a two year old in tow, it was a breeze.

Once we realized how easy this hike was going to be, we planned to go down to the tunnel and back again this week, just for the exercise. Logan had other plans. Plans like lunch and a nap. The type of plans that you don't argue with a two year old about. But all in all, it was an ok outing, and I am thankful that at least we did get to go out. And despite the rain, it was a beautiful, cool spring day. The butterflies and this friendly lizard thought so too!

                                 

Also, the view didn't exactly stink. Lover's Leap looks over the tunnels, right down to where we hiked last week, and it felt as if we were looking eye to eye with the mountains around us.

                                    

Next week we are thinking of checking out trails either in Cumberland Gap, or in Wise county. A lot will depend on the weather, and if we can get a sitter for Logan. Either way, I will update again after next week's hike!

Rain...:(

It started raining in the night and has not let up. This, on top of the storms on Wednesday, will not make for a  good hiking weekend. But we will press on. Mostly sunny and 63 tomorrow. We will go back to Natural Tunnel and hike to Lover's Leap at the top of the park. Some place more familiar to be safe due to the weather. Will post again after the hike.

Since this is my first post, I suppose it is best to start by telling the story of why I have this blog.
I've never felt the need for a blog before (which means that this is my first attempt and I have no idea what I am doing so go easy on me!). I had a live journal account in high school that I still occasionally check in on, and the blog that came with the myspace account that I used to have, but I have never had any use for an actual blog. Until now.

My husband is a preacher. He decided about two and a half years ago that he is not only a preacher, but is being called into the ministry to be a pastor. He just finished his associate degree in theology a couple of months ago, and is preparing to look for a church. We don't know where his search for a church will take us, only that where God calls, we will go. We are certain, though, that we will be leaving this place that we call home.
I have been very torn about our forthcoming move and drastic over all life uprooting. It is exciting. It is scary. But only recently did I realize that it makes me a little sad.
I grew up in southwestern Virginia. If you've read or heard of the book Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani, well, that is precisely where I grew up. (I spent three summers as a cast member of The Trail of the Lonesome Pine and I even worked a few months at the Mutual Drug store.) I was raised here in the cacoon of my mountains, grew up running through them, and now I am preparing to leave them. Not that I have never been outside of the area. I have been as far south as Orlando, Fl and I have been East all the way to the coast of my beautiful state. I have not ventured very far north or west, but far enough to see the flat fields of my husband's home state of Indiana. Point being, I have left my bubble, my safe barrier of hills and ridges, but only for short visits. I have never left my home here in the mountains to migrate to a new place. I have never left them behind for more than a week. And until I faced this reality, I never realized how much of who I am is linked into my mountains.

So last week we went to a local state park, Natural Tunnel State Park, just outside of Duffield, Va. A familiar place, the setting of many a school field trip, family outing, and picnics. It is a place I have loved as long as I can remember. At the tip top of the park is "Lover's Leap" where my great, or maybe great-great grandparents were married. At the very bottom is the Tunnel itself, a natural opening in the mountain through which trains have passed for years, and still use today. Last week my husband, my two year old son, and I all trekked to the bottom to show our son the tunnel for the first time. We walked here and there, seeing the flowers that have began to open and the animals that have began the stir, then hiked the .03 of a mile back up, my two year old accepting no help from us, insisting that he could do it himself. Maybe it was that boost we all get after exercise, or the pride for my son being tough and independent enough to hike what about killed his parents, or maybe, and I'm clinging to this one, it was sentimentality for the fact that we will soon be leaving these familiar places for new ones. On the way home we decided that from now until we leave, we will do a different hike every week. Sometimes our son, Logan, will be along, and sometimes just us. But once per week, we will find some place else to hike. We will see my home from all perspectives before we leave it to make our home some place else.
Which brings me back to this blog. I will document our adventures here. I will post pictures, observations, and stories from each hike here on this blog. I will also be posting my own progress as a new hiker, and as a fat kid who is expecting the hikes to whip me into at least slightly better shape. It may be the most boring thing that has ever been places on the internet, or maybe it won't be..I guess we will see.

One last thing. I really need suggestions of good hikes for a couple of clumsy amateurs in southwestern Virginia. It would be really great to get some ideas!