A Walk in the Woods - Guided Hike

On the third day of our anniversary trip, Chad and I scheduled a guided hike with A Walk in the Woods.  We chose a 4 mile trip on a secluded trail.  There was one other couple signed up for a total of five people including the guide.

We were super excited to find out after some conversation that our guide, Charles, was a homeschool graduate (and so was his wife!)  He was a great guide with lots of experience and a thorough knowledge of many plants and wildlife of the Smokies.  He also gave us some history of the land.  I cannot recommend A Walk in the Woods enough if you are ever in the Gatlinburg, TN area.

  We started our hike on what was once a "main road" through the Tennessee mountains.

Immediately, we walked into a slew of butterflies feasting on the minerals there.  So pretty to see so many butterflies flying around.

Above, you'll see what is left of a nineteenth century homestead.  The rocky steps lead up to where the house would have stood.

This barn is over 100 years old as is this house...

And see the foundation that has kept this house standing so long...

And here we are trying some edible leaves and twigs found along the trail...

Not exactly yummy, but how could we pass up the opportunity!

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Climbing Mountains

Chad and I celebrated our 13 year anniversary with an amazing getaway weekend to the Smoky Mountains.  We arrived on Thursday with a splash...that's because we took our first white water rafting trip.  No pics of that though since we don't have a waterproof camera.  But it was serious fun!

On Friday, Chad convinced me to take a hike through the mountains.  Now, you may know by now that I love to hike so that's not why I needed the convincing.  In all honesty, I had a few fears...most of them centered around bears and other wild animals.  I felt the most sensible thing was to take a guided hike, which we had planned on Saturday morning.  But Chad didn't want to wait until then to get the woods.

So we stopped at the park visitor center and choose a recommended trail.  We were told by the park ranger that we probably wouldn't be confronted by a bear unless we were carrying fried chicken or Krispy Kreme doughnuts, but if we did see one to yell loudly and act aggressive.  This did nothing to calm my fears.

However as we approached the trailhead we saw about 30 cars parked around.  knowing that it was a well-travelled path did help.

About a quarter of a mile down the trail, I kept feeling something tugging at the back of my leg on the inside of my hiking pants.  Thinking it was a tag, I pulled it off.  See the above picture?  Know what that is?  It's the velcro tab from a diaper. Inside my hiking pants.  Yup.  I'm a mom.

All along the trail were the exposed roots of trees creating beautiful patterns.

Ok, really.  Why do we ever sit at home on our couches when God created beautiful places like this to see?

As we climbed up, we also crossed over.

Another bridge ...

And up through these steps.

At this point the climb started getting more difficult.  Steep inclines and dropoffs.  But at the top was this beautiful sandy area.

And what a view...

The entire hike was about 5 miles and took us around 3 hours.  It was definitely one of the more strenous hikes we've done, but oh-so-much fun.  

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A Lesson From the Woods

A couple weeks ago Chad and I took a day trip to see the Natural Bridge in Red River Gorge, Ky. thanks to my MIL, who came and stayed with the kids all day.  It was an amazing day that started with our very first canoe trip...

 The first lesson of the day:  A front seat driver in a canoe is just as under appreciated as a backseat driver in a car.  We decided that the next time, we will get kayaks so we can both be in control of the boat. :)

After 4 miles in the water, we drove over to the trail to Natural Bridge.  2 miles up and 2 miles down. 

It wasn't easy.  You can see from this picture that beyond the tree, we go UP.  Way up.

 And more up.

But we saw some really amazing sites along the way...

And at some point, I got to thinking...

I never could've done this a year ago.  As a matter of fact, I can't think of any other point in my life when I was healthy and strong enough to do this.  In the past 11 months I have lost 65 lbs, I've started exercising, muscle conditioning, running, and I've run a half marathon.

My father passed away a year and a half ago.  He was a strong man, but a tragedy that occurred when I was very young left him with only one lung and unable to do the active things he enjoyed.  He would've loved this hike.  He would've loved that I was doing it.  But he wouldn't have been able to climb that trail.  His physical limitations would've stopped him.

A year ago, my physical limitations would've stopped me too.  But my tragedy was that I was just too lazy... I wasn't taking care of my temple.  And I can not ever be that way again.  I have to always be able to do this.  Because there are some people can't....really, really can't...and it's not their fault.  I should take care of myself, simply because I can.

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

 We made it to the top of the trail at the base of the bridge...

Here is the view from underneath...

But we certainly weren't stopping there!  We climbed to the top to walk over the bridge...

 Amazing view!

And on our way back down, on the side of the gorge we saw this rock with all these beautiful markings in it...

I only got a fuzzy picture, but it looked just like giant fingerprints.  Can't you just imagine God leaving them there as he molded this place?

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