Introduction
This area needed the rain, which started about 10 PM on Wednesday evening. The weather had been unseasonably warm and dry. Thursday was cloudy and rainy. Yesterday the clouds lingered.
Today is perfect hiking weather! Why am I not hiking? I am prioritizing the completion of this article while glimpsing at college football. I would rather be hiking!
Tuesday's weather was also perfect for hiking, but my monthly chiropractic adjustment was that morning. Knowing that I should take it easy after a routine adjustment, wisdom dictated that I not hike that day. I still had the itch. I scratched it the next day!
On Wednesday afternoon, before the late evening rain, the weather and my soulful maxim, the mountain was calling, and I had to go, beckoned me to House Mountain for my 194th hike along those steep and rugged trails.
Welcome to the seventy-first entry in the hiking topic section, dear reader! This article takes us up to the west bluff, enjoys the solitude at the west bluff, and leads us back down on the same trail. The temperature was in the upper 60s Fahrenheit. The weather was mostly sunny with a light breeze. These indicated the oncoming rain, which started late that evening.
Hiking Up to the West Bluff
Arriving at the main parking lot about 12:40 PM, I didn't start hiking up the west trail until 12:52 PM. What took me so long? Hydrating before hiking is wise. I had hydrated too much. A few yards along the east Sawmill Loop Trail, near the parking lot, provided cover. Need I say more? I didn't want to use the men's side of the fancy outhouse. The odor is unpleasant in there!
Relieved and refreshed, the west trail called me upward. I had to go.
The article from 10/19/2024, about my 192nd hike on House Mountain on October 9, concentrated on the fallen trees brought down by the remnants of Hurricane Helene. It includes twenty photographs. I had counted at least nineteen trees down that blocked areas along three trails. At least twelve of those trees had fallen across areas along the west trail.
That previous article includes a photograph taken from just below the third lower switchback. A downed tree or trees had completely blocked that switchback. On Wednesday, the following photograph, taken at 1:08 PM, from just above the same third lower switchback, shows that the blockage had been cleared.
I wonder if employees from the Knox County Parks and Recreation Department cleared the trails. Someone had, for which this avid hiker is thankful! All twelve areas along the west trail, which fallen trees had blocked, were cleared.
At 1:12 PM, having hiked up the lower area, I started hiking up the six upper switchbacks. Not in a hurry, I stopped at times to fill cutouts near switchbacks with fallen branches. Hopefully, that effort will dissuade unthoughtful hikers from taking those cutouts.
The next photograph, taken at 1:40 PM, shows the steep and rocky outcroppings on the trail that leads west and below the ridge.
A huge rock formation is above me. It is partially visible in the upper right corner of the image. How do hikers negotiate this steep and rocky area? Carefully hike up and right, using hands and feet! Hiking theology encourages everyone to hike up and right in life.
Reaching the top of one set of rocks, a thorn bush, growing between two boulders, tried to prick my face. I took out my sheath knife and cut the thorn bush. It won't be in anyone's way now!
Just after I had cut the thorn bush, I heard and saw a young lady, who was hiking down. Seeing my knife out surprised her. Calmly, I assured her that I had cut a thorn that almost got me. Wiping off the blade on my pants, I secured the knife back into the sheath. We continued to talk about hiking, the fallen trees that had been cleared, and trail maintenance. We didn't exchange names or contact information, but I hope that the young lady continues her love of hiking and interest in trail maintenance.
At the West Bluff
Continuing upward and west, I reached the west bluff at 2:02 PM. Alone, I sat on a rock, stood, and walked about. Turkey buzzards flew overhead. I didn't see a hawk. Clouds were rolling in gently, but the sky was still mostly clear and sunny. The gentle breeze refreshed me.
I took the photograph below at 2:15 PM. I was standing a few yards behind and above the west bluff. Trail markers are visible in the image.
Silently, I listened to the sounds of civilization below me. Far away, someone was using a chainsaw to cut wood. I heard a few vehicles on the roads below me. Around me, squirrels and birds rustled leaves as they moved about. It was a perfect moment in time.
I thought about recording a new episode for Appalachian Irishman – Podcasts (YouTube). I have recorded fifteen episodes in the Hiking Playlist and two in the Hiking Theology Playlist. The episode that I didn't record would have focused on the silence and the sounds below and around me.
I centered myself at the west bluff. The trappings of modern life were below me. Natural life was around me. God was above and around me. Quietly, I centered myself. Fellow hikers understand that kind of moment in the woods.
Unfortunately, a couple of groups of hikers reached the bluff. My perfect moment alone with God and nature was over.
Hiking Down and Out
The only photograph, which follows below, that I took on my hike down and out on the west trail was at 2:32 PM. Moments before, I had slowly and carefully scaled down, in crab-like fashion, the steep and leaf-filled ascent to the bluff.
Looking north, the bluff is above me. I enjoy the sound of leaves crunching beneath my feet while hiking. Step carefully though! Unseen, loose rocks and twigs can roll a footstep. Leaves can cover a divot in the ground. I step lightly and carefully, before placing full weight on each step.
A group of female hikers and I shared a humorous moment somewhere near the steep and rocky outcroppings on the trail below the ridge. They were hiking up, as I hiked down. One lady, perhaps in her 40s, had hiked House Mountain once, years ago. It was the first time for the other ladies to hike “my mountain.” They asked me a few questions about the trail, which I answered, sharing that this was my 194th hike on the mountain. One lady asked, “Where is the trail?” I answered, “Just keep going up and right. You'll find it and stay on it.” Once again, my hiking theology encouraged the group to hike up and right in life. The ladies seemed to enjoy the humor that I laced with theology.
Continuing down, near several of the six upper switchbacks, I paused to cover cutouts with fallen branches. Having done this many times over the years, I disdain thoughtless hikers, who cut out around switchbacks! Kindly, I have educated several through the years.
Conclusion
At 3:52 PM, I touched the sign near the covered picnic area, to mark the end of my hike. That was exactly three hours in the woods! Any day or a few hours of a day spent in the woods is better than not having been there!
On House Mountain, I have six more hikes to take, before reaching my 200th hike there. Lord willing, I plan to hike “my mountain” six more times before year-end. Everyone needs to set good goals in life. That's one of mine.
What is the ultimate goal in life? In the first century, the inspired apostle Paul framed it well, in his letter to the brethren at Philippi. The context is Philippians 3:1-14. Verse 14 (NIV) concludes as follows:
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Shifting gears in closing, let's end with a sports goal. The Georgia Bulldogs host the Tennessee Volunteers this evening. Game time is 7:30 PM. Will Smokey the bluetick hound dog beat Uga the bulldog? Will Uga triumph against Smokey? We will see, beginning at 7:30 PM. Go Dawgs! Good luck, Vols!
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