House Mountain Hike #200, 3-23-2025: Milestone Hike with and for Family! (published 3-26-2025; article #521)

Introduction

A milestone is a significant point. It denotes a meaningful achievement. A milestone is memorable. Last Sunday afternoon was a hiking milestone.

Almost 25 years ago, starting on Sunday afternoon, April 23, 2000, the House Mountain State Natural Area in east Knox County, Tennessee, has been calling me, and I have gone. Before last Sunday afternoon, my hiking record indicates that others (family, friends, former coworkers, and dogs) had accompanied me on House Mountain hikes 38 times. Thus, I had hiked “my mountain” alone 161 times.

Last Sunday afternoon, for my 200th milestone hike on House Mountain, my youngest brother, his wife, and their two daughters ventured with me along every trail and saw the views from all four bluffs! Alone, I still have hiked House Mountain 161 times, but I have now been accompanied 39 times!

Welcome, dear hiking enthusiast, to the 78th entry in the hiking topic section! This article is also included as the 132nd entry in the family topic section. Are you ready to read about my 200th hike on House Mountain? Four photographs from the hike are included. Further, I recorded a brief audiovisual episode at the upper-middle bluff. You are welcome to tune in and watch it. The conclusion includes a personal invitation to hike with me, if you would like to do so!

Preparing for the Hike

Shortly after morning worship, my youngest brother and his family arrived at our house. They came in his Nissan Frontier. Church-going clothes were changed into comfortable hiking attire. Mrs. Appalachian Irishman, who was invited to hike but declined, helped prepare a light noon meal for the six of us.

My trusty canteen was already filled with water. I filled another of my canteens and one of my wife's canteens with water for my brother and his family. Hiking shoes on, we were ready for the seven-mile drive to House Mountain!

Interestingly, as I was backing my 2006 Frontier down the driveway, I saw a hawk circling about 20 feet above my brother's truck! His family and he were already inside and preparing to follow me. My wife and Molly, our mature puppy, who was also disinterested in hiking, were near the front porch. Once my brother started backing his truck down the driveway, the hawk flew away. What did that hawk want? That was the closest to the ground that I have ever seen a hawk circle above our house.

Hiking Up the East Trail

The temperature was in the 70s Fahrenheit. The variable wind, strong at times, indicated the coming rain that arrived later overnight. The sky was mostly sunny, but clouds were forming to the north. Arriving at the upper parking lot, we were fortunate to find two open spots.

At 1:16 PM, I touched the marker near the enclosed picnic area to begin our hike. Just before the bridge, smooth rocks were stepping stones across the mountain stream, still full of runoff from recent rain.

Just beyond the bridge, where the trail forks west or east, my sister-in-law and nieces decided to take the east trail up to the ridge. Three noticeable rock outcroppings are along the lower part of the trail. My nieces had to climb up onto the first outcropping! Their mother photographed them. I wish that I had.

Hiking on up, we talked, paused for sips of water, greeted other hikers, and enjoyed the views. The upper switchbacks challenged and invigorated us. My brother, feeling his oats, ran up a part of one section! The final and highest switchback is somewhat treacherous. Cutouts, caused by careless hikers, have eroded the area, making it more steep and difficult.

Once carefully above that switchback, the ridge was not much farther up. Several yards away from the bench and sign at the ridge, I noticed the time on my watch. I had 40 seconds to touch the sign! I ran as fast as my “bionic” right foot and knee would allow! I tapped the sign at 2:16 PM! My brother and his family were right behind me.

We had hiked up the east trail in exactly one hour! I'm glad that I looked at my watch when I did.

Years ago, before acquiring 25 pieces of surgically implanted steel in my left shoulder, right knee, and right foot, I could hike up the east trail in about 30 to 40 minutes, according to my hiking record.

As an interesting point of brotherly competition, nine years ago on Sunday afternoon, 3/20/2016, Molly, about a year old at the time, my next-to-youngest brother, and I hiked up the east trail in 65 minutes. Last Sunday, we hiked up the same trail five minutes faster!

Of course, nine years ago, I almost died on Tuesday, 3/29/2016, when an uninsured female failed to yield to my right of way. March 20, 2016, was my next-to-last House Mountain hike in my “pre-bionic” life. Two now-former coworkers and I hiked the mountain on Saturday, 3/26/2016, three days before I was almost killed. My first “bionic” hike on House Mountain, the loop trails only, was on Thursday, 12/22/2016.

The Upper-Middle Bluff

Enough reminiscing about the upcoming ninth anniversary of my near-death experience! I am still alive and not breathing hard! Let's continue hiking!

After catching our breaths and sipping water, we continued the short hike east along the ridge trail to the upper-middle bluff. Before reaching the bluff, we heard and spotted a woodpecker, pecking away at a nearby tree!

Standing on the largest rock outcropping at the bluff, we gazed at the panoramic views of the valley below us and the mountains farther from us. The mostly sunny sky included clouds blowing in from the north. I wanted to see at least one hawk circling nearby. Over the years, I have seen several. I even recall seeing a bald eagle at least once. Unfortunately, no birds were flying around us.

At 2:43 PM, I photographed my youngest brother and his family. They are a good-looking foursome. That's my opinion. Feel free to make it yours!

The view looks north. The clouds in the background indicated the coming rain.

Last fall, our older niece, in her freshman year, made the President's List at Walters State Community College (WSCC)! When I attended WSCC (1978 - 1981), I focused on my studies well enough to make passing grades, but I also paid attention to my part-time job, dating, and especially to having fun with friends! Our niece, also working part-time, is more mature than I was at that age! Our younger niece, in her freshman year at Cherokee High School, is also excelling in her studies. She is a member of the ladies basketball team. Go Chiefs! Needless to say, my wife and I are proud of these two Christian young ladies and their parents!

Warning my relatives beforehand, I recorded an episode of Appalachian Irishman - Podcasts (YouTube) at the bluff. The episode, published the next day, is House Mountain Hike 200, 3-23-2025: a Family Hiking Milestone! (published 3-24-2025; episode 35).

During the almost two-and-a-half-minute presentation, I honored my father-in-law, whose 87th birthday was the next day. On his birthday, my wife, sister-in-law, her daughter, and I surprised Paw, as I call him, with a birthday supper and party! My sister-in-law is a good cook.

In the episode, I also honored my “adopted” brother-in-law and sister, Mike and Carol Sue. They were married the day after Mike, or Michael, as Carol Sue prefers to call him, turned 18! Carol Sue, I know that you miss your beloved husband. We will see him again in heaven, where he awaits us. The two of you will be even closer than husband and wife.

Hiking to the East Bluff

The short hike from the upper-middle bluff to the east bluff takes only about eight minutes. That section of the ridge trail reminds me of sections along the ridgeline on Devil's Nose mountain in Hawkins County, Tennessee. The topic section Devil's Nose includes six articles.

At 3:07 PM, I photographed the following view from the east bluff. The view looks northeast.

The remnants of Hurricane Helene, which brought flooding and damaging winds to this area late last September, must have toppled the trees. The article from 10/19/2024, part two of my 192nd hike on House Mountain ten days before, focused on fallen trees caused by Helene and includes 20 photographs.

My two nieces like to pick on each other in a playful manner. While at the east bluff, they picked pine cones up off the ground and started throwing them at each other! If it were permissible, the east bluff would be an excellent overnight camping spot.

Hiking toward the West Bluff

Leaving the east bluff, we started hiking west back toward the upper-middle bluff, the lower-middle bluff, and the west bluff.

At 3:20 PM, I photographed the following scene behind the lower-middle bluff. The view looks northwest.

The American flag is on the bluff, the rock outcropping not visible in the image. It is below the higher rock ledge that is in the shot. I hadn't seen that flag before. The no trespassing sign, on the tree to the right of the image, prohibits access to the bluff. Over the years, I have spoken a few times by phone with the owner of the section of land below and up to the bluff. He said that unruly hikers were building fires on the bluff and throwing garbage onto his property below. He put up the no trespassing sign to stop them.

Continuing west along the ridge trail, we saw the “picnic rock,” as I call it. Farther along, I pointed out the water cistern, which is near where the fire tower used to stand. The two-seater outhouse, leaning but still standing, is still visible. Holes are signs of shotgun blasts from the past.

I forgot to point out the “dinosaur rock,” as I call it, but I did pause briefly at the location where, on Sunday afternoon, 12/3/2017, Dr. Antonov examined me and predicted a ten-year recovery. That was during my 141st hike on House Mountain. Dr. Antonov is mentioned kindly in at least the following four articles: 3/29/2021, 8/15/2021, 3/31/2023, and 2/10/2024.

Hiking Down and Out the West Trail

We did not tarry long at the west bluff. My youngest brother and his family wanted to return home before suppertime. At 3:52 PM, however, I took the following stealth photograph, capturing all but my youngest niece, as they began to hike down.

They had started down the marked trail. I joined them by taking my usual route down the steep section beside and below the rock formation to the left in the image. The view looks west.

I caught up with my family members just above the “defiant tree,” as I call it. The seemingly petrified trunk still juts out between two rock outcroppings. Recent photographs of that tree are in the articles from 5/5/2023 and 12/30/2024.

Hiking across the rugged trail below the ridge brought up conversation about the cutouts, caused by careless hikers. Years ago, the trail was pristine and not eroded. The original trail is still visible. I still take it.

The three ladies, moving quicker than my brother and me, were ahead of us, hiking down the six upper switchbacks. They waited for us, before we started down the four lower switchbacks. I asked my nieces to help me find a proper rock to take home as a souvenir of my 200th hike. I had been looking for rocks while hiking down.

The New Year's Day 2021 article includes a photograph of the rocks from House Mountain hikes 125 (10/18/2015), 150 (10/18/2018), and 175 (12/30/2020). It mentions the plaque for my 100th hike (12/31/2013).

Close to the marker near the covered picnic table, my older niece gave me two rocks that she had selected. Thanking her, I asked her to pick her favorite one. She did. I happened to find two rocks also. I came home with four souvenir rocks for my 200th hike!

Taken from my home office earlier today, the following photograph shows, from left to right, the plaque for my 100th hike, the rocks from hikes 125, 150, and 175, and the four rocks from my 200th hike. My nieces' favorite is in the upper left in that grouping of four. Mine are the lower two in that grouping.

As an aside, the 100th hike plaque should read “Tuesday, 12/31/2013, 100th hike,” not “Wednesday” and “100th mile.” In 2015, when I finally decided to place the order, I instructed verbally and in writing the aged owner to engrave “Tuesday, 12/31/2013, 100th hike, House Mountain.” Paying only 15 dollars for the plaque on 2/4/2015, I didn't have the heart to point out his mistakes.

Conclusion

Touching the marker at 4:42 PM ended our milestone hike with and for family on House Mountain. This 200th hike was definitely meaningful and memorable! With heartfelt gratitude, I thanked my brother and his family for hiking with me. My brother replied, “We did it for you!”

Three hours and 25 minutes in the woods with and for family was better than watching “March Madness” basketball games on television! Mrs. Appalachian Irishman chose to do the latter, of course, with her father and sister. It was their family time together. During her grade school years, my wife played on the school's ladies basketball team. Also, her father and she enjoyed attending Lady Vols basketball games, when Pat Summitt was the head coach.

Is House Mountain calling you, dear reader? Would you like to answer that call by hiking with me? If so, you are invited to email me, using the Contact Form on my website's main page. I need to reach my next goal, 225 hikes on House Mountain! I enjoy hiking alone. Hiking with others is better.