Call of the Wild

When I was a kid, I had the good fortune to live right smack dab in the middle of western Washington. To the west, you had the Pacific Ocean, the Olympic Mountains, and the Puget Sound. To the east, you had the Cascade Mountains. In between were thousands of acres of forests, lakes, and rivers. And no matter where you went, you could always see Mt. Rainier rising far above the clouds. I can honestly say I was blessed to live in a place where natural beauty was so abundant. For the last few years before my parents moved us to Alabama, I was even lucky enough to live in a gated community high in the foothills of the Cascades, where the primary rules of the community was to interfere with nature as little as possible. It surrounded three beautiful lakes with miles of trails that I would walk or ride whenever the mood hit me.

Since then, I've gotten farther and farther from that place, both physically, and in my heart. I've moved all around the country, either as a result of my time in the Navy, or simply because it was where the gods felt I was needed at the time. This is the first place I've lived since I left Washington that I've felt like I was close to nature, nestled at the foot of the Cumberland Mountains as we are. Yet lately, I've felt as if I need to get closer. I can see the mountains rising up only a few blocks from here. I pass over Big Creek every time I drive to town, or watch it wind beside the road as I head out to the in-laws' place. But it just isn't enough.

The last few months I've wanted more and more to be in those mountains. To feel them rising up beneath me as I make my way along some trail or another, trees rising up on all sides to shade me on the way. I've looked up a number of places to go hiking in the area, and even found a trailhead only a minute or two away from here. Ideally, I would pack up a tent and supplies for a couple of days, and just walk. Camp on the trail overnight, and keep going. Sadly, I have neither the time, nor the proper equipment for a hike like that. So at the very least, I want to grab a day pack and see how far I can go. Maybe it will only be a couple of miles. Maybe I'll make the entire La Follette/Jacksboro/Careyville leg of the Cumberland Trail (it's about 11 miles long) in a day.

All I know is that I can feel the mountains, the trees, the rivers and creeks calling out to me. I need to be out there amongst them. And I will be. Soon.