Raygan Houston and her Granddaddy Sam Houston - April 21, 2008

 

Up early, due to extreme excitement, we waited until a little later in the morning to make our trip across the mountains from Balsam to the parking lot and Alum Cave Bluffs Trailhead.

This was 9 year old Raygan’s first official hike to “anywhere” and Granddaddy Houston’s 2^nd trip up the Alum Cave Bluffs Trail. A first trip last April with my brother Wally gave me a desire to make this trip as often as possible. He wasn’t available this year, so Raygan filled his boots. And WOW, did she do that WELL!

We left the trailhead at 10:30 sharp. We followed the creek and Raygan thought this was going to be a walk in the park. She loved seeing the rushing water and all the beautiful calm pools of water.  As we passed the big crooked tree that Ed mentions, I told her we had already gone a half mile. Wow that’s great, considering our goal for today was to hike to Arch Rock and return. I thought that would be a good challenge for a 9 year old.

When the trail started to get a little steeper, Raygan was game for whatever came. We came to the first of the log footbridges. It and the others became the favorite part of the hike.

By 11:30 we had reached Arch Rock. Our Goal!! This was not to be the turn around and go back down place. “C’mon Granddaddy, I’m not tired, let’s go on”.  So, on we went. I knew as we came to the Big Washout, that she was ready to go on and on.

OK, let’s try to make it to Inspiration Point, eat lunch, enjoy the view and then head back down. We came to the place in the trail that was rocky and wet. The cables were there to hang on to and she understood what hang on meant! As we ascended towards the Point, I showed her the Dolly Parton Peaks. She was amused and agreed. We saw the Eye of the Needle.

PB&J Lunch at Inspiration Point with a grandchild is something every grandfather should experience! Seeing the mountains from the top down is much different than a ride through the park looking up. What a great way to share the beauty of the mountains that God has made.

While resting and having lunch, Raygan overheard some other hikers talking about Alum Cave Bluff being just 10 minutes up the trail. She knew Wally and I had been there before and was determined to go on. As we cleaned up our lunch and got back on the trail, she headed uphill!!  I told her we needed to be heading back down. “C’mon Granddaddy, I’m not tired, you can make it. Let’s go on”. 

So, on we went. Through the Tunnel and up those steep rocks we went. When she came to the top of those wooden steps and looked up to see the Cave, She looked back at me with indescribable excitement and declared loudly for everyone to hear “Granddaddy, WE MADE IT!!. 

Yes we did and proud to have been that far the second time. After she scaled the rocks leading up to the cave and I got a picture of her standing by the rail, I went up to join her and enjoy the view. On the way down from the cave, she discovered the water dripping from the mountain and wanted to stay awhile.

As we headed down, I found out those 9 year old legs were much faster than mine. Down the rocks, through the Tunnel, around the Point, there’s  Dolly Parton’s things. Passed the Washout, hey there’s Arch Rock again. “Be careful Granddaddy, It’s really steep going down”. And then we got to cross the “log footbridges” again. Roots and rocks in the trail were not in the way at all. When we came to the Curved Tree, I told her we only had a half mile to go.

Raygan and Granddaddy both were happy to see that last bridge at the Trailhead and Sign.

It was 2:05 and we have had a mountaintop experience together.

However, that was not the end of day. Grandma Susie was patiently waiting in the car for us. We changed out of our hiking boots and into some comfortable soft shoes and spent the rest of the afternoon doing the Cades Cove Loop. We saw lots of deer and turkey. We went to see all the houses, churches, cemeteries and any other building that came along the loop. What a full day we had!

 

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