The Fabric of Faithfulness

Hiking in the Cohutta wilderness On Saturday Marialice kindly let me take off for a day long hike. I had read about the Chattanooga Hiking Club and also about the Cohutta wilderness. I decided that this confluence of "interests" merited action, made contact and joined up. 17 of us hiked about 10 miles, down from the mountain side, accross the Conasauga river and up to a waterfall on Panther Creek. Then out again. Quite nice, quite sore. We were supposed to do a much harder climb coming out another trail (appropriately called "TearBritches") that would have crossed 4000 feet on its upper side. But when we tried to put our cars at the upper end we discovered the road was a sheet of ice, thought the trail would probably be so too, and thought the better of it (I was glad). I'll post pictures when I get them back. The folks were nice, the trail was wonderful, the legs are sore today and the thoughts of the next hike are lurking in the tomorrow. Of course the primary thought process goes something like this. "I can't take the kids on a hike like this - I need to spend more time with Marialice - But I want to do more hiking, I'm envious of those that say -- I hike every week -- I know the committement I made to Marialice is more important than any attraction to another group or activity -- but I want to go back out to the forest" Ultimately I know the fate is cast! I cannot sacrifice what I have be given simply in order to go be and do that which I do not have. So I am heretofore merely an occasional hiker until such a time as things change -- until my family comes with me. Such is it...