A few weeks ago we were looking for a new trail to hike. Now, on one hand finding a trail is pretty easy. Plenty of websites with information and reviews are a simple search away. We’ve found some of the information correct and some not. Talking with people familiar with the area is an another excellent way. This we’ve found to be the most reliable. One evening we were talking to some of our new friends that live in these parts. They have experience on many of the trails around here and in the past have given us some good suggestions that have turned out to be very accurate.
They told us about an area called Panthertown. It is in the Nantahala National Forest. There are a number of trails there with several waterfalls. Now this sounded good to us; hiking and waterfalls, it just doesn’t get much better than that. So we said great, think we will go tomorrow, a statement that seemed to merited more discussion.
To us, the foray seemed simple enough. Follow previous patterns, have fun, look at waterfalls, listen to the streams, take pictures and pile up some good hiking memories. As we talked, their memories provided information and suggestions that had never crossed our mind. “Do you have a map,” they asked? “Pretty rough hike,” we were told. “Only hike we’ve ever done that is uphill going in and uphill coming out,” they mentioned. “Take plenty of food,” we were warned. “We got real hungry about half-way through.” Hum!
I could feel a blanket of caution start to wrap itself tightly around my body, and little caution flags started running up the “get my” attention pole. Tentacles of fear start teasing my insides. Hum! I ask where to get a map and was told that the bookstore in town might have some. As it was close to time for the store to close I called and spoke to the owner. I asked if he had the map I needed to which he replied yes. I told him where we were and ask if he thought we could get there before he closed. To my surprise he said to not worry and he would stay open till we arrived.
We made pretty good time to the store, City Lights, and good to his word he was open and directed us to the correct section of the store. Now this store is pretty interesting. Like many of the local businesses it is in an old house that has been altered to be a business, but they all seem to be able to retain their homey feel. He also has two cats in the store and they look like they are the brother and sister of one of ours. We got our map and were own our way. We also made a mental note to return to this store and we have a number of times.
That night I awoke often thinking about this hike. Caution or fear? Fear I believe with perhaps a little caution mixed in also. I saw the unknown lurking in the dark areas of my mind. Can I really do this? What if I can’t make it? What if it’s to hard for me? What if I have a medical problem?
Sitting here now I remember a little Pooh Bear cartoon I saw online. I don’t remember who to credit, nor exactly how it went so I will paraphrase it. Pooh and Piglet were walking through the forest and Piglet said, “Pooh, what if a tree falls on us?” to which Pooh replied, “What if it doesn’t?” which in turn gave Piglet great relief. If only I could remember this when I really need it.
On the next day, determined and with map in hand, we headed for Panthertown.