Took my offspring to Tunica Hills in Mississippi yesterday to hike the falls (Man, I love that place).

The weather was hot and muggy and the company was great. There were a lot of people out there this time and it was nice to see a larger number of them with some degree of preparedness (backpacks with water, food, etc) though I felt like a tour guide because so many were wandering around without a map trying to figure out where they were and where the falls were.

There are maps available for free at the parking area/trail head. Why they didn't pick one up is beyond me. I always stick a couple in my pocket to hand to folks wandering lost in the creek bed.

There were the usual dummies bounding around in bikinis and flip-flops (no food, no water, no bug spray, no clue), but they were fewer in number this time.

The only part of the whole trip that I don't like other than having to leave in the first place is the hike out. It's a long way uphill and it's a killer, though this time I had an idea.

Zig zag (walking pattern, not the rolling papers)

Remembering how many roads I've seen going up mountains either circle the mountain or zig zag up one side taking the trail up in a zigzagging pattern was so much easier, I walked farther (and looked kinda drunk) but it was at a shallower angle. Descending the same way was a lot easier on the knees as well.

(getting my pack weight down to 12 lbs (5 kg)helped a lot as well).

Sounds like fun.

Send pictures of bikini dummies.

Sorry, I didn't take any.

Felt kinda creepy even looking in their direction with my daughter present.

Just kidding. Don't want to divert the thread inappropriately.

What sorts of other things made the trip enjoyable besides the falls?

Sounds like a great outing to me.

Just being in the woods with my child. I tell her that the forest is my "church" and it was nice to get back to it.

I've asked her if she wanted to invite some of her friends along and she's come to the conclusion that she doesn't.

She said that Tunica was "our place", just for her and me. That felt good. I remember at 15 I didn't want my dad anywhere near me.... still don't at 44, but that's another story.....

Nice.

samhain, thanks for the story.

I often get the sense that you're more sane than the lot of us.

I have a number of friends, good people and good citizens, who understand when I talk about "the church of the mountains."

I'm sure that every religious tradition understands and respects the magnificence and honesty of these moments ... where we step away from the rush and hubbub, stop, breathe, and meditate or commune above and beyond our everyday clock-punching, bill-paying selves.

And I'm especially glad you can share this with your child. What a wondrous gift to give and share!

Hats off to you.
Cheers,
Doug

thanks Doug.