Three Caves and Safety in Woods by Shelley Hopkins

                                            Three Caves and Safety in Woods

I

 have barely walked the last couple of weeks. Six miles in two weeks makes me think I have been living on a reclining chair. It has snowed, freezing winds have howled and I also have been sick. One day I took my dog out in 20 degree temperature with heavy wind, the wind chill was said to be below zero. When the wind was still I enjoyed the walk, wrapped in a warm coat, scarf, gloves and hat. But when the wind began the cold penetrated every gap, every tiny section of skin and I froze. My eye sockets hurt, my ears hurt, my nose and my gloved fingers hurt. The walk went from pleasant to horrible every time the wind blew. The sound of the leash vibrating was louder than the wind itself. I cut short my walk and headed straight to the house.  One day as I prepared to return to my daycare duties in Tennessee, the snow melting and school reopening, I stopped at a local hike. I had enjoyed hiking on the way to my daughters the week before, so I decided to do that again, but this time in my town. I stopped at a place called Three Caves, and I walked a loop that first circled the caves then followed a trail away from them. These three caves look manmade to me, and later when I researched them I found out they were a product of Limestone mining. Many of Huntsville’s streets were created with limestone from this mine. After many years the mine closed down and the land was donated to the Huntsville Land Trust. For a time the land trust offered tours of the 6 acre cave, but over time the roof was found to be unstable. There is a road out to the cave entrance with a large gate. I have lived here almost 10 years now, and I didn’t know concerts were held during the summers in front of the cave entrances. Now I have a plan for this summer. 

 I walked for an hour, following the trails to make an easy loop, then headed back to my car. During the entire walk I had not seen a single person, but I could hear traffic since these trails and caves are right at the edge of the old town. Just as I reached the view of the caves I met another hiker. A woman, alone like me. We chatted a bit. It was going to rain soon, and she had her umbrella. She leaned towards me and asked, “Woman to woman, how safe are these trails.”  I had to think about my answer. I have never had an unsafe feeling, or unsafe moment when hiking. I imagine I am lucky in that. I have walked by myself since I moved out of my house, sometimes with a dog and sometimes not. When we lived near Chapel Hill, NC I walked often in Duke Forest, and I was told that was dangerous. I debated then about not hiking there, but decided I would rather be in danger than not leave the house. I know that is a glib answer, and of course I was young then, but it is also the truth. I love the outdoors, I need the outdoors. If I can’t get out and walk among trees, away from people, I might as well be in prison. Why should I live in prison just because there are some bad people out there. So, I hike anyway. I try to be smart about it, stay alert, let others know where I am and pay attention to weather, news and such, but I will always hike.  If something happens to me someday, I hope my loved ones will know I chose to be out there, and wanted and needed to be out there. I told her, “I have never had a bad encounter from other people, but I know it could happen. I think in general it is safe, but you know….”  She nodded, she did know. We smiled and at that moment a young man walked by, the second person I had seen all day. He had on a hoodie, carried a water bottle, and walked past us without looking at us. We said hi, and he just nodded. I wondered if he was thinking about how we might fear him, and trying to just move on and enjoy his day. Why do things have to be so hard?  I hope he and she enjoyed their hikes. Nature heals, but some healings take time. The great outdoors are for everyone, black, white, male, female, anyone that is willing to get out and walk, and protect and care for the land. 

I walked so few miles I am not even going to see where I am on the AT. Maybe next post I will have moved further along. Enjoy the outdoors and do your part to make everyone feel like they belong.