Tuesday, 4-14-2026, Fire on House Mountain: 100% Contained, but Still Closed for Hiking (published 4-17-2026; article #552)

Introduction

On Tuesday morning, three days ago, my wife called at 7:18 AM to break the news, which she heard on a local radio station while driving to work. At the time, I was in my home office and passively listening to a local news station on the living room television. The station had not yet aired a segment about the fire. A few minutes after my wife's call, however, WVLT-TV, Knoxville, aired a brief segment, which is not available online, about the fire on House Mountain State Natural Area.

This 37th entry in the Appalachia - Northeast Tennessee Topic Section serves as a public service announcement to hikers outside the Knox County, Tennessee, area. It is about the fire, which was contained the next day. The hiking trails, however, are closed for the time being.

The Fire

Last Tuesday afternoon, I found online “Fire burning on House Mountain,” WVLT-TV (Knoxville), 4/13/2026. (The date is incorrect.) The actual 4/14/2026 audiovisual episode (updated at 1:02 PM) is almost five and a half minutes in duration and describes the fire and the efforts to extinguish it.

From Knox News: Data Central: Fire and Smoke: Knox — House Mountain, I learned that someone discovered and reported the fire at 2:58 AM last Tuesday. What started the fire? The cause is still under investigation. The recent dry, warm, and windy weather could certainly kindle any spark into a fire. The park is open from sunrise to sunset, but it closes after dark. Before sunset on Monday, did a careless hiker drop a lit cigarette, which later ignited the fire? In the early hours after midnight, did a pyromaniac ascend the steep slopes of the mountain to intentionally start the fire?

As an aside, I recall hiking on House Mountain several years ago, not long after a fire on the northwest face of the mountain was extinguished. I saw scorched ground, fallen trees, and burn marks on standing trees. My hiking record does not include notes about a previous fire on the mountain. Online, however, I found the following article from June 2020, which mentions a fire: “Rural Metro: Fire on House Mountain contained.” WBIR-TV (Knoxville), by Staff, 6/21/2020.

My Investigative Visits to House Mountain

So far, I have made two investigative visits to House Mountain. The first visit includes three photographs.

Wednesday, April 15th

On Wednesday morning, a day after the fire started, local news media reported that the House Mountain fire was being contained. Several acres had burned or were still burning.

Early that afternoon, driving north on Washington Pike, I saw smoke rising from the northern side of House Mountain near the northeast bluff. Additional smoke was ascending from the middle bluff and upper-middle bluff on the northwest side of the mountain.

I parked outside the upper parking lot, which was barricaded closed. Only official vehicles were in the parking lot. The scent of smoke was noticeable. I walked down two-tenths of a mile to the lower parking lot. Empty of vehicles, it too was barricaded.

After walking back up to the upper parking lot, I photographed it at 2:04 PM:

The view looks west. My silver 2006 Frontier is parked outside the lot. The U-Haul van may have contained supplies and equipment for the firefighters. I did not see anyone in the area.

I decided to drive east down Hogskin Road and turn left (north) onto Idumea Road. After a few miles, I parked across the creek near a barn and walked back across the bridge, which spans the creek, to where Idumea Road and Childs Road intersect. At 2:30 PM, I photographed the following view of the northeast bluff and northeast side of House Mountain:

The view looks south. I was standing under shade trees and in front of a gate, which opens to the field in the foreground. The wind blowing from the south smelled of smoke.

Back in my truck, I continued north to where Idumea Road comes out onto Washington Pike. Turning left, I continued west a few miles on Washington Pike.

Turning left onto Stephens Quarry Lane (a dead end), I stopped to take the final photograph below at 2:42 PM:

The view looks east. The smoke is noticeable coming from near the upper and lower middle bluffs on the ridge.

Thursday, April 16th

Yesterday, Thursday, I returned to the upper parking lot at House Mountain, parking again in the same location as the day before. The barricades were still in place.

Before leaving home, I left the Knox County Department of Parks and Recreation (865-215-6600) a voicemail. Further, I tried to reach someone at the local Tennessee Division of Natural Areas – East TN Office (865-594-5601), but the line never did ring.

I had not been out of my truck long when a man, perhaps in his 50s, and his dog arrived. He parked outside the parking lot, near my truck. An avid hiker, he is trying to reach his goal of hiking every state park in Tennessee. His dog and he were from Watertown, Tennessee, 40 miles east of Nashville and 10 miles southeast of Lebanon. The drive from Watertown to House Mountain took around two and a half hours.

The man had not known about the fire and temporary closure of the park. A congenial gentleman, he and I talked about nearby trails and our hiking experiences for a few minutes. His truck bed camper was decorated with scripture references from the Bible. I was glad to meet a brother in Christ who also enjoys hiking!

Undaunted, the man and his dog ventured onward in search of another nearby state park, which they had not yet hiked.

Conclusion

My wife and I live under 10 miles away from House Mountain, which is a main reason why I hike there often. If we lived farther away, such as the man I met yesterday, I would be disappointed to drive a great distance to learn that the park was closed.

That's why this article serves as a public service announcement for hikers outside the Knox County, Tennessee, area. Before you plan a trip to hike House Mountain, please call the Knox County Department of Parks and Recreation (865-215-6600) to find out if the park is open again.

Last evening, this area received a much-needed rain. Over this coming weekend, I plan to take the short drive back to House Mountain to see if it is back open for hikers. If so, Lord willing, I hope to publish an article about my 209th hike on my mountain. Please stay tuned, dear reader!

I almost forgot to mention that today the Knox County Department of Parks and Recreation returned my voicemail from yesterday. I offered my assistance as needed. Hopefully, someone will call and ask for my help.

Recently Interesting Serendipities: Wheelbarrows and Truck Milestone (published 4-16-2026; article #551)

Introduction

Call them coincidences, serendipities, or simply interesting connections in time; this Appalachian Irishman experienced two of these moments recently. The dynamic tapestry of life has occasions that make you pause and reflect.

Welcome, dear reader, to the 117th entry in the Life (such as it is) Topic Section. This article recounts two recent instances of interesting serendipity. After each, I had to pause and ponder for a moment.

Wheelbarrows

Late last summer, on Sunday afternoon, 9/28/2025, I loaded our red wheelbarrow into my truck bed and hauled it over to my father-in-law's house. (At the time, he was still living and doing fairly well. The article from 2/13/2026 commemorates his transition.) Our adult niece, the daughter of my wife's sister, wanted to borrow it to spread wood chips in her yard. She and I managed to slide and fit the wheelbarrow into the hatchback of her sport utility vehicle (SUV).

It must take over six months to spread wood chips. Last Saturday, 4/11/2026, was set aside for doing yard work at my recently deceased father-in-law's house. (My wife is the oldest of three siblings. Her sister, next to her in age, and a first cousin of theirs still reside there.)

Beforehand, I bought brush-killing spray and a new blue wheelbarrow at Lowe's. (Our old wheelbarrow became a gift to our niece.) With no wheelbarrow at my wife's homeplace, I needed one. I wanted to pile bush and tree clippings into it and dump them in a brush pile near the creek behind the house. After several hours of sweaty work, during which my “long-suffering” wife helped, a few brush and tree trimmings remained to haul off.

The next afternoon, Sunday, I decided to “get the ox out of the ditch” (cf. Luke 14:1-6). Thus, I spent a few minutes moving the remaining cuttings to the brush pile.

Later that afternoon, I wondered when I bought that first wheelbarrow. Our financial software provided the answer. Just over 22 years ago, I bought the original red wheelbarrow at the same Lowe's location. The cost including tax was $32.51. The purchase date was Monday, 3/29/2004. Back then, our newly constructed home was less than a year old. (We moved in on Saturday, 6/7/2003.) I had needed a wheelbarrow for yard work.

Immediately, my mind fast forwarded twelve years from 3/29/2004 to Tuesday, 3/29/2016, which was just over ten years ago. Twelve years to the day from when I bought the first wheelbarrow, I almost died when the uninsured 18-year-old female failed to yield to my right of way. The Topic Section My Bionic Life — since 3/29/2016, which includes 19 articles so far, focuses on that day, which lives in infamy in my mind, and my recovery.

Thank you, Lord, for not granting me foreknowledge on 3/29/2004 that I would almost die twelve years later on 3/29/2016! In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus stated, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matt. 6:34, KJV).

Truck Mileage Milestone

Photograph by M. Fearghail, Monday, 4/13/2026, at 9:54 AM

My 20-year-young, vintage 2006 Nissan Frontier was nearing the 200,000-mile milestone. I wondered where, on which road, I would see the odometer roll to that mileage.

Last Monday, 4/13/2026, was the anniversary of Papaw Marion Ferrell's birthday in 1880. That day, I had an appointment for a routine six-month dental cleaning at 10 AM at the Lakeview Dental Studio. The location is just behind and above the Fountain City Park.

Greenwood Cemetery on Tazewell Pike is where my mother-in-law's and father-in-law's physical remains await the second coming of Christ. Their souls, however, continue to be blessed everlastingly with unspeakable joy in paradise.

Instead of taking a shorter route from Tazewell Pike, I drove past the cemetery. Keeping a close eye on the road and the odometer, the mileage clicked to 200,000 exactly at the main entrance to the cemetery. A tenth of a mile later, farther southwest, at 9:54 AM, the red traffic light at the intersection of Tazewell Pike, Jacksboro Pike, and Sanders Road allowed me to take the above photograph.

The serendipity was stunning! On Papaw Ferrell's birthday in 1880, my truck reached 200,000 miles at the main entrance to the cemetery where the gravesites for my mother-in-law and father-in-law are located.

Conclusion

Have you ever experienced similar serendipities in life, dear reader? These were two recent examples in my life. I remember several others. I wonder if God's providential hand causes some of these reflective coincidences. It may. Of course, sometimes life simply makes you pause, connect the dots, and think for a moment.

As a separate point in conclusion, two days ago, Tuesday, 4/14/2026, a fire erupted on House Mountain State Natural Area just after midnight. Yesterday, I drove to the nearby park, which was closed to hikers. I took three photographs of smoke from the still smoldering fire, which had been 100% contained. Lord willing, a forthcoming article will focus on the fire.

House Mountain Hike #208, Tuesday, 4-7-2026: Listen to the Mountain Stream! (published 4-12-2026; article #550)

Introduction

Welcome to the 86th entry in the Hiking Topic Section, dear reader! This article describes the Tuesday afternoon hike, my 208th, on House Mountain, the highest elevation in Knox County, Tennessee. It is located about 7.5 miles east from our house. Conveniently nearby, I often hike there. The trails are challenging, and the views are spectacular.

Having limited time, I only hiked up and back down the west trail. (The upper-middle bluff, however, with its spectacular view, was calling me.) The weather was sunny and pleasant with the temperature in the 60-degree Fahrenheit range. The focus in this article is on my impromptu conversation at the west bluff with a fellow hiker and the sound of the mountain stream while I hiked down and out. I had to record the tranquil sound!

Before sharing the story about my hike, however, I must rant for a moment about the psychobabble, which urged me to the woods. I needed outdoor alleviation!

Before Hiking: Bureaucratic Psychobabble!

Before heading for the mountain, I was on the phone with my dentist's office and my health insurance company. In January, my health insurance provider dropped my dental provider and several others from its network. My dental group had asked the insurance company to provide its fee schedule. Afterward, my dental provider would complete the requirements to return to the health insurance network. Three months have passed, and the fee schedule still has not been sent!

For about an hour and a half in total, I was on the phone with my dental provider and then my health insurance company. The female representative from the health insurance company even connected a staff member at my dentist's office and me in a three-way call with her. After a while, however, the representative dropped off and left the lady with my dental provider and me still on the line. We were amazed!

I, however, found out the reasonable cost for my upcoming six-month checkup and confirmed my appointment with the staff member. My health insurance provider is well known. The bureaucratic psychobabble from the representative, however, drove me to the woods! I had to get some relief!

Hiking Up the West Trail

Ah! Relief! The woods and the relative solace freed me from the earlier gobbledygook. Getting outside in the sunny and warm weather helped. Starting my hike at 2:21 PM, I challenged myself once again to see how long it would take to reach the bluff. The recent rain on Resurrection Sunday (Easter) had left muddy runoff, around which I gingerly found a way along the connector trail.

While hiking up the four lower switchbacks, a young lady complemented my canteen as she hiked past me. (The next section includes our conversation at the west bluff.) Embarrassed by being passed by a faster hiker but undaunted, I continued through the lower area of the trail, negotiated around the fallen tree, and started hiking up the six upper switchbacks at 2:38 PM. Seven sweaty minutes later, I reached the final switchback and started west along the trail below the ridge. I had only paused briefly to sip water from my canteen. Remember to stay hydrated!

At 2:56 PM, I reached the west bluff. Once again, it took 35 minutes to hike up to the bluff. Will I ever be able to return to my once-usual time of 24 to 28 minutes? Those hikes were before I acquired the 25 pieces of surgically implanted metal in my left shoulder, right knee, and right foot. I am still a “lame mountain goat.” I keep trying! My strength, lung capacity, and heart have not weakened with age.

Photograph and Conversation at the West Bluff

When I reached the west bluff, the young lady who had out-hiked me on the way up was reclining on the rock outcropping and listening to music on her cell phone. With earbuds in her ears, she didn't hear or see me at first.

Once she noticed me, I introduced myself. Her first name is Nova, a young orthopedist from Boston who has moved to Knoxville. It was her first hike on House Mountain. I encouraged her to hike to and enjoy the view from the upper-middle bluff. Nova and I shared our hiking adventures. As an avid hiker, her friends and she may explore other nearby locations such as Norris Dam State Park, Big Ridge State Park, Panther Creek State Park, and Cove Lake State Park. Our pleasant conversation continued for over 30 minutes.

After Nova headed east along the ridge trail, I took the following photograph at 3:37 PM:

The view looks south. The rock formation is where Nova had been relaxing. I wondered if the distant haze was due to the current abundance of tree pollen in the air.

Hiking Down the West Trail: Recording of the Mountain Stream

Seconds after taking the above image, I started hiking back down and out on the same west trail. I had not gone far and was still on the trail below the ridge when my sister-in-law, who lives nearby, texted me at 3:50 PM, asking if I had called the cemetery! (Later, I learned that the text was for my wife.) Two young men happened to be hiking up at about that time. Jokingly, I asked, “How should I reply to my sister-in-law, whose text asked if I had called the cemetery? I didn't know that I was supposed to call them.” Neither they nor I had a clue!

As an important point about my recovery, there are two rock formations, close together, on the trail below the ridge. Before I was almost killed on Tuesday, 3/29/2016, I could easily step down those formations. Once my recovery from near-death allowed me to hike again, I have had to crab-crawl down those formations, using my hands, feet, and backside. On this 208th hike, I stepped down along both formations, placing my left hand on the rock formations as I did so! That was a significant accomplishment for this “lame mountain goat.”

The trek down the upper switchbacks continued without further textual interruptions. I simply enjoyed the experience and the views. By the way, hiking down, my “bionic” right knee is able to “apply the breaking system” as well as my normal left knee. It has taken ten years to do so.

Before descending the four lower switchbacks, I paused at 4:13 PM to photograph the fallen tree, mentioned in the first and second articles from 3/31/2026.

The tree had fallen exactly across the trail. The easiest way to get around it is to step carefully up, over, and down that nearly 45-degree slope.

After hiking down the lower switchbacks, I paused at the mountain stream, which crosses the trail, to wash off dirt and dust from the soles of my warm-weather hiking shoes. Shortly afterward, I had to pause to enjoy seeing and hearing the gentle flow of the mountain stream.

Would you like to hear and see for yourself? Appalachian Irishman – Podcasts (YouTube) presents House Mountain Hike 208, Tue., 4-7-2026: Listen to the Mountain Stream! (pub. 4-12-2026; ep. 42). The brief clip, just over two minutes, enjoys the tranquil silence as the mountain stream trickles nearby. It relaxed my mind, soul, and body. I tried to keep my comments brief.

Touching the sign near the picnic area at 4:40 PM ended my hike. Before driving back home, I picked mud out of the soles of my warm-weather hiking shoes and let my tee shirt dry in the gentle breeze.

Conclusion

Nova was not your stereotypical Bostonian. Her accent was even southern. I wish her well on her hiking journey through life. The mountain stream helped me relax and overcome the health insurance psychobabble from earlier in the day.

Two hours and nineteen minutes in the woods last Tuesday was better than not having been there. My next goal is 225 hikes on House Mountain. By God's grace, I hope to reach it.

House Mountain Hike #207, Sunday, 3-29-2026: Tenth Anniversary of My Near-Death Accident (published 3-31-2026; article #549)

Introduction

Hello again, dear hiking enthusiast, and welcome back. You may have already read my first article today about my 206th hike on House Mountain last Saturday. A day later, on the afternoon of Palm Sunday, two days ago, I returned for my 207th hike on the highest mountain in Knox County, Tennessee.

I hope that you enjoy this 85th entry in the Hiking topic section. This is also the 19th entry for the topic section My Bionic Life - since 3/29/2016. The embedded audiovisual link below explains why this article is also included in that topic section. In short, this hike celebrated the tenth year since my near-death accident.

Hiking Up the West Trail

After morning worship and my noon meal, my 2006 Frontier and I arrived to see the main parking lot almost full. After managing to locate a parking spot, I saw a younger couple examining the trail map on the information board. Greeting them, I learned that it was their first time to hike on House Mountain. With interest, they listened as I described the trails and the view from the upper-middle bluff. Starting out ahead of me, I noticed that they chose the east trail to arrive at the bluff more directly.

At 2:12 PM, I touched the marker near the covered picnic area and started my hike up the west trail (as the day before). Warmer than yesterday, the temperature was in the low 60s Fahrenheit when I started hiking. A few passing clouds colored white sections of the crisp blue canopy.

The low-lying wet and muddy area was dryer than yesterday. I quickly ascended the four lower switchbacks. After getting around the recently fallen tree, mentioned in today's first article, at 2:28 PM, I started up the six upper switchbacks, reaching the highest one eight minutes later.

As on the day before, after twelve minutes of hiking the narrow and rocky trail below the ridge, I reached the west bluff at 2:48 PM. It was a minute slower than yesterday's hike. At one of several rocky areas, I had paused to ensure that a fallen hiker was okay. Two other hikers were with him. Still seated on a rock, his companions assured me that he was fine and just resting from his fall.

Photograph and Audiovisual Clip from Above the West Bluff

A young couple was already at the bluff. Giving them their moment, I hiked a few yards northeast on the ridge trail, waited a while, and enjoyed the views.

At 2:58 PM, with the young couple nearby but not in the frame, I took the following photograph:

The view looks southwest. The rock outcropping, centered and farthest away in the image, is where the young couple had been standing. You may be able to see my trusty canteen hanging from the trail sign to the left in the image.

Just over 15 minutes later, at 3:16 PM, I recorded the 41st episode of Appalachian Irishman – Podcasts (YouTube), titled House Mt. Hike 207, 3-29-2026: Tenth Anniversary of My Near-Death Accident (pub. 3-31-2026; ep. 41). The brief audiovisual clip of just under three and a half minutes pans the horizon to show what my eyes enjoyed seeing directly. Further, I mention that I was almost killed ten years ago on Tuesday, 3/29/2016, around 5:15 PM. An uninsured driver failed to yield to my right-of-way while I was driving home from work.

Hiking Back Down the West Trail

Tempted to continue northeast to the upper-middle bluff, I decided to hike back down and out on the west trail, up which I had hiked. I thought that I would join my wife, who was visiting with her sister, who lives nearby.

At 3:12 PM, I started trekking down the west trail. On the trail below the ridge and near what I call “the defiant tree” (recent photographs of which are in the articles from 5/5/2023 and 12/30/2024), I met a large group hiking up. It was also their first time to hike House Mountain, and they appreciated my suggestion of how to reach the upper-middle bluff for the view and hike out the east trail.

From 3:32 to 4:06 PM, 34 minutes, I completed the hike down and out. I touched the same trail sign near the picnic area to end my hike.

Beforehand, however, I caught up to the three hikers, mentioned earlier, whom I had met while hiking up along the trail below the ridge. I learned that the man, who had fallen earlier, is 59 years old and has battled multiple sclerosis since 2001. He is only three years younger than my brother, next in age to me, who contracted multiple sclerosis in the late 1990s. I offered a prayer for this brave man. He, in turn, offered a prayer for my brother.

Conclusion

As the earlier article today explained, before last weekend, I had not hiked House Mountain since my 205th hike on Sunday afternoon, 1/4/2026. I needed to get out and into the woods last weekend. The exercise and the views were beneficial and inspiring.

With thanksgiving to God, who granted my recovery from the near-death wreck ten years ago, I hope to continue hiking, especially on House Mountain. My next goal is 225 hikes on House Mountain.

Easter, or Resurrection Sunday, as I prefer to call it, is this coming Sunday. The resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ should be celebrated daily and every Sunday. As a Christian, my everlasting goal is to continue “hiking” upward toward heaven. Is that your goal, dear reader? If you are “hiking” downward and would like to converse with me, please email me using the Contact Form on this website. I am just a former hungry beggar who found the Bread of Life. I am very interested in sharing that Bread with you.

House Mountain Hike #206, Saturday, 3-28-2026: It Was About Time! (published 3-31-2026; article #548)

Introduction

Greetings, hiking enthusiasts, and welcome to the 84th entry in the Hiking topic section. This article highlights my 206th hike on House Mountain (my mountain) on Saturday, 3/28/2026.

Previously, my 205th hike was on Sunday afternoon, 1/4/2026. The article from 1/9/2026 was about that hike. The two articles from February were about my father-in-law's transition from temporal to everlasting life and the snow, which delayed his graveside service. The three earlier articles in March focused on yard work at the homeplace and a dusting of snow. Obviously, other more pressing matters kept me out of the woods for the last two months.

Saturday's weather was clear, crisp, and perfect for hiking. House Mountain was calling. It was about time. I had to go! Please enjoy hiking along with me on my 206th House Mountain hike by reading this article.

Hiking Up on the West Trail

Delays: Early Saturday morning, I did a load of laundry. Later, around 11:15 AM, my sister-in-law, who lives nearby, drove over to pick up Mrs. Appalachian Irishman. Jamie, a family friend from Athens, Tennessee, had turned another year older the previous Wednesday. My wife, her sister, and our niece went on a girls' day trip to Athens to celebrate Jamie's birthday. Also around that time, Kevin, our mower guy, arrived to mow. I waited until he finished before driving the short distance in my 2006 Frontier to House Mountain.

Leaving home, the temperature was 55 degrees Fahrenheit with light breezes at times. At the parking lot, my 20-year-young truck registered 199,773.6 miles. Touching the marker near the covered picnic area at 1:56 PM, I started hiking up the connector trail. Before reaching the bridge, the low-lying area was wet and muddy. Smooth rocks, however, provided stepping stones. Across the bridge, I turned left at the junction to go up the west bluff.

After ascending the four lower switchbacks, a recently fallen tree forced me to crawl on hands and feet to go up and over it. Thankfully, I didn't come across any other obstacles. At 2:12 PM, I started ascending the six upper switchbacks, and, seven minutes later, I reached the highest one. My upper layers were a tee shirt and a thin pullover long-sleeve shirt. I almost shed the long-sleeve shirt while hiking up the upper switchbacks. They provided another excellent cardiovascular workout!

Twelve minutes later, at 2:31 PM, I had negotiated the trail below the ridgeline and reached the west bluff. Only pausing at times to sip water from my canteen, I had made the complete trek up from the base to the bluff in 35 minutes. I still enjoy the spectacular views of the rock outcroppings on the trail below the ridge. Further, I am still able to cautiously scale up the two rock formations, which require crawling up on hands and feet.

Trekking Across the Ridge to the Upper-Middle Bluff

At the west bluff, I conversed briefly with a younger man, who had been hiking up just behind me. It was his first hike on House Mountain. Not yet fully recovered from a viral infection, the younger man planned to keep in mind my description of the bluffs on the ridge trail. At the moment, however, he was still weak from his recent virus and planned to hike back down the west trail.

After cooling off and enjoying the view, I continued northeast along the ridge trail at 2:37 PM. Not wishing to delay my arrival at the upper-middle bluff, I avoided exploring around the foundation where the old fire tower once stood, the dilapidated two-seater outhouse, and the rock formation, which I call the “picnic rock.”

A few minutes after passing the trail junction that leads down the east trail, I passed by the lower-middle bluff. An American flag was flying along aside the rock formation. Around five minutes later, at 2:58 PM, I reached the upper-middle bluff!

Already at the bluff were a young woman and her two daughters (ages 9 & 20 months). As requested, I photographed them using her phone camera. She said that her husband and their two sons were adventuring elsewhere.

After they left to hike back down and out, I took the following photograph at 3:20 PM:

I was sitting on a rock formation behind me. The spectacular view looks northwest toward the Cumberland Mountains, which are farthest away in the image. The lush and expansive valley was below me. Not in the image, I counted at least four hawks circling nearby. Do you understand why I enjoy the challenging hike up to see this view? I thought so.

Hiking Down and Out on the East Trail

Five minutes after taking the above photograph, I started the trek out and down along the east trail. Like the west trail, the east trail includes six upper switchbacks. The highest one, eroded over the years by inconsiderate hikers, remains a challenge for my surgically repaired right knee and foot. Crawling down on my backside, using hands and feet, I safely negotiated the area.

Just after descending the upper switchbacks, I was pleasantly surprised to meet Maurice and Angela again. They are mentioned with high regard in the articles from 10/26/2023 and 12/1/2023. A finer couple you could not meet on House Mountain.

At 4:15 PM, as I was meandering southwestward along the low-lying trail, my “long-suffering” wife called my cell phone. Her sister had dropped her off at the house after their girls' day trip to Athens. Unfortunately, my wife didn't have her house key with her! Undaunted, she decided to await my return on the front porch. Molly, our 11-year-young “puppy,” of course, entertained her.

At 4:48 PM, I touched the same marker near the picnic area to end my hike. Two hours and 52 minutes in the woods was better than not having been there! It was a great “man day out.”

Conclusion

Yes, once at my truck, I called my dear wife to let her know that I was leaving. Arriving home just before 5 PM, I saw my wife wandering around in the front yard. Not angry at me because she forgot to take her house key; she was merely glad to be able to go indoors.

In the future, dear reader, if you have a spouse who enjoys hiking, you may want to take your house key if you are out and about on your own. Who knows? Your avid-hiker spouse may have decided to go hiking!

Please stand by, dear friend. I hiked House Mountain again the next afternoon on Palm Sunday. That forthcoming article will follow this one.

Follow-Up to Recent Yard Work at the Homeplace (published 3-27-2026; article #547)

Introduction

Greetings, dear reader, and welcome to the 116th entry in the Life (such as it is) topic section. On this cloudy and warm Friday afternoon, this article reflects on my trip to the homeplace last Tuesday, the 24th, when morning clouds gave way to a crisp and sunny afternoon.

My Tuesday trip was to follow up on the yard work from Friday, March 6, which led to the blazing surprise the next evening. The article from 3/16/2026 was about the yard work and the unexpected fire.

Concluding thoughts reflect on my recently deceased father-in-law, whose 88th birthday would have been last Tuesday. Further final thoughts mention the eye infection that the “long-suffering” contracted on Tuesday.

All Was Well, But More Work Awaits.

Last Tuesday's morning clouds and a household chore almost forestalled my drive up to the homeplace in Hawkins County, Tennessee. Thankfully, with the job done and the clouds dissipated, I left home at 12:18 PM in my 2006 Frontier. After an hour and 12-minute drive, I arrived at the homeplace at 1:30 PM.

Outside, I picked up and moved several handfuls of larger branches to the brush pile. Further, I used my trimming tools (brought with me) to trim and cut low branches from trees. Those also went to the brush pile. I saw a next-door neighbor driving out to go somewhere. Unfortunately, he didn't see me walking toward him and waving my arms.

An across-the-road neighbor, however, returned home while I was trimming trees. He rode over on his 4-wheeler to visit for a spell. His wife and he were doing well. He plans to repair his tractor and use it to move the brush pile a few feet closer to the still-standing trunk of the burned tree.

At 3:18 PM, I took the following photograph from the field behind the house:

The view looks north. That's my 20-year-young truck parked near the house. In the foreground are the much smaller brush pile and the dead tree trunk, which caught on fire on March 6 and reignited on the evening of March 7.

The main work awaiting to be done involves moving the brush pile closer to the dead tree trunk and starting a controlled fire to completely burn everything. Once our neighbor repairs his tractor, the plan is to move the brush pile and set fire to it all. Of course, the weather will have to be cloudy and damp with no wind. Further, I plan to obtain the burn permit and have plenty of extra water hose handy. As an aside, I offered to drive up and help our neighbor repair his tractor if he needed my assistance.

Dad's Winesap Apple Trees Were in Bloom!

Most importantly, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the two Winesap apple trees, which my father planted years before he passed on, were putting out leaves and blooming! They were not dead, despite not putting out leaves or producing apples last year!

Last year, on Sunday afternoon, 10/12/2025, my wife and I visited the homeplace after meeting my youngest brother and his family for a late lunch during Heritage Days. Then, the apple trees looked dead, as if an apple tree blight had killed them.

Those two Winesap apple trees are a lesson in resilience! If life blights you with tragedy, by God's grace and your strong will, adapt, improvise, recover, and continue to bloom and produce fruit for the kingdom of God!

Conclusion

Leaving the homeplace at 3:55 PM, my old truck and I were back home at 5:05 PM. My wife, arriving a few minutes later, saw me sitting on the front porch and digging out sap from the soles of my warm-weather hiking shoes. I must have stepped in tree sap while trimming tree branches.

The article from 2/13/2026 was a tribute to my father-in-law, Jimmie Gordon, who had recently transitioned from temporal to everlasting life. His 88th birthday would have been last Tuesday. My wife's strong faith comforted her that day, since she knows that she will see her father again.

Ironically, my “long-suffering” wife will also remember last Tuesday as the day a sty formed inside her lower-left eyelid. Undaunted, she started treating it with over-the-counter medications and saw her primary care provider yesterday. The prescription, which she picked up, should stop that pesky little sty.

Well, that's all for now, folks. Tune in later for another episode of this Appalachian Irishman's life, such as it is, experiences.

The Snow Dusting of Monday, March 16, 2026 (published 3-19-2026; article #546)

 Introduction

For days, local weather prognosticators were warning us about the forthcoming “weather-aware” event. The early spring weather pattern, which we had been enjoying, changed. Last Monday, March 16, the rain, overnight and into the early morning, ushered in a cold front, which dropped the temperature throughout the day.

Welcome, dear reader, to the 115th entry in the Life (such as it is) topic section. This brief article pokes, in kindness, some lighthearted fun at local weather forecasters. First, however, we step back in time four years to the blizzard of March 2022.

The Blizzard of Saturday, March 12, 2022

Four years ago, on Saturday, March 12, 2022, the next-day transition to so-called Daylight Savings (“guvrmint”) Time loomed before us. Meteorological spring had already started on the first of March.

On that Saturday, I measured seven and a half inches of snow in the front yard. That was a real snow! The article from Saturday, 3/12/2022, was about that springtime blizzard and includes a brief audiovisual clip of me measuring the snow.

The Snow Dusting of Monday, March 16, 2026

Last Monday, the temperature at dawn was a balmy 58 degrees Fahrenheit. The overnight rain continued until early morning, when the temperature began to fall.

Area weather prognosticators predicted the rain and temperature drop, but they claimed the afternoon would bring only light snow flurries. From around 12 to 4:30 PM, however, we experienced significant bursts of snowfall. At times, snow was falling so thickly that I could barely make out nearby houses and woodlands.

Of course, the ground was too warm for the snow to accumulate much. At 4:36 PM, I took the following photograph of the snow dusting on the front yard and the roof:

A few minutes later, at 5 PM, I noticed the temperature was 38 degrees Fahrenheit. If the ground had been cold, and if the temperature had dropped below freezing, we would have seen significant snow accumulation, similar to four years ago.

Conclusion

Meteorology is not an exact science. A five-day forecast predicts weather accurately 90% of the time. A seven-day forecast is about 80% accurate. A ten-day forecast, however, is a toss-up with 50% accuracy. Source: “How Reliable Are Weather Forecasts?” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)

Last Sunday night into Monday, local meteorologists predicted correctly the overnight rain and dropping temperatures. Their prediction of snow flurries, in contrast, turned into heavy snowfall, which could not accumulate well.

This Appalachian Irishman enjoyed a moment of redbud winter. For the last two days, the lows and highs were in the mid-to-upper 20s and low-to-mid 40s. This morning, the temperature at dawn was 28 degrees, but under a clear, crisp blue sky, the high should reach into the 60s. Redbud winter lasted three days.

Recent Yard Work at the Homeplace: The Blazing Surprise and Thankfulness for Good Neighbors, Family, and a Friend (published 3-16-2026; article #545)

Introduction

Greetings and welcome, dear reader, to the 114th entry in the Life (such as it is) topic section! Also categorized as the 108th entry in the Heritage topic section, this article focuses on the recent yard work at the homeplace in Hawkins County, Tennessee.

The homeplace is steeped in family heritage and filled with memories, some bad but mostly good. On Friday, March 6, this Appalachian Irishman assisted the two-man crew he hired to do a significant amount of yard work. With further future plans in mind, Lord willing, the first plan to improve the yard is completed.

Thankfully, my youngest brother and his wife were able to put out the blazing surprise the following evening. Do you have a burning interest to know what the surprise was? Well, please read further as I explain!

Friday, 3/6: Cutting, Trimming, Piling, and Burning

After my father passed away in January 2008, T&C Lawn Service in Whitesburg, Tennessee—which comes with the highest recommendation—has been mowing the yard at the homeplace. Before he died, my father insisted on mowing the yard with a riding mower. I am proud that the Lord graced him with the strength to do so. Dad enjoyed mowing.

According to previous arrangements, a two-man crew, both young men, arrived on Friday, March 6, around 8 AM and started working. Delayed by my ill-timed attempt to trim my beard, which I had mistakenly let grow out, I left our house at 8:40 AM and arrived at the homeplace by 9:50 AM.

After explaining the complete work that I intended, I started using Papaw Wood's old wheelbarrow and began loading fallen tree branches from the yard into it and moving them to the brush pile in the field behind the house. Papaw's wheelbarrow got a good workout during the day. Well, I did also.

Meanwhile, the two young men cut down three scrub trees in the yard. Also, they cut off low-hanging branches from good trees. Additionally, they trimmed and shaped two bushes. Further, they cut back the dead growth from Granny Wood's grapevine, which I hope grows back from the roots. Finally, one young man, Logan, climbed onto the roof, removed branches that had blown from nearby trees, and blew out the gutters.

The two young men from T&C Lawn Service certainly had the right tools. They used a tractor with a grapple to pick up, move, and pile the debris onto the brush pile. If I had done all the work that they did, I would have had to buy a good chain saw and spend several days doing the work that they did in one day. Thank you, T&C Lawn Service, especially Logan and Will!

Joining the Friday Fun

A good neighbor from across the road drove over on his golf cart to visit for a while. For years, his wife and he have been keeping an eye on the homeplace for us. He and I have burned several brush piles over the years from the debris that I had cut back.

Bill, a friend since grade school who lives not far away, drove over in the afternoon. Later on, seeing the need for additional water hose, he left and came back with two of his hoses. Those will be important as this burning story unfolds, dear reader!

The Friday Fire

Hungry at around noon and before Bill arrived, I drove the short distance to a nearby fast food restaurant to have dinner (or lunch, as Yankees call it). I wasn't gone thirty minutes.

While I was gone, the two young men from T&C Lawn Service set the brush pile on fire in a controlled burn. Early that morning, Cody, from T&C Lawn Service, had obtained a burn permit. I returned just before Bill arrived and was surprised to see the brush pile burning. Since the weather was mostly sunny, warm, and breezy, I thought that another day, cloudy and damp with no wind, would be better for burning the brush.

The brush fire was burning but under control. Unfortunately, a gust of wind blew an ember from it onto a dead tree, which was fairly close to the burning brush pile. The dead tree, with two trunks, caught on fire! To worsen the situation, 22 old tires—18 of which were on metal wheels—from my father's well machine and water truck (both salvaged years ago) were propped up against the dead tree. We certainly did not want those rubber tires to catch on fire.

Water pumped from the well that my father drilled in 1974 ran through three sections of hose to an old nozzle, which was stored in the kitchen. The two T&C Lawn Service employees, Bill, and I took turns dousing the burning tree. Thankfully, the rubber tires never did catch on fire.

Around 3:30 PM, the brush pile and the dead tree were smoldering but not burning. The T&C Lawn Care employees, realizing that their work was finished, and the burn was under control, loaded up their tools and left after a job well done. I wrote a check to T&C Lawn Service for payment and gave it to them before they left.

Bill and I stayed until just after 5 PM, when I left for home. Thankfully, Bill, showing what friendship means, stayed around for quite a while to watch the brush pile and dead tree. If he had not volunteered to do so, I would have had to spend the night at the homeplace.

At 4:58 PM, just before I left, I photographed the following image of the dead tree and the brush pile. I was standing beside my 2006 Frontier, and Bill was standing behind me.

The dead tree and the brush pile were smoking, but no fires were burning. The wind had died down. A neighbor's house is seen in the background. The view looks southwest. Notice that one of the two tree trunks had already fallen.

Staying around, Bill took the following photograph of the dead tree, which had started burning again, at 7:15 PM.

A strong wind gust had fanned the embers. Thankfully, Bill was able to use the water hose to douse the fire. He remained until about 8:30 PM to ensure that both fires were out. Thank you so much, my good friend, Bill!

Saturday Morning and Afternoon: All Was Well

The next day, Saturday, 3/7, I had to take our 2012 Nissan Sentra for service at two nearby locations. The car needed an oil and filter change, tires rotated, and an alignment. With those obligations and with the understanding that all was well at the homeplace, I decided not to drive back up there to survey the brush pile and dead tree.

Just after 11:30 AM, as I was about to drive our car into the service bay for an oil and filter change and tire rotation, Bill's text indicated that he had gone back to the homeplace at 1:45 AM, early that morning, to check the dead tree and brush pile. Apparently, Logan and Will had returned after Bill left last evening. They had moved the 22 old tires, 18 on metal wheels, away from the dead tree, which caught on fire last evening. Further, they had moved the two branches, which fell from the dead tree, onto the brush pile. Thank you, Logan and Will, for your above-and-beyond service!

Bill's text included the following two images:

The above, looking southwest, shows the dead tree, tires and wheels, and part of the burnt brush pile. Nothing was smoldering. Both fires had been out for several hours.

The above close-up image looks to the east. What was left of the dead tree showed no signs of residual fire or smoke. The fire was out.

Saturday Evening: The Blazing Surprise!

Saturday evening settled into the usual routine. My wife and I ate supper around 6 PM. Shortly thereafter, Molly, our 11-year-young “puppy,” joined us in the living room. Of course, Molly took her usual brief excursions outside. She and I also played a couple of “got 'ems” games with her treats. The television was tuned to something of mild interest.

Around 8:30 PM, my youngest brother called but didn't leave a message. My wife couldn't pick up the phone quickly enough to answer. At the time, I was taking Molly outside for our evening “romp and stomp.” Roughly 30 minutes afterward, Molly bedded down for the night in her basement “condominium.” I called my youngest brother to find out why he had called.

The blazing surprise was that his wife and he were at the homeplace and quenching the fire that had blazed up in the dead tree! An across-the-road neighbor had called him. Thankfully, the hoses and nozzle from yesterday were still in place, and the water well pump was still on. I reached the nearby volunteer fire department by phone. A firefighter drove up to see if any help was needed. Fortunately, my youngest brother and his wife had doused the blaze, and no additional help was needed.

Afterward, I turned on my cell phone to discover missed calls and voicemails from two nearby neighbors. A west-side neighbor had called at 8:05 PM. An across-the-road neighbor had called at 8:15 PM.

My youngest brother and his wife stayed for a while to ensure that the fire was completely out, after which they returned home. Around 10:30 PM, I called to confirm that they were back home safely.

The next afternoon, Sunday, I called our two neighbors to thank them for calling last evening to report the fire. One neighbor said that an intensely strong wind had blown through the area around 8 PM last evening. The wind must have ignited ashes at the base of the dead tree.

Conclusion

Lord willing, other future improvements are in mind for the homeplace. The first plan to improve the yard has been accomplished, despite the blazing surprise.

This Appalachian Irishman is thankful for good neighbors, family, and friends. Further, I am grateful to T&C Lawn Service for a job well done.

I am especially thankful to Bill, my dear friend, who demonstrated true friendship. Last Wednesday, 3/11, I had planned to drive up to the homeplace. Bill was going to meet me and help move the 22 old tires, 18 on metal wheels, from the hay field to a better location in the backyard. Unfortunately, I forgot about the need to stay home that day. I had arranged service for our 2012 Sentra to replace the defective driver's-side power window components. Early that morning, I had to call Bill to explain and let him know that I would reschedule for another day.

What did Bill do to my pleasant surprise? Alone, he moved the tires! He sent me the following two photographs after he had moved them:

The above shows the tree stump and what's left of the burn pile. The tires were gone!

The above image shows where Bill placed the tires and wheels, neatly resting against a tree in the backyard. Thank you so much, Bill. When you need my help, please call, and I will come running! By the way, my wife is planning to make you some no-bake cookies.

Lord willing, future improvements to the homeplace will not include any more blazing surprises! Stay tuned for further improvement updates, dear reader.