Introduction
I published only one article in 2012—HAPPY 85th BIRTHDAY, DAD on 9/17/2012.
Earl Ferrell (9/17/1927–1/25/2008) was my father. Aside from the 9/17/2012 article, archived articles on this website show other entries about my father on 6/21/2009, 6/26/2010, 9/20/2020, 1/25/2021, 6/20/2021, and 9/20/2021. Of course, other articles about family and heritage mention him.
In 2013, I published only three articles—two in February and one in March. Today, nine years late, I am publishing this entry about my 90th hike on House Mountain on Sunday afternoon, 9/15/2013. It was a tribute hike for my father.
90th Hike on House Mountain Dedicated to My Father
After my hike on 9/15/2013, I wrote in my hiking log, “09/15/13, Sunday. 90th! Passed 16 people going up! 28 min. West trail up. Muggy. Photos.”
That hike up the west trail was four minutes slower than my best time (as of 2013). It was my first hike of my fall, winter, and spring hiking season. I could have hiked up faster, but the sixteen people, whom I passed while hiking up, slowed me down! They were mostly couples in their 30s with children. I also passed a few college students in their early 20s.
This “old man” (53 years young at the time) had hiked up faster than those younger folks! Dad would have said, “Now, son, stop your crowin’!” That 90th hike was dedicated to my father, who would have been 86 years old two days later on Tuesday, 9/17/2013.
I took the photograph below on 9/15/2013 at 3:41 PM, after I had hiked up the west trail to the west bluff. The photograph shows the new sign (at the time) on the ridge trail. It explains House Mountain and the “Crest Trail” (or ridge trail). Further, it honors John Evans, the man who did quite a bit of work on the trails in the park. I had not seen the sign before that hike. I have seen it many times since then.
I took the next photograph seventeen minutes later at 3:58 PM. As I recall, I had continued east across the ridge to the middle bluff and then down the east trail. The image looked northeast from the middle bluff. As I recall, the weather was a little too warm and muggy, but it was a good enough day for my first hike that season. Enjoy the view from nine years ago! It remains about the same now.
After that hike, I got in touch with two first cousins. We planned a hike at Laurel Run Park in Hawkins County, Tennessee, later that month or in October. We planned to invite other family members to hike with us. Sadly, our hiking plans were not realized. Cousin Retha (9/7/1959–4/27/2017) has since passed on.
Saturday, 11/03/2001, Hike to the Jim Ferrell Homesite
When I was a boy, I remember my father taking me a few times to hike up to the Clinch Mountain fire tower. I would climb up the fire tower as far as my fear of heights allowed me!
My hiking log includes the last time that my father and I hiked together. It was on Saturday, 11/3/2001. Dad (at 74), my wife, my youngest brother and his wife, and I hiked to the ancestral homesite of James (Jim) Robert Ferrell (1851–1926). He was my paternal great-grandfather, my father's grandfather. Great Papaw Jim Ferrell and his wife, Elizabeth Presley Ferrell (1856–1900), had ten children. The details are in family records that I have.
I have film photographs from that hike, but I won't try to find and digitize them today. I may do so for a future article. Mom (Betty Lou Wood Ferrell, 11/24/1932–12/27/2000) had already gone to see Jesus. Dad's heart trouble would not show up until December 2002. He could still hike the mostly level ground very well. We saw the remains of the old Jim Ferrell homesite. The house had been gone for decades, but the foundation was still noticeable. I remember several shade and apple trees. That homesite had been in an ideal location on rich farmland.
I wonder if any cousins may want to arrange a hike back to the old Jim Ferrell homesite. We would need permission from the current owner. What do you say, cousins? Should we plan a hike? I'm in!
Conclusion
Hey, Dad! Happy birthday today! I know that Mom and you are enjoying perfect hiking weather in heaven! Please tell Mom and all the family members there howdy for me! I'll see y'all up there eventually. We'll hike—and have so many other wonderful joys—together everlastingly!
By the way, Dad, the Georgia Bulldogs, my favorite college football team, are beating the South Carolina “Game Chickens.” At halftime, the Dawgs are up 24 to 0. If we were together, watching the game on TV, you would pull for the “Game Chickens” just to “devil” me! I know. I hear you!
The Jim Ferrell homesite foundation is still noticeable. It is secure in my heart and mind.
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