Chickasaw, Part I

I wanted to leave Friday morning with only one stated goal: to go to a place I had never been.

My wife allowed me to leave only after stating another: to return home alive.

Upon telling my male family members and friends of my upcoming travels, the responses were similar to, Man, sounds like fun. You should have a good trip.

Upon my wife telling her female friends and family members of my upcoming travels, the responses were similar to, He's not going! He could die. He could get lost then die.

My favorite was from Nicole stating matter-of-factly: "You're gonna be like that climber [Aron Ralston] from a few years ago who had to chop his arm off. Great! You're gonna come back with one arm!"

To assure my wife that this was a well-planned and safe venture, I took her along to help pick out the small things I would need: propane, waterproof matches, rope, and a tarp . A couple of nights a week, I'd show her how to to tie knots figuring she'd have more confidence in my ability to stay alive if I knew how to tie a few proper knots. I don't know what this proved, but apparently it worked.

So over the past few weeks, I've done as much preparation as I could in order to leave her a detailed itinerary. It also assured I wouldn't miss out on anything. I've written before that I don't take any trip without obsessive planning; this would prove to be the same, even to the point of hanging my new tarp in my living room to make sure it would be just as I wanted.

While researching the trails, I came across a web page devoted to John Muir. Most of what I know about Muir is related to his relationship with Theodore Roosevelt. TR once said that Muir was even more eloquent in speech than in prose. If that's the case, I would have loved to have met the man.

I became more interested in Muir to the point going on this trip became a necessity and not just a mere desire.

Or as Muir once wrote, "I was compelled to sleep with the trees in the one great bedroom of the open night."

Regarding my safety, I forwarded the following to Melissa: "Yet it is far safer to wander in God's woods than to travel on black highways or stay home." and "One should go to the woods for safety, if for nothing else."

It would be a good trip.

And Nikkums, I'm typing with both arms, thank you.

[As I post pictures, I will provide my own commentary. In italics, I will also provide a quote provided by Mr. Muir that gives additional insight and inspiration.]