First Presbyterian Church of Knoxville

By Becky Orange Dwarshuis, Fellowship Committee Chair

Since I hike a considerable amount, I am often inundated with specific questions about my hiking trips. Some of the questions include; “What is the longest hike you have ever done? What is your favorite hike?” From now on, I am able to answer the latter question with “Sunday House Gap Trail to White Oak Sinks on Saturday April 26, 2008.” Why is this hike my favorite? It is because of all the wonderful people who went and all of the beautiful wild flowers. Earl and Peggy Hagler reserved a table in Cade’s Cove Picnic Grounds while the hikers readied themselves for a wonderful day of hiking. The hikers included; Monte and Zoe Evans; Pat and Gary Chambers; Florence and Lewis Fowler; Robert Sanders; Jim Lester; Hilda Lipe and son, Daniel; Lars and Ailsa Schuller; Gary Anderson; Bryce, Spencer and Rylan Elliott; Liz, Greg, Taylor and Zachary Peterson; and Darwin and Max Nunn. Fortunately, the rain subsided as we reached the trailhead and we had a beautiful, sunny day for hiking. The wild flowers were in full bloom, and we were able to identify several different varieties. The group spotted little brown jugs, pink and yellow lady slippers, trilliums, wild ginger, Bishop’s caps, and rue anemone. There were also yellow, white, and purple violets. When we arrived at the Sinks, we stood in a field of wild flocks and geraniums. Shooting stars, a beautiful and rare wild flower, were also mixed in. When the temperature started to rise, we walked over to the natural air conditioner—the “Bat Cave.” The red columbine were blooming just above the mouth of the cave. Our hike back to the trailhead was just as spectacular. At the picnic grounds, we enjoyed a wonderful lunch and good fellowship. It was truly my favorite hiking experience. My prayer of thanksgiving for the trip goes like this: Thank you Lord for this wonderful hike. The weather was perfect, the people were terrific and the wild flowers were indescribable. Amen.