Alabama Outdoors: Part 3

The following pictures are from the most recent hike that Alan and I went on in Northeast Alabama. The hike is called "The Walls of Jericho", and actually crosses the Tennessee/Alabama state line. It is a 3.5 mile hike one way to the rock formations/falls, making it a 7 mile hike round trip. The day began at 7 am at Alabama Outdoors. I was somewhat nervous about it because Alan told me we would be hiking 3 miles uphill and then 3 miles downhill. His exact words were, "You might want to go run some hills to prepare for this hike." Since I hadn't even been running in several months, I was scared I might not make it on this hike. However, I was very wrong!

When we arrived at Alabama Outdoors that morning, there was one guy already there. He was sitting on the back of his SUV, dressed in what looked to be very expensive hiking gear. My first thought was, "I'm definitely going to be the last in the line of hikers if everyone else is like this guy." But as soon as that thought entered my mind, I saw this guy bring his hand up to his mouth and puff on a cigarette! That action automatically sent HIM to the back of the pack on the hike for two reasons: #1. I do not have smokers lungs which automatically gives me more endurance, and #2. I don't want to be behind this guy if he lights one up on the hike.

After a few minutes of waiting, the guide and his wife and a woman (who had to be at least 60 yrs old) arrived. After sorting out the caravan for the day, Alan and I hopped in his truck to follow the other 4 hikers to where we would begin our hike. The trip usually takes about 2 to 2.5 hours to drive there, but on the way it only took us about 1.5 hours. This was because the guide (who was driving the Jeep that we were following) chose to go at least 20 miles above the speed limit. At one point Alan was driving about 95 mph and we were still gaining a significant distance between us and the guide! Needless to say, Alan complained most of the way over there.

To top it all off, when we arrived at The Walls of Jericho, the guide told Alan and me that we could go on by ourselves! What kind of guide is this?!? Isn't he supposed to lead our hike? We decided to wait and hike with the group, and after about 10 minutes into it the "smoker" decided that he needed a rest break. We stopped while he lit his cigarette to "get some fresh air." Then, the guide pulls out his pack of cigarettes and bums a light off of "the smoker." It was at this point that Alan and I decided to go it alone. We finished the hike in a little under 4 hours, which included about an hour stop at the rock formations/falls for lunch and to take several pictures. It was a great hike, only after we left the group. The following Monday, Alan went to Alabama Outdoors to speak with the owner about our guide. I'm pretty sure he'll never lead a hike sponsored by them again. Below are some pictures from the hike.

To get a good idea of the size of these rocks, look closely for me in the below picture.

Yes, I did climb the rocks in the below picture. That's the extent of my rock climbing.

The below picture is in a little cavern that we climbed down.

Alan and me in the cavern.