Valley Hikers: Lion's Head

The leaves were a little past peak and the day was cloudy, but that didn't stop us from having a truly enjoyable day. We were blessed to have one of our members who is a local resident, Barbara, lead us on this hike. She shared a wealth of knowledge which heightened our experience.

Parking is easy to find, and the lot was empty when we arrived (contrary to Columbus day, when cars were lined down the street).

It was so nice to have a guide to stop and highlight things that I blindly passed over when I was there the week before. One was a reedy plant called scouring rush that the pioneers used to scrub pots, and another was the small chips of garnet in the rocks beneath our feet.

Nature's Brillo Pad

Garnet

The path up is a little steep, but not treacherous, giving us a good workout (my heart-rate monitor often showed 160). Barbara led us beyond the well-known blazed trail and a little to the left.

We bypassed this popular trail to the top

A short jaunt later, and we were treated to a secret vista to the west.

After soaking up the stunning scenery, our savvy skipper squired us to the top of the mountain on another little-known path.

We enjoyed spectacular views to the east and south

It was on the top of the mountain with this pleasing scenery that we had our devotional time.

Philippians 4:12 "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

When we're on the hiking trail, we can pack heavy and experience the delight of sharing our extras with others, although it does make our journey harder. We could also choose to pack lightly, so we can cover more miles. Either way, we've had a good workout. Just as both options have their advantages, it's the same in life. People with luxury items have more to maintain, but they also have more to share. Those who have little may accomplish more for Christ because their energies are streamlined and they have fewer distractions. Whether our life-packs are abundant or light, we would do well to ask God to help us be content in living for Him and to serve others to the best of our abilities. (Adapted from the book "With God on the Hiking Trail" by Nathan Chapman.)

Barbara invited us to her home, where we enjoyed a tour of her family's amazing property.