VH: Indian Boundary

This week, the Hiking for Healing Virtual Hike will feature a walk along a trail leading to a historic tree, a Cherokee Marker Tree, a.k.a. Native American Trail Marker trees. The natives used them as a marking system to denote areas of importance, such as sources of food and water, or as navigational aids and landmarks that helped guide the indigenous people along the safest route in their journeys. Usually, hardwoods, such as Oak or maple, were chosen to become marker trees due to the flexibility of the young wood and its ability to retain shape after they were grown. They would bend the trees to form an arch and secure them to a stake in the ground or tie them to a large stone with a leather strap or vine. A new branch would be left to grow skyward from the top of the arch, forming a new truck. Eventually, the restraining stake is removed, leaving a knob or nose – a distinctive characteristic of trail marker trees.

 

Although there are many marker trees in this area in Tennessee and North Carolina, we are visiting a particular marker tree that grew for many years in the Cherokee National Forest along the Indian Boundary Trail. Hundreds, probably thousands, of hikers and visitors to Indian Boundary through the years stopped to take photos of the tree. Some climbed onto the tree like mounting a horse, while others posed alongside the historic tree.

 

Unfortunately, the tree fell during the winter of 2019/2020. The "fallen steed" has now been preserved and displayed on the porch of the Indian Boundary General Store. Our hike this week is level with little elevation change. There are a total of 13 bridged water crossings. At the end of your trail, kayaks are available for rent at the Indian Boundary General Stores for a leisurely paddle around the lake before heading back home.

 

Join us on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, for our Virtual Hike on the Indian Boundary Loop Trail. I would rate this trial as relatively easy and accessible for beginners or those people recovering from various forms of cancer. Please sign in to the Watch Party at 8 PM on our Facebook page and let me know you are there. I am pretty eager to meet all of you!

 

So, until our world finds its new normal, let's all stay safe, wear our masks, maintain physical distancing, wash and sanitize our hands, and have a great time hiking and adventuring in our great outdoors.

 

Happy Trails,

 

Dolphin