Crossing A Creek & Wet Feet

A Memorable Hike... Crossing A Creek and Wet Feet

If you hike many mountain trails you’ll eventually have to cross a creek or small stream.  One backpacking trek with many creek crossings is the trail that follows Eagle Creek from high on Thunderhead to Fontana Lake. I made this hike one summer with my oldest son, Rob and his brother-in-law, Dave Brown.

Eagle Creek begins as a small trickle high on the slopes of Thunderhead Peak and becomes a small river where it empties into Fontana Lake.    The trail follows the creek as you drop the 3,400 feet to lake level.  Along this route you must cross Eagle Creek about 21 times.  In the summer, you can sometimes hop from rock to rock when the water is running low and cross without getting your boots wet.  But even in the dry days of summer there are several crossings where you are going to get wet.  In crossing a deep creek, you have a couple of options, either take off your boots and socks, hang them on your pack and wade barefoot.  The other option is to slosh on through in your boots and hope for the best.

Rob, Dave and I tried the “boots off” option first, but found that our tender feet on slippery rocks made for a difficult crossing. At least one of us took a tumble and fell pack and all into the cold waters of Eagle Creek.  On other crossings we kept our boots on and had better footing, but had to hike the rest of the day in wet boots and soggy socks.  As you can see, both choices had consequences.

As we make our way along life’s trail we are often faced with “creek crossing” decisions.  We face obstacles on our life trail where we can’t go around or hop rocks; we are forced to make a choice on how to proceed.  Just like “creek crossings,” no matter what choice we make, there will be consequences that we must live with.

On the Eagle Creek hike I remember suffering miles of trail with uncomfortable feet squishing in wet socks rubbing against wet leather.  I also remember the refreshing, but unintended dunk in cold creek water.  I remember building a fire in the evening and hanging boots and socks on sticks to dry them out for the next day on the trail.

In the scriptures, God never promises immunity from life’s consequences, but He promises that he will never give us “more than we can bear.”  In the Old Testament, God promised the nation of Israel that if they would follow him and do his will, He would “guide them always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” (Isaiah 58: 11)

As a person of faith, I believe God's promises still hold true today.  The real issue of your life journey is not making decisions about how to “cross the creeks,” but letting God be your guide as you encounter obstacles along your path.  He will “guide you” and help you deal with whatever consequences you encounter along the way.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.  Proverbs 3: 5-6, New KJV

Now, let’s ramble!