NATCHEZ TRACE – They only do this twice each year. It is a night hike through a short section of the Natchez Trace near Tupelo.
The Trace was for a long period of time a pathway from Natchez, Mississippi up to Central Tennessee. Nobody knows really how long this trail has been in existence. It predates European explorers. It was used to connect Indian encampments as far back as can be remembered. Most historians say the Trace started out as animal paths. The Native Americans who hunted the game naturally followed the pathway. And so it grew.
But it was primitive. It was remote and proved to be somewhat perilous for those who travelled it. In the early 1800’s, men from the North who had traveled down the Columbia and Mississippi Rivers on boats had to walk back north to their homes. They journeyed along the Trace. And while there were “stands” where they could find food , drink and shelter, many a time the travelers had only that pathway north. They would walk day and night. Facing animals and highwaymen. The journey was often perilous.
But not last Saturday night. Not indeed!
A pair of young Park Guides took a band of adults and their young-uns on a night hike through the woods that surround the Natchez Trace Headquarters just outside of Tupelo. Heck, even the trail was paved! But it was fun.
They Guides talked about the animals that roamed near the Trace, although there was way too much cacophony raised by the children for any self-respecting animal to get within a half-mile of the troup. The sound level was evidently already taken into account by the hike guides. They brought portable audio players so that the participants could hear the sounds of owls and such. Now that part was pretty surreal.
The Quad-Cities Daily tagged along on the half-mike trek and took some EVENT PHOTOS. The pictures started out great. However, as nightfall surrounded this intrepid little band of brothers and sisters, it got way too dark for photos!
So here is what we have.
Photos by Sheri and Steve Wiggins
