Wildcat Mountain Hike

We celebrated this spring-like afternoon with a couple friends hiking part-way up Wildcat Mountain.  My legs were a bit tired after running to Arrowhead Lodge and back this morning.

We took the camera along.  I'd include some pictures if it hadn't stayed in my water bottle belt the entire time. 

We saw no bears, so we talked about bears.  I imagine plenty of them saw us.  We didn't hear them talking.

Part of the forest road had a freshly applied coat of gravel, which worked up my tree hugger instincts -- to no avail.  We saw no evidence of recent logging activity.

One of the hikers suggested I read "God is Not One -- The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World -- and Why Their Differences Matter" (Stephen Prothero).  He says the book debunks the idea that "the essential message of all religions is very much the same."  This may be a "lovely sentiment," "but it is dangerous, disrespectful and untrue."

"I don't know much about Islam," says Virginia.  "Maybe I should read the book."

Our friend also mentioned a native American woman who said native Americans tend to look at strangers as they look at family and friends, whereas other Americans look at strangers with fear and distrust.  Maybe, maybe not.  I don't like stereotypes because they don't treat individuals as special; they put me into categories, some appropriate, some not.  Target marketing pieces that arrive at our door get tossed into the paper shredder for future compost.

Good hike.  Good ideas.