The guided tours are offered by park rangers, usually, and open to a variety of learned hikers. It's especially helpful as a beginner to have someone guide you down a few easy paths before you try to take one on by yourself. Even if you're not new to hiking, but you are new to an area, it's nice to learn what a particular regions dangers are, since nature can be incredibly scary.

You drive yourself over to the ranger station and head inside for some information on the tours. Tons of maps line the walls of the station, pointing out popular trails and campgrounds. You also find pamphlets on the wildlife and what plants not to touch if you're going foraging in the woods. There are a couple of rangers in the station, greeting the few other tourists who are up and walking around this morning.

Eventually, you make your way to a posted list of guided tours and times. Beside each of them is the name of a ranger that will lead the tour, and the last one on the list is labeled 'Majestic Mountains' led by Ranger Hunter. You run your finger over the name.

Someone chuckles beside you, and you glance up to find a handsome blonde man smiling at you. His emerald green eyes sparkle with humor as he looks at you. You feel yourself flush. He smells like woodsmoke. "Hello there, ma'am. You interested in a guided tour up to Mount LeConte?" His voice is deep and slow, a true Southern accent drawing out all his consonants. His name tag proudly proclaims him to be a park ranger named Hunter.

"Um... yes?" Suddenly, you're up for any sort of tour if he's the one coming with you.

His smile widens. "You'd be the first one. Not many people are willing to tackle such a strenuous trail as their first guided tour. You must be very brave."

Strenuous? "Oh, yeah. The bravest." Crap.

He chuckles. "That tour leaves in about an hour, ma'am. It's going to be about 11 miles roundtrip and takes just about the whole day. You still sure you want to come with?"

No. "Absolutely."

"Then I'll give you some information to read ahead of time." He turns and walks off, returning only a minute later with a small pamphlet. "There's a map in there if you want to see the trail we'll take. The most popular path runs through Alum caves, but there are other routes if you don't feel like going through dark caves."

Your knees feel a little week. "Caves?" You clear your throat. "That sounds...adventurous."

He looks like he's trying not to laugh. "Yes, ma'am. But there will be time to decide. We don't know yet if anyone else will be coming along."

You latch onto the hope that some other woman will be weaker than you. "Oh, right." You try not to let the relief show.

He tips his hat. "I'll see you in an hour then, ma'am." As he walks away, you can't help but admire his rear in his dark green pants. So nice.

You have one hour to figure out everything you need to know to impress this man and make it back alive. You open the pamphlet and get to work memorizing it.

[Go to chapter: Twenty Seven]