A Hike through History

I’ve lived in Birmingham for over 10 years and am still finding new places to explore that I never knew existed. One place I’ve wanted to visit for a while is Ruffner Mountain. I learned that they had organized a hike that would include a limestone quarry, iron ore crusher, and the entrance to a mine shaft that isn’t normally open to the public. Much of Birmingham’s history is tied to iron ore and the production of iron and steel. So much so that a symbol of our city is the statue of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and forge. It was almost eerie to see the drift mines, the crusher, and mine shaft and try and envision it so many years ago.

We also hiked up to the top of a limestone quarry and ventured into a “cave” that would hold maybe 4 or 5 people. As I was squeezing through the tiny entrance to the cave, I realized that this time last year, I probably wouldn’t have fit through. Also, a very eerie feeling and a reminder of how much I could miss out on if I don’t get healthy. The good news is that as we climbed up and down the mountain, as some people were huffing and puffing, my breathing was fine. I was sweating and knew I’d be sore the next day, but I didn’t struggle to make it.