August 13, 2017 “Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.” -John Muir Nestled in Grandfather Mountain State … More Grandfather Mountain State Park – Cragway Trail
August 6, 2017 It’s been a month since my last posting, which is quite unusual. This is primarily because of the weather and family. Kids are in camp, we took a vacation to Charleston and the weather has been unbearably hot. Secondarily, September and October will be filled with backpacking trips: I’ll be finishing the … More Grandfather Mountain State Park – Nuwati Trail
July 8, 2017 “Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread. A civilization which destroys what little remains of the wild, the spare, the original, is cutting itself off from its origins and betraying the principle of civilization itself.” -Edward … More Grandfather Mountain State Park – Grandfather Trail
July 4, 2017 We chose to forego the parades and fireworks and sales and consumer-driven madness this 4th for the refuge of nature. Nature’s soothing calmness knows not of the hubbub of societal flow. Its pathways and forests are a refuge for us. The Profile Trail at Grandfather Mountain State Park is a wonderful path. … More Grandfather Mountain State Park – Profile Trail
June 17, 2017 “Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.” -Frank Lloyd Wright As a kid, my parents took me to the summit Grandfather Mountain, but I have no memory of this and have never returned. I was under the assumption that I had to pay to hike in the … More Grandfather Mountain State Park – Daniel Boone Scout Trail
June 11, 2017 When I was seven years old we lived on a farm with two ponds and ample pastures. As I was walking with my family one day to fish, I stepped over a snake. I don’t remember reacting to it, but my mom was fairly upset. “That’s a water moccasin.” It was just … More Mullinax Trail, Laurel Creek Trail
June 10, 2017 Surrounding Boone, there are a plethora of State Parks ripe for day hiking with families. On Saturday, while Emily and Ramona went to the movies to see Wonder Woman, Alice and I ventured to Ashe County. Known for its cheese and laid back atmosphere, it is also home to the Mount Jefferson … More Mt. Jefferson State Natural Area – Summit Trail, Rhododendron Trail, Lost Provision Trail
May 28, 2017 “There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness, that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy and its charm.” – Theodore Roosevelt When I was very young, I heard people talk about the Smoky’s in terms that is usually reserved for far-distant destinations of allure and mystery. When … More Big Creek Trail, Swallow Fork Trail, Baxter Creek Trail
May 28, 2017 “If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.” – Rachel Carson The family continues to fall in love with Elk Knob … More Elk Knob State Park – Maple Run Trail, Beech Tree Trail
May 14, 2017 Since my last posting, my family and I have undergone quite a change. For years we lived in Sylva, N.C., about an hour west of Asheville. A great job opportunity became available in Boone, N.C. and after long hours of talk, we decided to move three hours north. We found a wondrous … More Elk Knob State Park – Summit Trail
