HOOK

these summits and forests for 30 miles. I think about the steep sec3on of the appalachian Trail just north of the Nan- tahala Outdoor Center that le# my hiking partner weak in the knees and another friend's stomach churning. I recollect the friendly faces that are just as part of the land as the trees and streams are, that create a sense of community so 3ght it's only strengthened by hard 3mes. I think about what my 3me in the future looks like down in the southern appalachian Mountains. My growing thirst for snowboarding stays alive in those mountains, having come across award-winning ski resorts accessible in West Virginia and North Carolina. along with other states in the region, avid fast-hiking expert "shredders" and families alike will fill their cup packing the car and heading out for a day on the slopes. I felt bliss when I first found snow in the mountains of the Southeastern u.S., my fears of missing out on the most underrated season quickly being ex3nguished. Though I haven't had to break out my snowshoes, micro-spikes and wool layers will suffice on these summits. John Denver was right— this place is almost heaven. From the towns of Black Mountain or Maggie Valley, NC, sur- rounded by undula3ng ridgelines, to trail towns like Harpers Ferry, WV, a sense of home is never too far away. The vast appalachian Mountains are some of the oldest on Earth, "Older than the trees," further adding to my sense of con- tentment as I drive, swim, or hike these lands. When I hear them calling this fall and winter, I'll surely respond with haste. Pine martens, beavers, and loons roam the mountains and waterways, while moose and bears are scattered through wilderness.

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