"Land of Boardwalks"

North Carolina
Blue Ridge Parkway
Tanawha Trail - From Rough Ridge parking area to Wilson Creek Overlook
2.9 Miles Round-trip

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In order to preserve the delicate environment yet allow access,
a 200-foot-long elevated boardwalk crosses the landscape.



The rest of the trail, however, takes you through narrow corridors over rocky paths.
Due to the recent rain, most of the trail was slick and required you to
pay close attention to footing in order to avoid slipping.



Once you reach the beginning of the boardwalk,
you gain spectacular 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains.



And along the way, you pass some very lofty rock
outcroppings as you make your way to the top.



I spotted some bright red-orange Mountain Ash.



As well as, an itty bitty ringneck snake.



Reaching the summit of Wilson Creek Overlook,
you can't help but become filled with an unequaled sense of space.

Which got a little smaller when I stumbled into a powwow of guys I donned the smoke squad.
It was quite unusual to find people smoking cigars after a heart-pumping hike.
But after talking with them for a few moments,
I decided they were a harmless bunch just out to enjoy a beautiful day.



The ropes you see in the above two photos are there to keep
people from trampling the plant-life and accelerating the speed of erosion.
When hiking trails it is always important to stay on the designated trails!



Just another way they work to preserve the natural history of the Appalachian mountains.

If you have yet to do so, please take part in helping to preserve
our land's natural history, by taking a pledge.
Taking a pledge doesn't require much from you.
The widget on the right is where you can join me in the fight to end mountain top removal.

REMEMBER

• I am willing to donate one dollar on your behalf to the cause mentioned in the "I Heart Mountains" post once you have pledged.
  
• At the end of this week, I plan to match the pledges.
• And so I know who joined in, please leave a comment stating, I LOVE MOUNTAINS!

Moments : Ambiance

haiku friday

lingering in ways
that penetrate deep inside
where is my sunshine


I like to think of thoughts as living blossoms borne by the human tree.
~James Douglas~

The rain has stayed for days, finally, I woke up with sun shining through my bedroom window.
I wasn't sure that I could take another day of this dreadful weather.
I didn't complain, because I knew we needed it......I'm glad it's over!

In other new:

• Although you showed concern in my last post, I am slightly disappointed that most of the people didn't follow through.
• I feel as though the important parts of the "I Heart Mountains" post may have been skipped over.
  
• I would love for all of you to join me in this very important campaign to end mountaintop removal.
• All I ask is that you pledge by signing up in the first widget on my sidebar.
  
• Also, I am willing to donate one dollar on your behalf to the cause mentioned in the last post if you pledge. At the end of one week, I plan to match the pledges.
• And so I know who joined in, please leave a comment in the last post stating, I LOVE MOUNTAINS!

I Heart Mountains

taken 04.22.2006

If there is anything that I classify as being near and dear to my heart,
it would be, 'my' MOUNTAINS! A quick scan of my blog would unequivocally prove that.
The mountains, my home, hold a very special place in my heart.

That being said, I mentioned (if you read) in my last post,
that I had a specific cause in mind that I wanted to raise awareness about.
After Saturday's festival, and a chance meeting with an old friend - who works with the
organization, I decided that it was time to take on another campaign.

I will let this short clip give you a little insight into what this organization strives to protect.

The Cause

Appalachian Voices is a highly committed group of people here in my community, who's mission
is to bring potentially devastating economical issues, like this, to the forefront.
They help people like you and me gain access to the tools and
resources necessary to get involved.
I have always related them to mountaintop removal,
but they tackle other threats as well.

Here, at Wayfaring Wanderer, through my posts, I attempt to share the beauty
that surrounds and inspires me on a daily basis.
With that message, I think that it's my responsibility and obligation to share
the atrocities that go along with the beauty that our region possesses.

I am severely saddened by what I have seen while doing
research on this massive devastation.
Not only does the environment suffer, but people do as well.
I have watched videos that showcase families directly
affected by these mining practices, and it is heartbreaking.

To see them wreck and ravage the land is almost impossible to
watch without getting choked up.
Almost 500 mountains have been decimated in the process;
this damage cannot be repaired to our nation's oldest mountains.

What can we do?

Support the Clean Water Protection Act (H.R. 2169).
It strictly prohibits the dumping of material into waterways for the purpose of waste disposal.

In 2002, the current Administration made a rule change which redefined “fill material” in order to include mining waste. Since debris from mountaintop removal is now acceptable “fill material”, coal companies are dumping millions of tons of mine waste into nearby streams using a streamlined permitting process.

Supporting this act can reestablish the original intent of the Clean Water Act.
Click here to find out how to contact your local representative in Congress.

Right now, the most important thing we can do is, spread the word, which is what I am attempting here.
ilovemountains.org is hosting a Blogger's Challenge to help aid in doing so.
Your pledge to end mountaintop removal requires very little of you to become a part of the solution.

Are you alarmed at what you've found out about mountaintop removal today?
Do you want to protect our ecosystems and communities from being ruined by this environmental devastation?

If so, please take the time to add your voice and become my recruit!
Sign up in the widget on my sidebar.

My Contribution......

For every person who takes the pledge I will donate $one dollar$ on your behalf to
Appalachian Voices' mission. At the end of my campaign, which I will run for one week,
I will match the pledges you all have made to donate one lump sum.
Although, I would like this to be a gigantic turn out, there is a $100 limit to what I can donate.

Once you have taken the pledge, please leave a comment here that states, "I LOVE MOUNTAINS!", so I know who joined in. It is not necessary to have a blog in order to take part.