Some months ago I was so bold as to go solo backpacking overnight in the Nantahala National Forest.   Yes—solo—meaning yep, all by myself.  Let me say up front here that this is something you do with a good bit of research before you go!!!  I read other blogs, other hikers’ accounts of where to start, how to get a shuttle to the trailhead, where shelters were and what to expect along the way.  I did not just grab my pack and hit the road to the trail! I picked my days for the trip based on my days off, picked my trail, arranged to meet a shuttle driver (a complete...

  [envira-gallery id=”931″] We are well into January now and the Christmas Holidays have passed us by again but not without leaving me with thoughts and memories, both old and new. I drove through the mountain communities surrounding me and watched as the different Christmas holiday decorations were placed and hung and then observed as they were taken down. At least most of them are down by now. I feel in touch with my inner child at Christmas every single year! I love the feeling of excitement in thinking about gifts, and I love putting up the tree and decorating the house. Some of my decorations are very old, and...

It has been a wonderful autumn and nature showed her pageantry as always with the leaves giving us everything they have as they prepared to fall.  I think it is almost as if they are wanting to make sure we will miss them through the cold days ahead. The mountains as well as the locals are making their final preparations for winter. There are many tasks, small and mundane perhaps but necessary as the weather changes.  Some of these have gone on for hundreds of years and most of which remain unchanged today.  And so I thought I would share some of what I’ve done and seen here lately. Most...

I must admit to you, my readers, that I have neglected my blog the past few weeks.  It has however been an incredible summer and early fall for me in many ways.  I have ventured out alone and with others and each trip has been a true joy and adventure though in very different ways. Perspective is an amazing word to explore and consider.  As a noun it has more than one definition and it’s the fact that is has a different definition for varied situations that makes it fit this blog piece today. When I share with you the images here of mountain scenery it is my perspective or...

Those of you who have followed my blog know my love and passion for putting my feet on these Appalachian mountains every chance I get.  And hiking is something I love very much!  But this year I have added a little something–I have begun to backpack.  Now, let me assure you I am far from the “super woman” type.  So let me share with you some of my finds and things I got to help me get started. First, you have to have this wild crazy dream to “hike the Appalachian Trail”.  Yes, I know so many, many people think about it, talk about it and wish they could make...