Appalachian Trail

Appalachian Trail

Land

As undeveloped land shrank in the East, the desire to preserve a wilderness experience intensified. In 1925 a forester, Benton McKaye, organized a conference in Washington, DC, to plan the construction of a footpath that would stretch the length of the Appalachian...
Ghost Towns

Ghost Towns

Land

Towns do not survive forever. Western North Carolina has a number of its own lost towns. They disappeared for a number of reasons.

Mount Mitchell

Mount Mitchell

Land

Of the ten highest mountains in the eastern United States, six are in the Black Mountain Range of western North Carolina. The most famous of these is Mount Mitchell, which at 6684 feet is the tallest peak east of the Mississippi River.

Mountain Balds

Mountain Balds

Land

The Southern Appalachian Mountains are not high enough to have a natural tree line or Alpine zone, yet the region has hundreds of treeless areas called balds. Their origins- whether or man-made or the product of climatic changes- still remain a mystery.

Wetlands

Wetlands

Land

Southern Appalachian wetlands are gaining attention for the wealth of rare and unique life forms they support. In North Carolina alone, mountain bogs and fens provide habitats for nearly 90 species of plants and animals that are considered rare, threatened or endangered.