Our Mountains
ā 1952
Version
When ihc traveler at last tops the
Blue Ridges and pauses to get his
breath, he looks westward upon a
strange, new land. He is upon the rim
of one long, high range, and fifty
miles westward, an even mightier one
forms the furthermost wall of the
southern Appalachians. In between lies
a great confusion of tilled earth; a
maze of ridges, knobs, balls and spurs,
223 of the peaks arc over 5.000 feet
high; 47 of them above 6,000 feet.
They are threaded by winding, rivĀ¬
eted corridors, down which lie adĀ¬
venture for all.
The 2.000 to 6,000 feet difference
in altitude works many changes. The
air is fresher and cooler; the forests
tend toward evergreens; farms climb
up and down hills. The horse reĀ¬
places the mule in the fields. At night,
summer deserts the higher places, and
the floor fan of back home is replaced
by the log fire.
This feeling of being in a different
land is well based, and is one reason
why western North Carolina is luring
an increasing army of people who want
a pleasant but dramatic change as a
part of their summer vacation.
Geologic Mystery
The Appalachian upthrust, greatĀ¬
est mass of uplifted earth in the cast.
At right, view from Bear Den on the
Blue Ridge Parkway. ā (Photo by
Hugh Morton.)
THE STATE, Vol. XIX: No. 51. Entered ā * **cond-rI*M matter, June 1, 1933. at the Postomcc at Kalelch. North Carolina, under the act ol
March 3, l*t9. Published by Sharpe Publlsbln* Co., Inc., LawyerĀ» Bid*., Ralel(h, N. C. CopyrUht. 191?, by the Sharpe PublUhlnt Co., Inc.
