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Introduction |
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The reader, or the stranger, visiting the southern highlands for the first time, should visualize as far as possible the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains as two separate and somewhat parallel ridges running nearly north and south, the former, of course, lying farther east than the latter. These two ranges of the Appalachian Mountain system, the Blue Ridge and the Allcghanies, running across Pennsylvania and through Virginia, coalesce in southwestern Virginia and then again spread and become distinct in North Carolina and Tennessee, where their peaks become the highest points east of the Mississippi. A great mass of cross ranges lie between and connect the Blue Ridge and the Alleghanies, chief of which are, as in part mentioned before, the Stone, Beech, Roan, Yellow, Black, Newfound, Pisgah, Balsam, Cowee, Nantahala, and Tusquitee. As a whole they are much higher than the Blue Ridge. The natives refer to the great western range running north and south as the Alleghanies, but the geographies name it the Unakas. This system is cut into segments by rivers, namely, the Nolichucky, the French Broad, the Pigeon, the Little Tennessee and the Hiawassee. The segments thus formed arc known as the Iron, the Northern Unakas, the Bald, the |
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*I have spent many summers here in the mountains of North Carolina I have experienced more heat here in the last few weeks than ever before Following my Ncu Yoik friend's advice, 1 have watched the thermometer through July and have not seen
it go over seventy-nine degrees. . ...... We have been sleeping under foui
covers and many an evening we have been glad to warm ourselves at the open fire *"
In a later issue of the New York Post, that of October 31, 1923, is the following comment: ttll am much gratified that we are sow ing good seed on fertile soil1 whites Alelhnger H. Hcnrv . who has sent articles on hikes in North Carolina. ''The 4s be wile
Citizen of October 8, just received fiom friends in Black Mountain, quotes Trampers* Trath through North Carolina Highlands giving the Evening Port prominent credit. The slsbville Citizen of October 9 follows this with an editorial. I believe we may get some blazes and lodges there yet."'
Referring to the article in the Pott, the Citizen says: "Mr. Henry tells more about the trails, the mountain scenery available to the hiker, and about the lack of lodges and inns than most of the natives have learned, excepting, of course, the men who carry on the work of the United States Forest Service. There is little hiking through these mountains, or compatativcly so, judging from the popularity of this pastime in other sections of the country, For years the Forest Service has been marking out trails and urging the people to give aid in opening lodges for the entertainment of travellers overnight. But even vet an inexperienced hiker w7ould soon get lost in the woods, and if he doesn't, he wants a comfortable place when darkness falls When Western North Carolina, lnc , begins its work, there will be common efforts put forth in twenty-five counties, at least, to mark trails, establish inns and advertise to the whole country the attractions of the trails through the mountains of this region. And then many will come in response to this invitation just as Mr. Henry comes and finds more than enough to repay him for the extra efforts now required in locating trails and points of interest." |
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