Mt. Mitchell State Park Essay

Experiencing the Appalachian Mountains first hand is a discovery of it own reward. Ascending to the peak of the mountain peering over a pond is a feat as much as it is a reward. Many other tourists hike the trail year-round. Walking through a

The mountains are a beautiful adventure. As you walk up the incline, trees overhang, animals run wild, and rivers roar. All of these are things that keep me coming back to hike. On my most recent hike, while it may have been 100 degrees back home, where I was it was a chilling 40 degrees. As we walked around ten miles up and over the mountain, I took many breaks to catch my breath and take in the majestic scenery. There are also the snow skiing vacations. While you can’t see anything besides snow and trees, the adventure of cruising down the slopes is full of adrenalin. The mountains have always signified an adventure for me. Just like the mountains, life is a beautiful adventure. I do not know yet what adventures are in store for my life, but I look forward to them. I strive to see the beauty in everything.

There was no pavement for his dog to follow. The trail is marked only by small patches of white paint on trees, rocks, or occasional posts. No signs were in Braille, so Bill Irwin had to run his hands over their etched letters to read them. Many of the hundreds of footbridges were only twelve inches wide or less and Irwin had to cross them on his hands and knees. The trail often wound its way along steep cliffs and mountainsides. He had to contend with the continual unevenness of the trail’s rocky surface, which tore up his boots and twisted his ankles. And Bill Irwin fell literally thousands of times – fracturing several ribs on one occasion. There were no inspiring vistas that would reward all those uphill climbs. He made the journey in perpetual darkness. And although the Appalachian Trail Conference has published dozens of detailed topographical maps of the trail, they were all useless to this man who couldn’t see. How, then, could he find his

Taking on a journey stretching well over 2,100 miles, covering fourteen states (from Maine to Georgia) by foot is no simple stroll where at the end of the day a comfortable bed and hot meal would await you. Instead, hiking the Appalachian Trail can be an endless battle with all the elements of mother nature: whereas in one state spring would have sprung already with wildflowers dressing the forest floors and insects buzzing through crisp air, on other parts of the trail it [the weather conditions] would be smothering heat, but meanwhile a few states north the rain would fall endlessly with gusts of cold wind, and snow would blanket the pathways of the trail and more than likely blizzards

St. Helens is everything scientists could have hoped for. It has exceeded their wildest dreams. They assured the public it could be a century before things were back to being remotely normal. 30 years later the changes were astounding. There could be no doubt that Mt. St. Helens was an extremely rich and bountiful area. Trees grew like weeds, and animal populations increased in leaps and bounds. As I stand on this hilltop above my house, it sits quietly in the distance, and I wonder what it will do. Will the peak continue to grow? Will it someday rise again like an enraged giant, and attempt to destroy and disrupt? It surely will, but how far away is that day? It is a beautiful mountain, snow capped with a gaping crater that is the only solemn reminder of that fateful day. Someday the mountain will blow again, but this time people will be ready for it. This time, things will be different. This time, maybe I will witness

The first time I every experience the Wildcat Hills was during a difficult time in my life. My parents were going through a custody battle over my siblings and me. They were also both in the process of being remarried. So, when my step father brought us to the Wildcats to explore for the first time I realized how amazing our earth can be. Here in the county known for the Scotts Bluff National Monument, sits over 1,000 acres of land. It wasn’t just the sight at the top of the escarpment that took my breath away. It was the fact that whether you were at the bottom of the hills or the top, when the wind blew that’s all you can hear. It isn’t overwhelming, it is

The scenes journey along the Appalachian Trail captures the true magnificence and greatness of the eastern U.S. of wilderness. Starting in the Deep South at the foothills of the smoky mountains, this journey overwhelms one with southern beauty while also making one experience the South’s legendary simplicity and retreat from the urban gridlock of modern society. The Appalachian Trail’s scenery attracts many people from all over the world to witness it for them. Causing many people to come with their families and possibly volunteer.

UConn economics professor, Fred Carastensen, ran a study on the economic value of state parks and forests in Connecticut. The results of the study found that over $500 million in state revenue related to tourism, around $200 million from fishing, and just about $100 million from hunting.

I never knew the Smokies were so close to my grandparent’s retirement village. Every summer all the cousins jammed into Grandpa’s Ford for our jaunt up the mountains. But back then the hills had no name. They were recognized only by the pop of our ears and the pink silk trees bowing down to the highway. Since those days I have grown partial to any patch of grass with “National Park” tacked to its title. Today the mimosas still tossed their petals to traffic, and the truck remembered its ever-present perfume of damp golden retriever. But today we were going to The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. “Cade’s Cove, next left,” the road sign read, and two bikes bumped along on the car hitch.

First, going into the trail of Chain Rock, there is an outstanding amount of stairs that seem to never end. Then at the end of the stairs starts the trail of the dusty, dirty and slippery rocks. The trail had bumpy, hills; long, stairs; and treacherous, slopes. About every five feet there is a chance of almost falling, because of all the dangerously large obstacles there is to overcome. Along the way, there is a tree with an enormous buzzing bee. People who are highly allergic to bees would probably scream and

From the trail’s official terminus, the ridge flattened out before rising sharply. This repeated several times, each time stretching higher and steeper, before finally flattening out a thousand feet above our position. On this final shelf sat the summit, hidden from view by thick clouds.

It was day two on the Appalachian Trail. The rich robust smell of pine permeated the air. The Sparrows caroled, and the soothing warm glow of the sun, warmed my body as the elevation increased. I was completely engulfed in nature. As the trail progressed, a couple friends and I reached the first cairn. We were 500 feet from the summit of Mt. Avery. We soon took our last steps, lowered our bags, and shared smiles. Immediately we were taken hold of by the ear ringing silence. Not a gust of wind, nor a chirp from a bird, it was complete serenity. As we took in the view I realized something that changed me completely. I was

There is an unwritten sense that the bond between man and nature is predestined. Humans may have a physical relationship with each other, but the connection with nature begins at birth. However, continuous advancements in technology, as time passes, weakens the bond between humans and nature. People have become fixated on technology and checking social media, so much that they lose touch with nature. Even though humans only need water, food, and shelter to survive, humanity has an ever growing need to innovate and improve man’s living conditions. Humans tend to think of nature as responsible for providing for humans, instead of vice versa. Today’s society lives in the fast lane, where instead of being able to enjoy leisure

Long ago, people depended on nature for shelter, food, and survival. However, as time goes on, new inventions develop, and society improved except nature which humans still depend on for survival. Some people today think that nature is not important, or at least not as important as their phone or computer. Humans understand that food comes from plants and animals and paper from trees, but they do not reflect on how much they take from nature compared to the small actions they take to give back. Emily Bronte's “Shall Earth No More Inspire Thee”, Jack London's “To Build a Fire” and Jon Krakauer's Into The Wild all display the very weak relationship between man and nature because humans no longer feel dependent on nature.

Driving through Montana State is an exciting experience. It gives the impression, that this feeling is the result of the freedom of people and that is close to the truth. As a matter of fact, the population of the sprawling State does not exceed one million, which is far less than the population of any major US city. Montana State is not greatly affected by architectural Renaissance and technological progress and the real American West life could be seen. It is a stunningly beautiful State which is characterized by a picturesque nature as well as it is rich with rivers, ponds, and lakes. It has countless hills surrounded by snow-capped peaks; moreover, the rugged areas characterize the State of Montana from the other states. The government of Montana State provides natural reserves (Glacier National and Yellowstone parks) to protect certain types of animals from extinction. In addition, the State focuses its efforts in preserving the remnants of the heritage of the American West. If Montana State is compared to Washington, DC, there is no comparison between them. It is