Joey Henson found that the best way to protect this wild and vital landscape is to conquer it.
Making Blue Ridge Memories on Max Patch
A marriage proposal in a sprawling meadow. Mating warblers in the brush. Orphaned boots on the Appalachian Trail. We are drawn to the majesty of Max Patch — a gorgeous bald in Madison County, 4,600 feet above sea level, where forest ends and 350 acres of open land begin — to gather life-changing memories.
Beneath Still Waters
Pioneering environmentalist Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring, began her writing career on a 2,300-acre network of islands a short paddle south of Beaufort. At the reserve that now bears her name, marine scientists follow in her wake.
Gathering Wool & Wisdom
On a typical sheep, one year of fleece growth will yield three sweaters. But there are precious few shearers to tend all of the flocks in North Carolina. For the last traveling shearers, an age-old trade has become a kind of modern artistry.
The Life-Changing Magic of a Mountain Medicine Man
The curative and preventative medicinal wisdom of old Appalachia and ancient Asia find common ground — literally — in Yancey County.
A Living Tradition: Original Mast General Store in Valle Crucis
A shop that has its own zip code is sure to stock something for everyone.
Mr. Smith’s Tree Goes to Washington
This year, one lucky Fraser fir from Avery County is headed to the White House. There are hundreds of contenders on Larry Smith’s tree farm, and he grooms each one to be a star.
The Everything Root
A cure-all to many, wild ginseng is still hunted and sold in Blue Ridge counties. Protecting it takes vigilance, know-how, and, sometimes, even a stakeout.
The Salamander Safari
They’re called a lot of uncharitable names — snot otters, devil dogs, hellbenders — but the ancient aquatic creatures of Appalachia are a prime indicator of the health of our waterways.
