I was asked to house sit for a couple
of college professors in Asheville, North
Carolina while they vacationed in Europe.
Their house was nestled in a serene for-
ested area of Butler Mountain.
I am an urban, metropolitan flat-lander
from the Midwest, so I couldn’t resist
the opportunity to spend a glorious
summer month in the captivatingly
beautiful Smokey Mountain Region
of the Appalachians.
The professors warned me that if I was
to go hiking in the mountains to be care-
ful to stick to the marked trails lest I
get lost or perilously wander into an
illicit encampment of the notorious
and temperamental Appalachian moon-
shiners.
And be aware of the black bears. Make
some noise as you wind your way through
the wooded areas to warn them you’re
coming. Other than that and likelihood of
getting lost or slogging through growths
of poison ivy, you should be okay.
What the hell, I got to thinking, I’m
a big city boy just wanting to spend
some peaceful non-threatening time
out in nature.
On a hike up to the top of Black
Mountain one fine day, I did see a
golden hawk majestically circling
above me, and was elated by the
call of it’s shrill whistling. Oh, how
I do admire and love the pristine
natural sights and sounds of the
glorious out-of-doors.
I’m especially fond of that which
is either unwilling or unable to shoot,
poison or tear me to pieces.
-30-
Chris Hanch 12-14-2020
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