Colleen
Gentry
Blacksburg,
Virginia
Falling Branch Elementary
TTEC 2015 Cohort
The Appalachian Trail is a symbol of freedom. On July 4th, 2015 my husband,
yellow lab, Toby, and I spent that great remembrance of our independence
overlooking the hills and valleys of West Virginia from a mountain top meadow.
From our spectacular vantage point in the Rice Fields on the Virginia-West
Virginia border, we witnessed an illuminated landscape of flashes, sparkles,
streamers and blasts as Americans celebrated the nation’s birthday. Adding to the chorus, a pack of coyotes
barked, yelped, and howled from beyond the tree line. American is wild and wonderful.
We began our July 4th adventure from our home in
Blacksburg, Virginia and concocted the idea of an evening on the trail. After a
short car ride and a 1.5 hour hike, we arrived in almost heaven, a view of West
Virginia.
Much to our surprise and delight, we were not alone on the
mountain top. At the close by Star Haven
shelter, we met two north bound thru-hikers.
We met three hikers from Sweden, whom were in the United States for
their first time. Joining us, along with
the hikers, was a seven person crew of Konnarock trail workers. Several women had traveled to Virginia from
the Ozarks to build trail and learn new techniques for their own trail projects
back home.
We marveled at how the trail had brought us and
a nation together in shaping America the beautiful.
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