“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”- John Muir
Mountains have captivated the human spirit since ancient times. Virginia’s rolling mountains stretch across the horizon and nurture diverse wildlife, quiet forests, and flowing rivers. Their blue-green folds appear deep purple in the evening and glow iridescent in the morning as the rising sun illuminates their shroud of fog.
Part of the Appalachian Mountain chain, some of the world’s oldest mountains, Virginia’s mountains are thought to be over 250 million years old. The immensity of their size, all the forces required to create them, and their age makes contemplating a mountain staggering to the imagination. It is no wonder that mountains are often associated with wisdom and strength.
Just as these mountains determine the course of a single raindrop that falls on their slopes, they also played a vital role in determining the course of Virginia’s history. Native American tribes thrived in areas where the mountains met their needs. The Blue Ridge region of Virginia was considered a sacred hunting ground for Shawnee, Cherokee and Iroquois tribes. Native Americans, as well as early settlers, prospered in the valleys and lush deltas that surround the New River. The mountains themselves influenced where cities were built and had the power to delay westward expansion.
Today, Virginia’s mountains draw people from all walks of life. They are a prized recreation destination for outdoor adventurers, a place of peace for those who need an escape, they are a favorite gathering place for families, an inspiration to artists, and they are a source of healing for those weary of the city. The mountains are a home to what is wild and free.
Mountains are solid and fastened to the earth, yet they also reach skywards towards the heavens, the stars, and all the mysteries of the universe. Perhaps the mountains fascinate us because they bring us closer to the natural forces that are often too great to comprehend. After all, there’s no better place to view the stars than high on a mountain far away from city lights.