Saturday, February 5, 2011

A Tree Grows in Pisgah

Mountain Ash, Mt Pisgah, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina  © Doug Hickok


Against all odds, despite the harshness of high altitude elements... driving rains, icy storms, gale force winds... a solitary Mountain Ash grows on a ridge near Mt. Pisgah, along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Rooted tenaciously, standing strong, the tree withstands a sudden autumn snow squall, its twisted, stunted form enveloped in the dimming light. In a sense, this hardy soul embodies the spirit of the mountains... in spite of relentless hardships, it endures.