One of the gems of the AT are the wild ponies of the Grayson Highlands in southern Virgina. They are not true natives of these highlands. They were released here in the early-to-mid 1970s to control vegetation on the mountain balds. It's a tricky thing introducing something new into an ecosystem. From blight carrying Asian Chestnut trees to cudzu, there have often been disasters. But the ponies are here now and are part of this ecosystem as it now exists. It's one of the highlights of any AT hike to spend a day with the wild ponies. Ponies of the Grayson Highlands

I saw Livingston Taylor and Al Stewart in concert last night. I was never much of a fan of either back in the day. Yet, I've come to enjoy seeing performers in their twilight....The Eagles a couple of years ago, Los Lobos at the Big Ears festival, Arlo Guthrie several times....except for Arlo, was never much of fan of any. But when you see them during this time in their cycle, you are not in some giant arena or stadium....you're usually in some intimate little venue (in my case one of those early 20th century US theatre houses).....and these performers are there mostly for their love of the music and performing...no longer chasing fame and fortune.

After 200+ miles of going in and out of TN and NC, you leave NC for good (NoBo) and travel about 70-80 miles all in Tennessee. The higher mountains are on the TN-NC border, so these mountains are a little lower. My biggest memories of this section involve water. Rivers, one of the most beautiful big waterfalls on the AT (Laurel Falls), Wautaga Lake, and several smaller waterfalls. I spent the night at the Vandeventer Shelter that sits at about 3600 feet and has a beautiful view of Wautaga Lake in the valley below. This shelter has a dark history as Janice Balza, a 22-year-old thru-hiker from Madison, Wisconsin was murdered there in April of 1975. My sense is that you are safer on the trail than you are in most US cities....but just like in the cities, the most dangerous animals on the trail walk on 2 legs. flic.kr/s/aHBqjBZBzr