Beauty in the Breakdown how best to experience the transition from summer to fall, NRV-style
Text by Nancy S. Moseley How fortunate we are in Southwest Virginia to boast a wellrounded calendar year. We mark winter for snowfall (seemingly less these days, but still a treat), and spring for flowers, rushing creeks and the tease of consistently warmer days. Summer comes with gardening and splashing in our refreshing lakes and rivers (though perhaps we would all forgo the humidity). When September approaches, the thrill of an evergreen summer crisping into a multicolor autumn is arguably the greatest anticipation of all. During the summer, chlorophyll is king. It uses the sun’s energy to transform carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrate tree food. It is 32
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also responsible for the color green. But when the days get shorter and temperatures get cooler, the leaves stop being chefs. The chlorophyll breaks down and the nutrients make their way to the branches instead. Pigments that have been present all along - yellows, oranges and reds - are no longer overpowered by chlorophyll and their hues begin to emerge. Not surprisingly, leaf peeping, a term that’s been around since the early 2000s, is a multibillion-dollar industry in New England. But since we also live tucked in the same Appalachian mountain range as the northeast, we, too, can enjoy the beauty of the chlorophyll breakdown and peep some
leaves in the comfort of our home community.
Peep by Hike There are several trails throughout the Mountain Lake Wilderness in Giles County. For a big payoff with little effort, bypass the cinematically famous resort for approximately five miles (road eventually becomes gravel) to reach a small parking area on the left. The Wind Rock trailhead is opposite the parking lot and is part of the white-blazed Appalachian Trail. A quick quarter-mile stroll leads to a sweeping overlook. Pack a snack,
S eptemb er/Octob er 2020
