Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 3

48
30
PETE EMERSON
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
24 IN TOUCH WITH THE LAND:
AN ELIZABETH HUNTER COLUMN
As a small bouquet to those whose lands and lives were devastated by
Hurricane Helene, we offer an appreciation from our late columnist.
BY ELIZABETH HUNTER
26 THE GREAT BARTER THEATRE HEIST OF 1953
The then-struggling southwest Virginia theater got a chance to raid a New
York theater and came back with new seats and a new start. BY JOE TENNIS
28 AN EVENING OF RECONNECT WITH
F. SCOTT FITZGERALD
For a fan with family connections to the famous author, a chance to spend
a night full of 1920s traditions was a check on the bucket list.
BY MARLA HARDEE MILLING
30 WELCOME MATS TRAVEL GUIDE 2025
These 21 mountain towns all offer aspects of what makes a great visit,
including museums, attractions, trails, suppers and much more.
BY ANGELA MINOR
48 MOUNTAIN CREATURES CONFRONT WINTER:
A PHOTO ESSAY
Our contributing photographers have been out in the snow and the cold
to see how the animals are holding up.
53 THE 2025 12-MONTH MOUNTAIN ALMANAC
Our annual year-at-a-glance offers recipes, garden tips, words to live by,
events, oddities and more. BY GINNY NEIL AND KAREN NEATHAWK
66 WAIT, A MOM TAKES HER 13 KIDS ON
AN A.T. THRU HIKE?
When Nikki Bettis's life took some hard turns, she found an amazing way
to knit her family back together. BY ERIC J. WALLACE
72 MICHAEL SMITH LOVES THE SMOKIES
And the interpretive park ranger isn't the least bit shy in telling you all
about the wonders of the national park. BY NANCY HENDERSON
10
5 From the Editor, Contributors
6 Mill Creek Stories
8 Gifts of the Land
Creature Feature
12 The Good Walk
14 Our Blue Ridge Towns
16 Festivals and Events
20 Country Roads
78 Flavors
80 Singing in the Garden
82 The Mountain Q & A
ON THE COVER
Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains
National Park. From the photographer:
" One summer evening my wife and I
ventured out to Cade's Cove to see what
wildflowers we could find. The Queen
Anne's lace were prolific. But when the
clouds began forming with beautiful light
in the distance, I moved my camera to look
down the road and knew I had my shot! "
PHOTO BY ROGER CANADA

Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025

Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - Cover2
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Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - Cover4
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