Appalachian Expedition

You've just been fortunate to witness the incredible diversity of plant life on Blair Mountain. Unfortunately, many of these plants are in danger. In addition to the threat of mountaintop mining, these plants are threatened by logging, agricultural practices, and tourist activities. These threats exist because people have discovered the vast resources-from fun to wood-that mountains have to offer and they are taking advantage of them. Sometimes this hurts the plants and the animals, like the white-tailed deer and gray squirrel that rely on them for food and shelter.

Mountain logging site. Photo: Library of Congress

Base camp in the Appalachians. Photo: Library of Congress

Exhausted after a full day of hiking and surveying, your team returns to base camp. The temperature is cooling down so you add some clothing layers. Dinner at last! You stuff yourself with a hearty stew of potatoes, carrots, cabbage, and pasta. Finally you settle into your tent to record the day's events in your journal and get a good night of sleep.