Hope is Alive in The Mountains
Before Hurricane Helene hit land, I was writing about the value of stillness for the GV Blog. The soft rustle of leaves falling, quiet grounds around us and appreciating a slower time to digest a fast-paced few months. Little did I know that stillness would soon be replaced by chaotic weather, uprooting of homes, disorder in communities and turmoil throughout the terrain of the southeast. The events and outcomes of Hurricane Helene are absolutely devastating to the Brevard community, holes and hollers in Appalachia, the state of North Carolina and all surrounding states. The storm pummeled through Western North Carolina one Thursday evening and Friday day, setting terrifying records for rainfall, washing away people’s homes and diminishing people’s livelihoods. Despite this catastrophe, I can say hope is alive in the mountains.
This part of the state holds a special place in my heart like many of us in the Gwynn Valley community. A place that has watched me grow and flourish from a camper in Mountain View to a head counselor on Mountainside. I’ve hiked these trails and paddled these rivers in many stages of my life, learning valuable lessons along the way. I overcame my fear of heights at Chimney Rock on the Riverside adventure. Appreciation for the natural world is one of our core values and in the last week, I’ve pondered how to process the volatile rain and wind that has changed the landscape and impacted so many communities that welcomed us as visitors in their mountainous backyard. How can I love the natural world for all the distress it’s caused? A scientific lens has created a solution to my moral dilemma as a naturalist by understanding ions in the atmosphere, charged atoms and the building blocks of life. Before a storm, concentrations of positive ions rise astronomically, mostly generated by high winds. Studies have shown that an influx of positive ions can cause tension, irritability and distress. That matched with the unnatural amount of rainfall and force of water caused unimaginable destruction. On the other side, a large amount of negative ions have been associated with more pleasant weather conditions such as a warm day on the French Broad River or the smell of the air on the Gatehouse Green after it rains. The duality of ions is an expression of the flow of life, how change is one of the true constants.
The adaptability of this community and the influx of support from people far and wide has been a beacon of inspiration during this challenging time. My first understanding of the impacts from the storm were provided by public radio. Radio stations replaced country music with around the clock coverage of hurricane relief, people calling in to offer supplies at their church or house spicket for water, neighbors extending manual labor and personal chainsaws to clear trees for anyone in need, or even a local bus driver calling out to each child on his pick up route saying a friendly ‘hello’ and ‘I love you all’. The local farming community has also found moments of joy through the debris, at the Transylvania Farmers market this past weekend most of the vendors in attendance from Hendersonville to Mills River and more were present, looking for a sense of normalcy and camaraderie. A woman was handing out free corn husk dolls, each adorned with a sign that said ‘Hope’. I graciously took one and admired the sentiment along with it, reminding me of simpler times weaving love into fabrics like we do in Shady Grove or with our corn cob creations at the Mill.
Thankfully, Gwynn Valley’s infrastructure and cabins are all intact. The biggest impact we experienced was detriment to our gravel roads and footpaths on site. We also experienced heavy flooding of our lake, creeks and rivers on and around camp, mostly through Hillside, Brookside and main paths to those areas. We only had a few trees down on camp, none of which impacted our buildings. Monday morning after the storm, our year round team showed up at 9am ready to start cleaning up from the damage. Work boots on and led by Team Maintenance, we started to clear debris out of paths, place canoes back in their homes, dig out rutted bridges and take stock of all that needed to be done. We mucked out the chicken coop, let a few chickens dry out and gave the cows some pets. Sam the cat was so happy to have visitors! We are so grateful our upcoming 90th Summer at Gwynn Valley Camp will be running accordingly and we can’t wait to see everyone then.
The ions have returned to their natural state and the leaves begin to fall in Western North Carolina, while heartache and action remains in the collective. Each day, first responders and parks services are uncovering more damage and a better understanding of what the rebuilding process will look like. For now, the parks are closed until further notice as well as the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. We are so thankful for all the hardworking and resilient people who have shown up from all over the county and world to support people who have lost so much. It’s a long road ahead to rebuilding what’s been demolished and starting fresh is a significant reality to each community impacted. Those of us who fared the storm, must remain compassionate and gracious for those who are enduring such loss. Our parks, rivers and trails will forever be changed by this natural disaster. We can build new trails, we can create new memories, and we can paddle new narrows together.
Please see the links below to donate to national and regional efforts to support relief from Hurricane Helene. Donations will be ongoing as this process is a long road ahead. Thank you for your support and compassionate thoughts throughout this recovery process.
