Why the Appalachian Mountains Are Deceptively Dangerous

What makes the Appalachian Mountains so dangerous- and what makes them so special.
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Further reading:
Scott Weidensaul - Mountains of the Heart: www.scottweidensaul.com/mounta...
Britannica: www.britannica.com/place/Appa...
Mount Washington: www.newspapers.com/article/be...
www.news10.com/weather/mt-was...
www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/m...
Sierra Club: www.sierraclub.org/sierra/202...
Images:
American Chestnut Foundation: acf.org/
National Archives: catalog.archives.gov/id/7028414
catalog.archives.gov/id/7017525
catalog.archives.gov/id/89570451
Library of Congress:
www.loc.gov/item/2017715158/
www.loc.gov/item/2017715157/
www.loc.gov/item/2017715133/
www.loc.gov/resource/fsa.8c14...
www.loc.gov/item/91481301/
www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3a38...
David Quinn: www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/long...
Maps:
Library of Congress: www.loc.gov/resource/g3700.ct...
www.loc.gov/item/2002622260/
www.loc.gov/item/2012592589/
www.loc.gov/item/94683177/
National Archives: catalog.archives.gov/id/26678...
catalog.archives.gov/id/15277...
Footage:
Search party: • Appalachian Unsolved: ...
University of Adelaide: • Tectonic time-lapse: O...
0:00 - Intro
1:45 - Geology
2:48 - Weather/Ecology
5:17 - Settlement
8:30 - Appalachians Today
11:04 - Outro
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[@AidinRobbins]

Appalachian or Appalachian?

[@harshjain2047]

Appalachian.

[@garretthess4953]

Yes

[@coolbuffdad]

​@@harshjain2047 NO...Appalachian!

[@DragonnRider]

i prefer Appalachian

[@randomchannel-px6ho]

As far as I know it's a north / south thing, north of the Mason-Dixon people say Appa-lA-chian, and south people say Appa-Lach-ian. From experience in the southern Appalachians there's a strong sense of identity the locals associate with their pronunciation of it, and with a rough history in the region of outside influences trying to change the culture there, they can get quite offended by saying it the Yankee way, so even though I think both are technically correct be careful.

[@tomp6685]

I was born and raised in Eastern Tennessee and I enjoy hiking in the Smokies often. At first glance the Appalachians may appear underwhelming, but the more you explore those ancient mountains you begin to realize how truly unique they are. There is something about the Appalachians and I can't put it in words that wants you to come back like an old friend you havent seen in a while.

[@JBBost]

It's a landmass that you projected yourself onto because you lack any interesting personality trait beyond "hurr, mountains"

[@AidinRobbins]

@@JBBost why are you no fun

[@Ruby-eh2cr]

I agree.

[@TheRoosterMart]

⁠@@JBBost based on your pfp you look like you’ve got your own issues that need sorted out

[@Bryan-Hensley]

I hike and ride dirt bikes all over the east Tennessee and west North Carolina Appalachian mountains

[@heronimousbrapson863]

The mountains of Scotland and Norway are part of the same system as the Appalachians. Separation occured as North America and Europe separated forming the Atlantic Ocean.

[@no.7893]

It's amazing how similar some of the landscape is between parts of scotland and northern america. I'm sure I'd feel right at home in southeastern canada

[@morbidmanuscript9324]

Grandma Mountain

[@maqy01]

what the hell that's so cool!!! I'm from norway myself, and I've become pretty facinated with american nature recently. such a cool fact

[@Dontwlookatthis]

There are some geologists who claim that due to the plate they are on, they are part of North America. But Im not taking a stance, Im just reporting.

[@nickphillips4398]

Wrong

[@kendrickherring4957]

I grew up there. People always looked down on us. Insults, stereotypes and assuming I was dumb was pretty common. As a kid I got rid of the accent, learned to speak without so people would leave me alone. Thank you for bringing attention to our region in such a respectful way. It feels nice to feel proud of where I'm from.

[@FloridaFishFreaks]

This hit really close to home, I’ve only recently started allowing myself to speak without cutting away my accent and it’s felt freeing to me but it hasn’t made any of the preconceived notions people have any better, fuck em 🫶🏼

[@kendrickherring4957]

@@FloridaFishFreaks I'm glad you've had a similar experience. Since letting my accent more I've found a newfound love and appreciation of my roots and all my family did to show we were more than the stereotypes. I'm glad you got to feel something similar.

[@kendrickherring4957]

@AwestruckAudioHertz One, its manners. Two, so you've traveled all around then yeah? Out of Pikeville to bowling Green and other places? You've seen it all? Pikeville ain't great yeah I can agree, education there is awful and the population is dropping and dying. But what the hell did that add to my statement of finding pride in my region and who I am? If its so hellish, leave. Most don't get the option to. Sounds like you do. Go back to Carolina.

[@danielhall-wl4ql]

boils down to supply and demand ! lol I hear ya man when I moved to ohio I was 17 bagging groceries after school , always had to ask paper or plastic ? and usually got "where you from?" 95% of the time but was in bad mood one day and said I just came from ya mommas house and got fired ! lol

[@danielhall-wl4ql]

I kind of got punched to, he smothered out when realized I was underage but I wasn't going to press no charges, if I run my mouth Ill take what coming

[@alyonkabenya]

I was born and raised in Ural mountains, and it was interesting to learn about many similarities: from being one of the oldest mountains and how they feel mysterious and rich in folklore, and being heavily used for mining and timber industry and dangers it all brings, how indigenous people were forced away and even how people nowadays from these regions are viewed.

[@mariahmier9313]

Do you have any folklore or stories about them you’d like to share? Sounds beautiful!

[@alyonkabenya]

@@mariahmier9313 Sure! A lot of them are based on stories by mine workers pre XX century, collected by Bazhov, and they consist of many genius loci: for example The Mistress of the Copper Mountain (beautiful green-eyed young woman in a malachite gown or as a lizard with a crown) or The Fire-Fairy. And the stories are about how these creatures help find rare gems, for example, or punish people, if they are nasty. Among the more recent ones there is a Dyatlov Pass incident, which has a lot of conspiracy theories ranging from death from a secret KGB poison to murder by indigenous Mansi tribes. :)

[@thisisaname5589]

Thank god, too. Sure, the Appalachians are still somewhat dangerous, but people can survive far easier there after the barbarians and dangerous animals were forced out.

[@alanmoulet1362]

​@@thisisaname5589Lil bro think hes the good Guy for forcing people out their Land and killing wildlife. Acting like animal in name of good and calling other barbarian ...

[@redhourglass8]

My great grandparents, grandparents, parents aunts and uncles worked for the Steel Mills and Coal Mines and the scariest most dangerous thing is in those woods. Not kidding. Here they couldn’t clear all the trees because people and equipment go missing. Plus most of everything is haunted and you WILL see them. Not all ghosts.

[@TheAbigailDee]

People overestimate their survival skills and underestimate the dangers of nature. No conspiracy. Human error. We all can love folklore as much as we want but not to the point of disrespect. A beautiful area! Thank you for sharing!

[@ronhall9394]

And if you add to this mix the 'relative' lack of altitude. People going out to 'proper' high mountains usually take the correct equipment and treat them with respect, folk tootling about so called foothills (hey man, I did the High Sierras in these sandals - don't worry...) don't bring the respect that these places deserve - and pay for it. There's an anonymous poem from my neck of the woods about two rivers which sort of reinforces the lack of respect given to certain aspects of nature. Tweed said to Till: ‘What gars ye rin sae still?’ Till said to Tweed: ‘Though ye rin wi speed, an I rin slaw, where ye droon yin man, I droon two.’” Modern Translation “Tweed said to Till: ‘What makes you run so still?’ Till said to Tweed: ‘Though you run with speed, And I run slow, Where you drown one man, I drown two.’”

[@simongloutnez589]

People hear things like : the Appalachians aint as hard to cross as the Rockies or the Canadian Great Shield, and to be fair that is true in general. But that push a lot of people in getting sloppy and, like you said, overestimate themselves !

[@cptchuff2741]

A skinwalker probably wrote this

[@simongloutnez589]

@@cptchuff2741 trouble with the internet these days is we cant know if your joking or need help with your mental health 😅

[@andyjay729]

@@ronhall9394 For what it's worth, a lot of people also go missing in the Western mountains every year.

[@thomascampbell5321]

Most of the large trees in those old pictures were “castanea dentata” otherwise known as American chestnut trees. They were called the sequoia of the east and it was said that a squirrel could run from Maine down to southern Georgia on the canopy of American chestnut trees. Their seed pods used to litter the ground in such numbers that people could collect them for food, hence that old Christmas song “Chestnuts roasting by an open fire.” But in the early 1900s the Chestnut blight arrived from Europe and the American chestnut trees had no natural immunity to this foreign fungus and rapidly died out. Logging didn’t help things by any extension, but they really were not the primary cause of the American Chestnut trees decline.

[@morsumbra9692]

There's good efforts going to bring chestnut trees back to southeast.

[@DeenanTheKemon1]

Awesome info. Thanks 👌

[@jeffreymcmillan7703]

Yep. Thanks. White Oaks growing around Dolly Sods area were reported to have been over 10 feet in diameter at their base. An absolutely incredible forest to behold. Those trees were possibly over 1000 years old.

[@Llamawithjetpack]

Yeah that blight was rough. And from what I understand, in a last ditch effort they decided to cut a ton of them down once the blight hit so they could sell em off and save the money they would otherwise lose from the trees dying. They didn’t know what else to do. But, in doing so, it’s supposedly possible they cut down some that had genetic immunities/resilience towards the blight. Of course, people didn’t think about that back then. They may have chopped down some examples that could’ve persevered through the blight after all… Just sad to think about what could have been. I would’ve loved to see those chestnuts.

[@allenwilhelm7799]

Devon fan?

[@jibbygonewrong2458]

I grew up near the south Appalachian mountains and moved to the rockies as an adult. When I moved back to the south, i told people, there was just something very old, magical and mysterious about the Appalachian mountains compared to the rockies. They definitely "speak" to you if you listen.

[@FastwayIndustries]

I feel the same way, i was born and raised in idaho and then after highschool i moved to pa, something about these mountains and forests that really speak to me, they feel comforting and full of history

[@simontenkate9601]

Same experience I had years ago comparing forests on Vancouver Island with those in the province of New Brunswick. Although the western forests and mountains are majestic, those in New Brunswick are much more "mysterious".

[@justsomenobody889]

I grew up in northern Virginia (now McMansion Central) and obviously have visited the Appalachian via Skyline and such ... I know just what you mean. All my life I have felt like the mountains have been calling to me. It's like another world there, seems like a fairyland at times when you're beside a creek with those mossy rocks and the sunlight filtering through the canopy in the summer, but I still haven't had the opportunity to do it. Someday...

[@christrotter3052]

They do..... Western VA and West VA....just amazing

[@prettyprincess8187]

Yup. Born and raised in southeastern PA and I've travelled but there's no nature I've seen that speaks to me and holds my heart like PA wilderness. You can definitely feel the age and have no choice but to respect it.

[@cyanidesmile7263]

I'm bred, born, and raised Appalachian, and while I love being in the woods and seeing the beauty of my home, it's also important to remember that we are guests in the woods, not the owners, and that no matter how safe we feel out there, we still gotta be mindful and cautious.

[@janetairlines1351]

Me too. Im on the ny/MA border. People disappear often in the woods here

[@ethansams883]

As an Appalachian now living elsewhere, I just wanted to say thank you. It brought tears to my eyes see someone to appreciate the beauty of our home. Thank you for not speaking I’ll of us as many have before.

[@bethbnolan]

This was so beautifully presented; I discovered the beauty of your region.

[@Magna_Carta5]

How lucky to grow up there! My dad died in the Appalachians. He felt connected to them, and went all the time, even after an accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down. His propensity to go deep, far from other people, means there was no one to hear him calling for help when he fell one day. I’d like to live amongst those mountains one day, they truly are something to behold.

[@dtrain739]

I definitely miss them as well.

[@jtron87]

I mean…he literally said “off-putting culture”…

[@bernsky]

as a born southerner, the appalachian culture and especially the cultures deep in the hills, were the ones i felt most comfortable in. now i live in maine, NC got too dense.

[@nothanks3236]

It's really very simple: people go missing because they overestimate their physical abilities, and they don't think about the dangers of going into remote wilderness alone. As well, they often go into wilderness areas they are unfamiliar with, and when they aren't paying attention, they end up lost. I've been hiking and camping the backcountry for two decades, most of it in the Appalachians. If you don't know what you're doing, it's VERY easy to get yourself lost. And in the mountains, there are lots of places where a wrong step will send you plummeting into a ravine where nobody else ever goes, and you're lost forever.

[@christaylor9095]

Humans are spectacularly poor at guaging risk...

[@MADGUNSMONSTER]

​@@christaylor9095 Also termed 'Hubris'.

[@TzeentchLordofChange]

@@christaylor9095 yep, an online poll showed that almost 60% of american mean believed they could beat a black bear in combat without a weapon ....pretty poor self assesment there

[@christaylor9095]

@@TzeentchLordofChange maybe they thought it said "black bean". Humans have poor eyesight, too 🤣

[@standyke542]

While this is often the case you are missing a portion of individuals that really do become victims to evil humans in these remote areas. Don’t assume you’re prepared if you haven’t factored that in. Extreme poverty and isolation can have unexpected consequences.

[@MaritimeFox]

In 1995 I did a road trip from NY to LA in a big smiley face route across the Southern US. Whilst driving through West Virginia and Tennessee I was struck at how similar the hills and mountains looked to North Wales and Scotland. Ireland too. It's only in recent years that I learned that they are the same mountains. The central Pangean mountains. I often thought how Scotland looked a lot like Canada and in many ways that's because it was a part of Canada. I believe the highlands of Scotland are now listed as part of the Appalachian trail.

[@John_on_the_mountain]

Probably why so many Scots settled in the Appalachians

[@baddestjoanna-michellesmit5578]

Wales gave me the same vibe.

[@antonycharnock2993]

You have the Scottish naturalist John Muir to thank for your national parks and protected areas " The mountains are calling and I must go"

[@John_on_the_mountain]

@@antonycharnock2993 yes! He lived in my hometown in Martinez, CA. We went to his house for a 4th grade field trip. It was across the street from my friends house lol

[@gwhite7136]

There are many people here whose ancestors came from Scotland. One of mine was deposed by the King of Scotland and banished. He ended up in NC and eventually his decedents ended up in east TN and western NC. I think most decedents of Scotland tend to stick to where there are mountains.

[@sleepygyro]

I’m from West Virginia and I really, really love and appreciate this video. Just the other day, I was walking my dog and the sun was rising over the mountains and I thought to myself: “God, how could anyone live somewhere flat?” Like, I’ve been out of the state once in my entire life, and it was so strange to see land so flat, with no mountains on the horizon. I never want to go to the beach again, to be honest! West Virginia and the Appalachian mountains will forever be my beautiful home. ❤❤

[@consciousobserver629]

I could see that!! But if you went to an unimpressive beach in the US (east coast) then I'd recommend a vacation somewhere with mountains AND tropical beaches. Will blow your mind. But seriously, now that I live in N GA I don't want to live anywhere flat again either. Lol

[@timothygooding9544]

@@consciousobserver629 Ive been to hawaii and while its impressive how dense civilization is pushed up to natural beauty, (and the clarity of the beaches is insane) its just never going to match how it feels in the appalachians with the sheer verticality and uniqueness of the rock and forests. Hawaii feels designed The appalachians feel like what life designed itself for ...and florida shouldnt exist

[@mushroomsteve]

The Oregon coast might change your view about beaches. Much of it is forested, mountainous and rugged, big sea cliffs and rivers. If you follow the Rogue River out of Gold Beach, you'll get into some of the most remote, rugged wilderness on the West coast. In fact, a family from San Francisco, the Kim family, got lost and snowbound by taking a "shortcut" through those mountains to get to the coast, and the father died.

[@larryfromgasstation]

Thank you for debunking the lies that a lot of creators on TikTok and yt keep saying like “there are monsters in the appalachians, trust me” even though they live on the opposite side of the country. It just gives the appalachians a bad name and really understated how absolutely beautiful and amazing these mountains are.

[@aff77141]

As a wnc resident, there's nothing like the forests and people here, and I wish more people would see that. I tie a lot of this stuff to the old ideas people have of hicks and rednecks living in backwards towns and woods doing terrible things and being uneducated inbreds. It's always funny when people say they 'hear screaming' in 'appalachia' and you can immediately tell not only that it's an animal but what kind of animal it is, and either they have no idea because they're city people, or because it's an animal that doesn't even live here and they're as you said in another part of the country. Sometimes you can even tell by the foliage. That said, I do enjoy a good spook, and while most of the forests here are truly magical, some do have that particular, odd feeling.

[@Dontwlookatthis]

The only monsters ever to roam the Appalachians are people who hunt people.

[@gregscrabshack2307]

I like it, keep the liberal weirdos away

[@willieclark2256]

As an Appalachian I LOVE anything that keeps Yankees and lowlanders away

[@supersiem1431]

​@@willieclark2256 indeed! just make thr city people scarsd so they don't go in the forests:)

[@josies9862]

There’s something so human about the phrase “hell yeah, who doesn’t like bears?” because bears could shred us to pieces and we should be terrified of them, yet we still have such a fascination/excitement/love for them despite that fact. The careful love and adoration of everything in nature, whether it can kill us or not, is so wholesome

[@J-tt1lu]

I think other organisms feel this way too!

[@TheMpo1986]

I want to hug a bear

[@s_t_r_a_y_e_d]

if dangerous why friend shaped :(

[@hedgehog3180]

I mean I guess even a bear probably looks tame compared to the number of animals killed to feed your average human in the first world.

[@suvi1502]

If dangerous why cute and cuddly looking 😔

[@luckyboyyt8582]

I've always wanted to explore the Appalachians and learn more about the land, ecology, history, people, and build new skills. This was so well presented. It makes me more excited to get out there. What a fantastic land.

[@julianparks8485]

I love these mountains. Not just the flora and fauna, but the geology as well. I find a peace in them.

[@TheAlanFish]

I remember when the Blair Witch Project came out. My friends all scoffed at the idea of getting lost in the woods in Maryland. As a southern PA kid who grew up in the woods, I knew that those woods are extremely hard to navigate through. Obviously the movie isn't the most realistic one ever, but the parts where they got lost and ended up back at the same place truly hit home for me. Without a compass or a clearly defined trail, it's incredibly difficult to proceed in a straight line in proper Appalachian woods, no witchcraft required. :)

[@thepunisher3662]

I have a similar story. A guy I know that hunts in the woods of Florida (which I also hunt and hike in) got lost while searching for a deer he had shot. When he found it he had realized that he didn't know where he was and everything looked the same He ended up walking towards the sounds of cars (the Management area butts up against a big state road) while dragging a deer through the woods and by the time he got out of the woods and hit the highway he was over 3 miles away from his truck, parked where he had entered. The woods are no joke and you can get lost easily.

[@jasonscottjenkins]

The thing that really pissed me off about the Blair Witch and getting lost in the woods in general is that once you do find a creek just follow it until you get to a road. Creeks may meander a lot but they do go only one direction to the sea.

[@TheAlanFish]

@@jasonscottjenkins Yeah, but that was intentional on the part of the film makers. They wanted people who know how to deal with that sort of thing to be pissed off at the way the people behave. Same thing as the idiot who goes down into the basement to check on the noise in a horror movie, just a different application. There certainly are people who simply don't know better too though.

[@halfstep44]

​Follow a creek and you'll come to a road? Never heard that but interesting. JW but have you ever done that yourself when lost? ​@@jasonscottjenkins

[@halfstep44]

Same thing's happened to me in the Adirondacks. One problem is that the NYS OPRHP (state parks) publishes maps that are out of scale!!!! They also show trails that don't exist or that haven't been marked yet. They do a good job in most other ways, but wtf get it together. People assume that they can rely on government materials. I just try tohike where I get cell service and/or the trail is heavily trafficked. That limits me but there's still a lot that you can do

[@elricsyao1884]

I recently graduated from a college in the southern appalachians and it was a really cool experience. The southern appalachians are some of the most ecologically diverse places in the world and we learned in a class once that the southern appalachians are a feew inches of rainfall short from being considered a rain forest. The appalachians are such a special place

[@skyrothman8651]

The definition of a rainforest is such a wild fact. I'm from northern california and a lot of coast redwood forests here qualify as rainforests

[@jennifermarlow.]

Interestingly enough, the northern appalachians are rainforests. Just google "boreal rainforest eastern Canada". Oh, and omygosh, I almost forgot. Google "the Joggins Formation", and I think you'll be very surprised.

[@radezy-]

The Smoky Mountains are a form of rainforest sounds like you are still brain dead even after completing college. Go hiking after it’s finished raining or as it’s raining and you’ll see the vibe is totally different…

[@xBINARYGODx]

@@radezy- you are what you label others - temperate rainforests exists - what matters is the moisture content of the soil, to put it too simply - does it support thick enough forest AND trch enough plant life under the canopy (two forests for one, basically)? Good - then you have a rainforest. You are brain dead on this topic, go educate yourself.

[@jokai5981]

@@radezy-?

[@joeb5080]

Came expecting ghost stories, but found something much more rewarding. Really enjoyed this video. I've hiked the White Mountains, Adirondacks, Catskills, Hudson Highlands, Poconos/Delaware Water Gap, and Shenandoah. Absolutely beautiful places, and would like to venture further south in the mountain range (NC, TN), as well as further north (Maine).

[@mime514]

These mountains truly are a treasure of this world, they look so eerily beautiful and being able to step foot on something so incredibly ancient sounds like such a privilege. They remind me of the Carpathian mountains of my homeland, Romania: both of them have an atmosphere that imposes respect and you can’t help but wonder at their incomprehensible beauty, brutal and peaceful at the same time. I can’t really put this feeling into words, but I think that all of the folklore, legends and, sadly, sorrowful stories that surround these mountains make me respect them even more

[@KevinRAAMAAAGE]

The bison roaming those mountains came from my hometown. It was a decades long breeding project the city and townspeople paid with with their taxes and we voted to have this done. Please treat them with the respect and awe they deserve. It was hard for some of us to see them go and we want to know they're safe and people aren't gonna poach them just cause they can. Please treat them with the respect they deserve. We tried our best to make up for the mistake of almost wiping them out, now we need everyone else to do their part if they want them to become part of the landscape again. Yes we're the town with the white Bison calf. If you don't believe me my channel proves I live there

[@patrickglaser1560]

Absolutely do not take close up photos with them, that's how they get put down

[@KevinRAAMAAAGE]

@@patrickglaser1560 I know that

[@ellenrittgers990]

Woodland bison?

[@Butts0hboi]

One Nudged my car when I went to the Safari Farm that’s near where I live in Memphis. Pretty damn powerful creatures

[@JohnWickkkk]

I want to pet them and take pictures with them and ofc feed them

[@noxington4260]

FINALLY someone gives Mount Washington some respect. I’m from that part of New England and everyone around here thinks it’s just this little tourist destination because a ton of cars around here have the “this car climbed Mt Washington” bumper stickers on them.

[@YourNeighborhoodCaat]

Same! Also my family put that sticker on our lawn tractor lol, looks a lot more daunting. But yeah, you either struggle crawling up, or you ride the cog like a normal person

[@raevanl5477]

i know! i was just on the cog last week during a storm and it was incredible. the landscape up there in the mountains is amazing but there's so much tourist-y stuff that that's all people know about it (not that the tourist stuff isnt fun!)

[@codesuc0171]

Agreed, that rock pile isn't a joke when the weather rolls in.

[@isahamilton01]

Never been there but have heard horror stories from family. My dad and grandpa climbed it in terrible weather and agreed that it was probably the most dangerous hike they ever did, moreso than Kilimanjaro

[@rinzlr3554]

@@isahamilton01 I’ve done Kilimanjaro. Unless they did it without a guide (which is impossible now) then it’s relatively safe.

[@samdavis4221]

What a beautiful ode to the mountains I've called home! I so appreciate the effort put into capturing the real magic and danger of this place.

[@julianafowler2758]

Your editing alone is absolutely amazing. I hope you’re proud of your work!

[@rickw9008]

Born and raised in E. TN and love the beauty and history of this area. It’s home to a resilient and proud people who are a mix of descendants of Scots/ Irish and native Americans. I feel safer in these woods alone than in the middle of a city surrounded by people.

[@bigheartedgal833]

Amen

[@moniqueengleman873]

Absolutely 👌

[@_J0N_TAFFER]

Lots of mixed natives in every state especially Pa and Ny

[@skyearthwater]

Amen. I was once "ran away" to the Snowbird range, my safe place, prepared to stay gone for months. Returned after 10 days to give the system another chance..... Still ambivalent about it. If I had to fight, let it be in those mountains. I dream that one day, long after I'm gone, the chestnut trees will again tower there, the elk and the wolf and the cougar will thrive freely there again. It was a privilege and joy to see the spotted skunk, to have overnighted under 30 ft tall fir in a blizzard, and caught the brookie .

[@ellenrittgers990]

Because you are.

[@ethanb4489]

even though the rocky mountains are more visually striking, the appalachians are almost haunting in it’s beauty. this mountain range has literally seen the world go from barren ash to a lively ecosystem. it’s literally seen the continents grow closer to form pangea and then be pulled apart. it’s seen bugs rule the world, then reptiles, then mammals. it’s seen it’s forests grow, get ripped to shreds, then grow again. these mountains are older than life itself. that’s why i find the mountains so beautiful. even if most people from the west coast think they’re boring, i think they’re genuinely some of the most amazing areas in the world

[@jennifermarlow.]

I first saw the Rockies when I was 21, and it took my breath away. I do love my home, though, and the beautiful, rolling mountings, the fall colours, and so many little waterfalls! I am not sure about the south, though I've travelled through W. Virginia, the Carolinas, all over, and it's beautiful! They must have all kinds of little waterfalls, too. Your comment was awesome - you can't say one is more beautiful than the other, just different. ~ from Nova Scotia

[@whims6278]

Beautifully said

[@Amanitaland]

Another similar mountain range is the Adirondacks as well. Not far from the Appalachians

[@Chiefqueef91]

Agreed

[@Ieezeca]

I love the way they make me feel tiny and insignificant...

[@JeffreyEsguerraPhotography]

I think I've watched this video maybe 4 times and I still feel like I learn something new every time I watch it, and this goes for every film from Aidin. Keep up the great work and thank you for inspiring me to do more with my photography and to delve into a new experience in filming.

[@racoonofcancun9105]

I’ve never been to the American bits of the Appalachians, and only bits of the Canadian bit of the range when I was very young, but this is an incredibly beautiful tribute. You lend so much character and love to the mountains, it is incomparable to almost anything else I have seen on the internet.

[@matthewtE]

I grew up in the Appalachian mountains and am more frightened of being in cities. I had some crazy, unexplained experiences, but it's mostly peaceful out here.

[@alexcollins812]

Amen!

[@melissagreye8445]

@Matthewte Tell us about one your unexplained experiences

[@Starbaby21202]

Yes tell us

[@hedgehog3180]

Traffic in a city is probably far more dangerous than any wild nature.

[@krikeydial3430]

What about the Devil Monkeys?

[@Lasarius2010]

As a lifelong Appalachian (Apple-ATCH-in) and an AT thru-hiker, I thoroughly enjoyed this. Many people don't understand the history behind these mountains. They seemingly think they're lesser because they are not as tall as the mountains out west. They are vast and indescribably beautiful. Those of us who grew up here often have a hard time leaving, because the mountains have such a hold on our hearts. Big industry (mining, fracking) has really done a number on small town economies and many people are fleeing the best mountain areas due to the fallout of the industry elites taking business elsewhere after extracing all our natural resources. It's a sad tale. But we are proud people and cling dearly to our mountains - no matter how creepy or scary some people might find them.

[@lindamaemullins-wr1jg]

Yep 👍❤

[@bearbenton5945]

As a proud Appalachian, I agree. I almost feel like we're in a country of our own. These mountains have a hold on me I can't escape even if I wanted. I did, 2 1/2 years ago.. but I came back. There's just something so hauntingly beautiful here. Yeah there's bears, but they are afraid of us(speaking from experience), and if you are out far enough to come across them, you should be armed anyway. Thera are other things, though. If you're lifelong, you should know. I was 15 years old when I first saw a creature I couldn't explain. 12 feet tall covered in dark orange fur, malignant eyes. Bigfoot or Dogman is what I've come to recognize the creature as. I hope I never see another. The most terrifying day of my life. But the woods still call to me everytime I go out at night.. Maybe I'll die out here one day but I wouldn't want to die anywhere else.

[@herbie_the_hillbillie_goat]

Really puts "as old as the hills" into perspective.

[@K-E-V-I-N]

This is the most American thing I have ever heard God bless 🇺🇸

[@gabedavv]

west virginia here 🤚🏽 i can say you are soooo right!! we have so so much more to offer than these big coal/oil companies. unfortunately for west virginia the education system still uses computer systems from the 80s but they still and will always push through with what we got and make the best out of it!!

[@Ciarnyn]

This really took me on a journey, and I was even a little sad when it ended! You're a fantastic storyteller man, instant subscribe.

[@anthonyhagstrom]

This is so well made. Thank you for this.

[@abbyfaust7493]

This was absolutely amazing. I grew up in the blue ridge mountains of Appalachia and this video was an amazing experience. The way you talked about the lack of old growth forests and the culture of animal exploitation/extinction as a result of early deforestation was amazing. The lack of attention to the destruction of this range is devastating to the ecology and surrounding communities. You touched on details even most from Appalachia go their entire lives not knowing or batting an eye at. Thank you. Lovely video

[@davegordon6943]

Hey I'm nearby. Rockingham county Virginia

[@metalmamasue3680]

I'm on the eastern side of the Appalachians in PA. Love Iiving in my ruraI area. It's beautiful and most peopIe are awesome. They're the first to come heIp when you need it most, without asking for anything in return. You couldn't pay me to Iive in a city. 😊

[@historymajor26]

I'm close by too! Near Winston-Salem, NC but have lived half my life going to Hillsville/Galax, VA

[@davegordon6943]

@@historymajor26 Galax in the house!

[@doggolovescheese1310]

It was genocide of not only our Peoples, but of ecology itself 😢

[@jacobjarvis1335]

The sheer amount of biodiversity in the Appalachian mountains is incredible. Thank you for talking about these beautiful mountains

[@pakde8002]

Unfortunately the biodiversity doesn't extend to the people living there. The inbreeding isn't just a stereotype.

[@robertbates6057]

An interesting fact_ there are more species of plants in just the state of GA than all the states west of the Mississippi COMBINED!

[@thomassnapp1341]

@@pakde8002 Yes it is a Hollywood stereotype. Do your homework before making an asinine post.

[@BrockHomme93]

Beautifully said and absolutely jaw dropping drone footage. You've got a new sub.

[@travisdavies8894]

One of the best documentaries I’ve see put together. Well done my friend

[@Sam89365]

I’ve backpacked in the Rockies, Cascades, and Appalachians a ton over the years. I have zero issue walking around in the dark in both the Rockies and cascades but the Appalachians creep me out.

[@vivianloney]

I live in the Appalachian foothills and I love stargazing. I've driven into parks and wild areas in the middle of the night and climbed up ridge trails to summits for the view many times. I've never had an issue with the dark, but the key is to know the area you're hiking in the dark very well. I do my 1am hikes in areas where just the feeling of the ground underneath me tells me where I am on the trail. So I get why that can be a problem for outsiders.

[@zacharias.horsemanship]

​​@@vivianloneyI went hiking with my sister in the middle of the night once to catch the sunrise at the top of Mt. Leconte... I would've had a total heart attack if I ran into someone else on the trail. 😅 Also, she forgot our headlamps, which would've made an encounter even more scary. Lol Thankfully I was blissfully unaware at the time that there were other weirdos that hiked at night.

[@shepberryhill4912]

@@zacharias.horsemanship Oh, the reason YOU didn't have a light is someone else's fault? Stay home until you're ready to take responsibility for your own self.

[@ssfc117]

I wouldn’t walk around the cascades or Rockies at night if you knew any ndn stories there

[@ssfc117]

@@shepberryhill4912 why don’t you stay at home buddy

[@MyFireInside4]

My family has been in the Appalachians since well before the 1790’s and I’ve never watched a video that accurately describes the vast diversity and beauty and yet the economic depression of the Appalachians. And I have never understood the “don’t go out at night, if you see something no you didn’t” trend that is happening. I go out at night all the time. It’s gorgeous. Thank you so much for this video! Finally someone that truly sees the Appalachian Mountains 😊

[@Badluckfistfck]

I’m convinced that the “if you see something, no you didn’t” “don’t have your blinds open at night” “don’t go out at night” trends are all created by attention seekers who don’t actually know shit about true Appalachia. I never heard ANY of that stuff growing up, and I came from an extremely superstitious family

[@MyFireInside4]

@@Badluckfistfck All. Of. This. I literally would walk in the woods by myself as a child and never once “saw anything”. It’s weird to me.

[@Badluckfistfck]

@@MyFireInside4 I’ve had a couple of weird encounters, but ironically the weirdest wasn’t even in Appalachia, they were all in broad daylight, and it’s not going to put me off going into the woods. I feel 10x safer in the woods of Appalachia in the dead of night then I did spending one night on the streets of NYC, I really don’t know where people are getting these stories and “rules” from

[@krisqo]

ive spent many of nights in these mountains laying in a hammock staring at the stars it is the most peaceful experiences of life. However doesnt discount from some of the strange things ive heard either.

[@lindamaemullins-wr1jg]

IKR ❤

[@marciakeilee1336]

What a great little video-super packed with info. Loved it! Thank you Aidin!

[@mikeyzeller4345]

This is really beautifully done -- amazing job! Really informative and well shot!

[@elknut2150]

Born and raised in Montana. We moved to East Tennessee for Medical School. As a lifelong outdoorsman, I severely underestimated these mountains and how unique and beautiful they are. Sure miss the Rockies but exploring the Appalachians has been truly amazing.

[@Fishhunter2014]

No kidding where abouts?

[@elknut2150]

@@Fishhunter2014 We are in Harrogate until next year. Couldn’t have asked for a better place to be relocated to for a bit.

[@Fishhunter2014]

@@elknut2150 Gotcha. I'm from montana too so I was curious.

[@elknut2150]

@@Fishhunter2014 oh I thought you meant Tennessee. I’m originally from Butte. We will be back there in a couple of years. How about you?

[@Fishhunter2014]

@@elknut2150 I'm from Lewistown

[@joshua557]

I'm a Colorado native and familiar with the rocky mountains. I have visited the Appalachians once a year (TN/NC/GA) for the past three years and I find them extremely beautiful and wonderfully different than what I am used to at home. I haven't spent much time in very remote parts of the Appalachians but I have never had a scary or creepy experience even at night. The interactions I've had with the people that live there were pretty normal too. It is a welcome change and I appreciate the diverse mountain ranges we have in our country.

[@SSL0707Star]

Appalachian is an older version of Rockies :)

[@Stars.-Bars.-n-Cheese]

You should visit the blue ridge mountains as well

[@connorrothgeb]

Nice to hear this from a Colorado native. I hear too many people being like “the east coast doesn’t have real mountains” which just annoys the hell out of me

[@SubvertTheState]

There's a beautiful place called The Black Forest (not Germany) in Pennsylvania. It's actually the toughest parts of the Appalachian mountains in PA and the Black Forest Trail is a leg destroyer. But the incredible views are irreplaceable. You can walk through thick, dark woods, climbing and climbing up very steep trail, and then it opens up a bit and you get to see just how much elevation change you made. I just wish the massive trees which gave the Black Forest it's name weren't clear cut long ago.

[@US2A]

​@@connorrothgebI've heard they're nice hills compared to over here

[@denisecastellanos4866]

This video was not just beautiful but also deeply informative. Loved so much hearing about the natural history of Appalachia. Truly filled my heart with so much joy.

[@ShoeGames83]

I really appreciate videos like this. You took your time creating this and researched. The crap on TikTok I don’t know why people waste their time on that

[@SobaOfPulaski]

I am on a County SAR team that covers part of the parkway, half of these cases are because people go into the woods without the proper equipment or clothing and end up falling off a huge cliff or into a mica mine. We have had plenty of searches that have gone cold because there are just so many variables within these woods that make it either too difficult or flat-out impossible to find people. Not to mention the fact most of our teams are way less equipped than teams in other parts of the country simply because we lack the funding and/or support from the state government or local jurisdictions. Regardless of all this, I think it's important for people to realize that a lot of the people who go missing, go missing because they are overconfident in their abilities or just simply unprepared. We have had to do many carry-outs from the plane crash up off of water rock knob because people are either out of shape and unfit to go on that hike or were wearing the wrong boots or clothes for the hike. I remember seeing the news recently about it getting removed from the trail and I personally am glad about that. It hopefully means we will have fewer people getting lost and hurt, not fully eliminate the risk and chance of these incidents, but hopefully, it will do a number at mitigating this.

[@jennifermarlow.]

Also, it's not just Appalachia, but in parks all over. We don't have a lot here (north in Canada's appalachia), but I have to say that my roommate has told me about these many disappearances. Who knows? We live in strange times.

[@SobaOfPulaski]

@@jennifermarlow. I agree 100%

[@pakde8002]

If you had to sign an NDA you couldn't tell us you had to sign an NDA, right? We all know it's really aliens!

[@SobaOfPulaski]

@@pakde8002 Alien’s ain’t real, the Bible makes it very clear God only created life on Earth. The creature which folks consider an alien are in fact satan spawn.

[@monotropaodorata2632]

Water rock knob isn’t that bad it’s actually one of my favorites just bring plenty of water and don’t drink a fifth of whiskey first because you will be dried out.

[@warshipsdd-2142]

I have lived over half of a long life in and around these mountains that my kin and ancestors have inhabited over 300 years. I can name some of the ridgelines you showed from hiking them solo in all kinds of weather, deep into the peaks and coves-from Georgia to Newfoundland. I say that to give credence to my praise of a video take does an excellent job of conveying the feel of this magical place I call home. Well done sir.

[@naturally_rob]

I loved growing up near the Appalachian Mountains. Me and my friends spent nearly every free moment in our childhood in them. We'd routinely set up camp somewhere that tooks us hours to bike too. During hikes and bikes, I remember being captivated by the massive forest and all of what makes it up. We'd sit for hours in this one spot which was decently off the main trail which had this water that would dribble down. A very tiny waterfall, but man was it beautiful there. The one time we decided to see where the water came from and after making it and saying what a beautiful thing nature is, we hiked back down. We got below the huge boulder we were sitting on and for some reason I decided I needed to stop. Then I heard one of the loudest noises I've ever heard and turned to see a bunch of large boulders, along with the massive one we were sitting on, tumbling towards the bottom towards where my friend was. I screamed so loud with the realization that I was about to lose my best friend. Luckily, we were young and in shape. He was able to grab the branch of a tree and just get the backs of ankle scraped. It was absolutely terrifying, but that place is still so special to me. Perhaps it's time I take a flight to my parent's house and take hike out there again.

[@kerorogunso961]

Such an amazing video. Love the insight you provide, and you set the perfect tone with the beautiful videography and music.

[@tesshagensieker1700]

I live in Alaksa and we have similar stories about skinwalkers or other monsters stealing people, but being out in the wilderness here without respect for its natural force is deadly, and I think that's what most people fail to recognize with places like the Appalachia or Alaska etc.

[@TzeentchLordofChange]

sup there fellow 907er

[@celebrityrog]

In Alaska, the biggest threat in the wilderness I think is the weather and the ability to change rapidly, as well as limited shelter to be found or created in some of the conditions Alaska has to throw at us. Next would be Bears and Moose attacks.

[@zellyu8559]

ayee 907 gang gang 😊

[@catalinaplaza7909]

I find the supernatural stories very fun, but as you said they can come out as disrespectful, and you don’t need anything supernatural to make the wilderness dangerous for people. I wish I could go to that beautiful place someday 💖

[@fancydeer]

honestly if the spooky skinwalker stories keep people out then lets spread them. but fr the number of old family mines, mine shafts, abandoned mines, illegal mines etc in the area that people can fall into and get hurt by are much more of a danger than anything supernatural.

[@jenshoefer7944]

Nothing supernatural there anyways, it's all natural, just that we don't fully understand nature...having said this, besides the danger of accidents incl getting lost, the biggest threat are humans (as usual) 🤷‍♂️...nevertheless, coming from european alps, the AT is firmly on my bucket list, it's so much of a different experience

[@hedgehog3180]

@@fancydeer If Chernobyl is anything to go by scary stories are probably more likely to attract people than the boring reality, which is something of a shame when talking about some genuinely amazing and beautiful nature.

[@c.e.benson3263]

I'm a Vermonter...still here. Loving this channel! Just subscribed and shared❤ And yes...there is something about the Appalachian mountains. I've moved away from here multiple times and something always calls me back. And I've been to many places in the United States and overseas, and there's no place that I have found so far that I feel safer. Even though I'm terrified of the forests around where I live because I'm really far up north. I am also completely in love with them. They're just amazing. Friends that are not from the Appalachian Mountains, do not understand. Even my family members who have lived here before but are not actually from here or born here, they don't get the love of this place either. They just don't. And anytime they've ever tried to live here they can't hack it. And it's funny because they always kind of make fun of me and asked me why I don't want to live in a more suburb area or closer to the City where everybody else is. And I'm like that's the point. I don't want to be around a hundred thousand people on top of me underneath me and on the side of me. I love the quiet of this area.❤

[@OneOldLady984]

Thank you for a wonderful video on this area. I grew up in the mountains of Western NC and my family has lived on the same property since the early 1800s. I also have Cherokee ancestry. Growing up, I was taught and still have a deep respect and reverence for these beautiful mountains and its people. Now in my 60’s, I am saddened by the loss of pride and value placed on our cultural heritage by the younger generations caused in part by social stigma attached to this area. The influx of drugs and outside influences has devastated many areas. I deeply appreciate your video highlighting the beauty and uniqueness of this often misunderstood region.

[@sydneyjackson6530]

I’ve lived in North Carolina my whole life and never experienced anything really spooky here. The mountains are beautiful and should be protected. That being said if you feel unnerved it’s probably a rouge bear or cougar and you don’t really know that’s what you are sensing. Very informational video I now love them even more.

[@aliablackwell8311]

I agree, I've never felt safer anywhere than in the mountains in NC. I'm from the Piedmont but the mountains feel like home.

[@killaloli2779]

@@aliablackwell8311same here! 336

[@justsomenobody889]

maybe it seems spooky if you're not used to foggy mornings. Do you get much fog down in NC?

[@sydneyjackson6530]

@justsomenobody889 It really depends on the area and the time of year but it can get rather misty here. The mountains kinda trap humidity from the coast so it is really rare to have a completely dry day. I don’t see fog every morning, but the days that I do it’s really thick. That being said I don’t live on the end of the state near the mountains so the weather may be different there

[@MsSmokeNmirrors]

I agree and I feel safer there than mountains on the west coast. But i have researched the murders and disappearances and there are many.

[@sandywa3057]

As someone who has always lived in the Appalachians, I really loved this video. I’m hoping this will help people realize that we deserve respect instead of looking down on us.

[@elonever.2.071]

It is a wonderful place to live and the people are real family oriented.

[@galadrielwoods2332]

Let them look down. It keeps them and their evil “progress” away.

[@Llamawithjetpack]

I grew up in PA, explored all along the Appalachians through PA, WV, etc. The shitty Hollywood stereotypes about Appalachia are annoying. Can’t believe they still do that shit.

[@sandywa3057]

@@Llamawithjetpack That’s where I grew up and still live! I know to what you are referring and I hate it too!

[@Beadledom2024]

We only look down on the baby bottles filled with Mountain Dew...

[@Eovar_Endre]

STUNNING footage!

[@shrimpwithagun5702]

this video is incredible, thanks so much for making it.

[@KaminoCloningOperations]

Hey guys, if you’re economically available or just generally have the time to do so, please hike the Appalachian Trail or drive the many routes through the mountains. Doing so brings much needed visitors (tourists) to these dying and often dead towns. It’s such a cool, gritty but overwhelmingly beautiful region that often gets looked over. Thanks!

[@jonc275]

Nice try skinwalker

[@user-gc9eg2wi5g]

Why should i

[@tsteinebach287]

​@@jonc275LOL!

[@kaitlynbennett4348]

not with 12 tribe dangit. dont need a cult up my arse

[@ReptilianTeaDrinker]

I live all the way in the UK and tend to stay indoors, so that probably won't happen. Sorry.

[@georgekamenov_]

Aidin, I subscribed to your channel around 4 years ago and I have to say, having the opportunity to see how you have grown as a filmmaker and how your content has changed into what it is today has been incredible. Any time I see one of your videos in my subscription feed I click it before anything else and never regret that choice. It's hard to describe in a way that doesn't turn this comment into a 10 page essay but there's just something that makes me feel completely different when watching your videos compared to any other creators in this beautiful filmmaking meets engaging storytelling genre on KZbin. You're genuinely a huge inspiration and absolutely one of my all time favorite creators on this platform. Keep up the amazing work. Can't wait to see how it evolves moving forward!

[@coffeygrinds]

Thanks for typing this my feelings exactly

[@Waynebrady22]

I have a feeling he’s about to blow up like he deserves soon to a million subs plus

[@Tridevcandraw]

Me too❤

[@PoeLemic]

I would have said the same thing, but @GeorgeK said it better -- than many of us could. So, I'll second, third, fourth, or wherever I am on the list -- agree & have same sentiment as @GK.

[@kkilljoy3588]

This is the first vid of his I’ve ever seen so that’s neat to read - thanks for that!

[@MJ-bz3fw]

This was so beautiful! I have been wanting to hike the Appalachian mountains for years. Can’t wait to get there, now!

[@snogboxes]

what a beautiful video. I grew up near the "Grand Canyon of the South" in the Appalachian Mountains, and they reintroduced elk in the past ten years to our ecosystem. I'm not sure how to describe the feeling but the feeling of growing up in the Appalachias never leaves you, the mountains will always call you home.

[@glenmorrison8080]

I'm a westerner with a penchant for doing a lot of hiking by myself, and exploring funky places like derelict canyon and ridge trails through wilderness. I would never do that in the Appalachians, or any other mountains with so much, dense forest cover. I agree with Boone. Being in a forest like that really strikes me with fear. It is sooooo easy to become lost when you cannot see 100 feet in front of you.

[@shepberryhill4912]

That's absurd. You should stay out of most of the forests on this planet, then.

[@eekee6034]

I get where you're coming from, but humans naturally learn to find their way around when they're very young. If you haven't learned a terrain type, it's frightening. I took to exploring the woods behind my home, much against my mother's wishes, when I was 3 years old, but I was always kept on a tight reign in urban areas. Forests don't scare me at all; I don't even see anything creepy in the footage in this video. Urban areas are a different story. In my 20s, I was terrified of trying to find my way around an unfamiliar town until I trained myself. Funnily enough, the basic technique is the same: look around; get mental snapshots of what you'll see if you find yourself coming back the way you came.

[@glenmorrison8080]

@@shepberryhill4912 I don't say that because I'm scared of spooky stuff. I'm just not used to forests. I'm used to landscapes where it's easy to keep long distance line of sight. That thick eastern forest feels claustrophobic to me.

[@jeffminnich3291]

@@eekee6034 every hill looks the same, every valley looks the same, you can only climb them steep hills so much before you become exhausted and that's if your in great shape....and you typically cannot see far due to the trees. getting lost in them mountains is not a good thing.

[@eekee6034]

@@jeffminnich3291 I see your point regarding exhaustion, I never tried to find my own way around for more than about half a day, and that's including coming back. (I have fatigue issues.) I don't know about every hill and valley looking the same. That might be a case of learning to recognize the differences, but definitely don't let yourself get exhausted. Trees should help, but they can all look the same depending on how the forest is (or isn't) managed. I have it easy in Britain, but I have been in one forest where the trees all grew the same.

[@Aran_chini]

Your videos are the new gold standard. The amount of information conveyed, the seamless story and presentation, the artistic skill to represent such an achingly beautiful corner of the world - amazing.

[@barbarakelly1916]

I'm a retired educational media consultant and buyer for a public school system. I agree with your comments. Excellent content, cinematography, and delivery!

[@winru2]

This is presented in an amazing way. Narration, the footage, the facts and story. good shit

[@nmcvx8]

Your editing was excellent. A great job of displaying the beauty of the area!

[@delphi2123]

I was born and raised here in the southern Appalachians- I really appreciate you making such a nice video about our home. (Saw a bunch of other commenters saying they’re also from TN- hi family!!) I love a good ghost story but too many people take it too far or too seriously and paint the area and locals in a negative light. The woods can be spooky and potentially dangerous but you’re only in any real trouble if you’re heading deep into the forest with little to no experience, supplies, etc. I don’t fear monsters and haints- I’m more worried about mountain lions lol

[@DrPhilGoode]

You mean wampus cats?? Lol 🤣🤣

[@12345fowler]

Don't worry about the horror stories etc. It's just part of the human psyche to invent stories for whatever reasons. I bet this is the same around the world where you have intricate environement like deep forest etc, that the human feel they can't master and dominate right off so they start telling stories about them. For instance in France there is an area called "Le Gévaudan" where you mostly have deep forrest yet horror stories has been circulating from thousends of years about a big wolf eating humans there. (La bête du Gévaudan) A full feature movie was even made out of it in as late as 2002 so nothing new here.

[@charliedallachie3539]

Other people (crazy or criminal) are the most dangerous usually

[@kitecorbin3914]

Live in Appalachians. I am a mountains gal and I could never leave to live anywhere else. There's something so safe about them and friendly. I feel like they hold me in a cradle and keep me safe. There's something soothing in the thought that I can step off a path and be invisible for a time.

[@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606]

It’s a spiritual energy, like being amongst family, I know what you mean. As a West Virginia boy I could never leave. My older brother moved to Central PA to the city of Harrisburg and the only thing that keeps me sane during those trips in the busy city is looking upriver of the Susquehanna river and seeing the silhouette of the Alleghenies the sister mountains to the Appalachians.

[@tylergooden2183]

That’s the Appalachian vibe in a nutshell. Old, ancient, and somehow cradling you

[@gipsymoth1574]

lived in West Virginia for a year and honestly felt so exposed when I drove back west. I missed feeling cradled by all the valleys 💕 beautiful place

[@revsla]

Yes. I feel the safety and warmth of home in these mountains. I also give them the respect they deserve because they are, after all, mountains.

[@vladvalo]

Fed comment *

[@punchkitten874]

5:42 Some of the first Carolina colonists were my husband's ancestors. His family history tells of coming over as indentured servants who immediately fled for the hills as soon as their ship landed. According to them, their original family farm was built in 1698 and they didn't come down "to town" until 1941, when my husband's grandfather had to run the local gas station because everyone else went off to war.

[@yaritzarodriguez9244]

I really enjoy this content, the music, views, and the information being relayed was all cohesive and relaxing. Thank you!

[@PuipinM]

Geologist here! I'm currently researching the mountain building events that created the Appalachian Mountains as we know them today. Though my focus is largely on a uniquely zoned Pluton in the Northern Appalachians, I'd suggest anyone interested in the beautiful geological history of this range look into the Acadian and Neoacadian Orogenies! Many of the largest mountain ranges on earth, such as the swiss alps, are modeled based off earlier Appalachian cross-sectional models. You can learn and infer a lot from these mountains and mountain building events! Some fantastic journal entries include (not cited in any good format): "The Nappe Theory in the Connecticut Valley region: Thirty-five years since Jim Thomspon's first proposal," (Robinson, Thompson, Elbert, 1991) (His first proposal is great too!) "Tectonic Synthesis of Southern New England" (Robinson, Hall, 1980) "A newly identified Gondwanan terrane in the northern Appalachian Mountains: Implications for the Taconic Orogeny and Closure of The Lapetus Ocean" (Macdonald, Ryan-Davis, Coish, Crowley, Karabinos), "Rise and fall of the Acadian altiplano: Evidence for a pPaleozoic orogenic plateau in New England" (Hillenbrand, Williams, Li, Gao), "Paleozoic evolution of crustal thickness and elevation in the northern Appalachian orogen, USA" (Hillenbrand, Williams)

[@SubvertTheState]

Hey thanks for sharing these

[@wmanadeau7860]

I see you reference the Taconic Orogeny. My understanding is it predates the other mountain building processes of the region and is the western edge of the extremely complex geology of central and western New England. I live a few miles from the Taconic ridge and have hiked it in all seasons. It's a little known, remarkably beautiful ancient place. I find fossils no one has been able to identify. Yet we're a stone's throw from the center of the northeast metropolis.

[@MJGEGB]

The Appalachian mountains have always been the place I've felt the safest ever since I was a child. Just weird hearing they described as creepy. They feel like home to me and I've always only been a visitor. Definitely some cool information in this video. One spot I've visited has plants only known to exist in two locations on earth. This definitely explains why that is.

[@nopigeon]

thank you for this video. We have a place we rent for a month at a time a few times a year near Franklin, NC. This video is a wonderful depiction of how I would like to describe to people why I'm always So anxious to leave our home in Florida with my Southern roots husband, going back since the beginning of Southern time, and retreat to the Appalachians. 'Our' place is up a road named Groaning Hill. The name indicates why we have to choose the times of year to migrate, and the type of vehicle you need to get up it. My husband's old four wheel drive vehicle with 300,000 miles on the odometer couldn't make it up Groaning Hill. We had to buy one that could. And exploring the types of remote places we like to go to, well....good idea to have something up there that will get you out of squirrely situations. We stay away from the tourist areas. Thanks again for this . I love the people in the backwoods of the Appalachian mountains. Talk about real! Don't mess with them or they'll be fit to be tied.

[@justsomesaltyboi8716]

This is a pretty cool video essay I seem to have stumbled across. Really well done. I'm a Hoosier and I take trips up into Vermont and have been up at Mt. Washington. I had no idea that it had claimed that many lives but still remember walking around the mountain in the summer and almost got pushed off my feet by the wind lol. I would love to camp out there sometime up in the Nor'eastern region. He is right though, it is a gorgeous sight to behold in person. This video does not do the mountains justice. I plan to move out there someday once I get past my schooling and land a remote job. Thank you for uploading this!

[@thekatalexander]

I grew up in the PNW and recently moved to rural VA and I gotta say, the energy here is very different. I grew up in the woods and the forests. I spent hours and hours on my grandparents property exploring the creeks and fields and trees. As well as camping and hiking lot on crazy Mountains. So I’m fairly comfortable in nature but still… it’s a completely different landscape and vibe out here.

[@impulse_xs]

I think it’s partly due to the long and complex history of human inhabitants and their relationship with these mountains. There’s a strange sense of unavoidable human connection. Any time I’m in the woods and rivers of south central PA I can’t help but think of the Susquahannock people(as well as the early colonists) who lived on the same land, fished the same streams, hunted the same game, and maybe even walked the same game trails I am centuries later. I think about all the death that happened in these woods. I can only imagine the sense of fear both the natives and early settlers felt when they were alone in these woods. Imagine trying to traverse these mountains where sheer cliffs, limestone sinkholes, and other dangers lurk, in woods so thick you can’t see anything past 10-15 feet. Being alone out there, wondering wether a native, a rival tribe, or settlers might be looking to kill you, knowing that you’re on your own and nobody will come to save you. There’s a sense of sadness, knowing this land was home to an entire group of people that no longer exist. It’s impossible to avoid too. You can’t avoid the arrowheads you find. There’s literally artwork drawn and carved into the small rock outcrops in the Susquehanna and other rivers in the area. Very heavy feeling in the woods. Not intimidating per se, but very uncomfortable feeling in the air sometimes. I’ve become used to it. I try to show some reverence to this land when I’m out fishing, hunting, camping, ect. You just KNOW people have been here before you… and there was a lot of human suffering.

[@shepberryhill4912]

Of course it's different. Different is not bad.

[@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606]

@@impulse_xsspiritually for a lot of people the Appalachians are their home, for the Scottish immigrants the Appalachian mountains are exactly like that of the Scottish highlands (they are part of the same mountain range originally) and for a long time there was an understanding amongst the Scottish and the natives, while it wasn’t all holding hands dancing around the fire as people might want to think, there was mutual respect and very similar Clan culture that the Cherokee and Shawnee had that the Scottish also followed. So most issues were handled diplomatically. This all of course ends with the English ruining it and this is when you have settlers and natives attacking each other and you get the stories like Follow The River. Being ancestrally Scottish and Irish (i don’t know how that happened) plus a very very small amount of Native American living West Virginia I will say I feel a spiritual connection to the land, it’s almost that of a familial connection like it’s a family member. I think there is a native belief that a powerful spirit lives within the mountains and I’d have to agree even if I believe in no other power besides God. I believe he channels spiritual power through these ancient hills which is why they always have a vibe or feeling to them.

[@mary-ue4ir]

@@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606 I couldn't agree more. It suits me better than anywhere else. It feels right, it feels safe, it makes my heart peaceful and it feels like home. I'm greatful and have always felt truly blessed to live here for so long.

[@galadrielwoods2332]

@@impulse_xs They still exist. 🙂 Native American does not imply a specific race. North America has always been multi racial. For example, the Cherokee speak of the Moon Eyed people who already lived on lands they wanted. They fought each other and the Cherokee won and took the land. The Moon Eyed people were from Wales. Another example is the Red Paint People of the Northeast who date back to at least 8,000 years ago. They were from North and Northwestern Europe. When I say “from” somewhere I mean their genes and race match people of those areas in Europe. Same race/species of hominid. People ignorantly think that North America or the Americas in general were hidden by a cloak until a few hundred years ago. Of course, they are made to think that by corrupt mainstream academia.

[@Strangleyourfriend]

Damn that’s some stunning footage. It’s so perfectly narrated as well. Respectful, factual and straight to the point. I just love a dense, green and lush forest, and that combined with mountains is just cherry on the top. I’m Scandinavian so I’m much more used to pine trees/boreal forests, but “leafy” forests is such a beauty.

[@goose_4204]

this is such a wonderfully put together video. the visuals are beautiful and the dialogue was entertaining and informative, very nice job well done and definitely earned my follow

[@TheMonkeyNeuron]

Gorgeous footage (esp the drone shots), meticulous sound design, and great music set this love letter to the Appalachain mountain chain apart from anything else I've seen about this part of the country. What an exceptional video.

[@zachf2345]

I'm a sucker for good cinematography and this video tickles my brian in all the right ways, also cool to see the smokies get the recognition they deserve.

[@G62data]

Great, realistic look at the Appalachian’s. I grew up in the Appalachians and outsiders tend to underestimate how brutal and unforgiving the mountains can be if you are not prepared mentally and physically. On the other hand, I grew up hearing many stories and folklore but I’ve never encountered a Bigfoot, skinwalker or feral people (although some seem near feral they are not lol) The true problem, particularly along the Appalachian Trail, is Crime, typically from outsiders

[@SS-yj2le]

It is from outsiders? What about the drugs and moonshine? Are outsiders surplussing those?

[@TheAsheybabe89]

​@@SS-yj2lemoonshine lol? That's tv bullshit. Store bought liquor is cheaper. 99% of illicit shine still made is sold to tourists. And for every drop of that made there's hundreds of gallons of legal commercially made "moonshine" that wouldn't exist without tourists. It's like Russians and samogon. Everyone respects it for the history and culture thing, but no Russian is choosing samogon over store bought vodka if given a free choice 😂. Meth and opiates are the real issues substance wise.

[@maxwellsharp2918]

​@@TheAsheybabe89 hey thanks, being from Las Vegas, I've experienced a lot of tourists believing prostitution is legal in Clark County. So I get how misconceptions of where you live manifest. Any of your locals play up the "backwoods" aesthetic like mine do the "hustler"? Curious. Haha

[@TheAsheybabe89]

@@maxwellsharp2918 haha I've never been to Vegas, but even I knew that you couldn't buy boom boom legally in Vegas. I do hope to visit Battlefield Vegas one day though. And oh God yes. Since this whole moonshine thing popped off on tv everybody's grandpappy was an infamous shiner apparently. And it's hilarious as someone that has made it in the past because I wasn't 21at the time and that still homebrews beer to hear these people claim to have made whisky that was 200+ proof from their Papi's recipe. The issue with that is, 200 proof is 100% abv. Not only is that really difficult to achieve distilling(have to distill in a vacuum environment to hit 100% abv), you'll never keep it at that % when finished because ethanol is hydrophilic and draws water from the atmosphere into the solution. And of course it can't be over 200 proof because higher than 100% ethanol isn't possible 😆. So these mfs tell lies about things they don't even know about 😆. It's the same kind of people you have there. They are compulsive liars that will make up bullshit stories to, A make a buck, B seem cool and interesting, C get attention. People are the same everywhere to one extent or another 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@maxwellsharp2918]

@@TheAsheybabe89 Damn, smacked with nostalgia haha! Every school had a kid who's dad is a LCN mafia kingpin in prison. One kid I knew's mom even told him that crap even though he's definitely irish by surname. To like make him feel better. It was a dark version of the "Santa Clause isn't real" talk between friends when the truth was broke to him. 😅

[@JennaNiho85]

Thank you for this video! It was super informative and loved how you presented a pov of what these mountains are actually like. Great job!

[@PocketsandOutlaw]

Great video! I had a friend who moved out west and when he came back over everything was "bigger back home" It's kind of like how people underestimate Mt Washington because it isn't 15,000 feet tall.

[@sh4rdzy]

I have lived all my life in the appalachians (specifically in and around the blue ridge mountains). I've hunted here, hiked, and gone camping deep in the forests where there may have never been a human foot before mine. The weirdest stuff I have seen has been times where I swear I saw something move in the distance out of the corner of my eye, but when I look nothing is there. Then there are the times where I have gotten this chill run down my back and feel like something or someone is right beside me when I am by myself. But by far the worst is when you are in the forest and listening to the sounds of nature and taking it all in and all of a sudden everything is silent; not a single sound from the bugs, birds, small animals, or even leaves. Everything becomes still and you get this feeling in your stomach that something isn't right. I know that I personally have left as soon as that has happened. Just because I don't have the desire to find out if it's just my mind messing with me or not. I do think there are things in the mountains and woods that people don't know about or can't explain. I'm not a huge believer in spirits and supernatural stuff, but having heard all the stories and learning the true history behind the area I definitely believe that if there is anywhere in the world where such things exist it's in these mountains. The vegetation is so thick you can't see more than 10-15 feet ahead of you, and even then you can't see clearly. These mountains have been here for so long and seen so many things. So many wars, fires, droughts, catastrophes, and entire species wiped out. All the death brought on by conflicts between the natives and europeans, all the wars and battles fought between native tribes before europeans even got here. The curses the natives put on the lands when the settlers came. I truly believe that if supernatural things are anywhere in this world, they call these mountains home. However, I do not appreciate the people who don't live here, or may have never even been here at all, talking about the mountains and the goings on here like they know. They tell outright lies, and they push this idea that the mountains are this place to be avoided at all cost and would be a death sentence to enter. They are beautiful and wonderful and just walking into them you can immediately feel how old they are. Such a unique and amazing place. I doubt there is any other place on earth that you can experience the same beauty.

[@Bhunnidb]

The blue ride mountains are awesome went through them To get to Tennessee plan on going back to backpack

[@BuckingHorse-Bull]

i thought the general understanding that when everything becomes silent is that there is a predator in the area and going silent is a form of survival

[@alisondickinson]

@@BuckingHorse-BullMan is a predator. Your presence is just that.

[@KR72534]

Thanks for your heart felt remarks. I understand your feelings about the mountains. Wish I had visited the mountains. But superstition is nonsense.

[@SunnyAndShare]

Why do y'all have to blame Native American curses so much? Do I have mystical powers that you don't?

[@pBIggZz]

I live in ontario, and frequent Algonquin Park. Traveling there it's easy to imagine the place as completely unchanged, pristine wilderness, but there are photographs of it *treeless*. Literally, barren rock and dirt. It is difficult to imagine how different these places were even a short few centuries ago, and how completely european settlers destroyed them essentially within the span of a single century. To the indigenous people, it must have seemed like the apocalypse.

[@barba_ridade]

what an incredible and visually beautiful video. glad to discover this channel, keep it up!

[@hannahtansosch4663]

Thank you for making this. This is beautiful

[@6484373]

I've visited the Appalachians a few times on road trips, and am always reminded of how criminally underrated they are. Yeah they might not have the shock and awe of the Rockies, but they are a very demanding terrain in their own way. I was lucky enough to grow up in what I like to call the miniature Appalachians, referred to as the Driftless Area. This is a region at the corner of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa that was never touched by glaciers in the ice age. Because of this it has very similar terrain as Appalachia, just on a smaller scale. When you can drive in pretty much any direction for hundreds of miles from this region and see nothing but flat prairie, its a nice little escape. Probably the Midwest's best kept secret.

[@RichardsShortHorrorFilms]

I shot a short film in Solider's Grove Wisconsin and could't believe how steep the hills were. My ears actually popped while driving.

[@timdowney6721]

Although I live on the Colorado Front Range, I think the Appalachians are just as beautiful, just in a different way. They have suffered much more from “development” that’s left behind environmental degradation on a tragic scale.

[@Errcyco]

I did the Blue Ridge section as a kid over three weeks and it was amazing. One thing we learned VERY fast talking to through hikers was they all planned their trips down to the day. And they’d start north or south depending on when they could start. If you don’t plan right you’re going to freeze to death. The northern section has brutal areas you have to hit in spring or summer only really. The Virginia/North Carolina section is the best hiking for newbs. You still need to remain aware as you can walk within 6’ of a cliff on some parts of the trail but it is pretty obvious. Some of the best scenic views of my lifetime on that trail.

[@sethlewis4700]

Thank you for: 1.) pronouncing the name of our mountains, people, and culture correctly. It means a lot to us down here. 2.) Representing the beauty of the plants and animals - it is really underappreciated. 3.) Reminding folks that our culture and language are unique and shaped by history (like everyone else's), and our people (if you give us a chance, come with an open mind, aren't down-putting or rude, and don't treat us like we are from "Deliverance") are kind, hopsitable folk who are welcoming and fast to help.

[@WakefieldTolbert]

One of the best overviews of the Appalachians I've ever seen. Well done. BTW, merely getting on the edge of all this, like feeling the gloom of the Nantahala forest even at midday, is very humbling, to say the least.

[@lancepoteet2172]

Having grown up in southern Appalachia, it blew my mind when visiting Joyce Kilmer and to see what the timber used to look like.

[@skyearthwater]

That had to be a few seconds of footage from Kilmer here. ❤️. I 'm pretty sure I recognized the very spot.

[@cchaffincc]

I looked in the comments to see if someone else recognized Joyce Kilmer/Slickrock . One of the prettiest places in North America.

[@billmalone5050]

I live in NC and I have always viewed the Appalachian Mountains in north Georgia, east Tennesse, western North Carolina and southwestern Virginia as gloriously beautiful places to visit and to escape from the crowded cities, hot summer temperatures and the boring flatlands.

[@janabod9041]

Beautiful! Thank you for making this

[@JeiBurke]

Gorgeous, I loved the final sounds with the whip-poor-will, a nice detail

[@Jwats96]

Another fantastic video as usual Aidin. The cinematography, presentation, graphics, color, editing. It all comes together so well into a perfectly cohesive piece of art. I live near the Appalachians of VA and this was a topic I was always curious about.

[@AidinRobbins]

So glad you enjoyed!

[@gibby1325]

You are making some of the best content I have ever seen, and that's not an exaggeration. As someone who adores these mountains, it's so enjoyable to watch these videos. Just recently, I've also seen a lot of stories about people going missing in the Appalachian Mountains, so the timing here is perfect! I'm close enough to these mountains that I get to go at least a few times a year. It's a beautiful, tranquil place where you get to re-connect with yourself and get some time away in a location you could only dream of. I hope to learn more about them from you because we share the same appreciation. Keep doing what you are doing: learning about this place and sharing your knowledge and appreciation with the world. You are fantastic at it!

[@darksu6947]

I can see the second tallest mountain in Virginia from my front porch. I love it here. I can't imagine living anywhere else.

[@dmoramarin1]

Great video. I live in Chapel Hill, NC. My wife and I love going up to the mountains for short stays every now and then. Have been to several parts of the Appalachians, and love going hiking. It's beautiful up there. This video does them justice.

[@Vbrev]

One of the most beautiful, informative videos I’ve seen in a long time.

[@AngieFulfordWorld]

Western Carolina girl here. These mountains were our playground. Yeah there were some creepy places but we were never afraid. Brilliant national park. I have nothing but fond memories camping and exploring the mountains.

[@lavendereyes1533]

Thanks for making this! I grew up in southern WV and it’s really refreshing to see a video about Appalachia that doesn’t make it seem horrible.

[@MissyRichmond]

I agree. I’m from Southern WV, too. I now live in the Western part of WV. I went back for a visit in Southern WV a few weeks ago. We lived in a valley surrounded by huge mountains. It’s simply gorgeous. It hurts my heart when I have to leave. I even dream about those mountains. I’ve been all over them. It’s definitely a beautiful place to see. Especially in autumn.

[@gabedavv]

LETS GOOO MOUNTAINEERS

[@osareafallire]

Damn, what a beautifully crafted video. You've got some exceptional images in this. Well done!