The beauty of the Asheville, North Carolina area, Appalachian trail and the Great Smokey Mountain National Park and it's splendor of gifts would be unknown to many had it not been for the drive, vision and work ethic of George Masa. An artist of fine landscape photography and collector of data - George Masa a Japanese immigrant, made it his life's work to hike, measure and record all the Appalachian mountains ( name many with friend Horace Kephart ) and to make possible the building of the Appalachian Trail and photography its vastness and the people who shared its abundance of life. Masa was a lover of the mountains, the people and a visionary in preserving its natural beauty for other generations to enjoy. Below is a great blog to follow for more information on this great man's journey as well as a beautifully done DVD " The Mystery of George Masa " by Paul Bonesteel and his company Bonesteel Films.
http://georgemasa.blogspot.com/
To purchase the DVD:
http://www.bonesteelfilms.com/masa.html
That sounds like a great DVD. We go hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains from time to time. It is a wonderful place for a hike!
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone - we've actually tossed around the idea of taking some day hikes on some of George Masa's past trips and trails that he recorded. I'm in the process of compiling some of his notes and drawings on some of the trails in and around Asheville and Morganton NC. Love feedback from anyone interested in that or other day hike adventures we may organize.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information on the area and the film. The pictures are gorgeous and this looks like the perfect place to spend some time rock climbing. Being able to breath the fresh air and be outside in the sunshine while staying active is an ideal vacation.
ReplyDeleteWe've just finished some new hiking routes in some of the most beautiful areas you can imagine (Elk Knob, Snake Mountain, Table Rock and South Mountain) Hope everyone can make it to the NC Mountains some time soon. Log into our BLOG site for updates on new areas and photos that will tease you to visit. Remember " Your peace comes from the outdoors "
ReplyDelete