How It All Goes Down
- The Appalachian Mountains—where Bryson and Katz are currently en route to—are pretty magical. Interestingly, however, they're most notable for their plant life.
- Bryson goes into detail about the many famous botanists who cut their teeth in the region. You should really read this—it's fascinating stuff.
- But, as we've seen before, this incredible natural diversity is being wiped out. Bryson sees the extinction of the "massively graceful American chestnut" as a symbol of this decline (1.10.13).
- Bryson is thinking about these issues as he and Katz trudge through the Virginia woods. Even though it might have been prettier before, it's pretty darn impressive right now.
- It certainly helps that the trail is completely empty—they hardly see a soul for a week.
- One evening, they spot a town—Waynesboro—in the distance. They decide to set up camp and trek the eight miles down in the morning.