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Mountain light · Water · Place

Appalachia

A collection by Drifton Dalton

Curated collection

Mountain ridges, weathered structures, moving water, and the quiet details that give the Appalachian landscape its character.

Golden autumn trees and farmland reflected in a pond in Burke's Garden — Fall Morning in Burke's Garden Burke's Garden, Virginia A crisp fall sunrise warms the countryside as the chill of night lifts and a heavy layer of dew begins to disappear.

Historic grist mill surrounded by vivid autumn foliage and cascading water — Mill in Autumn Babcock State Park, West Virginia Glade Creek Grist Mill rests among autumn color on a cloudy fall day, with the creek running unusually low after a season of scarce rain.

Water descending the layered rock of a forested Appalachian gorge — Middle Falls Falls of Hills Creek · Near Hillsboro, West Virginia The 45-foot middle fall of Hills Creek descends through a rugged Allegheny gorge of layered stone, rhododendron, and towering hardwoods.

Industrial plant glowing with flame and smoke beneath a forested Appalachian ridge — A Furnace Beneath the Forest Oakwood, Virginia Smoke and flame rise beneath the forested hills as steel breathes and a coal train waits beside the workings of Industrial Appalachia.

Empty coal train crossing the Whitewood trestle above a mountain road — Last Light at Whitewood Whitewood, Virginia From above, an empty coal train descends the grade across the Whitewood trestle in the last light of the evening.

Fireworks glowing through smoke above Bluefield at night — Appalachian Fireworks East River Mountain Overlook · Bluefield, Virginia Bluefield's celebration glows from 3.5 miles away—brief, brilliant, and wrapped in smoke and Appalachian stillness.

Sunlight breaking through storm clouds above layers of mountain ridges — Weather Breaking East River Mountain Overlook · Bluefield, Virginia Crepuscular rays break through summer clouds above Bluefield and the layered Appalachian ridges.

Abandoned wooden shelter and old fire tower rendered in black and white — At the Summit Middle Knob · Great Channels Natural Area Preserve, Virginia A rundown shelter and old fire tower mark the summit of Middle Knob along the route to the Great Channels.

Downstream view of a rocky woodland creek beneath autumn trees at Babcock State Park — Woodland Current Babcock State Park, West Virginia Looking downstream at Babcock State Park, the current winds between weathered rocks beneath the changing colors of the forest.

Milky Way arching above silhouetted trees and a distant Appalachian horizon — Under the Milky Way Burke's Garden, Virginia The Milky Way stretches above the dark ridgelines and open night sky of Burke's Garden.

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