text: [Themes: Travel, Slice of life, female protagonist]
  
  > Look around
  Lower Mt. Cammerer Trailhead
  A standard NPS trail sign indicates that the Lower Mt. Cammerer trail begins here, leaving the pavement and entering the woods to the northeast.
  
  > go to the northeast
  You step behind the gate and begin walking the wide trail. Tire tracks are evident here and there where the soil is softer; the rangers have been back here recently for some reason. There's a gentle uphill
  grade, though it's barely noticeable, and before too long you come to another trail sign.
  
  Trail Junction (Lower Mt. Cammerer & Access trails)
  You're standing at the junction of two trails, and two signs are
  nailed to a single post here to orient you. The Lower Mt. Cammerer trail heads northeast, toward the Sutton Ridge Overlook and, eventually, to the Appalachian Trail. Alternately, the trail continues southwest toward the campground, about two tenths of a mile away. A second trail, unnamed, runs northwest, toward the parking area where you began, or southeast, toward the Low Gap Trail.
  
  A patch of yellow flowers is growing at the base of the signpost.
  
  > Go northeast
  You head northeast. A quarter mile or so down the path you encounter a shallow stream, easily crossed by hopping from one rock to the next without getting your boots wet.
  
  Before long, the trail narrows from a road to a trail. The vegetation closes in on each side as well as overhead, forming a darkened tunnel of rhododendron. It's a pleasant stroll along this section, quiet,
  with only the smallest shafts of sunlight penetrating the thick
  canopy, but you're evidently the first person to break trail today and you keep hitting unseen strands of spider web. Eventually the tunnel disappears, the canopy opens up, and as you pick the last wispy cob
  web from your hiking shorts, you notice that you've arrived at the footbridge.
  
  Sunlight pours forth into a large opening in the trees here, illuminating bits of pollen floating in the air and sparkling on the surface of Tom's Creek. The stream flows northwest, gurgling beneath a rustic but sturdy log footbridge.
  
  You hear the distinctive sound of a woodpecker in the distance.
  
  > Go north
  The water appears to be too deep to cross in that direction. It's perhaps best to instead use the footbridge.
  
  > Go northeast
  You climb onto the footbridge over Tom's Creek, walk halfway across, and pause. One hand on the railing for balance, you close your eyes, feel the coolness of the water running beneath you, and concentrate on the sound of the water as it ripples along over unseen rocks. You
  stand there for perhaps two minutes, enjoying the water's song, but eventually the cool air coming off the creek is too much for your uncovered legs and you decide to continue up the trail.
  
  After walking about a third of a mile, you come to a trail junction.
  
  The trail crests the first of many ridges along the northern side of Mt. Cammerer here. Sutton Ridge, as it's called, is dry and exposed - perhaps not the loveliest spot for a rest break. But from here, a tiny spur trial scrambles up the ridge to the southeast, and the clearing
  at the top generally provides an lovely view of the surrounding mountains.
  
  You pause to contemplate whether you'd like to check out the spur trail, or to simply continue east, toward the fire tower.
  
  > Up
  You decide to make the scramble up to the overlook. It's only two-hundred yards, but the climb is steep and leaves you winded once you reach the top.
  
  The Sutton Ridge Overlook is a very formal name for a very informal clearing on the side of a hill. The ground here remains bare from people such as yourself coming up here to take in the view; evenings
  in particular are a great time to visit, because this is a wonderful vantage point from which to take in the sunset over Gabes Mountain, across the valley to the west. Though perhaps not quite so stunning as at sunset, the clearing is still quite beautiful during the day. To
  the north, the Cosby Valley stretches out lush and green, and mountain laurel dots the surrounding hillsides, pink and in full bloom. Galax and arbutus line the edges of the clearing at ground level.
  
  You sit down on the ground in the clearing to catch your breath and take in the view.
  
  > stand
  You get back up and brush off your clothes. Break's over.
  
  > Down
  You work your way carefully down the steep spur trail.
  
  You're standing at a bend in the trail on the crest of Sutton Ridge. The trail turns from south to east here, and a spur trail scrambles through the arbutus and galax to the southeast.
  
  > go east
  You leave the spur trail behind and head down the eastern side of the ridge. The path is a long, narrow straightaway, and the walking is easy. After less than a quarter mile you come to a lovely little waterfall, and pause to admire its beauty.
  
  Whereas Sutton Ridge was a high spot, dry and exposed, this is a tiny creek draw between two ridges. Riding Fork Creek cascades down a
  series of mossy dark gray rocks here, southeast of the trail. You can continue on toward the fire tower by hopping across the creek to the north.
  
  > go north
  You cross Riding Fork Creek and continue weaving over and between ridges, making the long, slow climb along the northern face of Mt. Cammerer.
  
  After a mile and a half or so, you come to Campsite 35, the only developed backcountry campsite along the trail today. There's no one present, so you rest at one of the scorched fire rings, nibble on some trail mix, and watch a squirrel as he goes about his business.
  
  After a pleasant break, you continue on toward the tower. The gradual nature of the climb gives way to a steeper ascent, and after an additional two and three-quarter miles, you reach the next landmark of today's hike.
  
  Trail Junction (Lower Mt Cammerer and Appalachian trails)
  The Lower Mt. Cammerer trail ends here at a junction with the famous Appalachian Trail. Commonly referred to simply as the "AT," the trail covers nearly the entire length of the Appalachian Mountains, from Maine to Georgia - a distance of over two thousand miles. You wish
  that you'd taken a summer off during college to hike the length of it, but there's no point in regretting that now. There's always retirement to look forward to, right? You sigh wistfully at the thought and plop down onto the ground among the roots of a large tulip poplar growing
  in the center of the junction.
  
  The AT runs east-west here. According to the sign, it's only another three miles to the tower.
  
  In the distance, you hear a woodpecker's familiar drilling.
  
  > look at the sign
  There are two signs on the post. The uppermost sign faces south, and
  is oriented so that you know it pertains to the trail that runs east-west; it reads:
  
  Davenport Gap 2.8 ->
  <- Mt Cammerer Fire Tower 2.9
  <- Low Gap 4.4
  
  The other sign faces west and reads:
  
  <- Cosby Campground 7.5
  
  Seven and a half miles back to the campground and parking area... you've already come quite a way!
  
  > examine the toad
  You've seen a few amphibians here and there, but you don't see any
  just now.
  
  You hear a sound in the underbrush off to your left, but see nothing.
  
  > go north
  You set off toward the fire tower. The trail runs along the top of a rocky ridge, but it's well-used and, for the most part, easily walked. The last few feet are a bit of a scramble, but you effortlessly manage the boulders and find yourself standing triumphantly on the porch of the fire tower.
  
  Mt. Cammerer, Outside the Fire Tower
  The Mt. Cammerer fire tower sits atop a jagged, rocky peak with a commanding view of the surrounding mountains. It's a fantastic
  location for such a structure, really, because you can see for miles
  in every direction and it would be easy to spot a plume of smoke, particularly if you used binoculars.
  
  You lean against the railing and take in the landscape. Gorgeous, and so worth the effort.
  
  A hawk cries in the sky above you, momentarily drawing your attention.
  
  The wind picks up for a moment, cooling your skin in the growing heat of the day.
  
  > enter
  You open the door to the fire tower and walk inside, closing it behind you.
  
  The interior of the fire tower is simple and unadorned. A plain wooden floor stretches from wall to wall, and windows stretch from about
  waist high to just short of the ceiling. Despite the sun, the warmth
  of the day, and the large windows that allow a 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape, the air is surprisingly cool inside the tower, no doubt due to the stone foundation you saw outside. You're thankful for the break from the heat.
  
  > look through the window
  You walk to the edge of the room, lean gently against the window, and take in the view. It's a wonderfully clear day, and it feels as if you're able to see the entire world from here - mountain after mountain, sprawling to the horizon. You can see Webb Mountain to the north, where your house is nestled somewhere in the trees. Beyond is Bays Mountain and, further still and slightly west, Clinch Mountain.
  
  You turn and walk across the room a bit, and look to the east.
  Snowbird Mountain lies just the other side of the Pigeon River gorge. Beyond that, the Unakas and, further still, the Blue Ridge.
  
  Turning south, you see the Mt. Sterling Lookout on a distant ridge, barely visible without binoculars.
  
  Finally, you step to the western portion of the room and look out onto peaks of whose names you are not certain. The names aren't important, really, merely random designations of natural landmarks. First the Cherokee gave them names, then the Europeans, and perhaps someday someone else will call them something new. But the mountains will endure regardless. Or so you hope.
  
  > examine the Webb Mountain
  The mountain is a sea of trees, dark green waves rolling over a weathered landscape. These mountains are considered by some to be less majestic than the Rockies or other, younger, unweathered mountain chains, but you think of them as wise and old, containing secrets.