My family is still in the area from Chapel Hill, North too, Harrisonburg, VA. I grew up mostly around Wintergreen Ski Resort, right where the Blue Ridge Drive starts.
I have never really left the mountains, I just usually trade one set in for another. I have lived in Colorado in the past. I just moved from Mt. Baker Washington State to the highlands of Guatemala. I am working on a book while living on Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. Surrounded by steep volcanoes, this is one of the world's deepest volcanic lakes. It sits about a mile high, so, we are in constant spring-like weather.
I will get back to NC/VA this summer for awhile.
I will follow you so I can keep up. I will be posting lots of my photography, I see we like the same things like that.