If you live in the mountains and the climate is lush and somewhat tropical in the summer, it's difficult to get 360 views from the mountain tops. Last weekend I hiked up to the top of Max Patch on a beautiful albeit transitional day. There, on what's called the "bald" I could see forever; I could touch the clouds. You can spin yourself around and take in the rapidly evolving views - I could even see into other states.

If you've ever been to the Blue Ridge mountains, you're familiar with their beauty and mistiness. Towards the bottom of the mountains, the mist rises. A building storm added an electricity to the air as the afternoon winds picked up and humidity caused the air to warm and rise.