Henry and Keffer Oak

Over a year ago, I heard about the Remarkable Trees of Virginia Project.  I didn’t have to think twice about what tree to nominate— the Appalachian Trail’s Keffer Oak! 

On Sunday I got a call from the project and they told me Keffer Oak made their top 100 which will be included in a book that will be published in 2008.  Good News!

Then they said they wanted someone to pose as an Appalachian Trail hiker in the photo.  They asked if I would be interested.  Great News!!

Then a little later they called and asked, “Do you still have that dog?”

That dog would be Henry!  When I nominated the tree, I submitted a picture with Henry to provide some perspective on the tree’s size.  They asked me to bring Henry to the photoshoot.  Spectacular News!!!

And so this morning, little Henry and I got up at 5 AM.  I still had my pack in tact from last weekend’s backpacking trip (which will get a series of blog posts once I have more time), so I grabbed it and my trusty hiking boots and met up with the writer and photographer.

We hiked the shortest route to the tree (0.6 miles from VA-630) and the photographing began. 

The photographer working his magic with Keffer Oak

I’m not sure how either Henry or I did (I didn’t feel very natural) or if we will ultimately make it into the book, but it was a fun time.  I very much enjoyed chatting to both of my companions and getting an opportunity to talk highly of our local mountains.   I’m a little envious of their occupation!  Driving around, taking pictures of and talking about cool trees— that sounds awesome!

On top of all the fun, the trip was educational for me.  I learned a little lesson about myself today:

I will sacrifice my own comfort for art

Despite keeping him leashed, early on Henry found an opportunity to roll in cow manure.  And so, as is often the case, Henry was covered in poo.  At one point, Henry and I were “resting” under the tree and I could hear the writer yell a direction to me from above.

“PET HENRY!!!!” she said.

And so I did.  🙂