Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2013 - 66

G Yes, the Grass is Greener Here
Shawn hash

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Shawn haSh, a native of the blue ridge region and a virginia
tech grad, Struck out for the big tall rockieS aS a young
man. theSe dayS, aS the owner of tangent outfitterS in the
virginia mountainS, he getS to not only enjoy hiS home
territory, but alSo help otherS do the Same.

...it thrills my soul to
have someone from
“out west” speak so
highly of this place i
love and call home.

Shawn Hash: The mountains, people and four distinct seasons brought him home.

“I got lost and found this great
place,” the lady said as she exited
her minivan.
She was a well traveled grandmother who was on a trek from
Oregon to the Washington D.C. area
to visit her grandchildren. To her
delight, she had found this town
which had a two-mile hike to an
incredible waterfall. The town was
Pembroke, Va. and the hike she had
discovered was to the Cascades, a
trail in the Jefferson National Forest
leading to a 69-foot waterfall.
Excitedly, this traveler went on
about how beautiful it was here in
West Virginia which is where she
had originally gone astray. I then
informed her that she was actually in
66 | BlueRidgeCountry.com

Virginia and she thought that was
hilarious!
“I don’t even know where I am
but I do know it is beautiful!” As she
compared her adventure up to the
Cascade waterfall to many hikes she
had done in British Columbia and the
Pacific Northwest, I couldn’t help but
smile... I am fortunate to come in
contact with people from all over the
U.S., whether in our store or in guiding fishermen down the New River.
Talking with these passersby confirms my feelings about these
mountains.
After graduating from Virginia
Tech I began working in the outdoor
arena in the Rocky Mountains, where
I thought the grass would be

“greener.” After all, the Rocky
Mountains are absolutely dramatic
and breathtaking. But the longer I
was there the more I was drawn back
to the mountains of the Blue Ridge.
Don’t get me wrong, the mountains
out west are certainly a sight to
behold. I do love them. However,
back then as a young man with a
love for the outdoors, I could not
help but think how blessed I was
where I grew up, where we enjoy
four distinct seasons, with hospitable
folks and mountains that embrace
you. That realization propelled me
back east to start a business where I
could help others enjoy this vast
playground we call the Appalachian
Mountains.
So it thrills my soul to have someone from “out west” speak so highly
of this place I love and call home.
Before my conversation with the
“lost” lady ended, she had made a
decision to bring her children and
grandchildren to the Blue Ridge
Mountains for their family vacation.
I thank God every day for giving
me eyes to see how “green the
grass” really is on this side of the
U.S., here in the Blue Ridge. 
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Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2013

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