The Smokies’ Lesson
The Carter case reignited a broader conversation about wilderness safety. Hiking clubs debated whether young children belonged on strenuous trails. Rangers reminded visitors that beauty and danger in the Smokies walk hand in hand.
And yet, for all the discussions, one truth lingered: nature is not cruel, but it is indifferent. It hides what it takes, sometimes for years, until chance — not technology — uncovers it.
