By Holly Parsons
Correspondent

Until a few years ago, legendary Idyllwild resident Hill Champion spent 42 joyous years creatively enjoying his world as wildly eclectic, and uniquely fascinating. Ripened by life, unexpectedly – and to his great surprise one vivid day unlocked the beginning of a whole new chapter.

In 2019 free spirited Donna Weaver blew into Idyllwild on her yoga mat, and unwittingly disarmed our lifelong bachelor. Predictably, quick as a whip Hill didn’t let the moment pass. Donna wasn’t immediately captivated. Undeterred, Hill literally chased her down and with his characteristic charm and more than a little good fortune he married his soulmate.

In truth, within a few years of knocking around the west they were both itching for a wider adventure. East coast family members were woefully out of reach to both and all who know Hill recall the difficult decision to relocate from his Idyllwild sanctuary. But being a man of great wisdom has many rewards. In 2022, the newlyweds ventured east to find their new home.

For decades fortunate residents of Idyllwild knew Hill as a steadfast friend. His love for the mountain resulted in 99 ascents of Tahquitz, plus regular hikes of every other trail in the area.

For 3 months, Donna and Hill searched the Carolinas to find their new home, ultimately settling in an exquisitely beautiful area 35 miles from Ashville in Haywood County. It’s a rural area where everybody jokingly says, “Hay Now!” Waynesville has been their home for 2.5 years, it’s not only stunning but also embodies the culture and heritage of western North Carolina.

Town visitors are warmly greeted by a giant sign that reads ‘Welcome to the Great Smoky Mountains.’ A National Park with the same name, within the Blue Ridge Mountain system, surrounds the area and preserves lifestyles for Elk and Black Bear both reintroduced into Cataloochee and Maggie Valley’s as permanent residents. “Wild turkey is everywhere, and ground hogs have names on our property! We have loved it here,” said Donna.

“It’s not unusual to see Bear in our neighborhood,” said Hill. “One day last year while walking the dog down our driveway – Donna spied a bear lumbering toward us. We stopped, then we began slowly walking backwards and the bear, mimicking us, began walking backwards too! We couldn’t stop laughing for a week. Ironically our dog was silent.”

“Our experience is the area is beyond beautiful. We truly love the entertainment, cuisine, and art events in Ashville, its River Arts District, Waynesville, and Frog Level our own emerging arts district. We love to sit out by the creek at Frog Level Brewery listening to blue grass or jazz. It is truly a gathering place for the community. Frog Level was originally declining, a place where nobody went. Hundreds of thousands of dollars spent to restore the area began about 4 years ago – it was to be the Art District of Waynesville.” Hill stated.

Donna added, “There’s a culture here! This is Cherokee land. The Scots Irish settled the area in the late1740’s and all influences are still prevalent. Generations of people live on the same land – still farming the very same land their ancestors settled. Their influence has morphed into an Appalachian culture that includes clogging, delightful food, crafts, fiddling, quilt making, rug and apparel weaving, canning, even the local college hosts many classes on sustainability. The orchards are incredible – stands of fruits and apples are abundant.”

“Homesteading is being re-embraced by a younger generation – with organic and sustainable lifestyles are taking root including the ethical, humane handling of livestock. So much homemade fiber arts; try and find someone who doesn’t have their own vegetable garden,” Donna laughs.

A couple who finishes one another’s sentences shared, “All of the land is magnificent, yet there’s a large population living in abject poverty surrounding high end neighborhoods. Here, poverty isn’t contained to certain ‘out of sight’ areas, it’s woven into the landscape.”

“The people are very loving and so very polite, always expressing a willingness to do more!” Donna adds, “Appalachian women are so strong – they’re tough. They’re survivors. If the husband can’t hunt for winter stores, the wife will!”

One Fateful Day – Fierce Rains Began

On Wednesday, September 25th a tropical storm mass hovering over the entire Appalachian region delivered pounding rains. Continuing for more than 24 hours into late Thursday the region became entirely saturated. Tropical storm Helene arrived Thursday night posting 40 – 60mph gusts that were not that unusual. But it was the continuous deluge of torrential rain that proved devastating.

But for the confluence of rainfall roiling down mountain valleys we might have survived. Raging torrents of waters clocked in at 60 mile per hour, rising to upwards of 27 feet above flood level, causing rivers and creeks to stoically sweep away an entire region.

“No-one expected what occurred. No one could even imagine. This is the worst storm in recorded history from 1791 to current day,” Donna shared. “It was a one in a thousand-year storm.”

“The entire western North Carolina lifestyle is impacted, wiped out and decimated. Town after town is trashed. Landscapes are forever altered – the topography will never be the same. Regionally, the economic impact is staggering. The loss of life, homes, farm animals, wild animals, landslides, historic buildings, businesses, priceless art – all gone.” Hill reflected.

Six states are affected. “All the rivers were in on it! Is this natures wakeup call intensifying,” Donna asks?

“Familiar areas in the region are unrecognizable. Riverbanks have collapsed, highways and roads are impassable and many vanished. During the storm nearby rivers drove huge pieces of buildings, trucks and cars into their truss’ often destroying strategic bridges. Residents hid out in their attics terrified by the sounds of destruction as the waters rose around them to never before seen levels.”

Images depict enormous trees uprooted, thrown by water on top of cars, crushing homes and commercial buildings, semi-trucks with full containers landed on manufactured homes, power grids were dismantled, water systems serving entire towns blew out, countless dozens of propane tanks float freely down rivers, the scene is truly apocalyptic. The collective trauma, overwhelming.

“We have been extremely lucky, with the exception of the first few days, our utilities are functioning, and we are able to get food,” they shared.

“FEMA is everywhere in its many forms including the National Guard, I give them 4 thumbs up,” said Hill. “Churches are also offering support in the form of sheltering the homeless and distributing resources. People, emerging from the rubble very slowly, are rising like the Phoenix.”

“The cleanup effort is colossal. Mountain folks are still coming down the mountain carrying chain saws, neighbors are helping neighbors before they help themselves. The spirit of love is everywhere and it’s incredible.” they both shared.

Many US private jet owners offer their planes, pilots and cover fuel expenses to transport disaster victims through organizations that mobilize their resources – this is one such example: After the storm Hill’s sisters visiting a blind friend needed to get home to Florida with her two yorkies. The national guard picked them up by helicopter in Beech Mountain and delivered them to Ashville airport where a private jet flew them home.

Dramatic rescues abound throughout the region. Seventy hospital workers stranded on its rooftop were rescued by helicopter in Tennessee is but one example.

Two charming towns, Marshall and Hot Springs both lie in valleys on the banks of the French Broad River are mostly destroyed. An iconic arts center and school across the river in Marshall – is no longer there. The annual mermaid festival that entertained town folk and tourists in Marshall is but a memory.

Frog Level Brewery in Waynesville, magically survived, even though the town of Frog Level and the adjacent Arts district – is condemned. Ironically, the Epson salt factory next door diverted the violent water flowing down the French Broad River, away from the brewery. That Frog Level Brewery is open owes its good fortune to gravity flow kegs and Epson salt!

Growth time for Donna and Hill came with no warning. “It’s sobering to witness” they said. “We’re still in shock, it will take time to fully grasp the full impact to the life that once was, but for sure we are in it together. To witness friends rejoining, laughing, crying, hugging everyone, everywhere we go, the healing and somehow the joy in the midst of this immense tragedy is profound,” they repeatedly expressed.

The couple is eternally grateful to their many Idyllwild friends who have extended support. “Because emotional support is every bit as important as material support. Knowing we’re cared for is everything!” They shared.

Donna will continue to volunteer at the local food pantry – and the couple has donated lots of cloths, blankets and non-perishable food.

Ironically, several weeks ago a ship’s captain friend Pat Carson told Hill “The waters of the gulf are 90 degrees, they’ve never been that warm before. I expect more violent hurricanes are on the horizon.” Hill’s response, “Mother nature is not happy with humanity, if she get’s mad enough she’s going to shake us off like a dog does fleas.”

Witnessing ever exquisite mother nature enacting powerful rejuvenation to this degree, along the Blue Ridge Mountains of Appalachia, is unexpected. And yet, fall is the season of deconstruction – maybe it’s not so surprising.

Please support: Farmers and Grassroots Food Systems Organizing in WNC: https://gofund.me/92f24dd7