A few years ago I had never used a computer, sent an email, or been on the internet—and certainly never expected to have a blog.
For years I had lived off-grid in the woods, spending most of my time backpacking all over the mountains—12,000 miles in all. Considering all the places I had hiked, I set down roots in the best place I had found; the mountains along the Tennessee–North Carolina border, just a little ways north of the Smokies in Flag Pond, TN.
I chose this spot carefully due to the large amount of protected land with only one missing piece: the 10,000-acre Rocky Fork tract. It was soon to be acquired by the government, completing a huge swath of protected land that would now be my backyard. I quickly purchased property within walking distance of the tract and built a little homestead.
Four years ago, a lovely new wife joined me in the off-grid cabin—bringing with her electricity, computers and the internet. That and the realization that protecting a special place would require continuous diligence ended my laid back, never-been-on-the-internet, just-grow-my-garden-and-hike-in-the-woods lifestyle.
Rocky Fork has a great deal of interesting natural and cultural history to be explored, but finding information about it all can be a challenge. And so I have started a blog, the Rocky Fork Journal, to help others learn more about my chosen backyard—the wild, remote, unspoiled Rocky Fork watershed.
Please check out the journal. It’s a work in progress and I welcome your feedback. Feel free to forward this to others who may be interested.
Rocky Fork Journal 
AWESOME!!!
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Thanks Paul for following along, nice to know our friends are with us even if they are far away.
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Welcome to the world of technology John. Looking forward to hearing more about Rocky Fork.
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Thanks so much for your photography Joye, it really makes it look good. I owe you one, again.
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Really happy that we have you to inform us of what’s happening in that neck of the woods. It’s a good thing you’re doing. Regards to you and the lovely Frances.
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Thanks Scott, we sure need to see and catch up with you sometime!
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I grieve, I grieve, your loss of innocence. But I dance for Rocky Fork, noble master of the SOYD patrol.
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I held out as long as I could.
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John, Thanks for doing this and thanks for all you do to protect the amazing Rocky Fork State Park.
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