Last week, I headed up to hike a trail near Wayah Gap, but failed to find the hike to the top of Siler Bald. (Someone had stolen the Forestry Road sign!) But I did visit another area where I could pull out the camera. It was Wilson Lick Ranger Station, which was built in 1916. This station was used by the watchmen commissioned to keep watch over the forest for fires.
By the 1930’s, their days were spent brushing rights-of-ways and repairing telephone lines, as well as issuing grazing permits for the live stock that roamed freely in the mountains.
 
Wilson Lick gives you a glimpse of a bygone era of forestry. A kiosk near the gravel forestry road explains the history of the forestry and also the historic structures. From here, you can hike to the fire tower at Wayah Bald, which is 3-mile hike along the Appalachian Trail.
Sometimes this station was home to entire families. On this fall day, I could imagine the fireplace being used greatly.
Coming back up a small trail that lead to “outhouses,” I noticed the building was in full late-day sunlight.
On this day, as we walked back to the car, we talked about how the simplest things really matter the most—moments that seem so little and insignificant really to add up to memories well-held.
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