Black Mountain, NC – I own property along the ride that rides nc hwy 9 just south of black mountain. I have had several encounters with wildlife in the area. At the top of high top mountain there is a wildlife preserve. It is not uncommon to see bear, bobcats, and fox inbour neighborhood. I have seen black bear walking down residential streets in the middle of the day. There is a peacefulness to black mountain. It is inexplicable but i feel renewed whenever i am there. My property sits on top of an ancient inactive fault line and the soil has high levels of garnet mica schist according to the is geological survey. His area was a hunting and ceremonial ground for the cherokee. The town seems to be enshrouded with a very positive energy that attracts creatives and culinary artists. It was once home to one of the most progressive colleges, black Mountain college, in the 30s and claimed among its board and trustees both buckminster fuller and albert einstein. The energy here is a positive one. Every wildlife encounter i have had has been a peaceful reverent interaction and even 30 yards from a massive black bear, i felt at peace as if the bear were acknowledging my presence and sharing both its energy and space with me. It was a majestic experience and one i feel privilege and awestruck to have had. – Carl