Not all of the globally important mountain sanctuaries lie hidden in the remote reaches of the Himalayas or the high peaks of the Andes. In fact, one of the most unexpected and surprisingly beautiful natural upland areas in the world is within a few hours drive of Washington, D.C. and The Mountain Institute's international headquarters office.

The richly diverse mountain ecosystems of Pendleton County, West Virginia, offers a mosaic of nature preserves administered by the Monongahela and George Washington National Forests, The Mountain Institute, The Nature Conservancy, and numerous private landholders.

From the windswept summits of Spruce Knob and North Fork Mountain, with their tundra ecosystems and rare plant communities, to the 1,000-foot deep canyon of the Smokehole, the scenery is spectacular and surprisingly wild. Pockets of ancient tallgrass prairie and rare cedar glades nestle in the limestone uplands of the Smokehole. Below the ground, caves have riddled the ancient limestone bedrock with mysterious caverns, miles of passages, and strange creatures that are found nowhere else. Recognizing the tremendous ecological value of this area, North Fork Mountain and the Smokehole are part of the Nature Conservancy's global list of "Last Great Places".

In all, over 100 rare species and plant communities are known from Pendleton County, making it one of the greatest concentrations of biological diversity in the East. Peregrine falcons and bald eagles nest here. Many other species also call this country home, including black bear, bobcat, timber rattlesnake, native brook trout, rare moths and butterflies, and the little known Appalachian cottontail.

While much of this area is wilderness, several thousand people live in Pendleton County. Most live on farms that have been managed by the same families for many generations. Landowners in the community typically have a deep appreciation for the beauty and bounty of their land. That so much biodiversity remains here is largely due to their care and appreciation of this extraordinary mountain ecosystem.