A Life Shaped by the Blue Ridge Parkway: The Keller and Ramsey Family Legacy
From a young age, my life has been intertwined with the Blue Ridge Parkway, a place that has become a part of who I am. Growing up, my family and I would pile into our wood-paneled station wagon, with my father at the wheel, and journey along the winding paths of the Parkway. We would bask in the beauty of the never-ending sea of blue and green, with mountains like Mount Mitchell, Craggy, and Pisgah serving as our favorite picnic spots.
In 1967, when I was just 7 years old, my parents uprooted our family from the flat, below-sea-level lands of New Orleans to the towering mountains of Western North Carolina. My father, a physician, was establishing a heart program at Memorial Mission Hospital, which meant there would be no vacations for a while. Yet, my parents, Nancy and Charlie Keller, made the most of our new surroundings. On my father’s rare days off, they introduced my siblings and me to the breathtaking mountain landscapes and rich culture of the region.
My husband, Graham Ramsey, was introduced to the mountains at an even younger age, sitting on the lap of his grandfather, D. Hiden Ramsey, the editor and general manager of the Asheville Citizen Times from 1920 to 1954. Graham would listen intently as his grandfather recounted tales of hiking and camping in the Craggy and Black mountains, long before the Blue Ridge Parkway existed.
D. Hiden Ramsey had a profound love for the mountains of Western North Carolina, a passion he passed down to Graham. Although blinded in one eye as a child and unable to drive, he continued to explore the mountains with his wife, Mary, who would drive their 1953 Chevy along the Parkway. As they ventured to his favorite spots, like Craggy and Mitchell, he would identify every tree, shrub, and bird they encountered, instilling a deep appreciation for nature in his grandson.
When I was 11, I met another person who shared this deep love for nature: my seventh- and eighth-grade science teacher, Steve Longenecker. A local legend, though I didn’t know it at the time, Steve was the pioneer of Western North Carolina’s most iconic rock climbing route, The Nose, on Looking Glass Rock. He inspired his students to connect with the natural world, not just through traditional classroom assignments but by getting us out into the woods to observe and explore.
Looking Glass Rock became a favorite hiking spot for my husband and me, but it was a second camping trip with Steve that truly ignited my passion for mountain exploration. After an unexpected snowstorm at Graveyard Fields, Steve encouraged us to push forward, leading us on a five-mile hike into the Shining Rock Wilderness. That adventure opened my eyes to the thrill of the mountains, a thrill that has stayed with me ever since.
Graham’s greatest outdoor adventures came in his 20s, alongside his childhood friend and rock climbing enthusiast, Lloyd Hammarlund. One of their most memorable climbs was Devil’s Courthouse, a landmark on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Despite the challenges they faced, including a record-breaking cold night on Grandfather Mountain in 1985, Graham and his friends were always eager to return to the mountains.
Today, as I hike through the Shining Rock Wilderness, I reflect on the 50-plus years I’ve spent exploring these age-old Blue Ridge Mountains. I am filled with gratitude for the experiences I’ve had, the memories I’ve made, and the people who have guided me along the way.
Leslie Ann Keller is an artist and writer from Asheville, married to Graham Ramsey, grandson of D. Hiden Ramsey.
