Within the compelling beauty of the southern Appalachian Mountains was certain peril for those unacquainted with its dangers. Forces of nature hindered travelers with sudden heavy rains and thunder, earthquakes, freezing waters, and snow. In late 1761 while traveling through Cherokee country, Henry Timberlake described extreme scarcity of food and ammunition while contending with life in the wild. Thomas Sumter, Timberlake’s traveling companion, rocked their canoe and accidentally dropped their only gun into the river. They considered jumping overboard, as “drowning at once seemed preferable to a lingering death.” After the men got to shore, and while gathering wood, “several large bears came down a steep hill” toward them, but luckily the bears were frightened away. The men made a fire in the mouth of a cave. Exhausted by the day’s physical trials, they fell asleep only to be awakened “by the howling of wild beasts” that kept them awake all night. Moments before dawn, they were “stunned with a noise, like the splitting of a rock,” which was likely an earthquake.