It’s usually around this time of year that some High Country residents get a little bit of that cabin fever. After months of winter weather, we’re looking for any excuse to open the windows or wear a short-sleeve shirt. The mere sight of a premature patch of green on the lawn or a blooming bud on a previously bare branch is enough to make us grin with anticipation.

Fortunately for all cabin fever sufferers, there’s a beautiful glimpse of what lies in store for us this spring, summer and fall: The Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition is now on display at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts in Boone. The exhibition features some of the finest outdoor photography ever captured in the Appalachian area and many of the finalists are shutterbugs from our area.

This year’s AMPC is the most competitive yet with over 864 submissions judged by a panel of photography experts. 46 images have been selected for the preliminary judging period and are on display at the Mezzanine Gallery of the Turchin Center in Boone. The exhibit will be on display from now until June 7th.

Winners of the AMPC will be announced on Monday, April 14th, in conjunction with the Banff Mountain Film Festival’s 2008 two-night presentation at Appalachian State.

The awards will include winners in the following categories: Adventure, Blue Ridge Parkway Share the Journey, Blue Ridge Parkway Vistas, Culture, Environment, Flora & Fauna, and Landscape.

The awards will also include an overall “Best in Show” award and a People’s Choice award. Visitors to the Turchin Center are invited to cast their vote for the People’s Choice award by coming by the special kiosk located in the Mezzanine Gallery of the Turchin Center. You can also cast your vote at http://peoples-choice.virtualblueridge.com.

Finalists in the Adventure category are John Nichols, Heidi Hatcher, Lynn Willis and Patrick Pitzer.

Finalists in the Blue Ridge Parkway Journey category are John Nichols, Terry Young, Jamie Belongea, Cloby Rabon and Andre Masson.

Finalists in the Blue Ridge Parkway Vistas category are Scott Hotaling, Tommy Stine, Robert Sterling Gingher, Jessica Maceda, Dale King, Dale Forrest and Richard Rapfogel.

Finalists in the Culture category are Steven Gold, Roger W. Bodo, Mary Jo Brezny, Ian Riley, Jamie Goodman, and Robert and Shiiko Alexander.

Finalists in the Environment category are Brad Douglass, Kerry Puckett, Robert Vance, Deborah Burchett, Jessica Maceda and Charles King.

Finalists in the Flora & Fauna category are Liezel D’souza, Pat Pilchard, Bob Peterson, Bill McClung, James M. Davidson, Joanne Senkus and Scott Brown.

Finalists in the Landscape category are Bob Peterson, Lynn Willis, Lynne Townsend, Patrick Pitzer, Charles King, Richard Rapfogel and Neal Auspitz.

The Appalachian Mountain Photography is a partnership between Appalachian State University’s Department of Outdoor Programs, the Turchin Center and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation with support from Bistro Roca and Antlers Bar, Footsloggers Outdoor and Travel Outfitters, Virtual Blue Ridge, Peabody’s Beer & Wine Merchants, and the Mast General Store.

A large portion of the proceeds from this year’s AMPC will go to help fund ASU’s Outdoor Programs’ Student Outdoor Learning Expeditions (SOLE). SOLE trips are 21-55 day active educational adventures and previous destinations have included New Zealand, Fiji, Wales, Alaska and Wyoming.

For more information, visit www.virtualblueridge.com.