Regarding your question about the raised garden beds, I think the cedar option is the way to go. I built mine last spring and they have held up really well through all the weather. The key is making sure you have good drainage at the bottom. I used a layer of gravel underneath before adding the soil mix. For the soil I went with a blend of topsoil compost and peat moss. The tomatoes I planted in them have been producing like crazy this season. I am thinking of adding a trellis system for the cucumbers next time. Also if you are planning to do this I would recommend getting the beds at least twelve inches deep for root vegetables. Carrots need that extra depth to grow straight. Let me know if you want me to send you the plans I used for the layout. I can forward them to you this weekend. The whole project took me about three weekends working a few hours each Saturday. I found that staining the wood before assembly made it last longer and look better. One thing I wish I had done differently is adding a drip irrigation system from the start. It would have saved me a lot of time watering during the dry spells.
HARBOR FREIGHT

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Following up on your question about the Blue Ridge trail I would suggest starting early in the morning to avoid the midday heat. The trail is about six miles round trip with some moderate elevation gain. I did it last weekend with my brother and we finished in about four hours with plenty of breaks. The views from the summit are definitely worth the effort. You will want to bring at least two liters of water per person since there are not any reliable water sources along the way. The trail is well marked but I would still download a map beforehand just in case. We saw quite a few deer and a family of wild turkeys near the halfway point. The parking lot fills up quickly on weekends so arriving before eight AM is a good plan. I can send you the AllTrails link if you want to check recent conditions before heading out. We also brought some trail mix and granola bars which helped keep our energy up. The weather was perfect partly cloudy and around seventy degrees. Definitely bring a light jacket because the summit can get breezy even on warm days.