Handmade chessmen on the year round board outside the Ironmasters Mansion Hostel just off the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania, May 2004. These 2.5 ft tall chesspieces were made over the course of 20 years by the owner of the hostel. He had placed them outside just that day, and my hiking partner, Judy (a.k.a. Katchup), was the first person ever to win on the board (swiftly eliminating me). This was a lovely place to rest and have a nice, quiet game while waiting for our ride at the end of a nice long hike. So many things in life relate to chess: black v. white, good v. evil, patientce, anticipation, vision, loss, determination, sportmanship, respect, and triumph - or in my case, honorable defeat.