A mystical sunlight, a colorful lizard, and lone hiker dwarfed by the Jockey’s Ridge dunes were among the winners in the 2012 North Carolina Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) photography competition.

“This year’s photos capture the serenity, challenge, discovery and special beauty that are the essence of the 1000-mile trail,” said Kate Dixon, executive director the Friends of the MST, which sponsored the contest.

More than 120 photos were submitted in categories of view, people on the trail, and youth.

Dixon said one her favorite photos was of a solitary older volunteer bent over a shovel, helping maintain the trail.

“Each year hundreds of volunteers of all ages donate thousands of hours to turning this trail from a dream to reality,” she said.  “There would be no trail without them.”

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