The titular Cold Mountain is an enduring feature of the landscape near Black Cove. Even something as seismic in the lives of the characters as the Civil War cannot affect the permanence of the mountain. In this way, Cold Mountain is a symbol of the past. It is a symbol of nature and nature’s power to endure beyond the quarrels of humanity. No matter what side of the conflict the people belong to, the mountain towers above them all, symbolizing an enduring unity of humanity’s relationship to nature, which transcends individual differences and momentary violence.

Since the mountain is such a constant presence in the lives of the characters, it functions as a symbolic point of reference in their lives, especially when they are far apart. When Inman is journeying home to reunite with Ada, for example, the image of Cold Mountain looms large in his mind. A return to Cold Mountain is a return to the lives they once had. The mountain gives shape to his sense of yearning, providing him with a neat psychological shorthand for his ambition and desire.

As well as the nostalgia that Inman associates with Cold Mountain, there is no denying that the environment is cold and hostile.