Great Smoky Mountains National Park

We spent Saturday afternoon driving, walking and hiking through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The park is spread almost evenly between North Carolina and Tennessee. It is the most visited of all the National Parks, and I wonder if it's because there is no entry or parking fees, or if it's for the breathtakingly beautiful sights, its "hike-ability" and "drive-ability."  There is surely something for everyone regardless of your physical abilities or limitations. 

The higher mountains, full of spruce and fir, actually appear to have smoke billowing from the treetops and cool mist fills the air creating an approximate 20 degree difference to the forest floor way below. 

It was so interesting to learn about the different "levels" of the forest and the species of trees that thrived best in each. For instance, below the spruce and fir trees you will find hardwood trees such as beech and yellow birch. The next level down intersperses the poplar, sugar maple, hickory, magnolia and hemlock.  At the bottom, growing alongside the pine and oak are mountain laurel, rhododendron, the delicate dogwood trees, wildflowers and various indigenous shrubbery. I love nature....a place for everything and everything in its place.

The weather was misty, damp and chilly, but we managed to see a lot via the road trails and one hiking trail. Clingmans Dome trail allowed us to stand on the border of NC and TN in 46 degrees!  The wind chill made it actually feel more like 30 degrees. After a very steep half-mile hike we had to still climb to the top of the dome itself, and were a bit disappointed by the lack of any view, but the fact that we set out to conquer it and did, made it worthwhile. The photo at the misty-aired top is our proof. I happily "earned" my Smoky Mountain NP t-shirt.

Tomorrow we plan to head to Cades Cove, a section of the park that early settlers had developed. There are some original and reconstructed buildings, including a church that I'd like to hike in to see. Since it promises to be a much easier hike, I'd like to tackle one more, Laurel Falls, which is another easier hike of 2.6 miles that will afford a nice vantage point for photographing the falls.

I believe if we had 100 days to spend here we would not be able to devour it all. There are so many birds, mammals, trails, waterfalls, sights, sounds and acres of land that change with every season. You would need to be a Park Ranger to truly appreciate this place, that or a black bear!

Enjoy the photo show.....

Little Pigeon River

We came across several tunnels through the mountains.   The bottom section of forest - Pine, Oak, wildflowers, shrubs.

Close to the top - smoky and full of majestic fir and spruce

Clingmans Dome - we did it! 6,643' elevation.

 

Below Clingmans Dome.....the boundary sign at only 5,046 feet, warmer and clearer.

Stage where John D. Rockefeller presented the National Park to the people.

A crossroads.....we chose Clingmans Dome Trail.

The end of a long day.

Deep thought for the day:  Please - tell me what I can't do, because I will prove you wrong. When faced with a challenge, I hate to lose.   ~ vc