great smoky mountains national park: Fall in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- 10/11/14 11:56 PM
The signal fires once kindled are now set ablaze
To beckon the wandering sojourner to this place,
But those diverted from their course shall not depart
The fires that now burn deep within the heart!
(R Weisser 2014)
It’s Fall again! What else do I need to say?
It’s my favorite time of year. But it is also fleeting. One knows that the dark days of Winter are just around the corner.
But for now, I will just enjoy the show and live in the moment!
More Smoky Mountain pics at SmokyPhotos.com
… (8 comments)
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great smoky mountains national park: Andrews Bald in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- 05/22/11 01:27 PM
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers many diverse natural opportunities for visitors to experience. One of the more unusual phenomenons that occur in the high elevations is the grassy balds.
Science is unsure of the origin of these high Eastern meadows. They could be caused by the winds that constantly batter the peaks, or periodic fires caused by electrical storms, or even by deliberate clearing by the aboriginal inhabitants of the region.
Whatever the origin, a day hike to Andrews Bald is a pleasant way to spend a morning or afternoon in the park. It’s a two mile hike from … (6 comments)
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great smoky mountains national park: ActiveRainPhotoBloggerContest: The Streams of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
- 05/11/11 03:11 PM
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the jewel of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Known for its towering peaks and diverse flora and fauna, the Park attracts millions of nature lovers every year!
But few first time visitors are aware of the vast tributary system that provides flowing water in nearly every area of the mountains.
Mountains offer a natural barrier for weather systems, and as a result the Great Smoky Mountains are dowsed with an average annual rainfall of over eight-five inches in the high elevations.
As a result of this abundance of moisture, the mountains spawn seeps … (32 comments)
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great smoky mountains national park: Spring Wildflowers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
- 03/02/11 01:19 PM
The calendar indicates that it is March, and in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that means one thing:
Wildflowers! Nature is a wondrous thing. The wildflowers of Spring have but a short time to complete their cycle of blooming and seed setting before the surrounding forest leafs out and blocks the life-giving rays of the sun from the understory of secondary growth.
These are not the delicate blooms of Summer, but rather a hardier lot that can withstand late frosts and even cold snow!
You can expect to see Fleabane, Spring Beauty, Dwarf Crested Iris and Trillium of every … (11 comments)
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great smoky mountains national park: Mingus Mill in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
- 11/07/10 01:55 AM
Mingus Mill is one of the many historic structures preserved and maintained in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
In the Nineteenth Century, the center of industry in rural America was the grist mill. These marvels of physics harvested natural forces, usually water, to convert grain to usable meal or flour.
Mingus Mill, which was constructed in 1886, utilized state-of-the-art turbine technology to power its machinery. Water was directed down a millrace to propel the turbine which was connected to a series of cogs and belts that would power the entire operation of the mill.
Typically, in a cash poor society, … (17 comments)
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great smoky mountains national park: Where the sky meets the earth: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
- 10/03/10 02:45 PM
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is situated on the spine of the Southern Appalachians, and receives an average of eighty-five inches of rain per year in the higher elevations.
This abundance of moisture not only supports an incredible diversity of plant and animal life, but also provides some dramatic vistas for park visitors.
It is not uncommon for travelers to become completely enveloped in clouds and haze as they traverse the high passages by automobile or while hiking along many of the many trails in the park.
It’s a place where the sky meets the earth, and where boundaries become … (2 comments)
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great smoky mountains national park: It’s time to plan your Fall trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
- 09/19/10 01:03 PM
Autumn is just around the corner and that means many “leaf lovers” will be heading to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the annual display of brilliant Fall foliage.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers a unique outdoor experience for visitors of every level of expertise and physical condition.
There is an extensive series of backcountry trails and campsites for those that really want to get back to nature and “rough it” and there are also auto trails where you can see the park up close and personal from the comfort of your car!
If you plan to hike … (10 comments)
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great smoky mountains national park: Take a summer break at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
- 07/16/10 01:47 PM
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited park in the United States, That’s because over 2/3 if the country’s population live within a day’s drive from the park boundaries.
Summer visitors often take advantage of cooler temperatures in the higher elevations. The Balsam Mountain Campground is the highest in the park and at over 5000 feet in elevation provides pleasant sleeping conditions during the hot months.
And of course, one can wade in an icy cold mountain stream that will chatter the teeth and offset the blazing southern sun! Be please be careful while you are in the … (15 comments)
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great smoky mountains national park: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a great place to visit during the winter but please be aware of seasonal road closures.
- 01/01/10 10:49 AM
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a great place to visit during any season of the year, but winter offers special opportunities not available during the other three seasons.
Due to the fact that the leaves are off of the trees, views are enhanced from nearly every vantage point, and on a clear day in winter you can see an exceptionally long way!
However, if you plan to visit the park in the winter, please be aware that many of the secondary roads are closed during cold weather.
The roads that are seasonally closed include Clingman’s Dome Road, Heintooga … (16 comments)
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great smoky mountains national park: Abrams Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a popular waterfall hike!
- 10/18/09 10:33 AM
The Abrams Falls Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers one of the best day hikes for those seeking a mountain waterfall experience.
The hike is a pleasant five mile round-trip excursion that takes you alongside Abrams Creek through a deep hardwood and rhododendron forest. The well used trail offers a moderate amount of climbs over root, rocks and ridges, and can be a bit slippery after a rainfall, but should not be too strenuous for the average walker.
The highlight of the trail is the beautiful Abrams Falls. Although the falls are only twenty feet in height, they … (9 comments)
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great smoky mountains national park: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is accessible to even those with limited mobility. Part Three, The Cataloochee Valley!
- 09/13/09 10:13 AM
In part two of this series The Newfound Gap Overlook! we explored one of the high overlooks in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In this chapter, we will visit the beautiful Cataloochee Valley in the Southeast quadrant of the park. And although it takes a little effort to get there, the rewards more than justify the nerve-testing drive along the narrow and windy roads that lead there.
Cataloochee is one of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park's hidden treasures.
But once you cross the divide and begin to descend into the valley, you leave the modern world behind … (22 comments)
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great smoky mountains national park: This battle weary blogger needs a break, so here are some nice Great Smoky Mountain photos for the day!
- 08/09/09 12:16 AM
It has been an interesting and controversial weekend. I have engaged in mental sparring with a lot of people that are much smarter than me, and it has taken its toll!
My ability to move quickly on my feet has diminished with each passing year. It is a new world, completely different from the one I grew up in so many years ago.
The best part the passing of time, though, is that each year the Great Smoky Mountains revert one year more back to a more pristine state. In the nearly forty years that I have frequented the park, the … (28 comments)
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great smoky mountains national park: The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
- 07/14/09 12:48 PM
The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a popular and pleasant diversion from the hustle and bustle of busy downtown Gatlinburg. Although it takes just minutes to get there from the heart of town, the visitor is transported to a completely different time and place!
The fifteen mile, one way loop is not well-suited for those on a tight schedule. You will rarely be able to maintain the 10 mph speed limit, and you will be compelled to stop the car many times to get out and experience the ancient stream bed and the verdant forest.
There are some overlooks with … (12 comments)
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great smoky mountains national park: Black Bear activity has intensified in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's a great time to see bears ... if you play it safe!
- 06/07/09 12:05 AM
The black bear is the most popular and sought-after photography subject in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Park visitors all want to catch a glimpse of the large mammals, and will cast reason and good sense aside in order to land a "trophy" photo.
But black bears are wild animals. The park is not a zoo, but a habitat. A she-bear with cubs is a wondrous sight, but she will defend her offspring with her life, and will attack if she feels threatened.
In 2009, park officials have indicated that extraordinarily large black bear populations have led to an increased … (26 comments)
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great smoky mountains national park: Indian Creek Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- 05/20/09 09:49 AM
Near Bryson City North Carolina lies one of the most interesting and least known areas of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Although frequented by locals, the Deep Creek area of the park offers more recreational opportunities than any other place in the park.
Deep Creek is popular in the summer with swimmers and for tubing. Trout fishing is popular here as well, with a valid North Carolina Fishing license.
You may also ride bicycles on the Lower Deep Creek Trail, one of the few trails in the park where they are permitted. There is a fully improved campground and a … (15 comments)
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great smoky mountains national park: The Great Smoky Mountains, the "Place of Blue Smoke!" Another not so wordless weekday!
- 05/14/09 01:02 PM
The Cherokee people called the Great Smoky Mountains "Shaconage," or "place of blue smoke." It is a place of remarkable natural beauty, incredible views, and sparkling streams.
It is an ancient place, created by the cataclysmic collision of the continents which forced the formation of the tallest mountains on earth. But because these are also among the oldest peaks on the planet, they have been worn down and eroded over millions of years into their present state.
So although they are no longer the tallest or the biggest mountains in the world, they remain among the most beautiful.
Photos courtesy of … (18 comments)
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great smoky mountains national park: Spring is just Autumn is reverse, and very often there are unique photographic opportunities that are overlooked!
- 04/18/09 12:10 AM
When we think of spring and photography, we usually think about all of the wonderful and colorful blooms that burst forth in our neighborhood. It is truly beautiful and I take as many photos of flowers in spring as I can.
But some years back, I also noticed that trees had a unique quality during the leafing process. As they initially set their seeds, they assume autumn-like hues for a very short period of time.
They can appear red, orange and yellow with a translucent quality that is very conducive to photography. The film photograph in this article, which appears at first … (25 comments)
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great smoky mountains national park: The Little Cataloochee Church in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- 02/03/09 12:21 PM
One of my favorite places is the Little Cataloochee Baptist Church in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's located on a serene ridge, and features the church, erected in 1889 and the churchyard, which is the final resting place of many former residents of the area.
To get there, you'll have to exert a little effort. It takes some tricky driving along miles of narrow gravel roads to get to the almost invisible trailhead, and from there it is a two mile hike along a broad, maintained trail to the church!
The Great Smoky Mountains National park differs from other … (14 comments)
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great smoky mountains national park: Another not so wordless weekday ... Wildflowers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
- 01/28/09 01:48 PM
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park features some of the highest peaks in the Appalachians, as well as a tremendous diversity of flora and fauna. The Park also offers some of the largest stands of virgin forests in the Eastern United States.
And because the park is within a day's drive of 50% of the country's population, it is the most visited national park in the system. Now is the time to plan your Spring Wildflower pilgrimage to the park, with late March and early April being the peak time for seeing the most blooms!
All Photos courtesy of Richard … (22 comments)
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great smoky mountains national park: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of America's most popular destinations.
- 12/06/08 03:51 PM
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is within a day's drive of half of the population of the United States, making it one of the mist visited national parks in the system.
Typically, the park attracts between eleven and thirteen million annual visitors. They come to hike, fish, view wildlife, investigate pioneer history and enjoy the spectacular vistas from the many overlooks.
The park encompasses over 800 square miles so there is always a new experience to be discovered!
There are more species of trees in the park than on the entire continent of Europe. This floral diversity has contributed to … (11 comments)
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The signal fires once kindled are now set ablaze
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