The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is in both North Carolina and Tennessee. It is the most visited of all the U.S. National Parks.
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- On April 5th we walked across Fontana Dam and into the GSMNP with a hiker called Wild Rain.
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- Climbing up at the start of the GSMNP
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- The first of many stuuning views in the GSMNP
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- Another awesome view!
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- Fontana Lake was now far below us
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- View through two missing panes in the top of an icy fire tower
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- Ice on the branches April 5th – As it began to melt, we were repeatedly pelted with chunks as they were blown from the trees
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- An array of packs hung up at night at the Russell Field Shelter (hanging your pack helps keep the mice out!)
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- We’ll be going over those hills in the distance!
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- View from a small bald. Balds are grassy-topped mountains; it’s not too cold nor too high for trees to go, but they’ve been “bald” for as long as known.
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- Another fine view, this time on a clear day!
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- One of the many survey markers we’ve seen; many of the peaks are marked this way.
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- Snow along the trail on April 6th
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- A group of hikers we called “The Merry Men” resting in the sun at lunchtime
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- They’re not called the Smokies for nothin’ !
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- The tower atop Clingman’s Dome – this is the highest mountain on the entire Appalachian Trail. The tower attracts a lot of tourists, many of whom sadly are not fit enough to climb the ramp to the top!
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- A view from the Clingman’s Dome Tower
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- Mel & Mike (a.k.a CLiCK! and LongTime) atop the tower
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- Newfound Gap (near Gatlinburg, TN) is where the biggest road passes through GSMNP. On this day, if the federal budget was not passed, the park would have to be closed. CNN found it newsworthy.
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- The CNN crew and spectators
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- …and yet another fine view!
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- CLiCK! clicks another one!
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- So many hills to climb!
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- … so many MORE hills to climb!
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- Sunrise on April 10th
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- Trail sign near the end of the Smokies – I was happy to be leaving a difficult section!
Mel aand Mike,
I really enjoyed seeing all of your photos!
The wildflowers are beautiful!
Love hearing about the food!
Happy trails to you!
Jrae
Love watching your progress. Glad you made it past the Smokies ok. Love the pictures Click!
Jim & Dawn
Hi Melissa and Mig, I know that neither of you are as into church as I am but I was thinking of you both tonight as we lit candles in the darkness and as I read to the congregation from Zechariah “The Lord is in your midst, you shall fear disaster no more….He will renew you with his love… I will bring you home at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised…” I believe you are both truly blessed to able to make this wonderful journey and I’m sure it is an emotional and spiritual journey as well as a physical one. Happy Easter and Happy Trails! Love, Susan
Nice photos,who is your photographer?
The one photo of Fontana Lake looks like an Eagle in flight.
I’m happy to two are still in good spirits,good health,and every other good thing it takes to accomplish a challenge such as you are doing.
Hope you folks had a Happy Easter,on the Appy.
Be looking forward to more tid bits about your adventure.
As always be safe,Perry
So far, Perry, nearly every photo posted is by me. Melissa (CLiCK!) has not posted many yet. When she does, they’re sure to be more stupendous than mine!