After our hike on the Middle Prong Trail, on November 6, we drove the 11-mile loop road through Cades Cove. It was dreary and sprinkling rain, but we wanted to see some of the damage from the big storm that had passed through there the first week of July. With the rain and low light, I didn't get any pictures of the numerous trees blown down by the storm; but Doug caught a shot of a pretty buck with the camcorder. Actually, there were two of them grazing together, but too far apart to get both of them in the same picture.
Weather in the Smokies is, as Forrest Gump would say, like a box of chocolates...you never know what you're going to get. We awoke to a cold, rainy day in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, on November 7th. So we decided to drive up over Newfound Gap and down to Cherokee, North Carolina, hoping to find a little better weather there. As you will see, though, it had to get worse before it got better.
The drive up the mountain took us from rain to fog to snow.
Snow-covered trees grace a hillside just past Newfound Gap
It was raining again by the time we reached Cherokee. We stopped there for lunch, then drove on over to Bryson City, North Carolina, where there is another section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park called Deep Creek. The rain had stopped, and the sun was trying to break through by the time we got there.
One of the features of that area is a waterfall hike which leads to three nice waterfalls. We went to only two of them on this visit.
Tom Branch Falls
Indian Creek Falls
There was still an abundance of beautiful autumn colors, even at this late date. Following are a couple of examples:
Love the colors and tranquility.
ReplyDeletesure is pretty - even the snow and rime frost on the trees and everywhere!
ReplyDeletelove the golden leaves and falls, too.
Beautiful photos, Linda... Too bad that we didn't catch up with each other that day. I'm sure we were close at one time!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove your Deep Creek photos... Beautiful colors still on the trees.... We enjoyed that area --but it has been years since we went there.
Have a great Thanksgiving.
Hugs,
Betsy
Oh my goodness! The colors are so amazingly beautiful. The waterfalls look so peaceful. Such a fabulous place to feel regenerated. Blessed!
ReplyDeleteThe variety of weather keeps you on your toes. I love all the pictures.The fall foliage is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stephen.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Theresa.
Thanks, Betsy. That would have been fun, if we'd seen each other along the road that day. The colors were beautiful over in the Deep Creek area, even though the waterfalls weren't flowing as heavily as we've seen them in the past.
Thanks kindly, Gail. It's a special place.
Ruth - The weather can be variable in the mountains. The upside is that, if it's raining in one part of the national park, we can usually find a dry place somewhere else in the park. :)
Fall is such a beautiful time of year in the Smokies and you captured it perfectly Linda! I also loved the snow covered trees at Newfound Gap with just a touch of color in the lower right of your pic - BEAUTIFUL!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely pics, i haven't seen the wite stuff but did buy 4 sleds to be ready this year.there are lots of nice hills around me.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diane. I had to look hard to see that little bit of green that you must have been referring to as "color." :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Steve. The weather doesn't keep you down, does it? :) You do live in good sledding country.
I can only echo what others have already said, Linda. The falls look so peaceful and the colourful leaves beautiful. Despite of the capricious weather you must have enjoyed the day.
ReplyDeleteVery, very nice shots, Linda. There are several places there where I could pause for hours - or days.
ReplyDeletePetra - The capricious weather is part of what we enjoy in the Smokies. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Frank. You and Hilary really should take a road trip to Tennessee. :)
Lovely as always, Linda. I'm beginning to suspect that you do a lot of writing along with your photography. I'd never be able to remember the names of every place that you go. However you do it, it's always a delight. Thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteWell, Hilary, as often as we've been to the Smokies, I know most of these places without much thought. But I do keep a journal, along with the photos; and that helps to piece together where we were and when. Thanks always for your sweet comments.
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