Friday, April 5, 2019

NP - Great Smoky Mountains





The dreamy blur haze...that ever hovers over the mountains..softens all outlines, lends a mirage-like effect of great distance to objects that are but a few miles off, while those farther removed grow more and more intangible until finally the sky-line blends with the sky itself."  Horace Kephart circa 1904










A trip to Knoxville for the FGS conference in 2010 provided a great opportunity to see the Great Smoky Mountains.  We enjoyed a drive through the park on our way from Atlanta.  









In Knoxville Greg dropped me at the hotel and went back to the park for a few days of searching for illusive trout!  




Although the fish were scarce the butterflies were not.  He got some magnificent pictures of them and a few other creatures, as well as some great creek shots.  He also brought me back a birthday present... a great fly for the spiderweb on my crazy quilt guitar case.








Located in both Tennessee and North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established in 1934 in an effort to save the rapidly diminishing forests of the Smoky Mountains.  Between 1900 and 1934 nearly 80% of the lumber had been harvested.  With the founding of the park over 1200 people had to move from within the protected boundaries.



The ensuing  years between that and our visit have allowed nature to restore much of that earlier destruction.  It is a gorgeous area. well worth a visit.  The headquarters in Gatlinburg is a little over touristy, but once you are in the park ....!!!!






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