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Kuriacose Joseph | profile | all galleries >> Various other notable travels >> Trip to The Great Smoky Mountains in 2009 >> Smoky Mountains on Day 4 - Finally, the mountains! tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Gatlinburg and our Hotel | Smoky Mountains on Day 1 - Cucumber Gap Trail | Smoky Mountains on Day 2 - Cades Cove | Smoky Mountains on Day 3 - It actually snowed! | Smoky Mountains on Day 4 - Finally, the mountains! | Smoky Mountains on Day 5 - Clingman's Dome | Smoky Mountains on Day 6 - Brushy Mountain | Parting shots from our trip to the Smokies

Smoky Mountains on Day 4 - Finally, the mountains!

The day started off with a disappointment since we had hoped to go up to the mountains in the morning, but the roads were still closed due to the snow. So we headed out on Little River Road once again, and took the road to Tremont (where the Great Smoky Mountain Institute is located). Drove past the Institute on a dirt and gravel road beside the Middle Prong Little River for about another 3 miles and came to the trail head for the Middle Prong Trail. We hiked this trail beside the Middle Prong Little River for the day.

Later in the day, as we were returning, we noticed that the road to the mountains was open. We drove up to the Newfound Gap up in the mountains on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina.

Later in the evening we went to Pigeon Forge for a Magic Show.

A busy day indeed!
One of many Waterfalls on the Middle Prong trail
One of many Waterfalls on the Middle Prong trail		 Waiting for me on the trail
Waiting for me on the trail		 Descending to some waterfalls
Descending to some waterfalls		 Well below the trail
Well below the trail		 At the level of the Falls
At the level of the Falls
Relaxing by some Falls
Relaxing by some Falls		 Carrying the waters of the Middle Prong Little River
Carrying the waters of the Middle Prong Little River		 Steps
Steps		 Staircase
Staircase		 Walking beside the river
Walking beside the river
Water crashing over the rocks
Water crashing over the rocks		 Emerging from a tunnel of rocks
Emerging from a tunnel of rocks		 Returning to the trail
Returning to the trail		 Bridge
Bridge		 Some Spring growth
Some Spring growth
Uphill
Uphill		 Snow beside the path
Snow beside the path		 The start of the Panther Creek Trail
The start of the Panther Creek Trail		 The final charge
The final charge		 The beginning of the Panther Creek trail on the other side of the river
The beginning of the Panther Creek trail on the other side of the river
Resting before heading back
Resting before heading back		 Ice
Ice		 Watching the water flow
Watching the water flow		 On the road again
On the road again		 Some small Falls
Some small Falls
The river flows
The river flows		 A big group heads up the trail
A big group heads up the trail		 Riders on the trail
Riders on the trail		 Below the trail at some falls
Below the trail at some falls		 The river
The river
Forest lighting
Forest lighting		 Tackling the last few rocks at the end of the walk
Tackling the last few rocks at the end of the walk		 Crossing the Little River on foot
Crossing the Little River on foot		 Are you looking at me?
Are you looking at me?		 Chimney Tops in the background
Chimney Tops in the background
The Chimney Tops
The Chimney Tops		 Pedalling to the mountaintop
Pedalling to the mountaintop		 The West Prong Little Pigeon River up in the mountains
The West Prong Little Pigeon River up in the mountains		 In the middle of the river
In the middle of the river		 Balancing Acts
Balancing Acts
The winding road to the top
The winding road to the top		 Snow capped peaks appear
Snow capped peaks appear		 Uphill climbs
Uphill climbs		 Rust on the rockface
Rust on the rockface		 Morton Overlook
Morton Overlook
Chimney Tops in the distance
Chimney Tops in the distance		 The Lonely Sentinel
The Lonely Sentinel		 The cyclist appears again near the top
The cyclist appears again near the top		 Crossing the mountain into another state
Crossing the mountain into another state		 The parking lot at Newfound Gap
The parking lot at Newfound Gap
Without a camera
Without a camera		 One happy dude
One happy dude		 Distant mountaintops in the setting sun
Distant mountaintops in the setting sun		 Distant peaks
Distant peaks		 Distant lake and mountaintops
Distant lake and mountaintops
Get ready for a magic show
Get ready for a magic show		 In the air
In the air

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Guest 12-May-2009 18:45
This is a great gallery of one of my favorite parts of the US, voted!
click on thumbnails for full image