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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 6 - Brushy Mountain 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 6 - Brushy Mountain

We woke up to really bad weather. There was thunder and lightning and rain. Luckily it cleared up enough that we could drive to a trailhead for Trillium Trail on the Roaring Forks Motor Nature Trail. We hiked up to the popular Grotto Falls. We were the only folks who went past these Falls and on to Brushy Mountain. It was a challenging climb and by the time we got near the peak the weather was turning bad again. On the way back the wind picked up and we even encountered sleet high up in the mountains. As we went past Grotto Falls again, we encountered a train of Llamas returning after carrying supplies to a mountain rest area. It was raining heavily as we got back to the car and drove back into town to dry up and prepare for the rest of the evening.
The day is off to a bad start (but it did clear up later)
The day is off to a bad start (but it did clear up later)
Headed up the Trillium Trail
Headed up the Trillium Trail
Green
Green
Spring flower
Spring flower
Berries
Berries
New life
New life
A stream across the trail
A stream across the trail
Heading up the mountain
Heading up the mountain
Small waterfalls on the hillside
Small waterfalls on the hillside
Streams flowing downhill
Streams flowing downhill
Cascading down rocks
Cascading down rocks
Grotto Falls
Grotto Falls
From behind Grotto Falls
From behind Grotto Falls
The falls from the other side
The falls from the other side
I have no idea what she is trying to say
I have no idea what she is trying to say
She was kind enough to take our picture
She was kind enough to take our picture
Picture at Grotto Falls
Picture at Grotto Falls
Next stop - Breezy mountain
Next stop - Breezy mountain
Muddy trail in certain parts
Muddy trail in certain parts
Climbing past a rocky overhang
Climbing past a rocky overhang
Climbing past a stream that crosses the trail further up
Climbing past a stream that crosses the trail further up
Cascading from up high
Cascading from up high
Moss beside the trail beyond stream
Moss beside the trail beyond stream
Negotiating the stream
Negotiating the stream
Change in vegetation higher up
Change in vegetation higher up
Trillium I think
Trillium I think
Waiting to greet us at the crossroads
Waiting to greet us at the crossroads
Trails
Trails
Tired climb up last hill before crossroads
Tired climb up last hill before crossroads
A tunnel up Brushy mountain
A tunnel up Brushy mountain
A stream flowing at our feet
A stream flowing at our feet
Steady upwards climb
Steady upwards climb
Vegetation changes again
Vegetation changes again
Ridgelines below the storm clouds
Ridgelines below the storm clouds
Resting before heading back
Resting before heading back
Other peaks to be conquered on a different trip
Other peaks to be conquered on a different trip
More and more threatening
More and more threatening
Beating a hasty retreat
Beating a hasty retreat
Rushing back trying to beat the storm
Rushing back trying to beat the storm
Enough time to take a picture of the green slopes
Enough time to take a picture of the green slopes
Back at Grotto Falls - a long exposure
Back at Grotto Falls - a long exposure
Pack Llamas
Pack Llamas
Please take my picture
Please take my picture