Took a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park over the long weekend. Long drives through winding mountain roads and orange sunsets abound.
After a stay in a cozy single room cabin by a calmly flowing stream, I traveled to hike along the Appalachian trail to see Chalie’s Bunion, a rocky outcropping with broad views of the mountains. I met some friendly travelers and walked the 8 mile round trip with them. The next stop was Clingman’s Dome, the highest point in the park and the highest point on the Appalachian trail. It’s marked with an observation tower with 360 degree views, and a spiral ramp to the top to match. The next day I took the trail from the Alum Cave trailhead to summit Mt. Leconte. Mt. Leconte is the 3rd highest peak in the park, and located near its peak is the LeConte Lodge, the highest guest lodge in the eastern US at 6593 feet. A group of cabins and a lodge with a small dining room and a balcony overlooking mountain views welcome hikers. But I only stayed briefly to continue to the cliff tops. Cloudy days lead to some decreased visibility, but increased drama as well as I looked skyward.