Great Smokey Mountains

Judy and I just got back from a adventure filled trip to the Great Smokey Mountains. We decided to camp in Townsend, TN. which is in the foothills of the Smokies and just 9 miles to Cades Cove. 

We stayed at a very nice campground called Mountianeer Campground owned by Don and Carolyn Curry. They are also wildflower and wildlife photographers like ourselves. They were very helpful in pointing us in the right direction. You can see some of their photography here.

We spent most of our time in the Cades Cove loop. When touring Cades Cove you will drive along an 11-mile loop that follows many of the curves and courses that settlers forged years ago. Cades Cove is a lush valley surrounded by mountains and one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smokies. Along the way you will likely come upon wildlife, such as the white tail deer, wild turkey, ground hog and an occasional black bear. The Cove takes visitors into another time, experiencing heritage in each building and wilderness around every turn.

While we never got really close to them, we did see a mother bear and her two cubs. They were really far away and we never did get a shot of all of them together.

While walking along the trail taking pictures of the many water falls, we happened upon these two deer who apparently have acquired a taste for the moss and lichens that grow on the underwater rocks in the river. We observed this pair for quite sometime as they browsed this underwater field.

We did see many beautiful water falls. On this trip we didn't see any of the major falls, we did see many smaller ones.

We even saw this emerald pool under the dense groves of Catawba Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel.

Along the path Judy got a great shot of many Eastern Tiger Swallowtails all feeding in one spot. I have spent years putting out plants to attract butterfly's. I have come to find out that the best way to attract these beautiful creatures is to just put out some poop. There were all feeding on a deposit left by a passing horse.

I have only seen these magnificent birds a couple of times and have never gotten a photograph, but I was treated to this Pileated Woodpecker that was right along side the truck. He didn't seem too bothered by us. I wish the light would have been better, but at least now I have his picture!

Well, that's enough about the trip. I will start posting some of the wildflowers we saw along the trails in the next couple of days. 



As Roy Rodgers and Dale Evans would say "Happy Trails".