Day 135: Mountain Highs

We experienced the very best of Smoky Mountains National Park, exploring its peaks and valleys from one end to another. The North Carolina side features a mountain farm...all of the structures and implements that were necessary to survive independently in this rural place in the 1800s. The buildings are authentic...moved to their current location from remote places within the park boundary.

Surviving in an isolated and often hostile environment wasn't the only struggle faced by the determined folks of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Although both states voted to secede from the Union in May 1861, voting records indicate that these mountain communities were largely in support of maintaining the Union. Slavery was an unusual element in the economics of the mountains, and there may also have been an attitude of "rich man's war but a poor man's fight." Whatever the reason behind the pro-Union leanings of many of the mountain people in these Confederate states, the War nonetheless reached into the region with devastating effects. Cemeteries reveal divided families, and family stories contain episodes of terrible fighting in and among communities.

The park was created in 1934 following a campaign for its purchase. The final amount necessary to complete the land purchase ($5 million) was donated by John D. Rockefeller, Jr.  At that time, the land's elk population had been obliterated by hunting, its peregrine falcons nearly extinct due to pesticide use, and the river otters had been trapped and killed off. Thankfully, all three populations have been reintroduced and now are on their way (albeit slowly) to a recovery. Perhaps the park's most recognized resident, the black bear, numbers approximately 1,500; the elk population is believed to have reached 140.

Our beautiful day ended in the most incredible way...catching an amazing display of bull elks in rut, locking their immense antlers and putting on quite a show in an attempt to impress the ladies. Our chance glimpse of the rut, combined with the colors that rivaled what we saw yesterday, made for a legendary day.

The girls explored this trail in search of answers for their Junior Ranger booklets.

The mountain farm museum. This homestead dates to the mid 1800s.

The park's newest Junior Rangers were introduced to the hundreds of tourists in the visitor center. 

at the very top of the park...Klingman's Dome, 6,643 feet. The observation tower provides 360-degree views of the park and beyond--views of 100+ miles today.

Klingman's Dome also is the highest point of the Appalachian Trail

sizing up the competition while checking to see if they were getting any looks from the lady elk. Sadly, the gals were unimpressed; they had their backs turned and were attentive only to their grazing.

our front-row seat for the show

the beautiful Smokies...we learned the "smoke" is caused by the foliage on the mountains, releasing moisture into the air in such a way that it creates a haze.