Thursday, November 8, 2012

Gatlinburg

Well unfortunately I was unable to do my hike to the top of Clingman’s Dome this weekend due to weather conditions caused by Ol’ Super Storm Sandy. I was disappointed to say the least, but with a foot of snow covered by a sheet of ice, hiking along a ridge top somewhere between 5000-6600 feet was deemed a little unsafe. I will return someday and make the hike maybe even start lower than where I had planned and make it a bigger hike. Nevertheless, we were able to drive up to the top of the mountain because they had cleared the roads so we were able to get some photos. Despite the snow and ice covered ground the sky was clear and sunny and when we finally got to the top the wind was howlin’ so hard Amber about blew away.  At Newfound Gap (where we had planned to start our hike) we watched the sunrise which was nothing short of spectacular. Then we drove seven miles to the top of Clingman’s Dome and the sights where awe inspiring. To look out over the valleys with the sun beaming down lighting up one side of the mountains while the other side still covered by darkness made for a peaceful morning at the top, cold, but peaceful. Fog still hung below in the valleys fighting the sun just to hang around for a little longer. We snapped a few photos of the landscape and got a picture or two of us before making our way back down the mountain. The rest of the trip was filled with relaxing, being tourist, and trying to drive the windy mountain roads back and forth to the cabin. And if you are ever down that way, and decide to order a pizza, try calling a few places to see if they deliver to the side of the mountain before just giving up and driving down yourself only to pass two pizza delivery guys on the way. Anyway the trip was a fun trip and even though I didn’t get my hike done at least I made it to the top to see it. Here are a couple of pictures;


Kelly and Amber on the porch at our cabin


On our way to the top we stopped and Amber took this photo.

Sunrise at Newfound Gap


From the top of Clingman's Dome
           Well haven’t had much time to make a challenge, but I do have plans to check out an Annie Leibovitz exhibit here in Columbus. Leibovitz is a famous photographer known for here celebrity photos but has done some landscape shots as well. I’m really interested in seeing the landscapes more than the celebrities but I am excited about seeing here black and grey portraits which remind me of Lee Jeffries’ portraits who I told you about in the post “Chris and Abandoned People”. So, until next time, enjoy the sights as they pass before you.
“Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools.”    
-Napoleon Bonaparte

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