Club Chaos Agents - All Things Hollish, Wacked, and Jacked

There’s a place that beckons us and seizes our thoughts. And try as we might to ignore it, it calls to us during our hectic lives and interrupts our busy schedule.

It’s the stuff of daydreams and idleness, yet we cannot push the thoughts aside.

It is human nature to seek the shelter of comfort and refreshment, especially when the pressures of everyday life push us to the brink of exhaustion.

My “special place” is next to a cold rushing mountain stream in the midst of the forest.

The combination of the sounds of tumbling water, the chirping of the frogs and the birds, the wafting scent of the riverine dampness on the rocks and mosses, and the sight of dancing light bouncing on the ripples offer the cool refreshment that reinvigorates the spirit and frees the mind from all other distractions.

To me, sitting beside a mountain stream and taking it all in is Nirvana.

And just thinking about it isn’t all that bad either!

Many Great Smoky Mountains National Park visitors spend at least part of their vacation in Gatlinburg Tennessee. Gatlinburg is an eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, lodging and entertainment establishments.

The city enjoys a symbiotic relationship with the national park as it provides accommodations and meals for millions of tourists every year. This reduces the environmental impact on the park itself.

Since most businesses in town remain open until 11:00 P.M. there is a noticeable chill in the October air as the annual pilgrimage of leaf-lookers make their last walk up the neon-lit strip and head for their hotel rooms or rental cabins.

After over seventy years of welcoming part-time mountaineers, Gatlinburg has become a fall rite of passage for many visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

From crevice seeps an ice cold drip
That trickles swift to rivulet
Then tumbles crashing down its track
O’er rock, through sluice, down cataract
To quiet pools in lands below
Old Smokey’s deep and dark shadow.
                          (R. Weisser 2010)

There is nothing quite like sitting beside a rushing stream and listening to the “misic of the mountains.” And since the Great Smoky Mountains National Park averages nearly 85 inches of rain in the higher elevations, it is only a matter of time before the water goes somewhere!

That somewhere is down the mountain, cascading noisily down the steep slopes and collecting into ever bigger and bigger rivers until all waters from the Smokies make their way to the Great Valley of Tennessee, and then on to the Gulf of Mexico.

As one sits in the cool drafts of water chilled breezes, deafened by the song of the water, it is easier to realize that there are some things in the universe that are much greater than ourselves.

And that is a very comforting thought to have.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is situated on the spine of the Southern Appalachians, and receives an average of eighty-five inches of rain per year in the higher elevations.

This abundance of moisture not only supports an incredible diversity of plant and animal life, but also provides some dramatic vistas for park visitors.

It is not uncommon for travelers to become completely enveloped in clouds and haze as they traverse the high passages by automobile or while hiking along many of the many trails in the park.

It’s a place where the sky meets the earth, and where boundaries become obscured and overlap!

And it’s a sight to behold!

The question that I am asked most often about the Great Smoky Mountains Nation Park is: When will the Autumn eaves be at their peak color?

There is no easy answer because there are many factors that affect fall leaf color in the Great Smoky Mountains Nation Park. Temperature, rainfall, sunlight, elevation and species call all affect not only when the leaves begin to change, but how intense the colors will be and how long they will last.

But what I have learned over the thirty years or so that I have been taking photographs in the park is that you can find fall foliage somewhere within the confines of the park anytime from late September through early November.

Finding these “pockets” of color is somewhat akin to a treasure hunt, but there are “hotspots” that are generally dependable for fall leaf photography.

The Chimneys Trail, The Alum Cave Bluffs Trail, the Rainbow Falls Trail and other trails that have significant elevation changes are good bets, because the range of species is diverse along the way.

The key is to keep looking and to have fun. The Great Smoky Mountains Nation Park is one of the most photographed places in the world, for good reason!

There is something beautiful to experience around every bend in the path!

Autumn is just around the corner and that means many “leaf lovers” will be heading to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the annual display of brilliant Fall foliage.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers a unique outdoor experience for visitors of every level of expertise and physical condition.

There is an extensive series of backcountry trails and campsites for those that really want to get back to nature and “rough it” and there are also auto trails where you can see the park up close and personal from the comfort of your car!

If you plan to hike anywhere in the park, be aware not only the length of the trail, but also the amount of elevation change and the terrain. Even a two mile hike can be strenuous if the trail is steep and rocky.

You can get maps and plenty of free advice at any one of the Park’s three visitor’s centers. The Oconaluftee Center is located just outside of Cherokee North Carolina, the Sugarlands Center is near Gatlinburg Tennessee, and the Cades Cove Center is located deep within one of the most popular areas in the Park.

The Visitor’s Centers will also offer relevant information about travel conditions, road closures, and wildlife activity. Chances are, you will encounter at least one black bear during your visit.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of greatest treasures of the Southeastern United States. I highly recommend to anyone for a truly memorable Fall vacation!

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited park in the United States, That’s because over 2/3 if the country’s population live within a day’s drive from the park boundaries.

Summer visitors often take advantage of cooler temperatures in the higher elevations. The Balsam Mountain Campground is the highest in the park and at over 5000 feet in elevation provides pleasant sleeping conditions during the hot months.

And of course, one can wade in an icy cold mountain stream that will chatter the teeth and offset the blazing southern sun! Be please be careful while you are in the water, because the rocks can be slippery and water levels can change suddenly.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a favorite destination for many summer vacationers. Why not plan a trip to see for yourself?

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a great place to visit during any season of the year, but winter offers special opportunities not available during the other three seasons.

Due to the fact that the leaves are off of the trees, views are enhanced from nearly every vantage point, and on a clear day in winter you can see an exceptionally long way!

However, if you plan to visit the park in the winter, please be aware that many of the secondary roads are closed during cold weather.

The roads that are seasonally closed include Clingman’s Dome Road, Heintooga Ridge Road, Roundbottom/Straight Fork Road, Rich Mountain Roada and  the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.

The roads that are open all year (weather permitting) are the Newfound Gap road (U.S. 441,) Little River Road, Laurel Creek Road and the Cades Cove Loop Road.

Most roads reopen in late April or early May for the busy summer and fall seasons.

If you plan on visiting the park before then, you might want to consider getting out of the car and hiking. The trails are less crowed and offer a unique beauty in the winter that is unlike any other time of the year.

But don’t plan on seeing any black bears, as they are denning during the winter and will not emerge until the onset of warmer weather! 

The flame upon the candlewick
On draughts aflutter pirouette
And waltz and reel to tempo quick
Then lay in wait for Winter’s breath.

                        R Weisser Oct. 2009

As another Autumn foliage season comes to a close, I begin to look back to all of the falls of my past with fond remembrance. It’s always been my favorite season.

Full of color, and football, and the smell of leaves and the tastes of apples and pumpkins! It’s the last hurrah of temperate weather before winter sets it, a time of warm days and cool, crisp evenings. A most pleasant time of year for both dreaming and reflection!

Each fall is different with it's own personality, and presents it's own special touches. As for me, I am going to observe, and taste and savor each offering of the season.

And enjoying every moment of it!

Flutter and flurry and winter's chill
Toss fire-hued petals aloft until
The caress of earth,  then lay in place
For one last show of nature's grace!

                               R. Weisser 2009 

The one question that comes up the most this time of year is this: "Will it be a good leaf season?"

There are many scientific factors that affect leaf color. The amount of sunlight, recent rainfall, temperature and elevation can all affect leaf color.

But if there is one thing that I have learned over all of the years that I have been taking fall foliage photos is this: There is always good leaf color somewhere!

And like any good treasure hunter, I seek to find the caches of color wherever they may be!

It's a ritual of autumn that I have repeated every year for more than I care to remember.

And it's what I look forward to every year!