Recent trip to the Smoky Mountains

[Apis629]

Hi all, I thought I'd take advantage of this forum to write about my summer trip into the Smoky Mountains.  It wasn't the backpacking trip we had origionaly intended as, neither my father nor I could get in shape for it but, it was still a good time; base-camping in Smokemont, hiking the surrounding area and flyfishing in several streams. 

Although I have a few photos, I suppose you can never manage to get a picture of everything.  Along a hike on the "Smokemont Loop" about 4 miles in, and an empty Nalgene later, we startled a black bear on the trail.  Quite a sight to see the thing trample down the undergrowth running down the side of that mountain (or hill, or whatever you want to call it).  basically, the pictures of the mountainous areas are either taken driving along through the smokies, from Clingman's Dome or Andrew's Bald (about a 2.7 mile hike  from Clingman's Dome).  The one in the river is of Abram's Creek, which leads to Abram's Falls about three miles downstream.  Unfortunately, after about five hours fishing in there, I had only managed to pull in one small Brook Trout but, oh well.  It was fun never the less, although, the water was quite cold but, that's probably just me talking from the standpoint of a Floridian.

Photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/backyardbeekeeper/661281154/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/backyardbeekeeper/661281326/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/backyardbeekeeper/661281294/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/backyardbeekeeper/661281220/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/backyardbeekeeper/661281182/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/backyardbeekeeper/661281170/

[pdmattox]

great looking vacation pictures.

[reinbeau]

What a gorgeous part of the country, thanx for sharing your pictures!

[SgtMaj]

Funny... when my wife and I want to go on vacation, we head straight for Florida, yet Florida residents head up here.