Thursday, September 11, 2008

Overlook going into Cataloochee Cove - GSMNP



These photographs were taken September 6, at the overlook going into Cataloochee Cove in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This cove is accessed from I-40 exit 20 in North Carolina. Less than an hour from my house, but I have never even heard of this cove until a month ago. From the interstate it is just 10 miles, but about 5 of it is gravel, on the side of the mountain. Up 5 miles and then down 5 miles into the cove, about half of each way is gravel. The bad part is while you are in the cove you know you have to go back that same way to get back out.

These photographs were actually taken as we were leaving, late in the evening.

Please visit Sky Watch Friday for some wonderful sky photographs.

33 comments:

Shelley said...

I like the fencepost you've shown in these photos - just great!

Unknown said...

Great photos..........M.O. is in the mail today!!!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Sorry, I posted the same comment twice, deleted the second one..

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Leedra: Very nice views of the mountains and skies. You should link into Sky Watch Friday at 2:30 PM today (see my site for link). Come along for a fun ride.

troutbirder said...

I love all your GSMNP pics. They remind me of my intentions to revisit there sometime. I've always been there too late to see the azaleas at their peak. Any advice as to timing???

Brad Myers said...

Good photos, it looks like a beautiful place. Maybe I will get there some day.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful shots.

Anonymous said...

My grandpa was from West Virginia and if somebody took him somewhere by car he would pass places he never heard of and they would be in the next hollar as he called them or on the other side of the mountain. Amazing. He only went as far as his cows went and then he went back home.

These are just beautiful. Course, they were taken in God's Country and that makes a big difference.

My Sky Watch Friday blog is at my Canon Pixels blog. If you have time I would appreciate your having a look at the sky peeking through the oak tree leaves.

Photo Cache said...

Beautiful series of shots.

EG CameraGirl said...

Isn't it amazing how one can live so close to something and not know about it. Well, you know about it now and you're taking fun photos there. Happy Sky Watch!

Louise said...

They are beautiful. I love how the haze makes the lighting so interesting.

Rose said...

Nice photos...I grew up an hour or so away from the Smokey Mountains.

Anonymous said...

You're my neighbor - I live very close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park too! And these shots are stunning. Most excellent find!

Fish Whisperer said...

if it is hard to get to then it must be worth going to. Great images for SWF.
Cheers

Eki said...

These are grand pictures of the sky. Perfect shots for SWF. Please do visit my SWF post if you have a chance.

Have a great SW Friday!

Anonymous said...

I like your photos.

Mary said...

So beautiful and soft!

Woody said...

Looks like a great place to visit. Very Beautifull...

Happy SWF

Teresa said...

I am going camping in Pigeon Forge in Mid October. The leaves are supposed to look so nice by then so I am hoping to shoot some greats pics!

Jane Hards Photography said...

It feels so peacfeul, crisp and clean.

Anonymous said...

beautiful SWF shots!

Anonymous said...

There's a mysterious feel in the sky of those pictures :) Beautifully taken!
Happy Skywatch!

Reader Wil said...

Wonderful skies! Thanks for your comment on "there are no books in heaven" Well I am sure we will everything we need and be perfectly happy, won't we?!

Arija said...

What a lovely find for you. I would have thought the worst paet would be to have to leave the cove. With most people not liking dirt roads it must be such a wonderfully secluded place.
Beautiful, gentle clouds, so dreamy.

A Colorful World said...

Absolutely beautiful! Makes me long to head down the road in that direction!

Guess what! You have won another award! Go by my blog and retrieve it and then send it on if there are any others you wish to honor with same. Take care!

Tom said...

A fantastic set of pictures... each one as good as the others and all are perfect for Sky Watch

Michele said...

AH... such pretty views of the mountains and I love mountains... this is exactly what I search for!
You did a splendid job of photographing them! Awesome job!!!!
~Michele J~
Mountain Retreat

Dewdrop said...

Glad to know you finally got in touch with your brothers. Hurricane Ike is definitely making an impression. Terrific shots!

Anonymous said...

Lovely colours. I wonder if this could have been even better with fill-in flash to get a little colour in the foreground, but I'm quibbling!

DeniseinVA said...

Hi Leedra, beautiful photos for SkyWatch. I have been enjoying looking at all your others too. You have a lovely blog. Congratulations on your awards. Very well deserved :) Have a great weekend.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful flowers and scenery in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park near your home. It would be a bit of a thrill to drive that road - scary and thrilling at the same time. Wonderful photos of the sky!!

Dorothy said...

Leedra, The trip out to the valley was as thrilling (or should I say scary) as just being in the valley! I was amazed at the hairpin curves and the parts of the road that were one-way! I felt like I had to sit in the middle to keep from falling off the mountain! It was worth the drive, after all.