Rambling Mountain Stream

A tiny stream makes its way down the mountain at a gingerly pace at the head of Ramsey Cascades Trail in Greenbrier, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I often photograph streams such as this. I have a particular image in my mind that I hope to achieve some day. This attempt came close, but not quite there yet. A tad bit too much foliage and noise in the image, but I still think it's a keeper.

There is nothing more fun than Independence Day here in the States. The very words conjure up images of our Founding Fathers. I can see them sitting at a simple writing desk, quill pen in hand, with a stack of well crafted paper, as they create the The Declaration of Independence. I could swear I hear someone say 'We the People . . .'

It would not be the Fourth of July without our ever faithful Red, White and Blue flying our proud colors and stars and stripes all. Parades and music, food and fun. And of course, the standard fireworks display will be seen by millions from town to town and city to city. From what I have heard, the largest 4th of July Fireworks Show in America is held in Nashville, Tennessee. Who knew!

My weekend plans involve a whole lot of resting and generally taking it easy. It has been an extremely busy few weeks. However you plan on spending the holiday weekend I hope it is filled with sun, fun and maybe a spark or two from a nearby sparkler or firecracker. Stay cool and dry wherever you are. ENJOY!

The Trail, Ramsey Cascades

Allow me to take you back to the Smokies once again where you will find me on a brief walk along the Ramsey Cascades Trail. There were so many wonderful photo ops this year in the Smokies and this trail and the road to reach it were stunning.

This image does not fully convey the feeling you feel as you stand at this trail head, deep in the forest, 

miles from civilization, surrounded by stunning Fall foliage. Pure magic.  

On the way to the trail head, I had stopped to photograph water and by the time I had finished several settings, I was sweating and pretty spent. And while hiking wasn't on the agenda on this day, the trail to Ramsey Cascades was so inviting I couldn't resist walking a half mile in at least.

Deep in the forest, I walk along the trail, and suddenly I hear a familiar sound. The river is speaking to me.
I walk toward the sound and peer down to find this scene. The beauty of it overwhelming.

Keep in mind I love to hike, but this trail is four miles in and it was later in the day. I did check the elevation chart for this trail, and wow do you climb up in elevation, although most of it is in the last two miles. Hmm, but isn't that the hardest part of a hike. To have to make that elevation climb at that point has to be strenuous.

I reach a small clearing in the forest. I look over and find this bench carved from dead trees. 
I think about all of the different people from all walks of life who have stopped here to rest a spell. I move on. 

Now that I know how beautiful a drive to the trail head is to Ramsey Cascades, I am sure I will be back. I know further exploration will net me even better waterfall images.

I hike back along the trail, the same route I hiked in, and round a bend in the trail to find this scene.
I know now that I have taken 'the road less traveled' and I am a better person having done it.

The snow from Monday's storm has melted and the temps have climbed back to something more bearable. I hope this finds you safe and warm as Winter has come early here in the States. ENJOY!

Back Road to Ramsey Cascades

Sometimes one must take the road less traveled. On this particular day, I chose, not only the road less traveled, which takes you through the Greenbrier section of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but I also took the side road leading to Ramsey Cascades trailhead. This road is traveled even less.

And I was ever so glad I did take this side road. Words that came to mind as I traveled slowly down the gravel road were beautiful, gorgeous and even at times stunning. As I drove I stopped numerous times to capture images. One time I stopped when a deer had stepped out of the woods. Several other times I stopped to photograph the small waterfalls rushing over the boulders as the water flowed down the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River. But some of the most beautiful images I captured were of the road itself surrounded by all of the gorgeous Fall foliage. ENJOY!

Cascading Water, Little Pigeon River, Part II

As a photographer who enjoys photographing cascading water, traveling to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park where there is nothing but rivers and streams with rushing water, well, it doesn't get any better than that. On Sunday I attempted to photograph water in a much higher light level. The images I captured were not to my liking. It happens. And since I am intent on photographing water, I know I have to take the good with the bad. But does there have to be so much bad? Sorry, I had to ask.

Hence, my next attempt out to photograph water, I opted for a lower level light and a much less complex setting. The result was the image I posted yesterday and the image today. Both were captured on the Little Pigeon River in similar light levels.

As the water hits a boulder and spews out in tiny vertical streams falling down into a milky white pool before being diluted back to the depths of the river, well, that just makes my heart pitter patter. And I thank God you folks are happy to indulge me by allowing me to show you these images. It's the little things in life. Seriously. ENJOY!

Cascading Water, Little Pigeon River

Making my annual Fall pilgrimage to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I found Fall foliage at near peak levels. No doubt later this week it will reach its peak. The park's lower elevations were absolutely stunning as I drove the routes to both Cade's Cove and Newfound Gap. On my last day I decided to photograph the water rushing down the Little Pigeon River in Greenbrier. Greenbrier is generally a single road, almost two lanes, but not quite, that travels many miles back into the park ending at the trail head to Porter's Creek Trail.

There's one turn off on the main road in Greenbrier which is equally long and dead ends at the trail head to Ramsey Cascades. Ramsey Cascades is a gorgeous waterfall that I have seen photos of, but probably will never hike to. It's a four mile hike with a pretty hefty accent. On this particular day, I decided to take the road less traveled which was the road to Ramsey Cascades. I had never taken this route before, but was so glad I had because the Fall foliage was gorgeous. Not to mention the opportunities to stop and take photos of the cascading falls as the water rushed over the rocks down the Little Pigeon River to a destination unknown. I will be back soon with more images from my journey. Hope you have had a great week so far. ENJOY!