It has been quite a while since I have done a Compare and Contrast Blog on A Change in Seasons on a particular hiking place, the last time was October of 2014 with one about the Roan Highlands. This time it is the High Country of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), and to be specific the stretch of the Appalachian Trail (AT) from Newfound Gap to Charlies Bunion and back. I first hiked this incredible section of the AT back in June of 2015. The trail then was almost at high summer. The second trip was just last month when I hiked a snow covered winter trail. I have to say the contrast was stark but both were beautiful in their unique ways. Oh, there will be a couple of photos in the summer half from my day at Clingmans Dome and Newfound Gap from June of 2013.
So, it is time to bring this blog out of mothballs for A Change of Seasons in the high country of the Smokies.
Newfound Gap
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| June, 2015: Famous overlook |
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| February, 2016 |
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| June, 2015: View from... |
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| ...overlook in February, 2016 |
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| Hazy view of Mt. LeConte in summer... |
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| ...clearer in the winter |
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| June 2015, North Carolina vista... |
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| ...& in February, 2016 |
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| State-line sign in June 2013... |
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| ...in winter almost three years later |
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| Trailhead this past June... |
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| ....now February 2016 |
AT To The Sweat Heifer Creek Junction
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| June, 2015: Headed up the green trail... |
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| ...now with ice in February |
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| June, 2015 |
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| February, 2016 |
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| Ridge-line vista in summer... |
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| ...& winter |
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| AT tree in middle of trail in summer... |
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| ...now winter |
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| June, 2015: Two white blazes... |
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| ...same spot with snow |
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| Just boots here... |
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| ...now crampons maybe needed |
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| Summer... |
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| ...winter |
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| Another summer vista... |
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| ....winter view |
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| Sign at junction.... |
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| ...now with snow |
Sweat Heifer Creek Junction To Boulevard Trail Junction
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| June, 2015 |
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| February, 2016 |
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| Summer tunnel... |
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| ...still there in winter |
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| Green of summer... |
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| ...snow of winter |
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| At the Boulevard Trail junction in June... |
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| ...back in February |
Boulevard Trail Junction To Ice Water Springs Shelter
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| June, 2015 |
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| February, 2016 |
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| Sign points the way in summer... |
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| ...& winter |
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| The shelter in June... |
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| ...now living up to the name of Ice Water |
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| June vista at the shelter... |
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| ...now in February |
From Ice Water Springs Shelter To Charlies Bunion
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| June, 2015 |
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| February, 2016 |
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| The trail in summer... |
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| ...now winter |
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| Where I am headed on both trips.... |
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| ...Charlies Bunion |
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| Trail cuts a green path... |
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| ...now through the snow |
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| Big tree in summer... |
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| ...& winter |
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| Hazy of summer... |
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| ...clear of winter |
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| Sea of green... |
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| ...now white |
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| Final stretch to the Bunion in summer... |
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| ...& winter |
Charlies Bunion & Fodderstack
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| Whether summer... |
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| ...or winter, watch those kids! |
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| Summer path to the Bunion... |
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| ...& the winter |
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| Standing on the Bunion in June... |
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| ...sitting in February |
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| June, 2015 |
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| February, 2016 |
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| From Fodderstack above the Bunion in summer... |
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| ...& winter |
Charlies Bunion To The Boulevard Trail Junction
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| Headed back in June... |
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| ...& February |
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| Green |
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| White |
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| Summer path... |
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| & winter |
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| Path up in June... |
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| ...& February |
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| It was slick in June... |
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| ...but it was in February |
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| Summer |
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| Winter |
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| Back at the Boulevard Trail junction... |
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| ...now with snow. |
Boulevard Trail To Newfound Gap
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| June, 2015 |
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| February, 2016 |
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| Tree on the trail in summer.... |
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| ...& winter |
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| Mowed grass... |
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| ...snow |
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| Summer AT |
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| Winter AT |
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| Trail tree... |
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| ...eight months later |
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| Back to the Gap in summer... |
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| ...& winter |
Bonus AT Headed South From Newfound Gap
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| June, 2013 |
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| February, 2016 |
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| Green of summer |
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| White of winter |
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| Trail is beautiful in summer... |
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| ...or winter |
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