Seeing The Heartbreaking Results of the Chimney Tops Fire

Saturday wasn't my first trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) since the tragedic events of the Chimney Tops 2 Fire back in late November. I did get to see some of the damage around Sugarlands Visitor Center, on the Gatlinburg Trail (and Gatlinburg itself), but most of my trips had been in the Cades Cove, so I hadn't seen the worst damage into the park until this past weekend.

Burnt downed tree on the Gatlinburg Trail in January.

Some of the gutted homes...

...in Gatlinburg.

Park Vista Hotel from the Mt. LeConte Overlook.

The trip to Smokemont Campground took us past the damage to the Bull Head section of Mount LeConte and the place where it all started...Chimney Tops. It was sad and heartbreaking to see these once beautiful spots scared by the stupidity of man. I did read in the Smokies Guide newspaper that a number of the trails have reopened, but it might be some time for others like the Chimney Tops Trail.

Fall colors on Chimney Tops in October, one month before...

...the terrible fire on the Chimney Tops in November...

...the charred results viewed on Saturday (April).

The Bull Head from the Carlos Campbell Overlook in August of 2015...

...October of 2016...

....April of 2017.

Green covered Bull Head...

...& showing fall colors...

...demonstrate the damage of the massive fire.

Balsam Point in summer...

...beautiful autumn colors before...

....& after in the Spring.

Here is this beautiful patch before the fire...

...& the charred remains after.

One more look before...

...& after.

...& after.

It is hoped that it might partially reopen later this year to an expanded overlook, just short of the spires of the Chimneys, but there is no timetable of when (or if) these icons of the Smokies will ever reopen. It makes me even feel more fortunate that I went back there in October.

In January, the damage to Gatlinburg Welcome Center sign is still evident...

...now replaced this is a sign of the area starting to recover.