Quick Blog On A Day In The Smokies

Here is a quick blog from a day in the Great Smokies Mountain National Park. The hike was shuttle hike from Newfound Gap on the Appalachian Trail to Road Prong Trail then to Chimney Tops. More to come on this hike.

It Seems Like Groundhog Day When It Comes To Blogs On Leave No Trace

Before I get to PhotoBlogs and things more pleasant, I have to get something off my chest...a rant! Leave No Trace...it is an ethic I live by, unfortunately, a lot of other people don't. This was self-evident this past week when I went to Charlies Bunion in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) and to haul out trash left by irresponsible people. It is not like I haven't experienced this kind of behavior before and I have even blogged about it in the past (here, here, here & here). OK, I was headed to an outcrop that overlooks Charlies Bunion (I call it Fodderstack) and after eating my lunch I went to take a photo and enjoy the view.

Where I was at...

Then what did I find? It wasn't just the "regular" trash like a plastic bottle or aluminum can, no it was half a sandwich. Luckily, I carry a plastic bag to put this in. But, that isn't all because when I looked to my right there was another sandwich, this time a whole one, the only saving grace, it was already in a plastic bag.I know on that day there were a fair number of yellow jackets flying around, just being a nuisance and the sandwich was peanut butter and jelly.

...when I found this.

However, that is no excuse for leaving the sandwiches behind and there are a couple important reasons why. The first is who else do you think loves PB&J, like yellow jackets...bears. So, besides the fact that the plastic bag could choke and kill a bear it also habitualize them and any other wildlife to human food. These are smart animals and it doesn't take them long to connect the dots between a sandwich and us.

Bears will forage for easy food...

...here is one eating a trash can...

...just remember this sign.

The end result is if you can't take the heat (like yellow jackets buzzing you) then stay out of the kitchen (the woods)! Anyway, after putting this in a trash bag I carry (yes, just for these occasions) looked to my left and surprisingly there was a banana peel. I know what some are going to say "that it is organic material and I am just recycling," well I will call Bull Shit and say it is more about laziness and here is the reason why.

Nuff said!

Before this ever turns into compost, which would take years, something will come along and eat it and there is a good chance it will be a bear. Guess what? They are going to connect this to humans because there are NO BANANA TREES in the Smokies! At the end of the day, it is because of this kind of behavior you have bear problems like at Spence Field. It also means that like Blood Mountain and the Shining Rock Wilderness, I think Bear Barrels are coming to the Smokies...soon. So, what is the moral to this story? It is simple if you pack it in then PACK YOUR SHIT OUT...PERIOD!

Remember this is where your trash goes!

Rant over, but look below for the Leave No Trace Principles.

Trails, Fall Colors & Snow...That Is Autumn In The Smokies

Well, it is late October and here in East Tennessee we are entering the peak of the Fall Leaf Season, so for some insane reason, Deb and I headed to the Smokies for hiking and a little color. The reason I am questing our sanity is everyone else had the same idea. Luckily we hadn't planned to go up top as cars were backup on the Newfound Gap Road. Any, you couldn't go to Clingmans Dome because it was closed because of snow.

Traffic in the park.

When we got there...

...there was this message...

...which meant more people at Sugarlands.

We did scrap our plans hike Laurel Falls because traffic head on Little River Road (the one to Cades Cove was worse). So we stayed around the Fighting Creek Nature Trail and hiked out to John Ownby's Cabin.

Laurel Falls.

Fighting Creek Nature Trail.

Arriving at the Cabin.

The fall colors I mentioned.

After that, we headed across the road to the Old Sugarlands Trail. On here a couple of older gentleman who passed us came back our way, in what seemed a hurry. They said there was a big bear up the trail and he didn't seem to afraid of them. Before they finished the story Deb had already decided our next move as she was headed back the way we came.

Now on to the Old Sugarlands Trail.

West Prong of the Pigeon River.

Headed back, while you can't see here, Deb is in the lead.

So we ended up doing half of the Gatlinburg Trail, which was nice. After escaping Sugarlands, we made a quick stop at the Gatlinburg Overlook for a view of Mount LeConte with fall colors and snow...nice!

Now on the Gatlinburg Trail.

Another shot of the river.

The footbridge.

Snow capped Mt. LeConte.

The Peak Of The Parkway Can Be Found At The Pisgah Inn

In the past, I have done plenty of restaurant reviews, but I have never done one combined with somewhere I have stayed, but that is what I am going to do on my visit to the Pisgah Inn. For those who don't this mountain, the inn is located right off the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile marker 408.6.

The mountain where the Inn gets its name.

Sitting in the shadow of its namesake Mount Pisgah, the original inn, named the Pisgah National Forest Inn, was built in 1918 and until it was replaced by the modern Pisgah Inn in 1964. The current owners, the O'Connell family took running the Inn in 1978.

Mt. Pisgah plan in 1959 (photo NPS via UNC).

The old Pisgah National Park Inn (photo Pisgah Inn).

As for the Pisgah Inn, it is designed like a motel but feels more like a lodge. Our room, while somewhat a throwback to the past, but was still really nice. I liked the wood floors and the bed was comfortable. Oh, and the room had a really nice shower.

The office...

...at Pisgah Inn...

...inside.

Deb on the patio of our room....

...the beds in our room...

...TV, desk...

...& shower.

However, the star of the show was the patio. It was so nice to sit outside and the view was just amazing...let me say again, amazing! One of the cool things about the Inn is that all 51 rooms face the mountain vista, oh let me say it...nice!

My favorite spot, the patio...

...our chairs...

...& me sitting in one...

...& the vista from it a sunset.

Enjoying the patio

Besides being able to enjoy the view from the room there are plenty of rocking chairs which guest and non-guest can enjoy (I have on times when I came through here). Oh, and next year there will be a new and improved observation deck at the main building that houses the restaurant and gift shop. Speaking of these the gift shop is very nice, but now is time for the restaurant review for this blog. I have thought of eating here In the past (you don't have to stay here to eat here), but because of time it just didn't happen.

The rug at the restaurant.

Let me first say that the interior is nice and has a definite lodge feel. What is best is the big window, for both dinner and breakfast we got a window seat and it is wonderful, it makes the meal better. As for the food, I went with the whole blackened trout (that was filleted at the table, but Deb wouldn't let me eat the head) and my sides were butternut squash and a pumpkin bisque. It is hard to mess trout, it was really good and so was the butternut, but the pumpkin bisque was amazing.

The waiting area...

...& the dining area.

Pumpkin Bisque.

Blackened Whole Trout & Butternut Squash.

I would be reminded to say that you could buy wine by the bottle or glass (the have a cooler with wine taps). They also had an excellent selection of local beers, so I went with an old favorite a Dale's Pale Ale from Oskar Blues Brewing out of Brevard. With finished the meal with some blueberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream and coffee.

The wine taps...

...but I went with beer.

Blackberry Cobble & Vanilla Ice Cream.

The next morning we went to enjoy our complimentary breakfast. Unlike other places I have been this was buffet style, here you ordered what you wanted from the menu. I went with the buttermilk pancakes and bacon with orange juice and hot tea. It was really good.

View from our table for breakfast (we also had a window at dinner).

A better look at the dining room.

Pancakes with bacon, hot tea & OJ.

Also at the Inn is a General Store which offers souvenirs and caters to the nearby Campground. Finally, I must mention how friendly the staff is at the Pisgah Inn. From the restaurant to the front desk they made our stay even better. I have to say I have stayed in fancier places, by I don't know of any better and I can't wait to go back. I have to say that it lived up to its motto..."Peak of the Parkway."

The light of the mountains...nice!

Deb enjoys the view.

Clouds roll in.

The General Store.