Cades Cove Images

Check out these Great Smoky Mountains National Park images by Jorge F found on Flickr. He’s another Texas guy with a penchant for taking photos in the mountains.

Image by jorge_dfw

Image by jorge_dfw

Image by jorge_dfw

Image by jorge_dfw

Winter: A “Secret Season” in the South’s Loftiest National Parks | National Parks Traveler

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Smokies might lie pretty far south—but no other mountains lie to the west to sap the snow from storms. The Smokies’ ridge is so abrupt and massive—rising from 1,000 feet near Gatlinburg to nearly 7,000 feet—that the highest peaks can get hammered by big snow in even marginal conditions.

Snowstorms often interrupt travel across the park on US 441, the Newfound Gap Road, but the public highway is such a critical transportation link that plowing is routine.

via Winter: A “Secret Season” in the South’s Loftiest National Parks | National Parks Traveler.

From The Web: Winter Camping in East Tennessee – Skiing – Yahoo! Sports

The eastern portion of the state of Tennessee is known for its diverse natural habitats, shopping and recreational areas. There are several state and national parks within the state that showcase the areas best scenic vistas and natural scenery, and that are close to numerous shopping and recreational attractions.

The following three parks have camping areas that are open and accessible in the winter and that are close to natural wonders, as well as numerous other activities.

Read the rest at Winter Camping in East Tennessee – Skiing – Yahoo! Sports.