Team Smokies

Am I right, Star Wars nerds? This place is totally like Yavin 4. (Apologies to all the non Star Wars nerds out there who don’t know what Yavin 4 is and couldn’t care less.)

Yesterday Phil and I drove up miles and miles of windy roads to the base of Clingman’s Dome, the highest point in Smoky Mountains National Park. After that we hiked half a mile straight uphill to the observation deck. Doesn’t sound like a lot right? IT IS. A lack of oxygen plus straight uphill climb equals a brutal hike but the view at the top was worth it. You could see for miles in every direction and it was completely breathtaking (once you’d caught your breath first, of course).

The only strange part was all the dead trees at the tops of many peaks. We were told it was a combination of insects and acid rain killing these trees. Sad but it lended a eerie presence to the mountaintops.

After climbing back down, we drove to the ‘gap’— not a khaki megastore but instead the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. Then it was off to a hiking trail that lead us to Mingo Falls, a beautifully chill waterfall just outside Cherokee. If you don’t know what a chill waterfall is… it’s exactly what it sounds like. Chill.

A couple cheesy tourist shops in Cherokee later, we found ourselves at a farmer’s market buying Cheerwine, North Carolina apple cider, and boiled peanuts. Then it was home for burgers and beer and yet another rad sunset.

Rainy day today so we’re off to the kitschy wonderland of the Smokies: PIGEON FORGE, TENNESSEE. Titanic Museum here we come!!!!!!