Cataloochee

After hearing so many great things from family about Cataloochee 

and seeing the Elk we decided to make the 2 hour trip.

Directions as they read on the Nationa Park Service website...

Directions: The entrance road to Cataloochee Valley is a winding, gravel road that has some steep drop offs with no guard rails. The road is narrow, so drivers may be required to stop or back up their vehicles to allow oncoming motorists to pass. Horse trailer traffic may be encountered on the road. Please use caution when driving on this road.

 

Mountain driving is scarey...but so worth it...

 

There were about 15 elk in the field when we arrived....

 Minding their own business...

 Robert and I counted this as a 14 pointer, his rack was HUGE!

 

and then he let out a loud bugle...

 because of this idiot

 

and then they took off into the woods.

 We didn't originally plain to hike here but decided a little walk through the woods couldn't hurt

 The Smokies never disappoint

The Palmer Chapel

Since we were already in North Carolina we thought a stop at Roberts Alma Mater would be fun.

 Its a beautiful campus but also very packed since

school was in session so we hit up the

bookstore for some apparel.

 My wonderful husband knew how much I wanted to go over Newfound Gap 

on the way back to Gatlinburg and we had some time to spare, 

but as soon as we headed up the mountain the rain and fog set in.

This area was covered in snow the day we arrived in Gatlinburg and was again the day we left, too bad we missed it.