On the Drive to the Summit of Pike's Peak

 

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Betsy and I visited Pike’s Peak in Colorado for the first time in 2014.  Although we were eager to get to the summit to enjoy the view, we stopped on our drive to the summit at Crystal Creek Reservoir, where I got this photo of the mountains and their reflection in the water.

Big Sky

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Several years ago, Betsy and I traveled from Yellowstone to Mt. Rushmore.  Along the way we got to enjoy some of the scenery in Montana.  I can see why they call it 'Big Sky Country'.

 

Signs of Autumn on the Plateau

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It’s beginning to feel — and look — like Autumn up here on the Plateau.  The temperatures are cooler during the days and especially at night.  Hopefully as we move more into October we will see more color on the mountain sides.  This picture was taken in early October several years ago on Black Mountain, which is near our home.

Thorofare Gap

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When My Beautiful Bride and I are on Skyline Drive (or the Blue Ridge Parkway) we never make quick progress since we stop at most of the overlooks we pass.  But the views of the mountains and the sky always seem to beg for some attention.  This picture was taken this past August at the Thorofare Gap Overlook on Skyline Drive in Virginia

Looking Back: Autumn Color Along the Cherohala Skyway

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I’m afraid that the heat and drought of the past couple of months will mean that there won’t be much autumn color in or mountains this year.  That won’t stop us from looking for the colors of autumn, however.  I got this picture along the Cherohala Skyway several years ago.

Beartooth Scenic Highway

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One of the highlights of our recent western trip (both figuratively and literally) was our drive from Red Lodge, Montana, to Yellowstone National Park on the Beartooth Scenic Highway.  The scenery was gorgeous all along the way.  This is a photo I got with my iPhone at the first overlook we reached.  Needless to say, we made many more stops on this particular journey.

Our Smokies in the Winter

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We’re now enjoying the glories of Spring in the mountains of east Tennessee, but our mountains — and the Smokies in particular — are beautiful any time of the year.  This photo was taken this past December from the Gatlinburg Bypass on an overcast afternoon.

Virginia Mountains

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Betsy and I traveled to Skyland, along Skyline Drive in Virginia, to celebrate her birthday.  We’ve been there before, and have always enjoyed the scenery.  This year we enjoyed the mountains so much that we walked to the restaurant for our meals.  This is the scene we enjoyed on our way to breakfast on August 3, 2017.

Fontana Lake

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My Beautiful Bride and truly enjoy driving the back roads, especially when we’re in the mountains of eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina.  These roads don’t work well when we’re in a hurry or have to be some place at a given time,  The problem is that there is always a wonderful view around the next curve that simply insists we stop and get a picture.

I got this picture of Fontana Lake in North Carolina several years ago while we were driving through the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina.  Fortunately we had time to stop and enjoy the view.

Lake Santeetiah

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In mid-October Betsy and I drove through the mountains of east Tennessee and western North Carolina in search of autumn colors.  We came upon this beautiful sight on Lake Santeetiah near Robbinsville, North Carolina, on October 20, 2016.

Cahas Mountain Overlook

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Earlier this month Betsy and I took a couple of days off to drive up into Virginia in search of some cooler temperatures and some relaxation.  We got onto the Blue Ridge Parkway as soon as possible and enjoyed this view from the Cahas Mountain Overlook in Virginia.

The View from Grandfather Mountain

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I started experimenting with panoramas back in 2011.  Although smartphones and tablets have a pano mode, I make my panoramas by stitching together individual images using Photoshop.  I’m never quite sure how a particular experiment is going to turn out, but I will admit I like the image above.  It was made on Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina in November, 2012.  I like the way the mountains slowly retreat toward the horizon and start to fade away.

Wilderness Falls

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Several years ago Betsy and I were exploring part of the Cherokee National Forest in northeast Tennessee when we came across this pretty little waterfall on Unaka Mountain.  One of the reasons we enjoy traveling along Forest Service roads is that gems like this might be around each curve.

Autumn in the Mountains

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Betsy and I think the mountains are beautiful any time of the year, even if the Autumn colors are past their peak.  This late October picture, from my archives, was taken at the Woolyback Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.

Evening Sky in Western North Carolina

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I went to the archives for this photo of the evening sky in the western North Carolina.  We were visiting with my son and his family back in July, 2009, when I snapped this photo.

Mount Mitchell on a Cloudy November Day

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Betsy and I visited Mount Mitchell in North Carolina on a November afternoon a couple of years ago.  Mount Mitchell is the highest point east of the Mississippi, and although we were below the clouds, we could look down on the mountains around us.  The patterns of light and shadow below us made a beautiful scene.

Brush Mountain Sky

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The first time Betsy and I visited Cumberland Gap National Park, we took the tour up to the Hensley Settlement on Brush Mountain.  It was a beautiful September day, and the scene on the mountain was glorious.  It reminded us of all the reason we like living in Tennessee.

Mountains and Clouds

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As most of you know, Betsy and I love the mountains -- the Smoky Mountains here in Tennessee and the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina and Virginia. We enjoy visiting the mountains just about any time of the year.

The picture above shows the view in late November from Craggy Gardens on the Blue Ridge Parkway north of Asheville, North Carolina. I really like the clouds and mountains stretching to the horizon.

Autumn Color in Tennessee

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I went to my archives to get this photo of the beautiful autumn colors we enjoy here in Tennessee.  This picture was taken in October, 2009, at an overlook on the Cherohala Skyway, which runs over the mountains between Robbinsville, North Carolina, and Tellico Plains, Tennessee.

Smoky Mountains

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The Smokies are beautiful any time of the year, and Betsy and I visit as often as we possibly can. This October scene, from my archives, was taken from an overlook of Cheoah Lake. There's just a hint of autumn color, and the combination of sky, mountains and water show why the Smokies are so very popular.