Millrace by John Cable

In 1868 John Cable built a grist mill in Cades Cove, Tennessee. To operate that mill, he needed to divert water from Mill Creek, using this millrace to feed the overshot wheel.

The people of Cades Cove were open to the formation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, until the Federal Government determined that their land was necessary to maintaining the National Park and began to execute seizures under eminent domain.

By 1937, the remaining hold-out, John Oliver, abandoned his property, and the National Park Service agreed with the Great Smoky Mountain Conservation Association to maintain Cades Cove as a meadow, demolishing only the more modern structures, and leaving behind those artifacts which were most representative of early pioneer life in Appalachia.

John Cable's Grist Mill and the millrace, shown in this image, are part of what the National Park Service maintains toward this end.

The Forest Primeval

The West Prong of the Little Pigeon River is composed of a series of cascades flowing down from the ridges of the Appalachian Mountains running through Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

All along the Newfound Gap Road you can find pull outs to stop and explore the river and take in the serenity that does not exist in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg.

Home to some of the nation's most beautiful old-growth forests, the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is not without some controversy, as mountain homesteaders, loggers, and miners were evicted from their lands to create the park. However, during the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Works Progress Administration (WPA), and other public entities employed people to make trails, build and improve infrastructure and make the National Park accessible to more people.

Flume Overflow

Mingus Mill was the largest, most advanced and most powerful mill in the Smoky Mountains of its time. Using a steel turbine and a 22 ft tall penstock, the mill generated approximately 11 horsepower - enough to run all the equipment in the mill.

When there is an excess of water to fill the penstock and keep the constant pressure on the turbine, the water overflows from this point on the Flume, creating a waterfall of sorts, that then flows back into the Mingus Creek.

I found the sturdy construction and relation of industry to nature to be compelling and created this composite of four images to capture the look and feel of the environment as it has no doubt existed since the late 19th century.

Cascades of the Oconaluftee

Newfound Gap Road (US-441) meanders through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park following the contours of several rivers.

This spot is on the North Carolina portion of the national park, along the Oconaluftee River. I was fortunate enough to drive through during the middle of the week while most U.S. schools were still in session, limiting the number of other tourists and travelers. This afforded me the opportunity to take in the serenity of nature and take pictures without too many people in the frame.

Part of the Southern Appalachian Biosphere Reserve, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited National Park in the United States with well over 11 million visitors per year and is home to over 10,000 known species of plants and animals. The park also experiences higher levels of precipitation than nearly everywhere in the United States outside the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii, and is home to one of the largest areas of deciduous, temperate old growth forest on the continent.

Surreal

Watching sunset from Clingman's Dome is a memory I will not soon forget. The experience cemented for me why these are called the Great Smoky Mountains.

What started as a mostly clear day and near 80°F temperatures quickly cooled as I reached the 6,600' elevation here. As the clouds began to gather, it was fascinating to watch what looked like smoke rolling over the ridge, almost like an avalanche, only to dissipate as it dropped about 1000', or so.

The colors of the sunset, caught in the clouds above, and the blue haze of the mist between the mountain ridges of the Appalachians are ethereal. Were it not for being surrounded by dozens of others, I would have scarcely believed this to be real.

Easily accessible, about 7 miles from the Newfound Gap Road between Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC, and part of the Appalachian Trail, Clingman's Dome and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are a must visit for everyone living east of the Mississippi, and a should visit for people everywhere. I can't believe it took me nearly 49 years to get here. I'll be back!