Mt Rainer National Park ....the jouney to the lodge..

It's a journey that is hard to describe! The info center is the tease!

Riding through the canopy covered roads just hint at what is about to unfold.

The river beds are "painted " by the minerals found in the rocks.

The rocks are obvious toys to the water that spews them down the river bed.

And being that we are humans, .... we play with the toys natures provides.

And, often the creativity of man and nature results in something beyond magnificent!

The road finally brings us to the Lodge ... OMG is about all I can say! We wander out to just beyond the lodge and everywhere there is yet another view that is breathtaking, or another tree that has a story to tell.

These branches have been scupted by the hands of the wind.

The fog is dense and engolfs everything .... but it slowy rises ... and you can't move .... because it just becomes more and more beautiful!

Fog blanketing the mountain

And, it lifts some more ....

                                          ... and the sun plays on the mountain and the fog ....

  ... and then it breaks through!

 .... and reveals the unimaginable!  But wait, turn around and look behind you ..... guess you will have to come back  tomorrow for what's behind me!

Pine Creek Gorge ...the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania!

Never  heard of it? 

Neither had we ..... but we found it!

 

I'm not certain of the lore  but .. apparently there are angels that hover on ledges ... this was resting on a ledge about 20 feet down a section of the cliff.  If anyone knows the "story", please share.

The park is very beautiful.  We found a path and took a short hike for a few miles

 Mushrooms were everywhere.  Given the way the sunshine was falling on so many of them, my camera finger was working overtime!

As we began our assent back up the trail, my eye caught some movement off to my right. My first thought was "crap", we need some form of protection as we were wandering this forested section of the park without a soul in sight! Wasn't long before I realized that all I needed to "shoot" was my camera.  And, shoot I did!   This guy walked along side of us for about 50 feet.  He's stop and eat, take a look at us and then walk some more. I felt like I had been granted a special gift.

I think my father sent him to me ...... and he said, "Young Lady ... shoot"!  Funny thing is ... my Dad gave me my very first serious camera.

 Some day perhaps you will visit this lovely place ...be forewarned .... you may have to "shoot"!

Gatlinburg, Tennessee & those Smokey Moutains!

  Views at and around Buckberry Lodge are .... smoky... delightful ....inviting!

The smokey mountains are well named.  These shots, taken from our balcony, show the beauty.

An interesting story about Buckberry Lodge.... when I walked into the main lodge, it felt like and smelled like the Adirondacks; and, with good reason.  Not only did the owners transport their own love of the Adirondacks and the great camps, resources were also brought from the Adirondacks to this area to build the lodge!.

 

Adirondacks , Smokey Mountains ..... Adirondacks .... Smokey Mounttains .... I had to keep reminding myself where I was.

The Lodge isn't the only attraction. It's a MUST to travel down to Buckberry Creek and the Pavilion of Buckberry Lodge. Rocking chairs nestled around the walk-in fireplace are draped with blankets.  The tables and bar (with a guide boat flipped upside down over the bar) just convince you that hanging out is the thing to do! 

And, this is the outhouse!!  Complete with chandelers!

 

The Adirondack chairs are so fitting! 

So many little things ... make Buckberry Lodge and the Smokey Mountians one of my very favorite places to visit.

Adirondacks ... Smokey Mountains ... Adirondacks .... Smokey Mountains .....either one .... you can't go wrong.