Camping and a lot of mountain history

Elkmont in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park holds more than a camping experience.

There's also a lot of history.

Restored Appalachian Clubhouse

The area was host to a robust lumbering industry. And then, savvy entrepreneurs turned it into a tourist mecca which offered a hotel and the development of a mountain community. A graveyard also adds its part.

Years ago, something like 15 or so, upon ending our camping experience, we would trek up to the Wonderland Hotel on the north end of the campground that last morning and have breakfast. It was a pleasant experience. The food was good and we got to look at the facility which, over the years, offered lodging to thousands and a respite to the everyday world.

Because of "back-to-nature" plans in the national park in 1992, the hotel doesn't exist anymore. 

Graveyard saying

On the southern end of Elkmont, members of the Appalachian Club had built numerous dwellings which they inhabited over the years. The well-to-do from Knoxville, who had owned the land, were given lifetime leases on their property upon establishment of the national park.

But that was changed. Leases were extended for 20 years in 1952 and again in 1971, but were not renewed in 1992.  At that time, plans were formulated to remove the structures and let nature take its course.

There were more than 18 cottages in the area, some listed on the National Register of Historic Places. That designation led to a debate over the fate of the structures. The debate lasted 15 years.

Now the move is underway to restore some of the cottages and outbuildings. The Appalachian Clubhouse has already been renovated and is being offered for social events. There is plenty of parking along with flush toilets and running water.

I have had mixed feelings about all that has transpired. On the one hand, it would be nice to have the area totally returned to its natural habitat. But in today's world, that is not that realistic.

There is also the historic aspect of the myriad of things that took place in the park over the years not related to nature, but to people.

I have walked along the Little River wondering what it would be like to have been able to live in one of the cabins abutting the river and listening to the rustling of the water 24 hours a day. I think it would have been great. 

Our family has spent a lot of time in the river, mostly tubing and just having fun, although it is always quite cold.

I know it must have been difficult for those families who had a 50-or-more-year history of owning the dwellings, to give up such an idyllic setting.

I know it would have been hard for me. 

Renovation is under way and a small part of history is being maintained.

Time marches on --- and it is not always in a direction to our liking.

Next post: Aug. 21, 2012

Chimney's Picnic Area a favorite

The Chimney's picnic area always beckons when visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Why?

Well, its a picnic area, so when visiting it must be time to eat. If for no other reason, that's a good one.

Then there's the west prong of the Little Pigeon River gently coursing down the mountain or cascading over the ledges, depending on the rainfall.

And the rocks, here and there, in the river and out.

During the early spring, when there is no greenery on the trees, one can see a wider landscape since nothing is hidden behind leaves.

In late spring, one can find a variety of blooming flowers on the Cove Hardwood Nature Trail.

And then there is the cool rising up from the river that helps refresh the hottest person, even in the middle of the summer.

What was once a campground now offers about 100 picnic sites. While we always like to get one by the river, the sites are tucked into all areas making each one unique and beckoning and are enjoyed by thousands.

And for some reason, I find it interesting to witness the moss growing on the tops of the restroom facilities. It just looks old world -- whatever that means.

During our visit in July, like always, we usually make the complete circuit around the picnic area hoping to find a riverside site, but if not, we enjoy what is there.

On the beginning of our second trip around the area, a man in a vehicle by the river indicated they were leaving and motioned us to take the site.

It just so happened that they live just 15 miles from us back in south Mississippi.

Next post: Aug. 14, 2012

Sometimes we get the 'blues' when camping

Our first effort at rain protection

Camping is oh soooooooo much fun.

But not all the time. One must take the good -- out-of-doors experience, beautiful scenery, cool nighttime temperatures in the Smokies, communing with nature -- with the bad, which, when camping, usually means rain.

We arrived in the Smokies the Friday after July 4 to find that the park had been ravaged by a storm with thousands of trees downed by high winds and landslides caused by heavy rains. Two people had also been killed in the park due to the weather phenomenon.

Can you see the drips?

I had planned to be prepared for rain this year with numerous blue tarps available to hang from our camper to the far side of the picnic table.


It should have taken care of what was to come. We stretched our first tarp (with the assistance of my brother in law) and left the area for a while with our camper closed up and our two main chairs placed close to the camper and under the tarp.

Protecting cooking gear from the rain

We arrived back to find the two chairs, which had fabric seats and backs, totally soaked.

I asked a passing camper if there had been a heavy wind with the rain. He indicated there wasn't. There had to be. Why would my chairs be so wet.

When the next precipitation showed itself, I came to realize the huge tarp was very weather worn and allowed a lot (thousands) of drips.

Raindrops settle on a leaf

My neighbor campers must have enjoyed the show that followed. I put up another tarp under the original one and then took the original down. Another bit of precipitation revealed the second tarp was just as bad. A third tarp didn't help and I finally remembered there was a 10 by 30 foot piece of clear plastic that I had bought a number of years earlier.

I put it up and it worked just fine. A little bit of rain followed and we were well-protected.

The big question is -- is the plastic tarp OK enough to keep on using, or should I invest in another blue tarp?

Well, I've got at least another year to make that decision.

Next post: August 7, 2012