PAGE THREE

ON THE PATH TO MINGUS FALLS

 

Traveling down the east side of the mountain range in early afternoon, we quickly came to the edge of the Park, the Cherokee Indian Reservation and the town of Cherokee. Backtracking along a little river we entered the Park again and came to a campsite (one of a dozen or so) and the trailhead for Mingus Falls. These falls are the highest in the Park, 120' and we weren't disappointed in the trudge up the 150 new concrete steps to the base of the falls.  Getting a good view and picture require some ambulatory expertise, so Barb stayed at the foot of the falls while I braved the boulders and slippery rocks to find a better advantage. It was going to be tough to get a slow shutter speed shot with no tripod, so I used a small rock in the stream to steady the camera.

PATH TO MINGUS FALLS

 

MINGUS FALLS BY THE CHEROKEE INDIAN RESERVATION   ANOTHER VIEW

This place isn't too far from where my great-grandfather was born in Addie, NC, so I can picture him taking horse and wagon and friends to see it. It's about thirty miles, so there would have to be some camping involved, which in those days was like living at home anyway, no big deal.  Of course, if you've been to Niagara or Yosemite, there isn't much to shout about here. Just the fact that God has made such places for certain people to enjoy through the centuries. "He sends the springs into the valleys; they flow among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. By them the birds of the heavens have their home; they sing among the branches. He waters the hills from His upper chambers; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works."        Psalm 104: 10-13

SMOKY MOUNTAIN SUNSET