I took a nice trip into Appalachia yesterday and thought I'd share some photos. The Blue Ridge mountain range extends from Georgia to Pennsylvania and if you get the change to see any part of it, don't miss the opportunity. These photos were taken on and around the Blue Ridge Parkway in the mountains of North Carolina.

Native Americans considered the Smoky Mountains sacred, referring to the signature mist, and hazy shades of blue, as "The Great Spirit".





While not as vibrant as I've seen them in the past, leaves were very colorful.











Much of this area is undeveloped, making it an unspoiled natural habitat for all kinds flora, fauna and wildlife. It's really evident once you get off the beaten path and get to see what is hiding under the canopy.







We saw a wild bear but didn't hang around to get any photos.

Very beautiful picures Tux.
I am quite familiar with those mountains as it is the route we always took to visit my sister in NC. I always remember that last hill coming down out of the mountains on I-77 which is 7 miles long and it has several run-off ramps for truckers that lose control.
We also took quite a few trips along the ridge to take a break from the Interstates. There were a few times when we couldn't even see two car lengths ahead of us because of the fog but it didn't slow the truckers down any. I must say, it is very beautiful in those parts. edit: corrected, smog = fog

It's a very wild and unspoiled area. That wasn't smog by the way, maybe fog, but definitely not smog.

"This fog, which is most common in the morning and after rainfall, is the result of warm humid air from the Gulf of Mexico cooling rapidly in the higher elevations of Southern Appalachia."

GnuTux: really beautiful photos! it's so funny to actually see pictures from the blue ridge mountain area - i've sung about them in countless bluegrass jams with one of my friends when i was younger .

Great shots, GnuTux
Fall is the best time to go for a cruise through the mountains.

wonderful photography!

They look wonderful Tux. Bet you the air smelled wonderful too.

Awesome pictures, GnuTux.
A vivid flashback of memories. In 2009 my family was on the way from Florida to Ohio. We drove through the Smoky Mountains and could not afford not to stop for a couple of days there. It's a real beauty! Loving Tennessee, live in Ohio, frequent visitor of West Virginia and Pennsylvania! I'm all over Appalachians!

The whole BlueRidge chai is magnificent. They always remind me of how tiny we are.

Hi Tux, You know, I have never seen a deciduous forest. I was born In the Netherlands and there were really no big forests outside Amsterdam. We migrated to Australia where all forest are Eucalypt evergreen forests that also give off a haze. I really would like to see one of your forests when it turns in Autumn. Thanks for the photos.

Wow - you lucky lucky man Tux.

Some useful references for aerial perspective, thanks for sharing (:

Beautiful, GnuTux!