The photos are beautiful. It is always a pleasure to greet you each morning. Must return your book to you soon.

Mamaw B

I know it is beautiful up on the mountain now. Enjoy the pictures.

That is actually a couple of guys out there.

Wow, thanks again JP for the mind boggling photos!! Love seeing one of my favorite places draped in snow, beautiful!!

Yo, brother in spirit, put those moments in the bank, draw them out and cash them when times get dark. Draw upon the strength of the day. Become the Hero of the Day!

Tony Ga: I lived in Harlan Co. for fifty years, here in Laurel Co. and London for almost 13; I will not talk badly about my former home, but I have no desire to even ever visit there; no family, friends have all decided to not communicate; well, such is our society we live in these days, sadly. If I have any kind of family other than my immediate one, then it's right here on this site; I guess that's why I'm interested in organizing a hike this summer of posters and readers on this blog, etc. Great Galloping Gertie !! The photos posted today are simply "CLASSY" ! Great ! Keith: Bigfoot !? Hmmmm......I'll believe iin one when absolute proof is presented, but I always watch all those Bigfoot programs on tv; I just cannot see how those creatures could live, but I'm no expert on the subject, nor am I qualified to put forth a theory of any substance. I looked carefully at the photo above and those silhouettes certainly could be taken for a Sasquatch, etc., but when I looked very closely with a magnifying glass they look to me not like an original part of the photo. BUT, if the image really does show a Bigfoot, they would be thirty or more feet tall ! The ridge they seem to be on appears to be several hundred feet away, as you're looking off the precipice of Cliff Tops, etc. But, it is an interesting topic for discussion and I would have probably overlooked it had you not mentioned it. Thanks. Debi: we've had only about a half inch accumulation of snow here this winter and looks like we'll go through without any. I love talking a mile walk through my woods behind my house in the snow, especially when it's really coming down, but I doubt I'll get to enjoy that this season. If we have an inch, sometimes less if there's ice with it, around here, the schools are closed, unlike in our northern states where it's dealt with and schools remain open, mostly. I've never been out at Myrtle Point with snow on the ground so I really appreciated its photo today. The last time out there I fell asleep lying on the ground in mid-afternoon; had there been a hungry bear, wolf, or other carnivore around I guess I could have been lunch !! By the way, someone asked me the other day if there were still wild boars roaming the Park. I hike there at least two, three, or four times each month, taking different trails as often as I can, and I've not seen any signs of these wild pigs, but also haven't spoken to any Park personnel about it. On one of my A.T. hikes through the Park I had a close encounter with a family of them and I was more concerned about them than I've ever been about bears, but that's been several years ago. Anyway, I was wondering about it for some reason today; guess on my next trip to the Park, probably this weekend or early next week, I may have to stop by the visitor center and inquire about it, not that it's a big concern; just interesting to me. Ok, Scotty, bean me up and transport me to Cliff Tops !! No, that'd be cheating, eh !? Have a good afternoon friends and readers !

Lots of wild hog sign on NC side of park. I've seen it alot on Bradley Fork above Smokemont

http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/WebCams/parks/grsmcam/grsmcam.cfm

I enjoy this view of Mt. Leconte daily :)

Doug, there are thousands of boar in the park. When I first started hiking and backpacking there in the early 70s, we only saw them in the western half. Over the years, they have spread over the rest of the park and far beyond. Not all of them look like the Russian boar - many are simply huge domestic hogs that have either escaped from area farms or been released by hunters as young pigs to increase the population outside the park. The park service has an active trapping program - I ran into a fellow a few weeks ago in Greenbrier that was setting up his first cage trap for the year near the Porters Creek trailhead. Once a hog has been trapped though, other hogs will avoid that particular trap like the plague - they learn quickly. I have photos of them that I've gotten on critter cams set by game trails. They're not much of a threat to humans so long as we give them room and don't harass them. However, they do massive damage to the ecosystem of the park, digging wallows in springs and streams, wreaking havoc on several species of reptile and small mammals and even competing with bear for mast. They're a pain in the butt for park managers and the resources, but I have to admit that I love watching them. They're always active and entertaining, especially when young.
Here is a link to a critter cam shot of a boar near Chasteen Creek above Smokemont -
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/424431_418327414910800_50912293_n.jpg

Thanks. My sentiments exactly

I love visiting, seeing your pics, and reading your posts. I haven't been able to visit as much this year, and I'm already missing you before you go. Thanks for a daily visit up top. :-)