Balsam Point

This view is taken from Rt 441 in Great Smoky Mountain National Park, just a few miles from Gatlinburg. The mountain on the left side of the picture is Bull Head and the larger mountain in the center is Balsam Point, which is over 5,550 ft in elevation. From Balsam Point one could follow the ridge to the east, about 2 miles, and attain Mt LeConte, which at 6,593 ft, is the 6th highest peak in the east and third highest in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This photo was taken in the late afternoon after a full day of hiking up Clingman's Dome from Newfound Gap.
(April 19, 2008)