Our first spring rain is rolling in.  It was an awesome sight to watch the clouds moving across the Smokies  this morning.  Tonight and tomorrow may bring a replay of winter as the rain may change to snow.  That's alright with me though.  I'm used to the snow!

    Here's a thought to leave you with on this beautiful Sunday morning, "My life's purpose is much clearer when I work to help and not just to possess."

    For all of you that are new to hiking or want to get immersed in hiking, this seminar would be a great way to get off on the right foot.  Or should I say boot!  If you want to get involved with helping the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, check out www.FriendsOfTheSmokies.org .  

Day Hiking Basics Join Ryan Baxter of Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, Missy Kane of Covenant Health , and Sarah Weeks of Friends of the Smokies for a great presentation on the must haves & have-nots, the dos and dont's, and ins and outs of day hiking in the Smokies.   The purpose is to provide knowledge of hiking fundamentals required to build confidence and ensure safety. The seminar is free and includes light refreshments, handouts and discussion of equipment.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church Fellowship Hall 2931 Kingston Pike Knoxville, TN 6:30 - 8:00 pm Sponsored by Friends of the Smokies Get on the Trail program and Blue Ridge Mountain Sports. For more information, call Sarah at 932-4794 or email fotssw@bellsouth.net .

    This image of the Lockness Monster was captured from Mt. LeConte looking towards New Found Gap.  Is it the real Lockness Monster or a hoax?  You decide!

    Thick clouds settled down in the valley to offer another beautiful view of the sunset from Mt. LeConte.  The sky was vast and intensely blue.  It wasn't possible to capture the infinate calming blue of the sky at sunset.  I hope that I can look at this image and remember the way I felt as I looked up into an endless sky.  Once again I was reminded of what a small but important part we all are of an unimaginably large whole.

    "The more we become willing to depend upon a Higher Power, the more independent we actually are."  Bill Wilson

"Desiderata" (Latin for "desired things") is a poem by Max Ehrmann about attaining happiness in life. I had this posted on my last blog and was asked to post it here.  I am glad to share it again with you.  It is a poem that I need to look at often.  It's something we could all learn from.

    I thought of the "peace there may be in silence" yesterday as I hiked under Cliff Tops and glimpsed this view of some vegetation hanging on to the side of the rocks, frozen in time.  As it thaws and bursts into life this spring it will still have a quiet beauty.

    There's only a few more days of Winter left.  There were a few warm days and a little rain that seemed like it would just wash winter away last week.  But the last few days have painted the mountains with a beautiful coat of snow.  This sign not only marks the trails it marks a snowy winter.  Most of the day has been cloudy and gray but it was still beautiful.  I got out for a hike in the deep unbroken snow and quiet serenity of the mountains.  A few weeks from now that same stretch of trail will be brand new to me.  It has been amazing to see the snow melt a bit and the woods almost explode with new growth.  Then the snow returned and said, "I'm just not ready to go yet.  Just  a few more days."

    When I let go and just do the footwork, things seem to start working out.  Sometimes my ego puts me in charge and I get frustrated.  When I'm trying to run the whole show things never seem to work out.  Why won't people act right? The Great truth is that people and things are just fine.  It's my reaction to them that gets out of alignment.  Granted, things sometimes aren't just or right.  Maybe someone has done me wrong.  I have to let that go and move on.  But before I move on I have to try and clean up any mess I've made.

    Yet all is well!  Spring is coming despite the lingering snow,  The rododendron is budding and getting ready to pop!  I did some hiking in the snow today and really took in the last deep snow I'll see for a few months.  In a few days the snow will start going away again and stay away for a while.

Dear Friends,

Here is an article from TheMountainPress.com announcing a tourism forum hosted by Dollywood on Friday, March 19th, doors open at 5:45 p.m.




Tourism topic of gubernatorial candidate forum here March 19 Submitted report

PIGEON FORGE — The Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Sevierville Chamber of Commerce will present a gubernatorial forum March 19 focused on the role of tourism in Tennessee.

The forum will be at 6:45 p.m. in the Showstreet Palace Theatre at Dollywood.

Can-didates scheduled to attend include Republicans Bill Gibbons, Bill Haslam, Ron Ramsey and Zach Wamp; and Democrats Kim McMillan and Mike McWherter.

Hallerin Hilton Hill, Knoxville radio personality, will moderate.

Doors will open at 5:45. The public is welcome to attend this free event, and no reservations are required. General admission seating is available on a first-come-first-served basis.

“Tourism is essential to the economic vitality of Sevier County and produces significant funds for state coffers,” said Brenda McCroskey, Sevierville Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer. “How the gubernatorial candidates view tourism-related issues and their understanding of how tourism affects issues like education, health care, infrastructure and more is of great interest to our area’s residents.”

Vicki Simms, executive director of the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce, agreed, saying, “It is so very important for our community to be informed of the issues and candidates during elections, especially one which will choose our next governor. We are thrilled to join forces with the Sevierville Chamber and Dollywood to provide the community an opportunity to become acquainted with the gubernatorial candidates.”

Those attending the event may park in lot A, but will have to walk to the park entrance. Because Dollywood is not yet open for the season there will be no tram service available. Parking is free.

For more information call 436-4178 or 453-6411

    Thanks to my dear friend Leland for passing this information on to me.  I would like to pass it along to all of you.  I regret that I will not be able to attend because of work commitments.  I would if I could.  This is the kind of thing that is very important to the future of this area that we all love to reflect on.

    New beginnings are not always easy and that's how it has been here.  I'm having technical difficulties with the blog and I haven't been able to upload photos to share with you!  How terrible.  But I'm sure I will get it worked out soon and have lots of beautiful sights to share.  I didn't post on the blog yesterday because I had some images to share and couldn't do it,  But I won't let that stop me today and I'm sure that I will have things straightened out by tomorrow.
    I can't let technical issues or my attitude stop me from making progress in life!  I hope that we can all Press On!

    It's time for another installment of Cool People I Have Encountered.  I would love to do a post about all of you but I think only one person a week is all we can take right now!  I would like you to meet Tom Williams of www.station50images.com  .  Tom is a great Photographer and shares our love of the Smokies.

Tom Williams

     By day I work for the City of Elizabethtown, KY as a Code Enforcement Inspector.  After that I go on call as an Assistant Chief for the Central Hardin Fire Rescue.  The fire department I am one is a volunteer department that responds to about 300 calls a year.  In between that I do my best to find time for my true passion…photography.  In my quest for that perfect picture, I spend the majority of time focusing on the wonders that Mother Nature and God have given us.  

     I usually try to make at least a couple of trips down to the Smokies every year where I’ll usually end up shooting between 1,000 – 3,000 pictures.  Yes, digital cameras are the way to go.  I made the change over to digital SLR world about 5 years ago with the purchase of a Nikon D70 and have been a proud member of the Nikon family ever since.  I am currently using a D80 and absolutely love it.

    During the summer months, one of my other favorite things is storm chasing and capturing lightning in its grandest.  I’ve been told numerous times that I’m nuts to be standing out during the storms trying to capture that “perfect” lightning shot.

     I started my website, Station 50 Images, several years ago at the urging of a friend to share some of my handiwork with other people.  You can also find some of my handiwork on “Flikr” under the screen name of strmchsr104.  For me, being out capturing Mother Nature at her best is pure relaxation.  Over the past several months, I’ve managed to pass along some of my passion for nature photography to several of my friends on the fire department. 

 

    Thanks Tom, keep up the good work and we'll see you the next time you are in the Smokies.

Images and text courtesy of Tom Williams, www.station50images.com .