View from Clingmans Dome.

Clingmans Dome is one of my favourite places in the Great Smoky Mountains, no where else in the park is the value of the NPS more evident. Here we can see the folly of men in drastic contrast with the lush beauty below. As visability from one of the highest peaks in the park steadily dwindles and rare (in the south) forests of evergreens are decimated by imported parasites which have no natural enemies here in north america.

On a more positve note, this year was the first time for me that i was actually able to see the lower peaks, it was an exceptionally clear day. Also the Parks Service reports that the population of parasites has dropped since the introduction of a new predator species