The Smokey Mountains and the Web of Life

Roots and Waterfalls, Holding the World Together

Last October, on one of the last little trips my mother was able to make with me before really declining, my fiancé and I rented a cabin in the Smokies. Going in nature always makes her feel better and less alone. Perhaps it also has something to do with the way fallen trees and dying things never entirely disappear and become part of the cycle of life. She needs a walker to ambulate and often needs a wheelchair, which reduces the number of places you can visit. Fortunately, there is a Motor Nature Trail in the Smokey Mountains and this photograph was made on that drive.

Window on the Smokey Mountains

There are also several beautiful overlooks on the drive and it pleased my mother immensely to be able to look out over a landscape unobstructed by the hand of man. Perhaps when you are getting closer to becoming part of the earth again, it’s nice to see it looking so beautiful and pristine.

Sunlit Canopy Along the Motor Nature Trail

While we were driving, my mother suddenly had me stop the car in the middle of the road. She was gasping at the beauty of the light streaming through the canopy of trees and the beautiful shades of green. She kept pointing up and asking me to make a photograph, so she could remember. She is in the final stages of heart failure and has vascular dementia.

Fall Color, West Prong Little Pigeon River

There is another wonderful road that goes from the visitor center near Gatlinburg to the visitor center in Cherokee. Along the way, we stopped at a picnic area along the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River. It was absolutely breathtaking. My mother loved watching the water cascade over the boulders.

Smokey Mountains Overlook, Clingman’s Dome

The fall colors were only just starting, but the scenery was still outstanding. To see such open views imparts a sense of expansiveness to your consciousness, especially when your boundaries are shrinking in daily life. She made the effort to get out of the car and walk along the sidewalk here and at other viewpoints, so she could take everything in.

The real treat we experienced was near the visitor center in Cherokee. We were pushing my mother’s wheelchair down a bumpy dirt path. She was being jostled a bit and was asking to turn around, when suddenly a whole herd of elk went right past us. They were so close that we thought if they get any closer, we’re going to have to back up. My mother had never seen an elk before and she was mesmerized. The large bull who was in charge was herding the others and we got to watch that, which was quite exciting.

Most of the elk listened to the calls of the bull in charge, but one calf got lost and ended up directly in front of Takoda and me. We stood very still, so as not to frighten it. Eventually, the calf recognized where the calls from the herd were coming from and went off in that direction.

Though my mother’s time is coming to an end, I am so grateful I could share these experiences with her. The preservation of National Parks and wilderness areas is so important for recharging our souls and for allowing us to understand the cycle of life. These beautiful views were from the deck of the cabin where we stayed. Normally, I am off hiking every trail and exploring from sunrise to sunset. Visiting the Smokey’s with my mother taught me the value of just sitting and lingering in a place, and taking in the beauty of each fleeting moment.