Sunset on Huckleberry Knob

[TNcasual]

There are two places in East Tennessee that I always enjoy getting back to regularly. One is Roan Mountain State Park and the Roan Highlands in the Unaka Mountains to the north east of the GSMNP. The other is Huckleberry Knob in the Unicoi Mountains just to the south west of the GSMNP.

Huckleberry Knob is a maintained grassy bald that is the highest peak, 5,560 feet (1694 meters), in the Unicoi Mountains. At it's summit it is possible to have a 360 degree, unobstructed view of the surrounding mountains.

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East to south east projection. ( 4 frame stitch)

On clear days it is possible to see Clingman's Dome in the GSMNP. I have also witnessed actual lenticular clouds near the horizon to the east northeast from the peak.

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North to north east projection. The peaks at about 1/3 from the right are Gregory Bald and Rocky Top in the GSMNP (I think.) The barely visible peak just to the left of the round cloud on the right side is Clingman's Dome (I think.) (4 frame stitch)

Of course, Golden Hour affords warm light and purple mountains. Sunrise in the east over the mountains, and sunset in the west over the Tennessee Valley and foothills.

This day it was Labor Day sunset.

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(2 frame stitch)

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Kowa Prominar 8.5 2.8

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Interestingly, that evening made it possible to shoot the sun and the moon in the same frame. You can see it just above and to the left of center here:

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Kowa Prominar 8.5 2.8

In the upper left corner here:

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And as the sun fades away:

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Kowa Prominar 8.5 2.8

There were clouds in the west that brought the shadow into the surrounding lower elevations quickly.

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See my other threads from my Labor Day outing: Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and Bald Butterflies

 

[tonyturley]

Nice set. A few years ago I hiked a 9 mile section of the AT near the TN/NC border in the Roan Mtn area. We climbed to the top of Big Bald before making the return trip. I think our put-in area was called Yellow Mountain Gap. Very windy and chilly in the shade, and very windy and warm out in the sun. I've never seen so many people on a trail in my life. Probably saw 100+ hikers that day.