Evening star., 1938-05-15
SMOKES ACQUIRE
VACATION FAME
Inaccessible Not so Long
Ago, Area Is Becoming
FavorabIy Known.

RALEIGH, May l4.--As one fol-
lows the mountain ranges from the
Potomac to North Carolina one will
note q blue haze hovering over the
high tops of a range of mountains
which form the State line between
North Carolina and Tennessee. This
haze, at times, grows SO dense that 1t
appears to be a blue smoke drifting
from some far-of1 forest fire. When
this point In ones travel is reached,
he will be looking into the Smoky
Mountain Range, and as Horace KEEP
hart so ably described it, The widest
and most picturesque highland east
Of the Rockies, virtually unknown until
about 10 years ago. Even today there
are CULTS in the Smokes that no man
Is known to have penetrated"
The Great Smokes, the Blue Ridge,
and other mountain ranges In the
western portion of North Carolina are
attracting summer vacationists more
and more each year With ideal hotel
and camping accommodations, seen
cry, climatic conditions and close prox-
unity to the congested centers of the
North. this section is becoming more
popular every year.
1t was but few years ago that the
area now embraced in the Great
Smoky Mountain National Park was
almost inaccessible except along its
borders. That has changed and now
thousands visit the Smokes every year
$50 Square Miles.
There are 900 square miles of noun
tains and valleys making up the Great
Smoky Mountain National Park, whicr
lies half in North Carolina and half in
Tennessee. The greatest length of the
park is 81 miles and the greatest
width in 10 miles.
Thrusting their timbered crests into
the blue haze are Is peaks having ar
altitude Of more than 5000 feet. The
highest of these. Clingmans Dome
rears its head into the heavens fol
6,642 feet. The 100000 acres of vir.
gin forest in the Great Smoky Noun.
tain National Park represent more
virgin forest than is to be found ir
all the rest Of the East combined
Making up this timberland are IA:
different species of trees, many oi
them forest giants Covering the
mountain tops, ridges and mountain
slopes, there are over 1000 different
kinds OF Towering plants and trees.
Trials for Horse and Hiker.
Winding their way through virgin
forests, along ridges, through valleys
over high mountain tops and grass.
covered "balds," one has access to 55(
miles of trails for both saddle horses
and hlkers-this in addition to score.
OF miles of highways. Following the
State line between Tennessee ane
North Carolina the length of the parh
is the Appalachian Trail, beautifully
constructed and scenic skyline trai
where one can travel for days withou,
seeing house, farm or an automobile
except at rare intervals where oper
views can be had of the surromdine
lower country lying off miles in the
distance and at one place where thi.
trail crosses highway.
1nose VINO Wish to take advantage
Of the recreational possibilities to b.
found in the Great Smoky Nationa
Park may find exceptionally good &C.
commodations at Waynesville, N. C..
which Is close to the southeast en-.
trance to the park. In Waynesville
there are available II hotels and tour
lists homes catering to the travelling
public. In Bryson City will be found
four good hotels. At Jarvis Palmer
Lodge. on Cataloochee River. are ac-
commodations for fishing, hiking and
4 camping parties. Mr.. Palmer's ad-
dress is Cove Greek, N. C.
AS the park, at present, has not