Thank you EXPERT GRETCHEN. Another typical post from you.

I have been to the Smokies innumerable times, and I have to agree with spirobulldog. If you are trying to give Myer an impression of what the Smokies look like in comparison to the mountains of the west, they look more like big hills, even though we all know they are old mountains.

www.great.smoky.mountains.national-park.com

Most visited NP beautiful go a lot

Best visited by flying into ATL

carrentals.com or cruiseamerica.com up into Smokies not far

Prefer camping areas to touristed Gatlinburg/PF area

Fall when the leaves are turning most majestic for me.

Less vertical greener than the Rockies just as spectacular

in a more subtle way.

" And they don't photograph that well due to the fog, haze, or smoke"

I am speechless.

So am I going to have to plan a trip and go for myself to settle this thing?

Nah, just stay in the arid west.

Not much to see in those misty mountains, full of rhododendrons, ferns, waterfalls, wildlife, cool, sweet smelling air. Definitely nothing that compares to the western mountains. Just skip it completely and stick to what you know and like.

signed,
starrs, fan of the Rockies and the Appalachians

starrs,
Are you trying to discourage me just to reduce the visitor congestion? A veil? Toungue in cheek?

I'm not a believer of trying to convince someone re why they should go see something. To make negative comments about one kind of mountain area because it differs from another kind of mountain area is just stupid IMO.

It's kind of like saying "Don't go to St. Augustine (or Philadelphia)" because you've already seen ONE "historical city" and the other city isn't as "good" as the one you've been too. St. Augustine and Philly are BOTH interesting tourist destinations - just different. IMO it would be just stupid to say don't go to one because it's different from the other.

I'm not a fan of the congested areas of the NP - although I go to them about once a decade. But I enjoy less conjested areas on a regular basis - and the mountains fill my soul*.

One fewer naysayer is not a loss for me.

<i>*I feel the same about the Rockies too and for many years visited every year.

I have been to the Rocky Mountains and Smoky Mountains many times and the Smoky mountains are very small compared to The Rockies. But each has their own beauty about them.
Here's some pictures and videos of the Smokies from April this year.

http://travel.webshots.com/album/580069114QDxFBa

Some of my best shots have come in the fog in the early morning in the Smokies...Perhaps a photography class is in order ? There are of course 'good times' to take pictures & 'bad times' to take pictures. In the midst of Summer would be a bad time, in most any other season, a good time.

I didn't say not to go. As a matter of fact, I said I hope to return myself. Smokys definately have a lot to offer and they are beautiful. Do I think they compare with Bryce, Zion, Arches, Yellowstone, or Yosemite in respect to natural beauty or oustanding features-Not anywhere even close in my book--IMOP.

Original Post asked for specific comparisons and other ideas. That's why I included the fireflies and Le Conte. Both are unique and something I hope to experience someday. And btw, I have been there more than once. Although, I must admit I haven't given it the time it deserves. I was just making a general observation of what I thought it looked like. Several of my trips have been just driving thru. We did do a rafting excursion there a few years ago, but I think it was just outside the park. I have hiked to just a few of the waterfalls, and they were very good falls, but nothing like the trip that Myer just came back from in Yosemite. And nothing like the waterfalls in Yellowstone either. I am a big sucker for waterfalls and I go to a lot in the Ozark Mountains/Buffalo National River area. The Great Smokys remind me somewhat of that area.

If the fog is low lying and the mountains are clear then I do like those shots. I just remember it being difficult to get a good shot, not as bad as like San Francisco when the fog rolls in--It is named Smoky Mountains for a reason.

Myer,
Heck yeah, I would go if you have the chance in just about any season. National Parks always give me more than I expect and I have never had a bad trip to one yet.