By the third week of october much of the forest at the mid to higher elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains is at, or near, peak color. As the winds pick up and nighttime temperatures drop with passing cold fronts, some trees on the mountainside have relinquished their colorful cloaks in deference to the comming winter.
Taken 10-20-11 Jackson County, NC

REF # : TN-2887 R-1 D3X 70-200MM