It was late April, after a particularly trying week had left me stressed and a bit out of sorts. The specifics of those stressors are not important. Stress is just a part of life whether you are planting fields or arranging words on a page.

My wife, Tisa, had a vacation day she had to take by the end of the month, or lose. And while I really didn’t feel I had time, I agreed that a trip to the mountains might help minimize some of that stress. We set out early on a Friday with no particular plan. I wanted to get away from work and everything else, so I didn’t even take my camera. Usually, I carry heavy camera gear and a tripod when I head out for a hike, but this trip was entirely about relaxation. I left the gear at home.

We headed to the Tremont area of the Great Smoky Mountains, and as soon as we turned onto the road that follows along a crystal-clear stream, I knew I'd made a mistake.

The sound of the cool water rushing over the rocks was enough to begin lowering my blood pressure, and the golden light glittering off the water and streaming through a woodland just waking up from its winter nap made me wish for my “real” camera.

We stopped at several wide pull-offs along the along the now-gravel road to peruse a few prime spots, and I made do with a few snaps from a simple cell phone camera. Recent rains had created a strong current, and there were several areas along the creek bank where small tributaries became torrents as they dumped into the stream.

April is the time for viewing spring wildflowers, and the banks and undergrowth were covered with a bouquet of subtle blooms. We found a numerous varieties on our stroll, including showy orchid, white trillium and crested dwarf iris, among others. 

The Smokies are beautiful any time of the year, but spring is an especially pleasant time to soak up the serenity of the area. I love to watch as the trees start to color in the ridges and mountains. Tender blossoms appear golden yellow to light green as the leaves mature and begin to fill out the darker foliage. Occasional patches of bright white dogwood blooms lends accent to those features. 

Though I was a bit frustrated with the quality of the cell phone pictures, the mountain air and the serenity of the spring setting made the experience more than tolerable. Stress (nearly) gone, my mission was accomplished.

Enjoy these spring scenes.