Sycamore Root Detail © William Britten use with permission only

I was walking along the road to the Ramsey Cascade trail in the Greenbrier section of the Smoky Mountains last week. Just out for a stroll, with my little GF1 attached to a monopod like it was a walking stick. Another photographer came out of the woods onto the road, and we exchanged a greeting. He said there were some interesting sycamore roots over by the creek in a wonderful golden morning light. Said he could get lost for hours just exploring a small section of the Ramseys Prong.

So I took the bait, and headed into the brush, and sure enough there were some fine sycamore roots proudly displaying in the morning light. Sycamores like wet feet, so they are often found right along the stream banks. But they pay a price for that when every high water brings a bunch of junk flowing over the roots and bashing into them. But all that bashing makes the roots quite lovely in a gnarly way.

Sycamore Root Detail © William Britten use with permission only

Spending some time with these sycamore roots was a fine meander, and eventually I made my way back to the road and on up the the Ramsey Cascades trail.

Sycamore Root Detail © William Britten use with permission only

As usual, if you’re in Gatlinburg please stop in for a visit at the William Britten Gallery on Glades Rd. to see the whole display of Smoky Mountain photos.

Sycamore Root Detail © William Britten use with permission only