Rocky Mtns vs. Smoky Mtns (live, legally, title)

[stewarthaas]

People people....cmon how about AMERICA is beautiful and every area from the coast of Maine to the mountains of California are beautiful and offer something for everyone!

[knrstz]

Originally Posted by bcasey966

I'm definitely a little biased also, because I live in TN. I've never actually been to the Rockies, but I have a trip planned to Banff, Alberta in a few months. It looks absolutely amazing!!! After the trip, I can give a more informed opinion. So right now I'm going with the Smokies

Also, the "hills" comments about the smokies are a little bothersome to me. If you've visited the Smokies, you know they're not hills. They are pretty huge honestly. I agree in pictures they don't look like much, but in person they look much larger. If you don't believe me, go to Google maps and look at the "terrain" option, and it'll give you topographical information that you can look at yourself. The Smokies have some impressive elevation gains. For instance, the lowest point in Smoky Mountain National Park is 840' above mean sea level (AMSL) feet with the highest point being 6643' AMSL feet giving a elevation variation of 5800 ft. Rocky Mountain National Park's lowest point is 7800' AMSL with the highest point being 14259' AMSL giving a range of 6400' or so. It's not as big a difference as one might thinkg.

I agree. I was in Colorado in May and the smokies last week. They aren't hills. Anyone who says that is ignorant. They do look much bigger in person than in pictures.

[choosing78]

I've visited (hiked/climbed) most of the mountain ranges in the US and Canada (with the notable exceptions of Alaska and California). While I wouldn't consider Eastern Mountains "hills" they definitely do not compare to the west. not even a little.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by choosing78

I've visited (hiked/climbed) most of the mountain ranges in the US and Canada (with the notable exceptions of Alaska and California). While I wouldn't consider Eastern Mountains "hills" they definitely do not compare to the west. not even a little.

Try climbing up Mount Washington, NH and then tell me it's not a mountain Some of the worst weather on earth is found there, and they just had a blizzard with a wind chill of -25F a few days ago on the summit.

[Llewelyn]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

Try climbing up Mount Washington, NH and then tell me it's not a mountain Some of the worst weather on earth is found there, and they just had a blizzard with a wind chill of -25F a few days ago on the summit.

sweet, 1 mountain. How about you have a cookie for your efforts

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Llewelyn

sweet, 1 mountain. How about you have a cookie for your efforts

The problem I have is with westerners scoffing at any mountain range not in the West. Try visiting the White Mountains in NH. I have hiked most of the mountains there with weather conditions just as extreme as the Rockies quite often.

[Llewelyn]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

The problem I have is with westerners scoffing at any mountain range not in the West. Try visiting the White Mountains in NH. I have hiked most of the mountains there with weather conditions just as extreme as the Rockies quite often.

Hey man take pride in what you should, no sense in comparing something so vastly superior to the other

Alright, I will admit that I do love the Smoky Mountains. The difference between them and the Rockies to me, is that I actually have to be up in the mountains to truly appreciate the Smoky while I can just sit back and admire the Rockies from afar.

[knrstz]

Originally Posted by choosing78

I've visited (hiked/climbed) most of the mountain ranges in the US and Canada (with the notable exceptions of Alaska and California). While I wouldn't consider Eastern Mountains "hills" they definitely do not compare to the west. not even a little.

That depends on what you are comparing. If it's fall foliage and greenery, I don't think the rockies really compare. Yeah there are some pine forrests and aspen trees. The gap between the smokies and rockies on height, is probably equal to the gap between the smokies and rockies in terms of foliage. I like the rockies and even voted for them. But I don't understand the mentality that there is no comparrison in any aspect whatsoever.

[newmexico90]

Saying that i now live in a "mountain state" (new mexico) and grew up in north carolina part of my heart is still in the great smokies , it was on a tourbus in spain with a women from colorado we were talking about skiing then i said "north carolina has some big slopes" then she paused and looked at me like i was some baboon and said "oh really well im pretty sure we can beat you" nothing hurtful...........just cocky. I have heard that some people dont even know that there aaremountains in nm. Ps north carolina has the highest elevation east of the rockies not tn

[newmexico90]

The nicest people you will ever meet are in eastern tenessee/western north carolina and southern new mexico ,jackson wyoming