The Land of Blue Smoke Treasury

These pictures were taken in early November a few days after the first snow fall in the Smoky Mountains. The leaves still sparkle like jewels of brilliant colors.  Fall foliage is nature's treasure and a gift to all of us. It only lasts for a few weeks and I have to wait another 12 months before I will behold such brilliance again.

Foilage of Splendor at Rib Mountain

Where are the changing leaves of brilliant color and fall foliage?  Certainly not in Florida!  Lucky people of Rib Mountain are enjoying a beautiful array of changing colorings this fall.  A little history of Rib Mountain:  Many of the first people that lived on Rib Mountain were German. When the first settlers came, Rib Mountain was isolated from Wausau by the Wisconsin and Rib Rivers. Cow paths, wagon trails, and logging roads were the first roads in the township. Logging, mining, and farming were common activities early in the township's history.  Why did they name the mountain "Rib"? 

SOME MYTHS

Some people think Rib Mountain is an extinct volcano. as one approaches from the west or east along Highway 29, the cross section of the "rib" does indeed make the mountain appear to have the conical shape of a volcano.  Then again, some people believe Rib Mountain to be volcanic. They see the semi-circle of  three hills and believe that altogether they represent the fragmented remains of the base of a large volcanic mountain.  the Rib section is why it is called "Rib" Mountain.