I wish we had a way to convince people to stay away. The visitors from big cities treat the mountain like an amusement park like Coney Island or Disney World. It is dissrespectful. Keep it natural like it should be. Keep your trash contained in your vehicles and take it home with you.
I'm glad you mentioned David Paulides, he's a smart man and shares things the general public are not going to know concerning all the folks that just go missing, and why the gov. and the natural parks are reluctant to share info. On these cases. As always TY Donnie, another interesting video.
David Paulides has some really good videos and books about the missing people. This is all very intriguing and interesting. So sorry for those who have been lost in these woods. Thanks Donnie for a great video.
The Appalachian mountains will forever be in my blood. I grew up in those hollers. Tennessee is my home and the home of my people for years upon years.
East Tennessee is an absolutely beautiful place with great people and culture. I cherish the opportunity to visit each year and hike in in the Smoky Mountains with my wife. We hope to make East Tennessee our home in the next few years. Regretting not buying a cabin in the area back in 2016 when we were seriously looking into it. The prices have increased dramatically in the last few years.
I was born and raised in Michigan..When I was 16 I drove my parents to Georgia to visit my sister..This was the first time I saw Tennessee...I have wanted to live there ever since...that was in 1971...I never made it to Tennessee but five years ago my husband and I moved to Lookout Mountain Georgia...I am one hour from Tennessee...Dreams do come true..even if it takes 50 years to get there!!...ALMOST TENNESSEE!!😇💞
I was born and raised in Gatlinburg, I'm an original Ogle, moved away 9 years ago,still in Tennessee near Nashville but those mountains call me home so much that I visit about 4 to 6 times a year ❤❤❤ love and respect Appalachia so much
The smoky mountains is not only beautiful, but mysterious and spiritual. I have never been to the mountains in the west to compare. But I know people that have. I am told the massive mountains in the west is a breath taking experience and they loved it. BUT. That the Smoky's have something so special of their own. It isn't so much about what you see, but how it makes you feel. I am in the hills, hollers and ridges of north middle Tn. And as wonderful as it is and it is my home, it has always pointed me toward those appalachian mountains of the Great Smoky's where nature is always busy and never rests. I can see the good Lord's fingerprints all over those mountains. His presence is absolutely everywhere. In the words of my late grandmother that never left the hollers of the TN hills until she was older and some of her adult children took her to the Smokys, as she looked off one of the observation points. She said " How can anyone look, feel, hear and smell all of this and not believe in the God that created this"?
Beautiful! I am planning a trip there all I want to do is see The Great Smokies. A bit concerned as to get lost in the middle of no where a place I don't know... I am from S. A. Colombia there as a child my cousin and I got lost in the woods the wilderness and a dense South American Jungle... Ever since then I'v learned to love the wilderness and respect its secrets never the less learned to listen to my Grandfather ... Not to take short cuts and or detour from the road/Hear his voice when he long ago had advice me how to find my way back to our farm. It was by he Grace of God that we were able or actually I was able to find us back home. Perhaps some day write about it ... on that note of getting lost in the wilderness I am a bit afraid... But I am doing all I can to see /experience such a spiritual connection to The Great Smokies in Tennessee... God help this child lol!
There's no telling what is living way back in these mountains! Just because someone hasn't seen them doesn't mean they don't exist. So-called experts say there are no black panthers in these mountains, but I and other people I know have seen one. Keep up the good work - I love your videos.
My grandaddy and uncles saw black panthers on our homeplace in Giles Co. Tn, and thats in middle Tn south of Nashville on Alabama line..if theres black panthers there then theres no doubt theyre in the Smokies
This makes me have a flashback of being here in 2015. My group went to hike rainbow falls late afternoon. Everything was great, the trail was completely “S” shaped curves. I remember on the way down, me and two other girls in my group decided we would take these small trails that lead straight down to the next bend to try and beat everyone. Worked for like 4 trails in a row then the last one we did was a drop off. One girl fell down it so we all had to follow to get her. Then we realized we couldn’t see the main trail anywhere. We found the stream though and for some reason decided to walk in the actual stream and climb down boulders. After 2 hours we saw a black bear 50 feet off in the woods but he didn’t bother us. We slipped and fell many many times. Two of us broke our phones from falling on the wet rocks. It was getting dark. After 3 hours we finally got to the bottom where the stream ran next to the parking lot. The rest of the crew was screaming our names and had park rangers with them. Never once did we feel as lost as we actually were and I think that’s why we made it out fast. So basically don’t take short cuts and if you get lost, follow the big stream and don’t panic. Honestly that was the coolest shit I’ve done as a stupid young 20 year old and looking back at it now I realize how lucky I am.
I love the exploration and adventure of going off trail. There is also that anxiety though of not knowing 100% where you are. There are a lot of good GPS app options out there now that can put you more at ease going off trail. Of course though phones can break, GPS signal wont work, battery can run out. Cool story though, glad you didn't end up on this list.
Something similar happened to me and some buddies up in the UP of Michigan. We decided to just hike through the woods. No trails or anything. We must've walked in circles for hours. It was getting to be night and we had no idea where we were and we had been going up and down giant hills for hours so we were exhausted. We finally got to the top of a hill and could see the entire area. We got just enough service on one of our cell phones and saw we were about three miles south of where we were supposed to be. I had never been so happy to get back to a can of Chef Boyardee than I was that night. Had we not been able to get a signal, we were gonna have to camp that night out there without much gear. We couldn't go up and down those hills anymore. And what really sucked was it had rained the night before so everything was wet.
I live in these mountain. I've been here for almost 18 years now. I've seen and experienced things that are hard to describe. I love to camp but I won't sleep in a lot of these woods. There are places where I feel watched and feel a... wrongness. I drive through those areas and don't fool around. There's a lot more here than most people realize.
As someone who has walked a trail along a River her whole life in a state park, hundreds of times on day I brought my best friend from Ireland to the trail. We got lost in a park so small a 30 minute trail took us 5 hours into the woods and 12 miles away. I didn’t believe in fae until that day. I think they couldn’t resist seeing a boy from Ireland and not reminding him of home. People say I must have got distracted but the trail follows the River. We were so far off from a trail or the river and no service I can see how people disappear.
Donnie, I grew up in the swamps of Louisiana, so you can imagine how I felt when I first saw those mountains. We both know what is taking those people. I saw one in the south Louisiana swamps when I was ten years old. There are black bears in that swamp, but what I saw wasn't a bear. It was squatting beside a bayou and had a huge swamp rabbit in it's hands and had torn most of the skin off the rabbit and was swishing the rabbit back and forth in the water. I absolutely know what I saw. Love your videos.
Never had an experience like that myself. However I have had several paranormal experiences throughout my close to 4 decades of life. Living my whole life in these mountains of southeastern Kentucky. And do believe almost every thing I hear about stuff like this. So, I have to ask. Do you all think that Bigfoot is a super natural being of some sort? Or an undiscovered species?
There is definitely a eerie feeling when in the Backcountry of the smokies. When I get away from the crowds while hiking there I get feelings like I'm being watched. Loving your videos! Making me want to move to east TN. I've always wanted to live there. Losing my job at the end of September, so it's a possibility. Thanks again for the videos, I'm loving them!
I've backpacked up the mountains twixt SC, NC, and GA with friends. We ALWAYS carried a serious blaster! Donnie's right. Too many people use nature like an amusement park not understanding that take the wrong turn and ... And if you haven't listened to David Paulides, his stories are down right spooky. One recommendation from my own experience posting a video: keep the background music low enough when there is narration. In places in this video it was a bit hard to hear.
Well done! Thank you for all your work for us to enjoy. I have lived in the foothills half of my 65 years, and have huge respect for the region. Too many stories from too many people, in various times, to just disregard them as "just" folklore.
Your welcome my friend. I know what you mean, There is so much that's happened in these mountains that we don't even know about. The old timers have really got some stories that will scare you about these mountains, But people just blow them off as folklore. Thanks so much for sharing your story.
@@donnielaws7020 is there any book or place we can get these stories ? Also what is Abt those mountains that call me back? I go to reset myself if that makes sense. It's a healing place. I have a very hard time finding words for it? Donu know what u mean?
@@melissaweigh4508 Oh it's a magical place my friend. Everything just feels different in them mountains. You can find all the videos you want on You Tube on these stories. Thanks for sharing.
@@melissaweigh4508 i get physically sick if im gone from them for more than a week or 2. The last time i got so sick that i havent left again since 2010. I think it has something to do with electromagnetic frequency of our bodies and the mountains. Ive always wondered if anyone else ever had side effects cuz of leaving. Even if i wanted to leave, i couldn't.
@@meredithgrubb7027 I get emotionally weary etc. It's something I just can't out into words. But there are many ideas and theories as to why. Some say it's in the DNA from family living there long ago, some say it's mother nature, I'm sure u ha e heard all this too. It really isn't home away from home. If I could move there I would. I'm at peace and I'm happy and just over all content when I'm there.
I'm in WNC. I could never leave these mountains! Their absolute beauty and tranquility MUST be met and left with RESPECT and CAUTION. Even the most experienced hikers and explorers in counter the unexpected or an accident. Just the weather alone is a times unpredictable and deadly. Add to that the terrain, animals, people and so on. My only complaint is that were becoming way too over populated. This is really having an impact on locals as well as the infrastructure and the forest. A couple decades ago tourist season was only for about 4-6 months out of the year. Now, it's EVERYDAY. In my opinion, it's not worth any amount of money to trade our wilderness and privacy. Places that used to be dirt roads and gravel parking lots. Now see hundreds and thousands of people in just a few weeks. This does unfortunately leave behind a huge footprint!
yeah what about all those people who went to the skyway to see the eclipse. you know there aint but one restroom up there i know of. it must have been overflowing. SAD!
Fifty years ago the tourist season was just like you say. Now, between the tourists and wealthy retirees in my county, the roads simply cannot handle the amount of traffic. Good for the towing services to clean up after the car accidents maybe, (and the fast food restaurants), but not so much for most of the rest of we locals. The rest of the years, life was slow-paced, easy going. I surely miss those days.
This video gave me cold chills up and down and my spine, as you told the story of the one’s that never made it back. People don’t realize just how unforgiving this Mtn range can be. I’ve stomped all over these hills but I never venture far from the trails. You can feel the spirit of the Mtn as you walk through. You get the uneasy feeling of not being welcome here. That the Mtn knows you don’t belong and the fact that it’s sacred ground. Thank you @Donnie Law for all the hard work you put into bringing us video’s and interesting stories of times gone by in these hills I call home.
A great narration. It's amazing to think you can have such a vast and empty place devoid of people, and also have a 12 mile backup of cars to get there.
The place is packed with visitors,But most don't walk much. They just drive though to see the sites. Put only a hand full of people ever walk off trail in this vast wilderness. Thanks for commenting.
There are plenty of isolated places from cherokee on up towards asheville and it gets even more desolate from their heading on northward to boone,nc and then heading westward back into east tennessee towards mountain city and erwin,TN. Lots of big mountain peeks over 3,000 to 6,000 plus feet high. Plenty of areas where very few humans live which are full of lots of valleys and streams. Anything could exist in those areas seldom every coming into contact with humans. There are plenty of bears,deer,elk,bears,,, and wild pigs for cryptid creatures to hunt for food.
@@harolddenton6031 ABSOLUTLEY, YET HUMANS STILL WANT TO SEND PROBES TO OUTERSPACE, OUR CIRCLE OF PLANETS, ETC, BUT WE KNOW 'F' ALL ABOUT OUR OCEANS AND PLACES IN THE WILDERNESS OF WHICH YOU'VE STATED, THE MIND BOGGLES !!!!
We lived in Appalachia for two years. Across from our driveway was a huge abandoned railroad yard & past that was a 200 acre reserve. Mines filled that area, and it was posted on signs to stay on the trail because of open mine shafts. I never left a trail with fear that I could fall into one and never be found again.
Back in 1971, when my late husband and I were dating, Mama let him sleep on the couch one Friday night, cause we were going to Wilson’s Creek the next day. We lived just south of Watauga County, NC. (Watauga County sits on NC/TN line). Anyway, he was a town boy. That night he woke up to a sound of what he thought was a woman or child screaming in the woods outside. He said he just pulled the blanket over his head (he was 17) lol. Next morning he asked about it. Mama just said, “Nothin to worry about. Just stay off that mtn at night. It belongs to him. She looked at his scared eyes and said, “It’s a cat, Johnny. A big un I reckon. Black for sure.” A few weeks later I took him on that mtn. But it was daylight. He learned to love my mountains so much. We were married 38 years when I lost him to a heart attack in 2010.
Took my mom and dad here fee timesbefore he passed.. he loved it and said when he died he wanted to spend eternity hunting it with his old dog I hope that's what hes doing
I’ve lived on the Cumberland Plateau in Tn Overton Co all my life. We had very hard times to. I remember one year no money period mama canned kraut and that’s all we had to eat. She managed to go light on the corn meal so we had cornbread. Mom would make a big pone of cornbread and make meal gravy. I still like cornbread and meal gravy today. Thank the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS JESUS CHRIST AMEN 🙏 for what little we had Amen 🙏
Ya this people that come from this high n mighty country’s don’t know how to respect of what God has made the iv’e never been to the Rockies I can just imagine how beautiful it is there the ones that bring there garbage in n destroy the Beauty
I appreciate a man who loves his country. I myself am a tarheel.I was born in Asheville. Back in 63. My how times keep on going by. Just like they say you can take a boy out of the country but you cannot take the country out of the boy. I been half way around the world and there are beautiful places but coming back home with the smell of bacon and eggs frying in the morning with homemade biscuits make my mouth water every time. The smell of coffee in the morning and the crisp clean mountain air is where God's love is proven. God bless you my friend let's cook some taters and beans with some onions along with some cornbread for supper.
@@donnielaws7020 Thank you for replying to my message. You are the only feller that replies to every comment that you get as far as I can see. It shows you the true character of a mountain man
@@donnielaws7020 Donnie I seriously need your advice or help in this matter. My daddy and his 7 brothers and sisters its hard to recall all of them. Haha. But my daddy was born in Hartford Tennessee in 1932 at home and he had either 4 brothers and 3 sisters . My Grandfather was a very respected man who worked for Unicoi sheriff department at one time I have his badge and apparently he was deputy sheriff. Patton Lee Woody was my grandfather's name. He was born in 1899. I guess later on in his life he became a deputy sheriff for Unicoi county. He later on in life apparently moved to Mc Dowell county in around Nebo near the town of Marion. That's where I knew him. I'm his grandson. There is a lot of information that I don't know about. My aunt told me he has or had a old homestead in Hartford Tennessee that has 8 acres of land . It is lost in time Donnie. My relatives have not claimed the land. I want it. I have heard the people who live in that area are basically renting it out as a campground. I don't know who to ask or find out about this. My grandfather was a honest law abiding citizen . I want to keep my grandfather's memory alive and I don't know what to do Donnie. The 8 acres belong to the Woody family and I am the only one speaking up about it.I need your help if you can my friend.
@@thomaswoody2733 Not much on this my friend, but first I would check with the county court clerk on the Title deed and see who's name it is in and maybe what taxes is owed on it. Go from there. Then ask maybe a lawyer on what can be done. Most likely just like everything else it will come down to a dollar, but maybe not. Good luck my friend. Hope that helps you. God Bless and pray on it.
I would bet that their blood types were RH-. Only 7% of the entire worldwide population has it and it’s the ONLY blood type that cannot naturally breed with other blood types. Actual proof that we are not all of the same species. If we were, this wouldn’t occur…
@@tinap5064 Even with it being rare, all those who hold the highest positions of power all around the world all have it. From Popes to Royals to US Presidents and even Celebrities. Most interesting thing I’ve ever researched…
Several friends and I once rented a cabin for a weekend retreat in Eagle's Mere, PA. Only thing I want to say is that I can't think of anything more terrifying than being stalked and hunted by something wild and hungry. Appalachia is a place where humans are not necessarily at the top of the food chain. Other than those few terrifying hours, it was a beautiful weekend.
Thank you for sharing a lady that Sunday school Dennis Martin like search for that child for weeks I live in Maryville and I've heard a lot of stuff about the Smokies I do not go off the beaten path and people from out-of-state should do the same stay on the trails and do not go exploring you never know when you might fall into a cave and it could be so deep that no one can hear you holler so be safe and just enjoy the great Tennessee we live in God's country and I would like to thank you for showing the tunnel to go towards Cades Cove my dad helped build that he was in the 3C camp he said they made like $0.25 a week he did that before he went to the Army he was in World War II vet he made it through the war he came home and his job was a brick mason he learned that in the 3C camp learning how to lay them River Rocks
I used to hunt these mountains. Maps, compass, and proper first aid kit is essential. Always carried a large caliber revolver and machete with me, even when I had a rifle or shotgun. On a few occasions, I have had the eerie feeling that someone was watching me. I would go way off into the woods, but always made it a point to be heading back to camp long before dark. The woods change in the dark. You cannot recognize them. I believe that many people die because they panic when they get lost. I've bushwhacked the big woods of Northern Maine, too. Those woods will do you in but quick. Cold and dark. Seen some huge bear up there. Make your hair stand on end.
Appreciate your video! My dad spoke often of the giant chestnut trees and the blight that wiped them all completely out. I have a beautiful corner hutch made of this wood given to me by my grandmother. A family friend made and gave it to her as a wedding gift in 1918.
Terrific video. I've been there many times and haven't seen but a fraction of it. Just one small note: opened in 1934 by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Theodore Roosevelt was an earlier president who was a pioneer in the national park system, but he didn't open this one. Thanks for all your great research and hard work!
Really enjoy your stories. My grandmother who was born in 1891 in Robt Co Tn lived with me and my mom after my dad passed in 1955 . A lot of the things you talk about I’ve heard similar things from her. Wish I’d ask so many questions before she passed at 97. One story she told me would have happened sometime at the turn of the century. She and her sister were coming from somewhere in the horse and buggy about dark. The horse started acting up and suddenly something huge and dark jumped from a bank on the side of the road on two legs and ran into the field on the other side. It scared them and I guess the next day some of the men went to investigate but what ever it was was gone. She said it wasn’t a bear. This was before people ever heard of Bigfoot. A hundred years ago this area was covered in wilderness so who knows what could’ve been here then
I've lived in the Great Smoky Mountains for 31 years, and I have a LOT of experience with hiking, camping, and wilderness safety in general. I've never seen anything unnatural or unexplainable in these woods or mountains, but I've seen enough of what mother nature herself has to offer, and I know better than to take my chances. I have only ever hiked the Appalachian Trail by myself ONCE, and I will never do it again. Nothing bad happened at all, and it should have been a perfectly enjoyable trip, but for some reason I kept having this unshakable feeling that something was wrong. I only spent two nights out there by myself, and never saw or heard anything out of the ordinary. But that ominous feeling never went away, and I swore I would never camp alone in those mountains again. I've been camping with friends since then, but every time I do I get that same feeling at some point, and I don't like it. Respect the mountains folks, that's all I can say.
Goodmorning Mr. Donnie...starting my day with you and a couple video's...this is my 2nd time to watch this one...sooo interesting...sooo beautiful! Ty for sharing!!
This was awesome and your voice is perfect for it....enjoyed watching...fell in love with these mountains and recently purchased land in townsend can't wait to explore the area...don't care to run into those giant ppl tho 😂👍
Raised in them,mountians part Cherokee. Lived in,swain. And the res,, is my old stomping grounds But I consider my self a Appalachian first before the latter,, Just mountian people that's been here. For hundreds to thousands of years. Thanks my friend. Take care,,,
Everyone who likes this should read "Our Southern Highlanders" by Horace Kephart to find out what it was like before the logging started and few roads existed. Be sure and read the biography of Kephart in the front of. the book, written by the amazing writer, George Ellison.
When I was a young man, some friends and I hiked the roughly 8 mile Nolan’s Divide trail from Clingmans dome down to lakeshore drive in Bryson City. The air and sunlight feel different deep in the backcountry. It was an interesting hike and if you take a fall in some places nobody is gonna find you if you’re alone.
Just wanted to say it was a great video and I think it's amazing and says a lot about your character that you took the time and replied to every single comment on here, even the ones that complained that just should have been thankful for getting to watch such good content for free. So thank you again for making such a good video and letting us all see it!
Thank you so much my friend. I'm so sorry about the sound mix. Still learning the program at the time I made the video. Thanks again for the kind comment.
@@donnielaws7020 no need to apologize at all for that. I didnt find anything to be wrong with it. Just wanted you to know I thought it was a great video and even more so that it was incredible that you responded to every comment and were even cordial to the ones who were just bitching when they should've just kept their fingers off the keyboard.
This in a way reminds me of when I was young. I believe I was 11 or 12. I went to the Smokies with my mom and step dad. My step dad was a photographer and he went to an area to take some pictures. My mom and I went on this trail that lead to a couple small cabins. I don't remember where it was, all I remember was it wad about half a mile from the car and it was in a clearing on top of a hill. I wanted to check out the cabins a little longer so mom let me stay a couple extra minutes and she hiked back to the car. I left a few minutes later and I was walking by myself. I stayed on the trail and was looking around at the scenery and seeing if I could see a bear. I felt like I was at peace and I, in a way, also felt like I was being watched, but not in a bad way. After about 5 to 10 minutes I reached the car and that was it. Had I known about this stuff back then, I wouldn't have done that. The Smokies are without a doubt beautiful, but it is definitely a wild place at the same time. It is massive. Anything could be hidden there, including Bigfoot.
I'm from Lower Alabama and I love ya'lls Smokey Mountains. I really enjoy Riding my Harley and Camping in those Beautiful Mountains. And everybody is always so NICE and Helpful. But, like you say, you have to respect that Wilderness. Like our Gulf Coast, you have to respect that Gulf or it will swallow you up and not leave a trace. That was a GOOD video, I really enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing it with us.
I loved this Donnie. You're right, there's alot of things in those Mountains and Hollars that we'll never understand...and deserve respect. It's their home and has been for centuries upon centuries.
I live in the PNW and we've got insane acreage, I always look at everything east of the Rockies as tiny but you do have a beautiful area. I hope people of today and the future continue to fight to keep these places protected!
Some people won't know what the PNW is - so because my heart dropped at the letters ,because for reasons beyond my control - 6 yrs ago I had to leave one of the most beautiful areas I've lived in the Pacific Northwest. I'm originally an Alaskan but had wanderlust from early on , I lived in a rural part of Western Washington - I miss it I miss it I miss it. But since covid nothing is the same most anywhere , I would say. This jewel created for humans to live on and serve God is beauty everywhere, I also lived in the Mojave desert at first SHOCK but taking my sweet mare out in the desert and seeing the night sky -those too are beyond words-we are literally surrounded in beauty- how loving our Maker and how I dont know- deep He is.
Donnie , you have the most smoothing voice i think I've ever heard , you're right those mntns have alot of secrets id say . my dad lived in between the Great smokey mntns and blue ridge mntns, Bryson city was named after our dad's side of the family . I've been so concerned about the little girl Summer Wells that's missing out of Hawkes county Tn . just breaks my heart. So glad i found your channel. You have a new subscriber . God bless and ty for sharing.
Really great video! I would love to visit there one day. I was a travel nurse a few years ago and explored a lot of National Parks in California which was fun. I went off the trail alone many times and never thought twice about it. I hiked all day long many times. My workmates told me to not go alone bc many women had great be missing though. Nice scenery and great info. I was shocked at the map that showed all the missing people. I am going to look at David Paulides’ books. My husband may like to read those. Good Christmas gift idea.🎁
Yes that is true. I am from Canada and I feel like the news is more factual there and much more sensationalized here. It can be hard to really decipher the news sometimes. I usually just let my husband relay everything to me as he keeps up on everything.
@@RelicHuntingSouthTexas tell lie vision tells you just that. Lies to your vision. I deleted it from my life close to a decade ago. It's so annoying to even be in a room with one on, lol.
I could listen to you talk about Appalachia all day. I just discovered your channel and have binge watched your videos. I live in Middle TN and have only visited The Great Smokey Mountains State Park a few times when my son still lived at home. Now, I only venture as far as DollyWood with my grandchildren in tow. I hope to visit the Reservation at least one more time.
One of my best memories is crawling thru slowly in Cade's cove . We had my daughter and niece a nephew ! My nephew was such an outdoorsman from the day he could walk ! We took him many times ! And many trips to fish and such ! I loved him so much ,,,, we lost him on October 24th 2021 to a self inflicted gunshot wound . I have no idea how that could have happened to a 21 year old young man with such gun experience . I am only pray he wasn't going thru something he never discussed . Thanks for sharing great friend . I had tears while watching many of the places he joined us on in his short life
Ever heard of a government program COINTELPRO, or Organized Stalking. cia COINTELPRO covert operation. A gestapo training program come to the world in the new deal 1947-48 via operation paperclip. A lot of these suicides and human trafficking could be explained. MKULTRA. Police and their criminals. You'll understand after you read it.
When the sun shines a spot deep in the woods never walk thru it with out looking in first. If the trees look different in any way pull ur head out and go the other way. As far as them buggers go they are there at times and other times they are not. So many things in our world that just can't be explained.
We covered the case of Mike Hearon- missing from Happy Valley- on the podcast a while back. Really got me thinking about the area. The case of Dennis Martin always baffles me. And because it was so long ago, we will likely never know any more. :(
Just discovered that the great Smoky Mountains is actually their name. Until now I thought that it was just your opinion. And then I wanted to know where they are exactly. Living in the Netherlands, I only learned the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains. (I think, topography was not really among my strongest skills .)
@@stevewixom9311 certainly do. Last year I discovered that Rhode Island isn’t an island at all. I always thought it was a peninsula. It’s so funny to discover your own misconceptions of the world.
I always go to the Tennessee / north Carolina area. Usually around Cherokee but have visited many many years over have tones of photos. I may not be able to answer everything but maybe some. Been to lots of area of it. My second home.
@@jannetteberends8730 Its always fun to learn something new about somewhere -sorta- new -- or atleats ot you! Check out the Blue Ridge Mountains.... apply named because they are constantly covered in ablue hue along all the ridges. Even in the morning, night, always. Or ThE CRAziES but I'll let you learn the story behind their name on your own :)
I was ten years old in Knoxville when lil Dennis went missing,....I remember sitting down to eat breakfast each morning with my 8 brothers and sisters and looking at the headlines about Dennis on the front page of the Knoxville Journal,............and asking Mom......"Did they find Dennis"........little did I know they would never find any trace of him,..........and Dennis's dad never moved from their home in Knoxville .......always thinking that Dennis might come home one day,..............very sad!
Dear sir….enjoying your videos so much. Have started playing them late at night because your voice is sooo soothing. A suggestion if I might….we don’t need the music. We watch to listen to the info and your voice. Please consider not putting music to the videos. I can barely hear you in this one.
I'm intrigued by the number of people that go missing in the forest,mountains,State parks etc like they just vanish without a trace its unsettling😱 Thank you Mr Donnie😊
I'm from Australia so I've never heard of these amazing stories before they are so educational and amazing to listen to please can you keep making more of these amazing videos thank you
your videos are phenominal, as well as your narration. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, pictures and videos of such a beautiful corner of the world. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸❤️
I could listen to you talk about anything, all day long. Your voice is so soothing to me, especially after a stressful day. Thank you for your interesting stories and wonderful voice😌
Nice video Donnie, especially your pleasing voice. You have a talent for producing videos, the music is telling the story very well, suspensive in right places. Thank you.
It's an easy thing to get disoriented on an overcast day or caught out after dark. I can see how with as many people visiting that park as there are only 5 missing is not that great a number. As well as I know the area around my home, I have been disoriented twice, once tracking deer on an overcast misty day and not paying attention. Another time wandering aimlessly while gathering wild grapes and hazelnuts. The sound of a distant highway led me out once and another time I sat down and waited for moonrise and followed it east. In a place like that there is no way I would wander off the main track without a compass, a map and a destination point. You don't need a sasquatch. Ignorance and the wilderness itself will do you in. Thanks for the video Donny. Beautiful wild country!
Hey Donnie quite a big difference from your usual content but in a good way definitely the thing is there is a saying that says small town reports for small towns and basically when mysterious occurrences take place it might not be good for the said small town rural businesses and such to announce these things to the world so they will get minimal media coverage and unfortunately that’s been the case where I live and there even seems to be parallels to some of the cases so you really are doing an admirable thing and making the information available for anyone and everyone
Thanks my friend. I love these mountains dearly, but people need to understand this area is still wilderness and not be taken lightly. Always go prepared when your in it.
Hi Donnie, I really love all these videos, thank you so much. I live in western north carolina, have my entire life. I hope it's not off the subject too much, but if I may ask, have you ever come across or known of any small aircraft crashes, perhaps "lost" or otherwise undiscovered, in the Smokies? I can see how easily those mountains could claim small airplanes. There are quite a good many of them scattered throughout the Rockies. Thank you sir, all the best to you!
There is a little girl called Summer Wells who's been missing for 3 months now. She lives in Hawkins County. I found your channel and I've shared a link to your channel for all the people interested in the Appalachians. I think your channel will help them to understand and maybe you could help in the search in some way with all your excellent knowledge of the area. Not sure if you've heard of this case but it's been on all the true crime channels. Thankyou Donnie. I'm loving your channel! and I hope you don't mind me sharing. God Bless 💜🤗
@@donnielaws7020 I'm glad you've been following the case. I think your channel popped up in my feed because the fathers name is Don also. It's such a sad story and so many differing opinions on what happened ? Anyway I hope people come to your channel and enjoy your videos as much as I do. And yes I do hope summer is found alive and well that would be awesome. Thankyou for replying and all the best to you and your family. I plan on watching all of your videos ! 💜🤗
Wow! 10 million 😮 Visitors. I knew it! It just gets more congested every year it seems. Been through that tunnel to Cades Cove many times. I love that location the most. Wow that is alot of people that went missing and not found. Awesome video!
Amazing how some places only get an hour or so of daylight per day. Stayed about 2500 feet (in a cabin) above Gatlinburg & it's a totally different world weather-wise. And animal-wise as well. Some "critter" left what looks like a 4 fingered child's handprints & smears on our vehicles door during the night. Trying to figure out what it is & saw references to trolls 😳lol.. Beautiful, Fascinating, mysterious & sometimes creepy, place. I leave a piece of my heart there every time I go ❤
Your videos are very informational I don’t know if that’s the right word. but I think they’re great they tell you a lot about the area and I like them. I live in Iowa probably never get to see these places keep up the good work stay safe and I’ll keep looking for your videos. Sorry my writing is not very good.
Ots amazing that so many of us are obsession with the Dennis Martin case! So sorry for Dennis and his family. I spend my summers in the Smokies, hoping I can feel him and get answers for him
I went hiking up the trails with a friend and my bf. We got halfway up one when all three of us and our dog felt weird like we needed to get back down asap. I felt like the hairs on my body were standing up, plus the woods were quiet. My dog who was very smart was romping all over then stopped right in front of us at attention like he could hear something or see something. We all turned and walked with a purpose down that mountain. It was mid January so I don't think it was a bear. In any case, we trusted our instinct and the dog and got the hell out of there. It was spooky.
I recon the Smokey Mountain National Park is still the most visited of all the National Parks. Speaking of missing people, I've never seen a Bigfoot but it's hard to dismiss all the stories from credible people who have seen them. As someone who likes to objectively listen to these stories I find it convincing that these folks describe the same creature. If they were making it up they would try to make their creature scarier than the next guy's. The Dixie Cryptid channel is one of my favorites for these stories, Cam is a good story teller. I like the variety of this channel. PS. Never go to Gatlinburg when they are having a car show, traffic does not move. Rumor has it when Dolly Pardon first turned off I-40 into that traffic she was a B cup, by the time she got to Dollywood... we all know how that turned out.
What a beautiful place. I'd love to visit sometime. I live across from a small state park, and I've helped people who have gotten lost or we hear the helicopters looking for someone. People don't realize that they need to be prepared for anything when they go for a hike. Thanks for sharing your beautiful state!
Love to hear you tell these stories Donnie....I spent some of the happiest times of my life around Clinch Mt. And House Mt..most all my people were from there....you do a great job telling the stories of the Mt.folk....
Keep ‘‘em coming Donnie. Great stories. There are still things we don’t understand. We are to far removed from nature and need to get back to the woods to reignite our sense’s.
It's good when a man takes pride in his home country, and the place he was brought up. Having been in the Smokies, I know full well why you're so proud. Ya know something I enjoyed the folks from around there so very much. I'd stay on the side roads. Ate my meals in them small local cafes. I'd always have someone to talk with while we ate. Truly is God's Country.
I didn't know about the Dennis Martin until about 10 yrs ago. For me the Dennis Martin case is frustrating because a widow that lived beside us had a boyfriend that was a retired Smokey Mountain park ranger and he woulda definitely been there when it happened and I'm sure he had more knowledge that what was released. Everything about that case is the most crazy disappearance I've ever heard of! Sorry if I'm long winded but our region is very special to me and I get excited with our history and mystery!
I generally enjoyed watching the black Bear at Cades Cove in the early morning or evening, but one time I was charged by a bear. I was assisting a photographer in locating a bear to get a photo, and I spotted one down in a valley. The bear disappeared but soon popped over the mountainside that hugged the paved path and walked right past me...about two feet from me, and then after it started up the mountain, it quickly turned back around and began charging.
My grandparents and my uncle Tommy had cabins in the smokys .there's things out there you don't want to see just like there is in the woods of Maine were I grew up
What a wonderful video! Your narration is perfect! And the views of those beautiful Smokey mountains are absolutely gorgeous! I’m only about 1/2 through but amazing land & people.
There’s no place like our mountain home land. I often thank the Lord for putting me in my momma’s Appalachian belly instead of birthing me in another part of the world.
Well Donnie, I discovered your channel today and have spent this lovely Sunday listening to your stories! Growing up in this States Capitol, we visited the Smokies every year! Lots of great memories! Thanks for the awesome documentary!
@scriptorsilentum..... be literally aware and on top of just about everything. You have to be prepared and aware for possible dehydration, starvation, possible freezing to death, be alert to which direction you're coming from (some kind of compass is usually a good idea for hikes) bug bite and snake bites, animal attacks, sometimes other humans, and several other things I can't think of off the top of my head. You have to constantly pay attention to the weather, because it can change at any given moment, especially when you're out in the woods, I have to be aware of when the sun is supposed to rise, and when it's supposed to set, Do you have to be alert and aware that if you're deep in the woods, nighttime is going to fall much faster, which also means that you have to be alert and paying attention to the temperature because if you were in a densely wooded area in the mountains, especially higher altitude, it's going to be much cooler than average (it can be anywhere from 5 to 10° temp difference from what you're used to. Perhaps more) and the temp is to fall even more drastically when the forest begins getting dark. The Smokies (I live in a town nestled at the foothills of the Smokies, and I live only about 20 minutes away from Cade's Cove) is a gorgeous place, but if you have ever been inside that park after nightfall (I have definitely been on the roads in the park after dark) then you know that it begins taking on a slightly different feel, the later the hour gets.
Franklin Delano* Hey Donnie - thanks for the great share. Enjoyed it. I live and grew up in North GA end of the Appalachian Trail, and always love the drive over to to Cades Cove. One of my favorites places to drive through when heading to or from Gatlinburg. Never seen traffic backed up like that except one time - a tree about the size of a telephone pole across the road... everyone standing around wondering what to do. My dad went back to the pickup truck and got his 1945 US ARMY iussue machete and chopped it right on in half, and how everyone cheered. Love to go in the ole churches and home steads. Thanks for sharing!
I wish we had a way to convince people to stay away. The visitors from big cities treat the mountain like an amusement park like Coney Island or Disney World. It is dissrespectful. Keep it natural like it should be. Keep your trash contained in your vehicles and take it home with you.
Disrespectful
It's like that everywhere my friend.
Short : Yeah, they are ruining our beautiful Idaho too. Sad to see. MARANATHA !
They walk rt up to a mama bear with cubs, they have no respect and the animals pay for it
Amen
I'm glad you mentioned David Paulides, he's a smart man and shares things the general public are not going to know concerning all the folks that just go missing, and why the gov. and the natural parks are reluctant to share info. On these cases. As always TY Donnie, another interesting video.
Well said! Thanks for sharing my friend.
David Paulides has some really good videos and books about the missing people. This is all very intriguing and interesting. So sorry for those who have been lost in these woods. Thanks Donnie for a great video.
If they were to reveal all the missing person cases... they would have to shut down the parks.. that means millions of dollars of lost revenue!
Missing 411
Gov't always tries to cover up stuff like Big Foots, werewolves, rakes , shapeshifters, etc.
The Appalachian mountains will forever be in my blood. I grew up in those hollers. Tennessee is my home and the home of my people for years upon years.
I know just how you feel my friend Thanks for sharing.
East Tennessee is an absolutely beautiful place with great people and culture. I cherish the opportunity to visit each year and hike in in the Smoky Mountains with my wife. We hope to make East Tennessee our home in the next few years. Regretting not buying a cabin in the area back in 2016 when we were seriously looking into it. The prices have increased dramatically in the last few years.
@@KayFabe87 It only going to get more costly as time goes by my friend. Growing like crazy around here.
I was born and raised in Michigan..When I was 16 I drove my parents to Georgia to visit my sister..This was the first time I saw Tennessee...I have wanted to live there ever since...that was in 1971...I never made it to Tennessee but five years ago my husband and I moved to Lookout Mountain Georgia...I am one hour from Tennessee...Dreams do come true..even if it takes 50 years to get there!!...ALMOST TENNESSEE!!😇💞
I was born and raised in Gatlinburg, I'm an original Ogle, moved away 9 years ago,still in Tennessee near Nashville but those mountains call me home so much that I visit about 4 to 6 times a year ❤❤❤ love and respect Appalachia so much
The smoky mountains is not only beautiful, but mysterious and spiritual. I have never been to the mountains in the west to compare. But I know people that have. I am told the massive mountains in the west is a breath taking experience and they loved it. BUT. That the Smoky's have something so special of their own. It isn't so much about what you see, but how it makes you feel. I am in the hills, hollers and ridges of north middle Tn. And as wonderful as it is and it is my home, it has always pointed me toward those appalachian mountains of the Great Smoky's where nature is always busy and never rests. I can see the good Lord's fingerprints all over those mountains. His presence is absolutely everywhere. In the words of my late grandmother that never left the hollers of the TN hills until she was older and some of her adult children took her to the Smokys, as she looked off one of the observation points. She said " How can anyone look, feel, hear and smell all of this and not believe in the God that created this"?
Amen my friend. The Lord is a beautiful creator of it all. Thanks for sharing your story. I loved it.
Amen!!! You are so blessed to live in such a beautiful part of the Country.
Beautiful! I am planning a trip there all I want to do is see The Great Smokies. A bit concerned as to get lost in the middle of no where a place I don't know... I am from S. A. Colombia there as a child my cousin and I got lost in the woods the wilderness and a dense South American Jungle... Ever since then I'v learned to love the wilderness and respect its secrets never the less learned to listen to my Grandfather ... Not to take short cuts and or detour from the road/Hear his voice when he long ago had advice me how to find my way back to our farm. It was by he Grace of God that we were able or actually I was able to find us back home. Perhaps some day write about it ... on that note of getting lost in the wilderness I am a bit afraid... But I am doing all I can to see /experience such a spiritual connection to The Great Smokies in Tennessee... God help this child lol!
What county?
@@ridetn7695 The Smokey Mountains are not in just one county. It’s the Appalachian mountain area that borders Tennessee and North Carolina.
There's no telling what is living way back in these mountains! Just because someone hasn't seen them doesn't mean they don't exist. So-called experts say there are no black panthers in these mountains, but I and other people I know have seen one. Keep up the good work - I love your videos.
Well said my friend. This are among the oldest mountain on earth. Nature has some deep secrets hidden away for sure.
And mountain lions....I live in Wears Valley mountains and saw one....and NO...it was NOT a bobcat
My grandaddy and uncles saw black panthers on our homeplace in Giles Co. Tn, and thats in middle Tn south of Nashville on Alabama line..if theres black panthers there then theres no doubt theyre in the Smokies
Reminds me of the new wrong turn movie!!! Never venture off of the trails, the foundation will get you!!🤣🤣🤣🤣
Oh yes! I saw one here in NW GA about 7 years ago. I know what I saw and nobody can tell me anything about it!
This makes me have a flashback of being here in 2015. My group went to hike rainbow falls late afternoon. Everything was great, the trail was completely “S” shaped curves. I remember on the way down, me and two other girls in my group decided we would take these small trails that lead straight down to the next bend to try and beat everyone. Worked for like 4 trails in a row then the last one we did was a drop off. One girl fell down it so we all had to follow to get her. Then we realized we couldn’t see the main trail anywhere. We found the stream though and for some reason decided to walk in the actual stream and climb down boulders. After 2 hours we saw a black bear 50 feet off in the woods but he didn’t bother us. We slipped and fell many many times. Two of us broke our phones from falling on the wet rocks. It was getting dark. After 3 hours we finally got to the bottom where the stream ran next to the parking lot. The rest of the crew was screaming our names and had park rangers with them. Never once did we feel as lost as we actually were and I think that’s why we made it out fast. So basically don’t take short cuts and if you get lost, follow the big stream and don’t panic. Honestly that was the coolest shit I’ve done as a stupid young 20 year old and looking back at it now I realize how lucky I am.
WOW what a story! That's something you never forget. Thanks so much for sharing my friend.
I love the exploration and adventure of going off trail. There is also that anxiety though of not knowing 100% where you are. There are a lot of good GPS app options out there now that can put you more at ease going off trail. Of course though phones can break, GPS signal wont work, battery can run out. Cool story though, glad you didn't end up on this list.
That smart thing to do to follow stream since all those creeks in the smoky mtn. They follow back to a road or something after awhile.
Something similar happened to me and some buddies up in the UP of Michigan. We decided to just hike through the woods. No trails or anything. We must've walked in circles for hours. It was getting to be night and we had no idea where we were and we had been going up and down giant hills for hours so we were exhausted. We finally got to the top of a hill and could see the entire area. We got just enough service on one of our cell phones and saw we were about three miles south of where we were supposed to be. I had never been so happy to get back to a can of Chef Boyardee than I was that night. Had we not been able to get a signal, we were gonna have to camp that night out there without much gear. We couldn't go up and down those hills anymore. And what really sucked was it had rained the night before so everything was wet.
I know the are well and I am not surprised to read about your exploits. "Shortcuts" can, indeed, be dangerous.
I live in these mountain. I've been here for almost 18 years now. I've seen and experienced things that are hard to describe. I love to camp but I won't sleep in a lot of these woods. There are places where I feel watched and feel a... wrongness. I drive through those areas and don't fool around. There's a lot more here than most people realize.
I believe that to. Thanks for sharing my friend.
Mr. Donnie Laws you sir are a wonderful story teller. Your voice is so soothing and easy to listen too.
Thank you kindly. Thanks for sharing my friend.
As someone who has walked a trail along a River her whole life in a state park, hundreds of times on day I brought my best friend from Ireland to the trail. We got lost in a park so small a 30 minute trail took us 5 hours into the woods and 12 miles away. I didn’t believe in fae until that day. I think they couldn’t resist seeing a boy from Ireland and not reminding him of home. People say I must have got distracted but the trail follows the River. We were so far off from a trail or the river and no service I can see how people disappear.
There is some strange things out there for sure. Thanks for sharing that my friend.
You were looped for 5 hours and 12 miles in a 30min trail!?! That's actually terrifying 😳
Donnie, I grew up in the swamps of Louisiana, so you can imagine how I felt when I first saw those mountains. We both know what is taking those people. I saw one in the south Louisiana swamps when I was ten years old. There are black bears in that swamp, but what I saw wasn't a bear. It was squatting beside a bayou and had a huge swamp rabbit in it's hands and had torn most of the skin off the rabbit and was swishing the rabbit back and forth in the water. I absolutely know what I saw. Love your videos.
Thank you. Thanks for sharing my friend.
Scary business in the dark wilderness.
Your not crazy my friend. I believe you. I to have had a experience.
Oh no. Can't watch I'm terrified of that thing. Gotta bounce
Never had an experience like that myself. However I have had several paranormal experiences throughout my close to 4 decades of life. Living my whole life in these mountains of southeastern Kentucky. And do believe almost every thing I hear about stuff like this. So, I have to ask. Do you all think that Bigfoot is a super natural being of some sort? Or an undiscovered species?
There is definitely a eerie feeling when in the Backcountry of the smokies. When I get away from the crowds while hiking there I get feelings like I'm being watched. Loving your videos! Making me want to move to east TN. I've always wanted to live there. Losing my job at the end of September, so it's a possibility. Thanks again for the videos, I'm loving them!
Your welcome. Thanks for sharing my friend.
You ain't alone. I get the same feeling, a friend of mine gets straight panic attacks and extreme anxiety
O NO YOU DON'T WANT TO MOVE HERE BEARS WILL COME AND WRECK YOUR HOUSE.
I've backpacked up the mountains twixt SC, NC, and GA with friends. We ALWAYS carried a serious blaster! Donnie's right. Too many people use nature like an amusement park not understanding that take the wrong turn and ... And if you haven't listened to David Paulides, his stories are down right spooky.
One recommendation from my own experience posting a video: keep the background music low enough when there is narration. In places in this video it was a bit hard to hear.
WOW! Sorry about the sound mix on this one. Thanks for sharing my friend.
Well done! Thank you for all your work for us to enjoy. I have lived in the foothills half of my 65 years, and have huge respect for the region. Too many stories from too many people, in various times, to just disregard them as "just" folklore.
Your welcome my friend. I know what you mean, There is so much that's happened in these mountains that we don't even know about. The old timers have really got some stories that will scare you about these mountains, But people just blow them off as folklore. Thanks so much for sharing your story.
@@donnielaws7020 is there any book or place we can get these stories ? Also what is Abt those mountains that call me back? I go to reset myself if that makes sense. It's a healing place. I have a very hard time finding words for it? Donu know what u mean?
@@melissaweigh4508 Oh it's a magical place my friend. Everything just feels different in them mountains. You can find all the videos you want on You Tube on these stories. Thanks for sharing.
@@melissaweigh4508 i get physically sick if im gone from them for more than a week or 2. The last time i got so sick that i havent left again since 2010. I think it has something to do with electromagnetic frequency of our bodies and the mountains. Ive always wondered if anyone else ever had side effects cuz of leaving. Even if i wanted to leave, i couldn't.
@@meredithgrubb7027 I get emotionally weary etc. It's something I just can't out into words. But there are many ideas and theories as to why. Some say it's in the DNA from family living there long ago, some say it's mother nature, I'm sure u ha e heard all this too. It really isn't home away from home. If I could move there I would. I'm at peace and I'm happy and just over all content when I'm there.
I'm in WNC. I could never leave these mountains! Their absolute beauty and tranquility MUST be met and left with RESPECT and CAUTION. Even the most experienced hikers and explorers in counter the unexpected or an accident. Just the weather alone is a times unpredictable and deadly. Add to that the terrain, animals, people and so on. My only complaint is that were becoming way too over populated. This is really having an impact on locals as well as the infrastructure and the forest. A couple decades ago tourist season was only for about 4-6 months out of the year. Now, it's EVERYDAY. In my opinion, it's not worth any amount of money to trade our wilderness and privacy. Places that used to be dirt roads and gravel parking lots. Now see hundreds and thousands of people in just a few weeks. This does unfortunately leave behind a huge footprint!
Wow, Thanks for sharing my friend.
yeah what about all those people who went to the skyway to see the eclipse. you know there aint but one restroom up there i know of. it must have been overflowing. SAD!
Fifty years ago the tourist season was just like you say. Now, between the tourists and wealthy retirees in my county, the roads simply cannot handle the amount of traffic. Good for the towing services to clean up after the car accidents maybe, (and the fast food restaurants), but not so much for most of the rest of we locals. The rest of the years, life was slow-paced, easy going. I surely miss those days.
Had a house at the head waters of tellico river wilderness country
This video gave me cold chills up and down and my spine, as you told the story of the one’s that never made it back. People don’t realize just how unforgiving this Mtn range can be. I’ve stomped all over these hills but I never venture far from the trails. You can feel the spirit of the Mtn as you walk through. You get the uneasy feeling of not being welcome here. That the Mtn knows you don’t belong and the fact that it’s sacred ground. Thank you @Donnie Law for all the hard work you put into bringing us video’s and interesting stories of times gone by in these hills I call home.
Thanks for sharing this my friend. Your very welcome.
These mountains hold secrets that will never be told.
Exactly my friend.
You Got That Right 😎
I won't say a word !
A great narration. It's amazing to think you can have such a vast and empty place devoid of people, and also have a 12 mile backup of cars to get there.
The place is packed with visitors,But most don't walk much. They just drive though to see the sites. Put only a hand full of people ever walk off trail in this vast wilderness. Thanks for commenting.
@@donnielaws7020 Brave souls !!!!
There are plenty of isolated places from cherokee on up towards asheville and it gets even more desolate from their heading on northward to boone,nc and then heading westward back into east tennessee towards mountain city and erwin,TN. Lots of big mountain peeks over 3,000 to 6,000 plus feet high. Plenty of areas where very few humans live which are full of lots of valleys and streams. Anything could exist in those areas seldom every coming into contact with humans. There are plenty of bears,deer,elk,bears,,, and wild pigs for cryptid creatures to hunt for food.
@@harolddenton6031 ABSOLUTLEY, YET HUMANS STILL WANT TO SEND PROBES TO OUTERSPACE, OUR CIRCLE OF PLANETS, ETC, BUT WE KNOW 'F' ALL ABOUT OUR OCEANS AND PLACES IN THE WILDERNESS OF WHICH YOU'VE STATED, THE MIND BOGGLES !!!!
We lived in Appalachia for two years. Across from our driveway was a huge abandoned railroad yard & past that was a 200 acre reserve. Mines filled that area, and it was posted on signs to stay on the trail because of open mine shafts. I never left a trail with fear that I could fall into one and never be found again.
WOW Thanks for sharing this my.
Back in 1971, when my late husband and I were dating, Mama let him sleep on the couch one Friday night, cause we were going to Wilson’s Creek the next day. We lived just south of Watauga County, NC. (Watauga County sits on NC/TN line). Anyway, he was a town boy. That night he woke up to a sound of what he thought was a woman or child screaming in the woods outside. He said he just pulled the blanket over his head (he was 17) lol. Next morning he asked about it. Mama just said, “Nothin to worry about. Just stay off that mtn at night. It belongs to him. She looked at his scared eyes and said, “It’s a cat, Johnny. A big un I reckon. Black for sure.”
A few weeks later I took him on that mtn. But it was daylight.
He learned to love my mountains so much. We were married 38 years when I lost him to a heart attack in 2010.
Wow. Thanks for sharing my friend.
@@donnielaws7020 thank you for your videos!
Took my mom and dad here fee timesbefore he passed.. he loved it and said when he died he wanted to spend eternity hunting it with his old dog
I hope that's what hes doing
I hope so to my friend. Thanks for sharing.
My daddy wanted to be buried there also
He is
This video is so very well done. The way you covered it's beauty, history, and dangers was really presented in an excellent way. Awesome, my friend!
Thank you very much! With a little twist at the end just for fun. Take care my friend.
I’ve lived on the Cumberland Plateau in Tn Overton Co all my life. We had very hard times to. I remember one year no money period mama canned kraut and that’s all we had to eat. She managed to go light on the corn meal so we had cornbread. Mom would make a big pone of cornbread and make meal gravy. I still like cornbread and meal gravy today. Thank the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS JESUS CHRIST AMEN 🙏 for what little we had Amen 🙏
God bless you friend. Thanks for sharing.
So enjoyed this one Donnie. I thought I was watching a cable show~so well done and put together. Really enjoyed :)
Thank you. Glad you liked it. Thanks so much for watching. Stay warm up there.
Nature is nothing to play with, I've learned that a few times over the years...
Your so right on. Thanks for the comment.
mother nature ALWAYS wins
Ya this people that come from this high n mighty country’s don’t know how to respect of what God has made the iv’e never been to the Rockies I can just imagine how beautiful it is there the ones that bring there garbage in n destroy the Beauty
I appreciate a man who loves his country. I myself am a tarheel.I was born in Asheville. Back in 63. My how times keep on going by. Just like they say you can take a boy out of the country but you cannot take the country out of the boy. I been half way around the world and there are beautiful places but coming back home with the smell of bacon and eggs frying in the morning with homemade biscuits make my mouth water every time. The smell of coffee in the morning and the crisp clean mountain air is where God's love is proven. God bless you my friend let's cook some taters and beans with some onions along with some cornbread for supper.
Awesome. Well said my friend.
@@donnielaws7020 Thank you for replying to my message. You are the only feller that replies to every comment that you get as far as I can see. It shows you the true character of a mountain man
@@thomaswoody2733 I try my friend. Thank you.
@@donnielaws7020 Donnie I seriously need your advice or help in this matter. My daddy and his 7 brothers and sisters its hard to recall all of them. Haha. But my daddy was born in Hartford Tennessee in 1932 at home and he had either 4 brothers and 3 sisters . My Grandfather was a very respected man who worked for Unicoi sheriff department at one time I have his badge and apparently he was deputy sheriff. Patton Lee Woody was my grandfather's name. He was born in 1899. I guess later on in his life he became a deputy sheriff for Unicoi county. He later on in life apparently moved to Mc Dowell county in around Nebo near the town of Marion. That's where I knew him. I'm his grandson. There is a lot of information that I don't know about. My aunt told me he has or had a old homestead in Hartford Tennessee that has 8 acres of land . It is lost in time Donnie. My relatives have not claimed the land. I want it. I have heard the people who live in that area are basically renting it out as a campground. I don't know who to ask or find out about this. My grandfather was a honest law abiding citizen . I want to keep my grandfather's memory alive and I don't know what to do Donnie. The 8 acres belong to the Woody family and I am the only one speaking up about it.I need your help if you can my friend.
@@thomaswoody2733 Not much on this my friend, but first I would check with the county court clerk on the Title deed and see who's name it is in and maybe what taxes is owed on it. Go from there. Then ask maybe a lawyer on what can be done. Most likely just like everything else it will come down to a dollar, but maybe not. Good luck my friend. Hope that helps you. God Bless and pray on it.
Wasn’t no bear that carried them off, something bigger on two legs.
Exactly my friend, Thanks for commenting my friend.
I would bet that their blood types were RH-. Only 7% of the entire worldwide population has it and it’s the ONLY blood type that cannot naturally breed with other blood types. Actual proof that we are not all of the same species. If we were, this wouldn’t occur…
Im Rh-, i didn't realize it was that rare
@@tinap5064 Even with it being rare, all those who hold the highest positions of power all around the world all have it. From Popes to Royals to US Presidents and even Celebrities. Most interesting thing I’ve ever researched…
Agree 100%, those of us that get in God's wilderness God's creation here sees an experiences things that Mo City folk do not
Several friends and I once rented a cabin for a weekend retreat in Eagle's Mere, PA. Only thing I want to say is that I can't think of anything more terrifying than being stalked and hunted by something wild and hungry. Appalachia is a place where humans are not necessarily at the top of the food chain. Other than those few terrifying hours, it was a beautiful weekend.
WOW, Thanks for sharing my friend.
It's no surprise that some could go in and never come out. It's absolutely enormous.
Yes it is a vast place my friend.
Thank you for sharing a lady that Sunday school Dennis Martin like search for that child for weeks I live in Maryville and I've heard a lot of stuff about the Smokies I do not go off the beaten path and people from out-of-state should do the same stay on the trails and do not go exploring you never know when you might fall into a cave and it could be so deep that no one can hear you holler so be safe and just enjoy the great Tennessee we live in God's country and I would like to thank you for showing the tunnel to go towards Cades Cove my dad helped build that he was in the 3C camp he said they made like $0.25 a week he did that before he went to the Army he was in World War II vet he made it through the war he came home and his job was a brick mason he learned that in the 3C camp learning how to lay them River Rocks
What a great story. Thanks for sharing my friend. Good advise for the visitors hiking for sure.
Please check out the video on the Dennis Martin story th-cam.com/video/n2-E_-4PB0U/w-d-xo.html I think you will enjoy. Thanks.
Thank you. I will.
I used to hunt these mountains. Maps, compass, and proper first aid kit is essential. Always carried a large caliber revolver and machete with me, even when I had a rifle or shotgun. On a few occasions, I have had the eerie feeling that someone was watching me. I would go way off into the woods, but always made it a point to be heading back to camp long before dark. The woods change in the dark. You cannot recognize them. I believe that many people die because they panic when they get lost. I've bushwhacked the big woods of Northern Maine, too. Those woods will do you in but quick. Cold and dark. Seen some huge bear up there. Make your hair stand on end.
WOW! Thanks for sharing my friend.
Appreciate your video! My dad spoke often of the giant chestnut trees and the blight that wiped them all completely out. I have a beautiful corner hutch made of this wood given to me by my grandmother. A family friend made and gave it to her as a wedding gift in 1918.
Thanks for sharing my friend.
What's the story behind the blight and the giant trees?
Terrific video. I've been there many times and haven't seen but a fraction of it. Just one small note: opened in 1934 by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Theodore Roosevelt was an earlier president who was a pioneer in the national park system, but he didn't open this one. Thanks for all your great research and hard work!
Thanks for sharing my friend.
Girlfriend lived in Poor Valley. Said she was strictly forbidden to go out at dark. There is definitely cannibals in the mountains.
Thanks for sharing that, my friend.
Really enjoy your stories. My grandmother who was born in 1891 in Robt Co Tn lived with me and my mom after my dad passed in 1955 . A lot of the things you talk about I’ve heard similar things from her. Wish I’d ask so many questions before she passed at 97. One story she told me would have happened sometime at the turn of the century. She and her sister were coming from somewhere in the horse and buggy about dark. The horse started acting up and suddenly something huge and dark jumped from a bank on the side of the road on two legs and ran into the field on the other side. It scared them and I guess the next day some of the men went to investigate but what ever it was was gone. She said it wasn’t a bear. This was before people ever heard of Bigfoot. A hundred years ago this area was covered in wilderness so who knows what could’ve been here then
WOW! Thanks for sharing my friend.
I've lived in the Great Smoky Mountains for 31 years, and I have a LOT of experience with hiking, camping, and wilderness safety in general. I've never seen anything unnatural or unexplainable in these woods or mountains, but I've seen enough of what mother nature herself has to offer, and I know better than to take my chances. I have only ever hiked the Appalachian Trail by myself ONCE, and I will never do it again. Nothing bad happened at all, and it should have been a perfectly enjoyable trip, but for some reason I kept having this unshakable feeling that something was wrong. I only spent two nights out there by myself, and never saw or heard anything out of the ordinary. But that ominous feeling never went away, and I swore I would never camp alone in those mountains again. I've been camping with friends since then, but every time I do I get that same feeling at some point, and I don't like it. Respect the mountains folks, that's all I can say.
WOW Thanks so much my friend for sharing your story and memories. God bless you.
I was raised in those mountains. Gotta know what your doing just to keep from getting lost.
That's exactly right my friend.
Goodmorning Mr. Donnie...starting my day with you and a couple video's...this is my 2nd time to watch this one...sooo interesting...sooo beautiful! Ty for sharing!!
This was awesome and your voice is perfect for it....enjoyed watching...fell in love with these mountains and recently purchased land in townsend can't wait to explore the area...don't care to run into those giant ppl tho 😂👍
Good for you my friend. You will love the mountains. Thanks for sharing.
This gentleman has a great voice for voice over.
Thank you.
I wish there was a lot more like them seems like a good old boy down to earth
Raised in them,mountians part Cherokee. Lived in,swain. And the res,, is my old stomping grounds
But I consider my self a Appalachian first before the latter,,
Just mountian people that's been here. For hundreds to thousands of years. Thanks my friend. Take care,,,
Well said my friend. Thanks for sharing.
Everyone who likes this should read "Our Southern Highlanders" by Horace Kephart to find out what it was like before the logging started and few roads existed. Be sure and read the biography of Kephart in the front of. the book, written by the amazing writer, George Ellison.
Thanks for sharing the information.
When I was a young man, some friends and I hiked the roughly 8 mile Nolan’s Divide trail from Clingmans dome down to lakeshore drive in Bryson City. The air and sunlight feel different deep in the backcountry. It was an interesting hike and if you take a fall in some places nobody is gonna find you if you’re alone.
Thanks for sharing my friend.
Just wanted to say it was a great video and I think it's amazing and says a lot about your character that you took the time and replied to every single comment on here, even the ones that complained that just should have been thankful for getting to watch such good content for free. So thank you again for making such a good video and letting us all see it!
Thank you so much my friend. I'm so sorry about the sound mix. Still learning the program at the time I made the video. Thanks again for the kind comment.
@@donnielaws7020 no need to apologize at all for that. I didnt find anything to be wrong with it. Just wanted you to know I thought it was a great video and even more so that it was incredible that you responded to every comment and were even cordial to the ones who were just bitching when they should've just kept their fingers off the keyboard.
@@timkenney5510 Thank you.
This in a way reminds me of when I was young. I believe I was 11 or 12. I went to the Smokies with my mom and step dad. My step dad was a photographer and he went to an area to take some pictures. My mom and I went on this trail that lead to a couple small cabins. I don't remember where it was, all I remember was it wad about half a mile from the car and it was in a clearing on top of a hill. I wanted to check out the cabins a little longer so mom let me stay a couple extra minutes and she hiked back to the car. I left a few minutes later and I was walking by myself. I stayed on the trail and was looking around at the scenery and seeing if I could see a bear. I felt like I was at peace and I, in a way, also felt like I was being watched, but not in a bad way. After about 5 to 10 minutes I reached the car and that was it. Had I known about this stuff back then, I wouldn't have done that. The Smokies are without a doubt beautiful, but it is definitely a wild place at the same time. It is massive. Anything could be hidden there, including Bigfoot.
Wow. Thanks for sharing my friend.
I'm from Lower Alabama and I love ya'lls Smokey Mountains. I really enjoy Riding my Harley and Camping in those Beautiful Mountains. And everybody is always so NICE and Helpful. But, like you say, you have to respect that Wilderness. Like our Gulf Coast, you have to respect that Gulf or it will swallow you up and not leave a trace. That was a GOOD video, I really enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Your so right. Thanks for watching my friend.
I loved this Donnie. You're right, there's alot of things in those Mountains and Hollars that we'll never understand...and deserve respect. It's their home and has been for centuries upon centuries.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing that my friend.
I live in the PNW and we've got insane acreage, I always look at everything east of the Rockies as tiny but you do have a beautiful area. I hope people of today and the future continue to fight to keep these places protected!
That would be nice my friend. Thanks for sharing.
Some people won't know what the PNW is - so because my heart dropped at the letters ,because for reasons beyond my control - 6 yrs ago I had to leave one of the most beautiful areas I've lived in the Pacific Northwest. I'm originally an Alaskan but had wanderlust from early on , I lived in a rural part of Western Washington - I miss it I miss it I miss it. But since covid nothing is the same most anywhere , I would say. This jewel created for humans to live on and serve God is beauty everywhere, I also lived in the Mojave desert at first SHOCK but taking my sweet mare out in the desert and seeing the night sky -those too are beyond words-we are literally surrounded in beauty- how loving our Maker and how I dont know- deep He is.
Donnie , you have the most smoothing voice i think I've ever heard , you're right those mntns have alot of secrets id say . my dad lived in between the Great smokey mntns and blue ridge mntns, Bryson city was named after our dad's side of the family . I've been so concerned about the little girl Summer Wells that's missing out of Hawkes county Tn . just breaks my heart. So glad i found your channel. You have a new subscriber . God bless and ty for sharing.
Wow, thanks, Welcome aboard my friend. Enjoy the channel. Thank you for them kind words.
@@donnielaws7020 , my pleasure .
Yes, I have been keeping up with the missing little Summer Wells also.
@@patriciabishop4918 💔💔💔💔
Really great video! I would love to visit there one day. I was a travel nurse a few years ago and explored a lot of National Parks in California which was fun. I went off the trail alone many times and never thought twice about it. I hiked all day long many times. My workmates told me to not go alone bc many women had great be missing though. Nice scenery and great info. I was shocked at the map that showed all the missing people. I am going to look at David Paulides’ books. My husband may like to read those. Good Christmas gift idea.🎁
I think he would like it. There is a lot things the news keeps from us if you have noticed.
Yes that is true. I am from Canada and I feel like the news is more factual there and much more sensationalized here. It can be hard to really decipher the news sometimes. I usually just let my husband relay everything to me as he keeps up on everything.
@@RelicHuntingSouthTexas tell lie vision tells you just that. Lies to your vision. I deleted it from my life close to a decade ago. It's so annoying to even be in a room with one on, lol.
I could listen to you talk about Appalachia all day. I just discovered your channel and have binge watched your videos. I live in Middle TN and have only visited The Great Smokey Mountains State Park a few times when my son still lived at home. Now, I only venture as far as DollyWood with my grandchildren in tow. I hope to visit the Reservation at least one more time.
Welcome aboard my friend. please enjoy the channel. Thank you.
Dude this video is awesome! The narration is great and I like your thoughts and ideas. I live in NC I think I'm gonna head out there soon this year 👍🏻
Thanks so much. I'm glad you liked it.
One of my best memories is crawling thru slowly in Cade's cove . We had my daughter and niece a nephew ! My nephew was such an outdoorsman from the day he could walk !
We took him many times ! And many trips to fish and such ! I loved him so much ,,,, we lost him on October 24th 2021 to a self inflicted gunshot wound . I have no idea how that could have happened to a 21 year old young man with such gun experience . I am only pray he wasn't going thru something he never discussed . Thanks for sharing great friend . I had tears while watching many of the places he joined us on in his short life
WOW! Sorry to hear that! Your very welcome. Thanks for sharing my friend.
Ever heard of a government program COINTELPRO, or Organized Stalking. cia COINTELPRO covert operation. A gestapo training program come to the world in the new deal 1947-48 via operation paperclip. A lot of these suicides and human trafficking could be explained.
MKULTRA. Police and their criminals. You'll understand after you read it.
I’m so sorry! Sending big hugs.
When the sun shines a spot deep in the woods never walk thru it with out looking in first. If the trees look different in any way pull ur head out and go the other way. As far as them buggers go they are there at times and other times they are not. So many things in our world that just can't be explained.
Thanks for sharing my friend.
We covered the case of Mike Hearon- missing from Happy Valley- on the podcast a while back. Really got me thinking about the area. The case of Dennis Martin always baffles me. And because it was so long ago, we will likely never know any more. :(
Someone knows the truth. Thanks for sharing my friend.
Just discovered that the great Smoky Mountains is actually their name. Until now I thought that it was just your opinion. And then I wanted to know where they are exactly. Living in the Netherlands, I only learned the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains. (I think, topography was not really among my strongest skills .)
Thank you for watching my friend.
Well sounds like your getting better at it
@@stevewixom9311 certainly do. Last year I discovered that Rhode Island isn’t an island at all. I always thought it was a peninsula.
It’s so funny to discover your own misconceptions of the world.
I always go to the Tennessee / north Carolina area. Usually around Cherokee but have visited many many years over have tones of photos. I may not be able to answer everything but maybe some. Been to lots of area of it. My second home.
@@jannetteberends8730 Its always fun to learn something new about somewhere -sorta- new -- or atleats ot you!
Check out the Blue Ridge Mountains....
apply named because they are constantly covered in ablue hue along all the ridges. Even in the morning, night, always.
Or ThE CRAziES
but I'll let you learn the story behind their name on your own :)
I could listen to you talk all day love the story's
Thank you.
I was ten years old in Knoxville when lil Dennis went missing,....I remember sitting down to eat breakfast each morning with my 8 brothers and sisters and looking at the headlines about Dennis
on the front page of the Knoxville Journal,............and asking Mom......"Did they find Dennis"........little did I know they would never find any trace of him,..........and Dennis's dad never moved from their home in Knoxville .......always thinking that Dennis might come home one day,..............very sad!
It is sad my friend. Thanks for sharing my friend.
Dear sir….enjoying your videos so much. Have started playing them late at night because your voice is sooo soothing. A suggestion if I might….we don’t need the music. We watch to listen to the info and your voice. Please consider not putting music to the videos. I can barely hear you in this one.
Thanks for the advice my friend. Thanks for sharing.
I'm intrigued by the number of people that go missing in the forest,mountains,State parks etc like they just vanish without a trace its unsettling😱 Thank you Mr Donnie😊
You and me both! Your welcome friend.
I'm from Australia so I've never heard of these amazing stories before they are so educational and amazing to listen to please can you keep making more of these amazing videos thank you
Awesome my friend. Can do my friend. Thank you.
It was Franklin Delano Roosevelt that opened the park in a ceremony in 1934 , thanks for posting 👍
Sorry my friend. That's my bad.
your videos are phenominal, as well as your narration. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, pictures and videos of such a beautiful corner of the world. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸❤️
Glad you like them my friend. Thanks for sharing my friend.
I could listen to you talk about anything, all day long. Your voice is so soothing to me, especially after a stressful day. Thank you for your interesting stories and wonderful voice😌
Awesome my friend. Thanks so much for sharing this. Glad you enjoyed them. God bless you.
That map shows the Missing 411 clusters, not everyone that's missing. David Paulides deserves credit for creating that.
Yes and he has so much more information on the missing than I could ever give you. That' why I mentioned him and his work. Thanks for commenting.
@@donnielaws7020 I made that comment before your pop up of Dave came on the screen, so sorry about that. Yes there is so much info. Good video ✌
@@donnielaws7020 Rusty West is another one who does TH-cam that shares missing persons and 411.
Nice video Donnie, especially your pleasing voice. You have a talent for producing videos, the music is telling the story very well, suspensive in right places. Thank you.
I appreciate that! I'm sorry the music is a little to loud. Thank you so much.
It's an easy thing to get disoriented on an overcast day or caught out after dark. I can see how with as many people visiting that park as there are only 5 missing is not that great a number. As well as I know the area around my home, I have been disoriented twice, once tracking deer on an overcast misty day and not paying attention. Another time wandering aimlessly while gathering wild grapes and hazelnuts. The sound of a distant highway led me out once and another time I sat down and waited for moonrise and followed it east. In a place like that there is no way I would wander off the main track without a compass, a map and a destination point. You don't need a sasquatch. Ignorance and the wilderness itself will do you in. Thanks for the video Donny. Beautiful wild country!
Thank you. Thanks for sharing my friend.
respect the mountains ! thank you for all your videos
Hey Donnie quite a big difference from your usual content but in a good way definitely the thing is there is a saying that says small town reports for small towns and basically when mysterious occurrences take place it might not be good for the said small town rural businesses and such to announce these things to the world so they will get minimal media coverage and unfortunately that’s been the case where I live and there even seems to be parallels to some of the cases so you really are doing an admirable thing and making the information available for anyone and everyone
Thanks my friend. I love these mountains dearly, but people need to understand this area is still wilderness and not be taken lightly. Always go prepared when your in it.
Hi Donnie, I really love all these videos, thank you so much. I live in western north carolina, have my entire life. I hope it's not off the subject too much, but if I may ask, have you ever come across or known of any small aircraft crashes, perhaps "lost" or otherwise undiscovered, in the Smokies? I can see how easily those mountains could claim small airplanes. There are quite a good many of them scattered throughout the Rockies. Thank you sir, all the best to you!
Your very welcome. Thanks for sharing that my friend.
I got lost once in the grocery store at Food City. Finally realized where I was when I got to the ice cream aisle. Very scary.
😀
There is a little girl called Summer Wells who's been missing for 3 months now. She lives in Hawkins County. I found your channel and I've shared a link to your channel for all the people interested in the Appalachians. I think your channel will help them to understand and maybe you could help in the search in some way with all your excellent knowledge of the area. Not sure if you've heard of this case but it's been on all the true crime channels. Thankyou Donnie. I'm loving your channel! and I hope you don't mind me sharing. God Bless 💜🤗
I have followed it. Hope she is found soon. Thanks for sharing my friend.
@@donnielaws7020 I'm glad you've been following the case. I think your channel popped up in my feed because the fathers name is Don also. It's such a sad story and so many differing opinions on what happened ? Anyway I hope people come to your channel and enjoy your videos as much as I do. And yes I do hope summer is found alive and well that would be awesome. Thankyou for replying and all the best to you and your family. I plan on watching all of your videos ! 💜🤗
@@laineyrootes3531 Thank you so much for your comment my friend.
Thank you so much for these tales and interviews. I find them fascinating.
Glad you enjoy it friend.
Wow! 10 million 😮 Visitors. I knew it! It just gets more congested every year it seems. Been through that tunnel to Cades Cove many times. I love that location the most.
Wow that is alot of people that went missing and not found. Awesome video!
It still a wild vast country. thanks for commenting
Amazing how some places only get an hour or so of daylight per day. Stayed about 2500 feet (in a cabin) above Gatlinburg & it's a totally different world weather-wise. And animal-wise as well. Some "critter" left what looks like a 4 fingered child's handprints & smears on our vehicles door during the night. Trying to figure out what it is & saw references to trolls 😳lol.. Beautiful, Fascinating, mysterious & sometimes creepy, place. I leave a piece of my heart there every time I go ❤
It is a beautiful place indeed, But it is mysterious also. I love being there as well. Thanks so much for sharing your story my friend.
It was probably a possum. We hope.
Probably an Opossum or a Raccoon.
A coon may be possem there curious folk
Your videos are very informational I don’t know if that’s the right word. but I think they’re great they tell you a lot about the area and I like them. I live in Iowa probably never get to see these places keep up the good work stay safe and I’ll keep looking for your videos. Sorry my writing is not very good.
Thank you.
Ots amazing that so many of us are obsession with the Dennis Martin case! So sorry for Dennis and his family. I spend my summers in the Smokies, hoping I can feel him and get answers for him
That's a sad story my friend. Thanks for sharing this.
I went hiking up the trails with a friend and my bf. We got halfway up one when all three of us and our dog felt weird like we needed to get back down asap. I felt like the hairs on my body were standing up, plus the woods were quiet. My dog who was very smart was romping all over then stopped right in front of us at attention like he could hear something or see something. We all turned and walked with a purpose down that mountain. It was mid January so I don't think it was a bear. In any case, we trusted our instinct and the dog and got the hell out of there. It was spooky.
WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend.
Bears are out an about all through th winter in southern appilactia
I recon the Smokey Mountain National Park is still the most visited of all the National Parks. Speaking of missing people, I've never seen a Bigfoot but it's hard to dismiss all the stories from credible people who have seen them. As someone who likes to objectively listen to these stories I find it convincing that these folks describe the same creature. If they were making it up they would try to make their creature scarier than the next guy's. The Dixie Cryptid channel is one of my favorites for these stories, Cam is a good story teller. I like the variety of this channel.
PS. Never go to Gatlinburg when they are having a car show, traffic does not move. Rumor has it when Dolly Pardon first turned off I-40 into that traffic she was a B cup, by the time she got to Dollywood... we all know how that turned out.
Yes there is things in these mountains that don't want to be seen besides Bigfoot. Thanks for sharing my friend. Traffic is always bad here.
Lol. Maybe l will try that breast enhancement method !😄😊😉
@@nancyolson5974 😂
Funny !
🤣😅🤣😅
Donnie - I’ve enjoyed each of your videos that I’ve seen. But this one is especially beautiful, regardless of the sad topic.
Awesome my friend. Thank you so much. Your very welcome. God bless you.
What a beautiful place. I'd love to visit sometime. I live across from a small state park, and I've helped people who have gotten lost or we hear the helicopters looking for someone. People don't realize that they need to be prepared for anything when they go for a hike. Thanks for sharing your beautiful state!
Your welcome. Thanks for sharing my friend.
Love to hear you tell these stories Donnie....I spent some of the happiest times of my life around Clinch Mt. And House Mt..most all my people were from there....you do a great job telling the stories of the Mt.folk....
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing my friend.
LET MOTHER NATURE HAVE HER WAY BECAUSE SHE WILL
Keep ‘‘em coming Donnie. Great stories. There are still things we don’t understand. We are to far removed from nature and need to get back to the woods to reignite our sense’s.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing my friend.
It's good when a man takes pride in his home country, and the place he was brought up. Having been in the Smokies, I know full well why you're so proud. Ya know something I enjoyed the folks from around there so very much. I'd stay on the side roads. Ate my meals in them small local cafes. I'd always have someone to talk with while we ate. Truly is God's Country.
Yes donnie, that is really a mystery. Prayers to all that have disappeared and to their families. thanks for sharing this, your friend, Louise
Yes it is my friend. Thanks for sharing. Your very welcome.
I didn't know about the Dennis Martin until about 10 yrs ago. For me the Dennis Martin case is frustrating because a widow that lived beside us had a boyfriend that was a retired Smokey Mountain park ranger and he woulda definitely been there when it happened and I'm sure he had more knowledge that what was released. Everything about that case is the most crazy disappearance I've ever heard of! Sorry if I'm long winded but our region is very special to me and I get excited with our history and mystery!
Thanks for sharing my friend.
Had a bunch of wild pigs run by me on the upper end of Forney around 4000 feet. That was a little concerning.
I bet it was. They can be dangerous. Take care my friend.
running from bigfoot foo !! 😳
There dangerious and will attack you kill and eat you
I generally enjoyed watching the black Bear at Cades Cove in the early morning or evening, but one time I was charged by a bear. I was assisting a photographer in locating a bear to get a photo, and I spotted one down in a valley. The bear disappeared but soon popped over the mountainside that hugged the paved path and walked right past me...about two feet from me, and then after it started up the mountain, it quickly turned back around and began charging.
They are very smart and unpredictable, Especially with young. They are beautiful animals and unbelievable strong. Thanks for sharing my friend.
These disappearances are so perplexing. I enjoy listening to your stories and talks about this area.
Beautiful park! Nice video, but music a little loud over your commentary in some places. Love this!
Sorry about that
You are giving me the urge to visit the Mountains.Keep up the great work you are doing.I love it.
Awesome! Your very welcome. Thanks for sharing my friend.
My grandparents and my uncle Tommy had cabins in the smokys .there's things out there you don't want to see just like there is in the woods of Maine were I grew up
Thanks for sharing my friend.
Washington state either. Same kind of large 2 legged beings.
They are wherever there is cover ...water...and game...
@@gregoryj.m.8985 :/ there’s no amount of money anyone could pay me to go in the woods. Which is a shame because I love nature
What a wonderful video! Your narration is perfect! And the views of those beautiful Smokey mountains are absolutely gorgeous! I’m only about 1/2 through but amazing land & people.
Thank you very much!
I was born here in Appalachian mountains and have been here all my days. I have been to many states but no place like these mountains
Thanks for sharing my friend.
There’s no place like our mountain home land. I often thank the Lord for putting me in my momma’s Appalachian belly instead of birthing me in another part of the world.
Well Donnie, I discovered your channel today and have spent this lovely Sunday listening to your stories! Growing up in this States Capitol, we visited the Smokies every year! Lots of great memories! Thanks for the awesome documentary!
Welcome aboard my friend. Please enjoy the channel.
I've hiked many a mile in the smokies you should always be over prepared for hikes and be very careful and aware
So true. Thanks for sharing my friend.
Of what ?
@scriptorsilentum..... be literally aware and on top of just about everything. You have to be prepared and aware for possible dehydration, starvation, possible freezing to death, be alert to which direction you're coming from (some kind of compass is usually a good idea for hikes) bug bite and snake bites, animal attacks, sometimes other humans, and several other things I can't think of off the top of my head. You have to constantly pay attention to the weather, because it can change at any given moment, especially when you're out in the woods, I have to be aware of when the sun is supposed to rise, and when it's supposed to set, Do you have to be alert and aware that if you're deep in the woods, nighttime is going to fall much faster, which also means that you have to be alert and paying attention to the temperature because if you were in a densely wooded area in the mountains, especially higher altitude, it's going to be much cooler than average (it can be anywhere from 5 to 10° temp difference from what you're used to. Perhaps more) and the temp is to fall even more drastically when the forest begins getting dark. The Smokies (I live in a town nestled at the foothills of the Smokies, and I live only about 20 minutes away from Cade's Cove) is a gorgeous place, but if you have ever been inside that park after nightfall (I have definitely been on the roads in the park after dark) then you know that it begins taking on a slightly different feel, the later the hour gets.
Franklin Delano*
Hey Donnie - thanks for the great share. Enjoyed it. I live and grew up in North GA end of the Appalachian Trail, and always love the drive over to to Cades Cove. One of my favorites places to drive through when heading to or from Gatlinburg. Never seen traffic backed up like that except one time - a tree about the size of a telephone pole across the road... everyone standing around wondering what to do. My dad went back to the pickup truck and got his 1945 US ARMY iussue machete and chopped it right on in half, and how everyone cheered.
Love to go in the ole churches and home steads.
Thanks for sharing!
Your very welcome. Thanks for sharing my friend.
"The sun don't hit it but a hair of the day."
(It's dark, yo.)
So true my friend. Thanks for commenting.
I visited this park in 2001 Sept 21. I took a helicopter ride over the smokies. My birthday. What great memories. Thank you ♥️🇺🇲✌️☮️
Awesome my friend.