Mountain to Sea Trail TREES

The Mountain to Sea Trail promoters say it goes from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. But if you get down to brass tacks and look at the map of the 1175 mile trail (1891 km) you will find it is not all continuous trail, but relies on 'connecting backroads' in part. However, it is a continuous trail from its start at Clingman's Dome in Smoky Mountain National Park to Stone Mountain State Park. In the process it crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway not far from Asheville and the Pisgah Inn. And it is there that I have found some interesting trees. 

Both trees are right on the trail, and there is no way you can miss them. This is not a heavily traveled portion of the trail; even when there are several sight seers at the Mills River Valley Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway I have only ever encountered one other person on the trail. Pretty amazing given its proximity to Asheville!