Charlies bunion is one of favorite places in the park. Looks like you caught it with some low clouds or fog coming up through the gap - that is usually very cool. Not sure if you walked out past Charlies but from 'the rock' the trail moves off to the right and hooks around the knife ridge on the right and heads over to the ridge you can see in the background. It is also very cool.
We are headed to the park this weekend to escape the heat. Its amazing how much different the temps are between 1000 ft above sea level at my house to 5-6000 feet up along the AT. I've left the house in shorts and t-shirt and zipped my pant legs back on and put on a fleece upon arriving at the higher elevations in the Smokys.
On the bears, this year seems to be the worst I've ever heard of with respect to negative bear encounters. Several people have been bitten, one severely mauled, several others chased. I've seen a bunch of bears in the park and have never had a negative encounter - even with the dreaded momma and cubs. We went for a drive around Cades Cove on last Sunday evening and saw 3 bears in less than 1 hour. The park could use a short bear hunting season..............
