The Road to Nowhere

May 2^nd

On our first trip to Bryson City we learned of TheRoad to Nowhere during a visit to the Chamber of Commerce; the brochure was tucked into the ‘must-do’ folder.  Today was the perfect day for the trip due to timing, destination, and weather. 

This road was slated to replace old Hwy 288, an essential transportation route which disappeared when the valley was flooded creating the Fontana Reservoir.  Looking back to the 1930s, residents sold their homes and farms to the US government for the creation of Smoky Mountain National Park.  Around 1940 energy demands resulted in the mighty Fontana Dam which necessitated an access road on the north side of Fontana Lake.  Construction on the road began in 1943 and by 2010 the road was only 6 miles long.  It ends with a tunnel.  The project was delayed due to funding and finally halted due to environmental issues.  (This all relates to Decoration Days so expect another posting on this topic.)

After a breath taking drive up a gorgeous rustic mountain side we arrive at the end of the road, the tunnel.  The vistas along the drive promised fantastic scenery and does not disappoint.  First we walk though the quarter mile tunnel where you can see only the other end.  It is dark inside so Billy uses his walking stick as a guide stick.  Underfoot is sand from years of dust, decay, and foot traffic, there may be bat or insect dung but without a light you can only guess.  The entrance walls are covered with graffiti that some archaeologist in 2500 may declare a Rosetta stone!

Exiting to the light is refreshing.  This experience sets me pondering existence in dungeons and mines; I pity the poor souls who are condemned to a life without sun and fresh air.  Some may claim it is a choice but for most it is a circumstance of their birth and belief systems.  Perhaps they were never enlightened or allowed to see a different lifestyle.  Alas, I diverge so back to the hiking.

The official trails are down the mountain (See Goldmine Loop posting) with ample signage; however, first we opt to investigate the unofficial trails the wind around and over the tunnel.   Wandering the terrain above the tunnel reveals the reason for this tunnel and the effort involved in the construction.  The land is rocky, steeper than the road leading to this point, and virtually impassable.  It also gives a clue as to why the road wasnever completed.