 |
Photo Gallery -- Section Four -- Watauga Dam Road to Dennis Cove Road |
Last Revised: March 08, 2007
These images show typical scenes along this section of the Appalachian Trail. Here are some other pages on our web site that contain photos of this section.
 | The Watauga Lake and Laurel Fork Shelters are located on this section. |
| After a flood in January 1998, the upper bridge (Koonford Bridge) on this section was rebuilt in 1998, and the two lower bridges were rebuilt in 1999. |
| The section of the A.T. trail-north of the Koonford Bridge was rebuilt in 1998. |
Click on the small image or description to see a larger image:
 |
Watauga Dam from the Visitors Center. The A.T. crosses the dam - trail-south is to the left, and trail-north is to the right (178KB). Photo courtesy of Steve Wilson (TEHCC). |
 |
Sign at the Watauga Dam Visitors Center (191KB). Photo courtesy of Steve Wilson (TEHCC). |
 |
Close-up of a sign at the Watauga Dam Visitors Center (172KB). Photo courtesy of Steve Wilson (TEHCC). |
 |
Ox Eye Daisy near Watauga Dam, May 31, 2002 (180KB, 300 pixels/inch). Photo courtesy of Garry Luttrell. |
 |
Four-leafed milkweed near Watauga Dam, May 31, 2002 (481KB, 300 pixels/inch). Photo courtesy of Garry Luttrell. |
 |
Mountain Laurel near Watauga Dam, May 31, 2002 (281KB, 300 pixels/inch). Photo courtesy of Garry Luttrell. |
 |
Ribbon cutting ceremony (21K), to mark the opening of the Pond Mountain relocation in 1995. TEHCC photo. |
|
Warning sign in Laurel Fork Gorge, diverting hikers to a temporary bypass route of the A.T. in 1998. The temporary route was closed in 1999 and will not be maintained (18K). Photo courtesy of Jamie Chapman. |
 |
The "infamous" ladder on a temporary reroute of the Appalachian Trail, to bypass two bridges washed out during flooding in January 1998 (12K). The temporary route was closed in 1999 and will not be maintained. Photo courtesy of Jamie Chapman |
 |
Nice shot of one of the bridges over Laurel Fork in the Pond Mountain Wilderness (70KB). Photo courtesy of Garry Luttrell (TEHCC). |
 |
TEHCC members Collins Chew, Charlie Beggerow, and Bob Harvey on one of the bridges over Laurel Fork, 1999 (83KB). Photo courtesy of Garry Luttrell (TEHCC). |
 |
Nice shot of one of the bridges over Laurel Fork in the Pond Mountain Wilderness (197KB). Photo courtesy of Craig Haire. |
 |
Laurel Falls, in the Pond Mountain Wilderness (24K). TEHCC photo. |
 |
Nice shot of Laurel Falls, in the Pond Mountain Wilderness (23K). Photo courtesy of Jamie Chapman. |
 |
Great shot of Laurel Falls (145KB). Photo courtesy of Garry Luttrell (TEHCC). |
 |
Laurel Falls in the Pond Mountain Wilderness (12K). Photo courtesy of thru-hiker Jim Damico. |
 |
Laurel Falls in the Pond Mountain Wilderness (40K). Photo courtesy of Randy Gardner. |
 |
Laurel Falls in the Pond Mountain Wilderness (43K). Photo courtesy of Randy Gardner. |
 |
Laurel Falls in the Pond Mountain Wilderness (142K). Photo courtesy of Craig Haire. |
 |
The Koonford Bridge (25K) under construction. The bridge was built entirely of natural materials, using non-mechanized methods. It is located in Laurel Fork Gorge in the Pond Mountain Wilderness. (The original center span of this bridge was washed away by flash floods in January 1998, and replaced by non-native materials.). TEHCC photo. |
 |
The Koonford Bridge. This photo was taken between 1990 and 1998 (34KB). TEHCC photo. |
 |
The Koonford Bridge in winter. This photo was taken after the center span was replaced in 1998 (28KB). TEHCC photo. |
 |
Primitive Skills Award (11K), received by TEHCC in 1990 for the Koonford Bridge, which spans Laurel Fork in the Pond Mountain Wilderness. TEHCC photo. |
|
The Koonford Bridge following repairs in January 1998 (35K). Photo courtesy of thru-hiker Jim Damico. |