Roan Mountain Sunset

Roan Mountain lies on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee between Asheville and Boone.  Famous for its catawba rhododendron bloom in June, it is one of my favorite places to hike along the Appalachian Trail.  The mountains here have "balds," or areas without trees, so that the hiker can take in 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains while hiking.  On this particular evening, I had been watching the storms come through all afternoon.  Knowing there was a chance for the storms to break before sunset, I raced up to the mountain and started hiking along the Appalachian Trail.  As the rain stopped, the clouds began to break apart revealing this majestic scene.

-- Brent McGuirt, Splendor of Light Photography.