Joey Priola Wilderness Photography

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  • Even before my first ever trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park came to a close, it already had become one of my favorite places. While the mountains and wild rivers were especially beautiful, it was the wildlife viewing opportunities that took the experience to another level. Wild elk used to roam these lands years ago, but before being reintroduced to the park in 2001, eastern elk had been sadly wiped out long ago. Nowadays an early morning visit to Cataloochee Valley feels like stepping back to a time when these beautiful creatures roamed freely in the Appalachian Mountains, and on this misty morning we were delighted to find the herd roaming meadows ringed with beautiful fall foliage. The massive bull elk seen in this photo was the leader of the herd, and we gazed in awe and wonder as he wandered the meadows keeping watch over his harem.
    Return to Glory
  • Beautiful fall foliage served as the perfect backdrop to a bull elk and doe  on this misty morning in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
    Fall Fling
  • There are moments in life when time seems to stand still. When all the outside noise slips away and the mind, body, and spirit are focused entirely on the moment at hand. For me, the wilderness is where I go to seek these moments. Whether it's been a stunning sunset along the ocean, a rewarding winter view after a punishing climb, or hearing the haunting call of a loon echo across a foggy lake, I've been fortunate to experience countless moments where nature has taken my breath away and made time stand still. Out of all these moments, there's one that stands out from the rest. On a trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we were dying to see black bears in the wild. After a couple days of exploration with no sightings, we were rewarded with what likely was the greatest experience we've ever had in the wilds. A mama bear and her three cubs were hanging out at the base of a walnut tree, which itself was exhilarating to see. But then the cubs got restless, and began to climb the walnut tree. We stood awestruck as they deftly scaled the thin branches that swayed in the evening breeze, and I could feel my heart pounding so much with excitement that it felt like it would burst. This was one of those rare moments that cause you to ask aloud "is this real?" because it's unlike anything that your eyes have seen before. This was indeed real, and was a moment we'll never forget.
    Time Stood Still
  • Morning fog and beautiful fall foliage added an extra special touch to our morning spent watching elk roam the meadows of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Do you notice the white mark on the face of this bull elk? That's a battle scar from fighting for its harem.
    Purely Carnal
  • Viewing wildlife in their natural habitat is one of the most thrilling outdoor experiences imaginable. Heading into my first trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I knew that seeing wildlife such as black bears was a possibility, but I tried to rein in my expectations of seeing one of these majestic creatures. In an incredible stroke of luck, we would end up seeing not one but five black bears during our week in the Smokies! We came across the one in this photo just in time to see it awake from its evening snooze to stretch out against a tree trunk before ambling off into the autumn forest, truly a moment that we'll never forget.
    Just in Time
  • Fog mingles with a colorful autumn mountainside in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
    Fall in the Valley
  • Warm morning light filters through the autumn forest and reflects on a cascading creek in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
    Light Tunnel
  • Vibrant greenery and blooming mountain laurel adorn striking white sandstone boulders that can be found throughout West Virginia's Dolly Sods Wilderness.
    Pleasant Surprise
  • Every June, blooming mountain laurel provides a splash of pink to the already beautiful backcountry of West Virginia's Dolly Sods Wilderness.
    Sweet Smell of Summer
  • Golden ferns and a mountain ridge bursting with colorful autumn foliage made an idyllic scene on a perfect October day in West Virginia's Canaan Valley State Park.
    Lazy Day
  • Just after sunrise on a late September morning, I awoke at my backcountry campsite to find a beautiful combination of soft light, fall foliage, and morning fog from a rocky lookout. I utilized a long exposure to reveal the motion of the clouds streaking through the sky and the fog ever so slightly rolling over the mountain ridges. Dolly Sods Wilderness, West Virginia.
    Mystery of Time
  • This large birch tree in the verdant Vermont forest didn't let a boulder stop it from flourishing, it simply decided to grow right around it! The next time I'm faced with a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, I'll think about this tree as motivation.
    I Will Find a Way
  • A record player and wood-burning fireplace made this cabin in Tennessee especially cozy.
    Unforgettable
  • A spectacular autumn sunset panorama from a rocky overlook in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest. Five vertical images were stitched together to get this 180 degree view.
    Mon on Fire
  • An incredible early autumn sunrise from one of my favorite spots in West Virginia. One of the many reasons that I love backcountry camping so much is that it allows me to roll out of my tent and walk just a few feet to witness and photograph scenes like this.
    Autumn in Appalachia
  • An interesting cloud formation complements a maple tree showing off its autumn colors on a beautiful October day in West Virginia's Canaan Valley State Park. While not nearly as well known or talked about as places like New England when it comes to fall colors, I think that the West Virginia Highlands put on a fall foliage display that's just as good as what can be seen in other parts of the country, and typically with a fraction of the crowds!
    Homestead
  • Beams of light break through dramatic clouds shortly before sunset, as a lone hiker takes in the view from a rocky perch high above Red Creek. Dolly Sods Wilderness, West Virginia.
    Perspective
  • Chimney Pond, at the base of Maine's Mt. Katahdin, is lined with fragile alpine grasses that turn a beautiful shade of gold in fall. On this September morning, the grasses and I were treated to a colorful sunrise over Maine's highest peak, and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Baxter State Park, Maine.
    King of the East
  • Clouds begin to break en route to the summit of Katahdin, the highest peak in Maine and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.
    Reveal
  • Snow and ice coat the evergreens and Veterans War Memorial Tower atop Mt. Greylock, the highest peak in Massachusetts. Mt. Greylock State Reservation, Massachusetts.
    Way Back When
  • After three days of backpacking through the Maine wilderness, climbing over rocky passes and scrambling down precipitous mountain ledges, I was mentally and physically drained as I shuffled the final miles to my last campsite of the trip at Chimney Pond. As I stopped to finish off the last of my water, I turned around to see the evening sun bursting through the beautiful hardwood forest, and thankfully had enough energy even in my dazed state to set up my camera and capture this photo. Baxter State Park, Maine.
    Dazed & Confused