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I've watched with regret the steady loss of trees from the ridge lines

Why is it then that when you compare pictures of the area from Civil War photos to modern photos, the forests there were MORE denuded in the 1860s than they are now? Why are the views from the "scenic overlooks" along the road through the park blocked by an overgrowth of trees around the pull-offs? I realize the park overlords don't want to have exposed stumps visible at the pull-offs, but dammit, you can't see through the trees anymore at the scenic overlooks.

Why is it then that when you compare pictures of the area from Civil War photos to modern photos, the forests there were MORE denuded in the 1860s than they are now? Why are the views from the "scenic overlooks" along the road through the park blocked by an overgrowth of trees around the pull-offs.

That same situation is true here in the West. Photos from the 1860s, 1870s and 1880s when the far West was first being settled show many fewer pine trees than shown in photos taken from the same points today. Back then you could ride a horse through the forest at a full gallup without worry of running into a tree.

"Why is it then that when you compare pictures of the area from Civil War photos to modern photos, the forests there were MORE denuded in the 1860s than they are now?"

The limited panaromas of lithiograph photos from 140 years ago cannot be used as benchmarks to apply to an entire region.

"Why are the views from the "scenic overlooks" along the road through the park blocked by an overgrowth of trees around the pull-offs? I realize the park overlords don't want to have exposed stumps visible at the pull-offs, but dammit, you can't see through the trees anymore at the scenic overlooks."

Not all trees are dying. The higher elevations are what are getting nailed. And clearing overlooks is a perpetual job due to secondary deciduous growth...I've done it.

Those of us who have lived there and seen it for 30 and 40 years can see a difference. And if you want any evidence of what heavy acid rain can do to an environment, take a trip to Ducktown Tenn. and see what 100 years of man made acid rain can do to a valley.

I'll have to agree with the Judge.

I have pics of my kids on Mt. Mitchell under a canopy of fir trees at least 30 ft. tall. Green living trees.

Go up there today and all the old fir trees are gone, dead.
The Smokey Mtns. have always had a haze, I can remember back to the mid 50's. Today if you drive through the Swannanoa Valley ( I 40 east of Asheville) in July, you can't see the mountains at all. The haze is thicker than I can ever remember.

Whether the fir trees are succumbing to the pine beetle, acid rain, excess nitrogen ( all theories I've heard) the fact is something or combination of things is killing the firs on the high mountains.

...you can't see through the trees anymore at the scenic overlooks.

Are you saying one ... ummmmm ... "can't see the forest for the trees"?