Hikers on Norton Creek

This 1930 photograph of hikers on Norton Creek was taken by Albert Gordon "Dutch" Roth (1890-1974), an avid photographer and one of the founders of the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club. The club was formed after a group of outdoor enthusiasts hiked up to Mount LeConte in October 1924. The back of the picture is stamped “Jim Thompson Co.,” indicating it was probably printed by hiking club member James E. (Jim) Thompson (1880-1976), a professional photographer who played a major role in promoting a national park in the Southern Appalachians