No, I think diane is right. I think the Appalachians, which include the Blue Ridge, Smokies,et al, are older by several millennia than the Rockies. I remember in sixth grade geography we learned that Eastern mountains were "old worn down" mountains when western mountains were still thrusting upwards. And I thought they had to have been worn down by all the settlers crossing over them to get to the Midwest. And maybe that was truer than I knew in my childish wisdom!! love joan