Day 52: Smoky Mountain National Park

Trying to catch up ----

Wednesday, November 10th - Clingmans Dome

Have you ever seen the Great Smokies? If so, you will easily understand the "WOW" factor of these magnificent mountains. If not, maybe you can relate to our naivete about not having them listed as a must-see trip "destination." Had two different people at campgrounds not suggested we go to Gatlinburg, we might have missed one of top three highlights of our trip.

Pictures can't even begin to capture the majesty of these old hills. I sat and looked and tried really hard to imprint the spectacular views in my memory bank. But alas, you need to just savor the moment and enjoy this natural eye candy.

We arrived at one of the many Information Centers in the Smokies shortly after lunchtime. I asked one of the info volunteers what would be best to see this afternoon and also give us a little hike. After looking us over, she told us to bypass Laurel Falls and go directly to Clingmans Dome. She said, "You look fit enough to make this hike." She also suggested we return to the park really early in the morning and do the Cades Cove loop, as that is the best time to see the animals.

It was a perfect weather day and about 70 degrees, so we headed toward Clingmans Dome. We are used to Acadia National Park in Maine, which is beautiful, but a million times smaller than the Great Smoky National Park. So we drove and drove up and around the mountains. We saw a sign that said, "Beware of snow and ice." I thought they were just getting ready for winter as it was pretty wrm out, until we started passing snow that had recently been plowed off the road.

Another quick stop reminded us how far we were from home -

Partway there, but still need to go higher and higher  -

Clingmans Dome straddles the ridge line between NC and TN. The Dome is a 54-foot cement observation tower that winds around like the inside of a conch seashell, with a ramp that allows you to walk to the top and highest point in the Smoky Mountains - 6, 643 feet. This is the second highest mountaintop east of the Mississippi and the highest point on the Appalachian Trail.

We parked the car, grabbed jackets, gloves, etc., and started up the half mile path to the Dome. From the bottom it didn't look that steep. Signs warned people of the thin air and to go slowly. They weren't kidding. Off came the gloves and jackets, as we were working going up this path....

Look behind us for the path.

A half hour later we made it to the base of the tower and up we went. Ice at the bottom of the tower made it a little tricky walking. The payoff was so worth the struggle up that nasty path! We were blessed to have such a crystal clear day to be on top of the world with a 360 degree view of the mountains and valleys. Having a clear viewing day is seldom the case, as we found out later. How lucky we were to have that info guide send us off on this trail. She knew exactly what was the right thing to do today in the GSM Park.

All is not necessarily beautiful, as from this high point on Clingmans Dome, the devastation of the evergreen trees by an infestation of Wooly Adelgid bugs is sadly evident, as only the skeletons of the trees remain. Nature at work clearing the forest. Sigh.