Sunday, September 10, 2017

Smoky Mountain Vacation - Day 4

We wanted to do a fair amount of hiking while in TN, and we decided to do a "view" hike and a "wooded" hike.  Day 4 was the perfect weather for our "view" hike, so we set out to conquer Clingman's Dome, which is the highest point in Tennessee at 6,643 feet high.  Most of the way up is a switchback drive, but the last half mile is a 13% grade paved trail.  Now I know what you're thinking.....only half a mile?!  That's not a hike!  Well, at over 6,000 feet (where the air is a bit thinner) and so steep...half a mile felt like about 5 miles!

This was just off the parking lot.  Lots of big rocks that begged to be climbed.











The view from the trail was just breath-taking!



We could have taken the Appalachian Trail from this point!  (that's what the sign says)  But we decided to stay on the path to Clingman's Dome.


View from one side of the observation deck at the top.


It was worth it!!  We had an amazingly clear day and could see about 100 miles in all directions.


On the way back down, daughter G stopped to sketch.




God's creativity and love of beauty never ceases to astound me.

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