This was the second time that my hiking and HP buddy, Mike, and I have visited Clingmans Dome (first time was in 1994?). With the increase of technology (digital cameras, etc.), we basically decided to redo and document the 18 HP's we had already completed along the east coast. The disposable camera/photos just didn't cut it. Views from the atop the observation tower were enshrouded with clouds. Though, the views from the parking lot were outstanding.
Jow - Sep 21, 2011 10:56 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2011
Long Hike
Long 16 mile hike. But prety nice not much views though. HP #16
vbeckman74 - Aug 21, 2011 6:37 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2000
Humanity
Lots of people. Cool lookout tower.
xpda - Aug 10, 2011 3:38 pm Date Climbed: Apr 5, 1998
Success
Same day as Mount Mitchell
DarlaB1 - Jun 28, 2011 9:55 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2011
Done
Touristy.
redmond - Jun 23, 2011 2:38 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2011
Drive Up
Drove up then, then walked up in shorts and sandals. Felt like a cheat driving up rather than hiking but I was rushed for time. Will have to revisit to truly climb this.
islandborn11 - Apr 2, 2011 2:40 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2010
Watch for bears
Started from the big parking lot at Newfound Gap and took about two and a half hours to summit. Trail was deserted but peak was crawling with tourists. Making my way back at dusk I was accosted by a dude at the last parking lot before getting back that a bear had just been seen just a few feet from where I had just emerged from the trail. I didn't feel like being an appetizer so my benefactor was good enough to give me a lift back to NFG so I weaseled out of the last 1.8 miles.
ZeeJay - Jan 29, 2011 10:17 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 1998
Nice hike
With lesdubois. Took the AT from Newfound Gap. Almost no one on trail, but lots on summit.
Corona - Jan 25, 2011 4:42 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2006
Easy Hike
It was a shame to see all the Spurce trees dieing.
RamblinWreck - Jan 23, 2011 4:49 pm Date Climbed: Dec 20, 2010
Slow in the Snow
Deep snow with a nice ice glaze, slow going to the top but a nice clear day
mlandau3 - Jan 3, 2011 6:54 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2004
A Long Day
From Newfound Gap via the AT and Boulevard (including a hike over Mt Kephart to the Jumpoff). Didn't see a soul other than at Newfound Gap.
Some time in June, 2001.
My first hike in the Smokies and, without knowing it, probably my first state highpoint - unless I visited another one before that, without knowing it even now!
kteichert - Nov 5, 2010 10:17 am Date Climbed: Nov 3, 2010
HP #18
Cool observatory tower. Didn't see much of the appalachians though. It was pretty overcast with the occasional break in the clouds. Saw a lot more people than on brasstown bald. Absolutely loved driving through pigeon forge and the smoky mountains.
ericvandrick - Oct 29, 2010 1:56 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2006
its been awhile
I forget when I did this.. a few years ago with friends..
Spindle - Sep 22, 2010 10:02 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2010
Lots of tourists
That last 1/2 mile from the parking lot sure was crowded.
Bob Bolton - Sep 18, 2010 1:59 am Date Climbed: May 4, 2010
Overnight road hike
My buddy Duane and I are working to be the first to complete the list of the 100 most topographically prominent peaks in the Lower 48. Clingmans is on the list, and we had two others in far-flung locations. So we planned a three-legged trip to Tucson for Mica Mountain, then driving to Big Bend National Park for Emory Peak, then driving to San Antonio for a flight to Nashville and Clingmans, then returning home. The Nashville floods happened while we were on the road, and at first we wondered if we would have to change our flights out of San Antonio to return home instead. But the more we investigated, the more we were convinced that we could get Clingmans, so we didn't change our flights. We were to land in Nashville on May 3, then drive to the Gatlinburg area that evening, drive to Clingmans on the 4th, then head back to Nashville and get on a plane that afternoon. While doing our research, to our horror we learned that the Clingmans Dome road was still closed due to stimulus funded projects in the National Park. So how would we get our money's worth out of our plane fare? We decided that the only way we could do this was with an overnight hike on the road since there were not enough continuous daylignt hours in our schedule. After securing our motel room, we got ready for an unexpected hike, drove up to Newfound Gap, parked at the Appalachian Trail parking lot, and headed up the road. The total round-trip distance was between 15 and 16 miles. We returned to our motel after the hike, slept for about 3 hours, then got up and headed for Nashville and our flights home. This plus the extra 4 miles on our Mica Mountain hike pushed our total mileage for the trip from a planned 26 miles to a total of over 44 miles in 4 days. Are we crazy or WHAT?
GlennD - Jan 21, 2012 5:17 pm Date Climbed: Oct 22, 2010
HP #8Hiked up for an overnight from Husky Gap. Beautiful fall foliage in the Smokies that time of year.
markowens - Dec 7, 2011 11:18 am Date Climbed: Nov 18, 2011
HP #23Nice site. Easy to find- just follow all of the people! lol
McCannster - Nov 26, 2011 6:14 pm Date Climbed: Nov 22, 2011
#18It was really foggy and chilly, but we made a quick jaunt up to the summit via the paved tourist trail. Zero views.
aprovance - Oct 13, 2011 11:00 pm Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2011
1st HighpointGreat views as leaves are beginning to peak.
jds3038 - Sep 25, 2011 12:44 pm Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2011
#4This was the second time that my hiking and HP buddy, Mike, and I have visited Clingmans Dome (first time was in 1994?). With the increase of technology (digital cameras, etc.), we basically decided to redo and document the 18 HP's we had already completed along the east coast. The disposable camera/photos just didn't cut it. Views from the atop the observation tower were enshrouded with clouds. Though, the views from the parking lot were outstanding.
Jow - Sep 21, 2011 10:56 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2011
Long HikeLong 16 mile hike. But prety nice not much views though. HP #16
vbeckman74 - Aug 21, 2011 6:37 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2000
HumanityLots of people. Cool lookout tower.
xpda - Aug 10, 2011 3:38 pm Date Climbed: Apr 5, 1998
SuccessSame day as Mount Mitchell
DarlaB1 - Jun 28, 2011 9:55 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2011
DoneTouristy.
redmond - Jun 23, 2011 2:38 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2011
Drive UpDrove up then, then walked up in shorts and sandals. Felt like a cheat driving up rather than hiking but I was rushed for time. Will have to revisit to truly climb this.
islandborn11 - Apr 2, 2011 2:40 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2010
Watch for bearsStarted from the big parking lot at Newfound Gap and took about two and a half hours to summit. Trail was deserted but peak was crawling with tourists. Making my way back at dusk I was accosted by a dude at the last parking lot before getting back that a bear had just been seen just a few feet from where I had just emerged from the trail. I didn't feel like being an appetizer so my benefactor was good enough to give me a lift back to NFG so I weaseled out of the last 1.8 miles.
ZeeJay - Jan 29, 2011 10:17 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 1998
Nice hikeWith lesdubois. Took the AT from Newfound Gap. Almost no one on trail, but lots on summit.
Corona - Jan 25, 2011 4:42 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2006
Easy HikeIt was a shame to see all the Spurce trees dieing.
RamblinWreck - Jan 23, 2011 4:49 pm Date Climbed: Dec 20, 2010
Slow in the SnowDeep snow with a nice ice glaze, slow going to the top but a nice clear day
mlandau3 - Jan 3, 2011 6:54 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2004
A Long DayFrom Newfound Gap via the AT and Boulevard (including a hike over Mt Kephart to the Jumpoff). Didn't see a soul other than at Newfound Gap.
rgg - Nov 16, 2010 8:02 pm
EasySome time in June, 2001.
My first hike in the Smokies and, without knowing it, probably my first state highpoint - unless I visited another one before that, without knowing it even now!
kteichert - Nov 5, 2010 10:17 am Date Climbed: Nov 3, 2010
HP #18Cool observatory tower. Didn't see much of the appalachians though. It was pretty overcast with the occasional break in the clouds. Saw a lot more people than on brasstown bald. Absolutely loved driving through pigeon forge and the smoky mountains.
ericvandrick - Oct 29, 2010 1:56 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2006
its been awhileI forget when I did this.. a few years ago with friends..
Spindle - Sep 22, 2010 10:02 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2010
Lots of touristsThat last 1/2 mile from the parking lot sure was crowded.
Bob Bolton - Sep 18, 2010 1:59 am Date Climbed: May 4, 2010
Overnight road hikeMy buddy Duane and I are working to be the first to complete the list of the 100 most topographically prominent peaks in the Lower 48. Clingmans is on the list, and we had two others in far-flung locations. So we planned a three-legged trip to Tucson for Mica Mountain, then driving to Big Bend National Park for Emory Peak, then driving to San Antonio for a flight to Nashville and Clingmans, then returning home. The Nashville floods happened while we were on the road, and at first we wondered if we would have to change our flights out of San Antonio to return home instead. But the more we investigated, the more we were convinced that we could get Clingmans, so we didn't change our flights. We were to land in Nashville on May 3, then drive to the Gatlinburg area that evening, drive to Clingmans on the 4th, then head back to Nashville and get on a plane that afternoon. While doing our research, to our horror we learned that the Clingmans Dome road was still closed due to stimulus funded projects in the National Park. So how would we get our money's worth out of our plane fare? We decided that the only way we could do this was with an overnight hike on the road since there were not enough continuous daylignt hours in our schedule. After securing our motel room, we got ready for an unexpected hike, drove up to Newfound Gap, parked at the Appalachian Trail parking lot, and headed up the road. The total round-trip distance was between 15 and 16 miles. We returned to our motel after the hike, slept for about 3 hours, then got up and headed for Nashville and our flights home. This plus the extra 4 miles on our Mica Mountain hike pushed our total mileage for the trip from a planned 26 miles to a total of over 44 miles in 4 days. Are we crazy or WHAT?