IHaveArrived - Aug 30, 2009 7:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2009
HP #1
I had a lot of fun climbing to the overlook tower with a couple of young nephews who found more joy in scaling every rock face that lined the paved walkway than the views from the top.
tcole21 - Aug 29, 2009 1:10 am Date Climbed: Oct 15, 2007
Alright
I hate that there is a road to the top! We went to Charlies Bunion first and then walked up the paved path to the summit. It would be a lot better if there weren't so many people up there!
Even in the clouds and fog it was still a great place. About 49 degrees on top in July was nice, especially if you're from Texas. Saw a Bear on the way down too!
Redwic - May 26, 2009 8:48 pm Date Climbed: May 23, 2009
Part Of A Hiking Trifecta!!!
I summited Clingmans Dome, Mount Love, and Mount Buckley all during the same hike. Clingmans Dome was my second State Highpoint of the day (Sassafras Mountain was the first), and my 34th State Highpoint reached overall.
WoundedKnee - May 23, 2009 3:35 am Date Climbed: May 18, 2009
Easy way up
With my 2 year old son and parents. Unseasonably cool. Fantastic views from the gaudy concrete structure at the top.
VermontMike - May 16, 2009 1:07 am Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2008
"Hiked" to the summit
Man that paved half-mile "hike" was tough. Wish I had my rollerblades, that would have been a funny sight.
Hotoven - Apr 16, 2009 11:10 pm Date Climbed: Mar 10, 2009
Always foggy?
Came up on it after cutting over from Chimney Tops. It was super foggy and could not even see the ground once in the dome. we did a 19 mile hike round trip to get there too!
JGHarrison - Jan 27, 2009 1:56 pm Date Climbed: Jan 7, 2007
freeze out
i had ice in my shoes
Ted Eliason - Jan 16, 2009 7:00 pm Date Climbed: Mar 4, 1995
Summit!
I wish southerners would stop putting observation decks on their high points.
mtsptfam - Nov 27, 2008 12:16 pm Date Climbed: Nov 5, 2008
2nd times the Charm
This is my 2nd time up. The first time was on a backpacking trip in the smokies which yielded no view because the weather was so bad I could only see about 20yards. This time, even though I took the drive up, I could see the whole way to Mount Mitchell. Bummer I can't get to it's summit because it is closed for "construction".
nextyearranier - Nov 4, 2008 4:08 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2005
Took the high road
Cheated and took the road, but hiked the steep path for about a mile. Nice views, even with the fog.
rangermatt - Oct 26, 2008 8:49 pm Date Climbed: Oct 26, 2008
Busy busy busy
Probably won't be a busier day until...maybe Memorial Day. Everyone enjoying the last gasp of summer, with pleasant temperatures - borderline t-shirt weather. Interestingly, Americans seemed to be vastly outnumbered by international visitors.
silversummit - Sep 24, 2008 10:39 pm Date Climbed: Nov 5, 2006
Walked up on a cold day
We were driving through the NP and decided to see if the road was still open and this was the last weekend it was that season. I cannot pass up a chance to see any mountain view and take a picture so off I went. It was chilly, windy and almost no one was there so I felt like I was on top of the park; very pretty 360 degree views! I actually hiked very near here 26 years ago but didn't finish the trek up to the Dome.
skinnywhitecomic - Sep 1, 2008 4:28 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2008
HP # 4
I was expecting a USGS marker somewhere but never saw it. Not a bad place.
Chinigo - Aug 19, 2008 2:03 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2003
HP #12 - from parking lot
I (with my wife (Tracy) and son (Alex), then almost 3 yrs old) did this as part of our second family HP trip.
Here's another mountain that I need to climb for real someday.
CrazySanMan - Aug 11, 2008 7:29 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2008
Carried my 80lb son
In the parking lot I saw the paved trail and kept my flip flops on. My son (7 years old, 80 lbs, asthma) had just woken up and was grumpy. He didn't want to hike the trail so I gave him a piggy back ride. What a workout! I had no idea the trail would be that steep in places. I carried him all the way up the tower and had sewing machine legs all the way down. My first highpoint.
The best part of hiking to the observation tower is the information sign showing the peaks in the distance as it helps point out other peaks that you have climbed, or hope to climb.
kavak - Jul 2, 2008 10:18 am Date Climbed: Sep 23, 1985
From Summit Parking Area
My wife and 4 year old son accompanied me on the 1/2 mile walk to this strange structure built so that anyone can see the views. Only there were no views!!
2skinners - Jun 29, 2008 11:36 pm Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2008
HP # 13
Originally planned to do VA, TN, & KY with my wife. Got a late start and weather changed our plans. So we instead opted for TN and were going to do VA the next day but plans were again thwarted by the weather so we did KY. We did the "Highpointer's Route" (1 mile RT)for this one, but before you say anything, 8-10 hours of driving on a weekend off one way can be just as strenous as hiking 15 miles. I've done both, so I can compare accurately.
We experienced the most amazing sunset of our lifetime on this day. The entire area was bathed in a yellow/orange glow. It was unreal!!
IHaveArrived - Aug 30, 2009 7:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2009
HP #1I had a lot of fun climbing to the overlook tower with a couple of young nephews who found more joy in scaling every rock face that lined the paved walkway than the views from the top.
tcole21 - Aug 29, 2009 1:10 am Date Climbed: Oct 15, 2007
AlrightI hate that there is a road to the top! We went to Charlies Bunion first and then walked up the paved path to the summit. It would be a lot better if there weren't so many people up there!
jeffh25 - Jul 14, 2009 4:05 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2009
"Smokies" BearEven in the clouds and fog it was still a great place. About 49 degrees on top in July was nice, especially if you're from Texas. Saw a Bear on the way down too!
Redwic - May 26, 2009 8:48 pm Date Climbed: May 23, 2009
Part Of A Hiking Trifecta!!!I summited Clingmans Dome, Mount Love, and Mount Buckley all during the same hike. Clingmans Dome was my second State Highpoint of the day (Sassafras Mountain was the first), and my 34th State Highpoint reached overall.
WoundedKnee - May 23, 2009 3:35 am Date Climbed: May 18, 2009
Easy way upWith my 2 year old son and parents. Unseasonably cool. Fantastic views from the gaudy concrete structure at the top.
VermontMike - May 16, 2009 1:07 am Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2008
"Hiked" to the summitMan that paved half-mile "hike" was tough. Wish I had my rollerblades, that would have been a funny sight.
Hotoven - Apr 16, 2009 11:10 pm Date Climbed: Mar 10, 2009
Always foggy?Came up on it after cutting over from Chimney Tops. It was super foggy and could not even see the ground once in the dome. we did a 19 mile hike round trip to get there too!
JGHarrison - Jan 27, 2009 1:56 pm Date Climbed: Jan 7, 2007
freeze outi had ice in my shoes
Ted Eliason - Jan 16, 2009 7:00 pm Date Climbed: Mar 4, 1995
Summit!I wish southerners would stop putting observation decks on their high points.
mtsptfam - Nov 27, 2008 12:16 pm Date Climbed: Nov 5, 2008
2nd times the CharmThis is my 2nd time up. The first time was on a backpacking trip in the smokies which yielded no view because the weather was so bad I could only see about 20yards. This time, even though I took the drive up, I could see the whole way to Mount Mitchell. Bummer I can't get to it's summit because it is closed for "construction".
nextyearranier - Nov 4, 2008 4:08 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2005
Took the high roadCheated and took the road, but hiked the steep path for about a mile. Nice views, even with the fog.
rangermatt - Oct 26, 2008 8:49 pm Date Climbed: Oct 26, 2008
Busy busy busyProbably won't be a busier day until...maybe Memorial Day. Everyone enjoying the last gasp of summer, with pleasant temperatures - borderline t-shirt weather. Interestingly, Americans seemed to be vastly outnumbered by international visitors.
BigCountry - Oct 3, 2008 6:47 pm
As a kidwith my family
silversummit - Sep 24, 2008 10:39 pm Date Climbed: Nov 5, 2006
Walked up on a cold dayWe were driving through the NP and decided to see if the road was still open and this was the last weekend it was that season. I cannot pass up a chance to see any mountain view and take a picture so off I went. It was chilly, windy and almost no one was there so I felt like I was on top of the park; very pretty 360 degree views! I actually hiked very near here 26 years ago but didn't finish the trek up to the Dome.
skinnywhitecomic - Sep 1, 2008 4:28 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2008
HP # 4I was expecting a USGS marker somewhere but never saw it. Not a bad place.
Chinigo - Aug 19, 2008 2:03 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2003
HP #12 - from parking lotI (with my wife (Tracy) and son (Alex), then almost 3 yrs old) did this as part of our second family HP trip.
Here's another mountain that I need to climb for real someday.
CrazySanMan - Aug 11, 2008 7:29 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2008
Carried my 80lb sonIn the parking lot I saw the paved trail and kept my flip flops on. My son (7 years old, 80 lbs, asthma) had just woken up and was grumpy. He didn't want to hike the trail so I gave him a piggy back ride. What a workout! I had no idea the trail would be that steep in places. I carried him all the way up the tower and had sewing machine legs all the way down. My first highpoint.
MarkDidier - Jul 12, 2008 9:45 am
Concrete JungleThe best part of hiking to the observation tower is the information sign showing the peaks in the distance as it helps point out other peaks that you have climbed, or hope to climb.
kavak - Jul 2, 2008 10:18 am Date Climbed: Sep 23, 1985
From Summit Parking AreaMy wife and 4 year old son accompanied me on the 1/2 mile walk to this strange structure built so that anyone can see the views. Only there were no views!!
2skinners - Jun 29, 2008 11:36 pm Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2008
HP # 13Originally planned to do VA, TN, & KY with my wife. Got a late start and weather changed our plans. So we instead opted for TN and were going to do VA the next day but plans were again thwarted by the weather so we did KY. We did the "Highpointer's Route" (1 mile RT)for this one, but before you say anything, 8-10 hours of driving on a weekend off one way can be just as strenous as hiking 15 miles. I've done both, so I can compare accurately.
We experienced the most amazing sunset of our lifetime on this day. The entire area was bathed in a yellow/orange glow. It was unreal!!