… the wind was calm. High mountain calm is rare. Today (Sunday March 11th) was the second calm day in a row. And east of the Mississippi, you don’t get any higher than this observation deck:
This is the classic 1950’s-style architectural icon atop 6643′ Clingman’s Dome. The access road isn’t open yet, and it was late enough that the other hikers had gone. I had the entire place to myself – that alone is an experience that can’t be topped.
And, of course, there was the unlimited visibility. It was better than in the annotated display boards. Here … look for yourself, first to the east:
And to the north:
South:
and West:
The hike in and out was sixteen miles of mostly well-groomed trail – only rare pockets of the kind of out-of-control wash-away ruts I hiked yesterday. The trail maintainers have been hard at work. To paraphrase the inscription on Christopher Wren’s grave: “If you seek their monument, look about you.”
Yes, there were lots of ups and downs, and it was made tougher because I was trying to do it on what was supposed to be a rest day after 32 miles yesterday. But tomorrow’s weather was forecast to be miserable, so today was the day to do this: to stand on top of the Appalachian Mountains.
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Here is the map of today’s route, with link to many more photos:
AT Day 64 – Clingmans Dome at EveryTrail
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