The highpoint of Tennessee was one that had eluded me once before when I visited the region in the fall together with Eric. Back then is was early winter weather who completely shut down all chances of using roads between Tennessee and North Carolina that passed through the Smokey mountains national park.
This time however, weather was threatening with storms coming in from west, but they stayed away for the visit apart from bringing in some high clouds, but the viewing distance was unusually long for the location which is known to be veiled in clouds.
Sometimes the sun peeked through the clouds though, and showed some beautiful hills when walking up the "steep" last half mile from the visitor parking to the highpoint. It also showed how much the local tree population was suffering from invasive species together with acid rain which is heavily produced by exhausts and the massive monstrous usage of the coal which is still mined in many of the surrounding northerns states.
Hiking up the paved path to the lookout tower one is met by the sight of a very different lookout tower which mostly resembles a flying saucer.
Temperatures sank from a warm 80F (27C) to a much colder 55F (13C) with strong winds on the top, prompting many visitors to turn around back to the parking to pick up more clothes even with the short distance to the top.
Being the second highest high point in eastern USA, and only some 30ft lower than the highest (Mt Mitchell, NC) there were some spectacular views to be had when the clouds and weather cooperated.
Stats:
State: TennesseeHigh point: Clingmans Dome
Elevation: 6643 ft (2024.8 m)
Date: May 1, 2011
Total elevation to date: 84299 ft (25694.3 m)
Access: Drive-up, short hike
Difficulty rating (of 10): 3
Potential Difficulties: weather! road closures.
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