Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: June 29, 2003
I got to the parking lot at about 7:00 on what would later be a crowded summer Sunday. Early in the morning, however, I had the whole place to myself, except for a nice couple from Georgia. The views were nice, except for the dead trees. I'm sure the place was truly stunning before the trees died. It's too bad the Park Service can't (or won't, what ever the case may be) do anything to save them. I encountered a verly large (and brave) doe on the way down. Get there early to avoid the crowds!
I drove the scenic route between Chattanooga and Kentucky by going over the Great Smoky Mtns National Park and also driving to the this lofty summit. It is disappionting to see the adelgid destroying the alpine forests up there. The fall colors lower down were spectacular.
big_g - Mar 3, 2003 6:19 pm Date Climbed: Feb 5, 2000
Route Climbed: AT and MST
Snowy and cold when I was there. I was tempted to bivy near the tower. I never did make it out to the next shelter - too much snow and downed trees. I slept in the restrooms at the gap. Running water and a toilet!!!
GA->ME 2000
Also climbed again 23 Apr 2007 to finish off the Mountain to Sea Trail. It was much easier this time!
Route Climbed: AT Hike Date Climbed: October 15, 2001
When we reached the summit winds were approaching 60 mpg. The background of all our pictures turned out white due to fog and rain. It was cold and wet... We had a blast!
Route Climbed: from parking lot Date Climbed: many times
Use the Clingman's Dome parking lot as a jumping off point for a lot of aour backpacking trips. The mountain is crowded most of the year except for mid December thru mid March when you have to hike 7 miles to reach it. Views are spectacular year round.
Nice mountain, and very nice view from the top! One of the 50 state high-points as well. Definitely a nice national park to go visit (Great Smoky Mountains NP).
Route Climbed: Summit Road Date Climbed: April 4 & 5, 1998
Since I couldn't find any reasonable hiking information before arriving at the park I just drove to this summit - a problem that SP goes a long way to fixing ;-). Although I didn't find any snow, I was pretty surprised at all the rime and clear ice I found - in fact it only took a few minutes before my car windows were completely coated with ice (no visibility) once the sun went down. I was lucky enough to have the summit tower to myself on both the evening of the 4th and the morning of the 5th. The scenery and views were amazing though my photos should be rescanned sometime.
dsnell - Jul 2, 2003 8:13 am
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: June 29, 2003I got to the parking lot at about 7:00 on what would later be a crowded summer Sunday. Early in the morning, however, I had the whole place to myself, except for a nice couple from Georgia. The views were nice, except for the dead trees. I'm sure the place was truly stunning before the trees died. It's too bad the Park Service can't (or won't, what ever the case may be) do anything to save them. I encountered a verly large (and brave) doe on the way down. Get there early to avoid the crowds!
vbeckman74 - May 30, 2003 8:26 am
Route Climbed: standard Date Climbed: September 2000Highpoint number 6 for Dy and I.
climber46 - Apr 26, 2003 3:02 pm
Route Climbed: road Date Climbed: Oct 19, 1995I drove the scenic route between Chattanooga and Kentucky by going over the Great Smoky Mtns National Park and also driving to the this lofty summit. It is disappionting to see the adelgid destroying the alpine forests up there. The fall colors lower down were spectacular.
big_g - Mar 3, 2003 6:19 pm Date Climbed: Feb 5, 2000
Route Climbed: AT and MSTSnowy and cold when I was there. I was tempted to bivy near the tower. I never did make it out to the next shelter - too much snow and downed trees. I slept in the restrooms at the gap. Running water and a toilet!!!
GA->ME 2000
Also climbed again 23 Apr 2007 to finish off the Mountain to Sea Trail. It was much easier this time!
christina_alabama - Jan 7, 2003 6:11 pm
Route Climbed: AT Date Climbed: December 21, 2002Had a nice two day trip.
rcorby2 - Oct 24, 2002 12:48 pm
Route Climbed: Newfound Gap (kind of, anyways) Date Climbed: November 1994 and 1995Hit this peak on two different occasions when I did 3 and 4 day treks in this area in the mid 90's.
andy_lemon - Oct 8, 2002 7:37 pm
Route Climbed: AT Hike Date Climbed: October 15, 2001When we reached the summit winds were approaching 60 mpg. The background of all our pictures turned out white due to fog and rain. It was cold and wet... We had a blast!
Pommes - Jul 24, 2002 8:20 am
Route Climbed: from parking lot Date Climbed: July 2002"lonely" mountain with a "great" view (5 Miles) on lots of dead trees.
pictioneer - Jun 25, 2002 8:42 pm
Route Climbed: from parking lot Date Climbed: many timesUse the Clingman's Dome parking lot as a jumping off point for a lot of aour backpacking trips. The mountain is crowded most of the year except for mid December thru mid March when you have to hike 7 miles to reach it. Views are spectacular year round.
mnutz - Jan 11, 2002 6:13 pm
Route Climbed: AT Date Climbed: Jan. 2001Hiked Newfound Gap to Silers Bald and back. Average 2 feet of snow on trail, and lotsa ice. Beautiful, quiet, and peaceful.
dshoe - Dec 20, 2001 5:29 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Trail Date Climbed: 10-93Nice mountain, and very nice view from the top! One of the 50 state high-points as well. Definitely a nice national park to go visit (Great Smoky Mountains NP).
ejgriffin - Nov 26, 2001 9:39 am
Route Climbed: Forney Ridge Date Climbed: March 23Started at the top, did a 4 day loop and returned to the top via Forney Ridge.
sshankle - Nov 14, 2001 1:30 pm
Date Climbed: May 27, 2000Walk up a paved trail after the wind gave us fits trying to get the jackets on in the parking lot...
miztflip - Sep 10, 2001 8:06 am
Route Climbed: AT Hike Date Climbed: 1996I also crossed on the AT but not on a complete hike through.
Josh - Sep 9, 2001 12:27 pm
Route Climbed: Appalachian Trail Date Climbed: Summer, 1995Hiked over Clingmans Dome on my 1995 AT thru-hike. This was a new "elevation record" for me at the time.
John - Sep 9, 2001 1:49 am
Route Climbed: Summit Road Date Climbed: April 4 & 5, 1998Since I couldn't find any reasonable hiking information before arriving at the park I just drove to this summit - a problem that SP goes a long way to fixing ;-). Although I didn't find any snow, I was pretty surprised at all the rime and clear ice I found - in fact it only took a few minutes before my car windows were completely coated with ice (no visibility) once the sun went down. I was lucky enough to have the summit tower to myself on both the evening of the 4th and the morning of the 5th. The scenery and views were amazing though my photos should be rescanned sometime.