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?
I've been up here 4 times in the last 20 years. Three times by the paved walk-up route and once on a Thru-hike of the AT. This time we joined the masses on the paved trail and my kids enjoyed their first view from the ridge of the Smokies.
highlandvillager - Jun 7, 2010 4:51 pm Date Climbed: Jun 3, 2010
Missed the bears, but not the tourists
We hiked up the AT from Newfound Gap, hoping to see some bears. We met a few hikers who had seen some, but we didn't see any. Fortunately, the road to the top was closed for re-paving, so we didn't see any herds of tourists up there either. We enjoyed a quiet lunch and some great views from the observation deck. HP28
sgb02d - May 4, 2010 10:03 am Date Climbed: Apr 29, 2010
Long Hike
Hiked the 16 miles round trip from New Found Gap via the Appalachian trail. Saw a lot of thru hikers.
Vasler - Mar 29, 2010 2:18 am Date Climbed: Jun 13, 2006
Smoky
Surrounding fog and a circular ramp to a tower. Hard to forget Clingman's dome, in part because of its' AT fame.
NJTripper - Mar 7, 2010 9:51 pm Date Climbed: Apr 4, 2008
Sure - you drive to the summit..
But if you hike a few miles out-n-back on the A/T... I think it counts as a 'summit'.
Actually visited twice in one weekend thru the region.. 1st day (with the A/T hike was misserable, cold, rainy and foggy - no views...). 2 days later (on my way back to Atlanta) the sun was shinning - so I just ~had~ to come by and check it out again. Glad I did... views were great!
It was a windy afternoon on a five day AT trip. There was a porta-john on top that had to have one of the best views in the Smokies.
xDoogiex - Nov 24, 2009 7:29 pm Date Climbed: Sep 22, 2009
HP #4
very cloudy so couldn't see anything til i left it started to clear up and had awesome views at Newfound Gap. lots of people! felt bad driving to the parking lot so i hiked to Andrews Bald and back and summited twice
Walked up the paved trail in sandals. Nice views. Lots of people.
derekthered - Oct 4, 2009 5:10 am Date Climbed: Mar 29, 2007
hardly a climb
and i could barely see anything. this was actually my 2nd visit to the mountain, the first being when i was a year old (got solid photographic evidence). spent the night in the mt. collins shelter.
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?
chilkoot - Jul 11, 2010 9:18 pm Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2010
4th timeI've been up here 4 times in the last 20 years. Three times by the paved walk-up route and once on a Thru-hike of the AT. This time we joined the masses on the paved trail and my kids enjoyed their first view from the ridge of the Smokies.
highlandvillager - Jun 7, 2010 4:51 pm Date Climbed: Jun 3, 2010
Missed the bears, but not the touristsWe hiked up the AT from Newfound Gap, hoping to see some bears. We met a few hikers who had seen some, but we didn't see any. Fortunately, the road to the top was closed for re-paving, so we didn't see any herds of tourists up there either. We enjoyed a quiet lunch and some great views from the observation deck. HP28
sgb02d - May 4, 2010 10:03 am Date Climbed: Apr 29, 2010
Long HikeHiked the 16 miles round trip from New Found Gap via the Appalachian trail. Saw a lot of thru hikers.
Vasler - Mar 29, 2010 2:18 am Date Climbed: Jun 13, 2006
SmokySurrounding fog and a circular ramp to a tower. Hard to forget Clingman's dome, in part because of its' AT fame.
NJTripper - Mar 7, 2010 9:51 pm Date Climbed: Apr 4, 2008
Sure - you drive to the summit..But if you hike a few miles out-n-back on the A/T... I think it counts as a 'summit'.
Actually visited twice in one weekend thru the region.. 1st day (with the A/T hike was misserable, cold, rainy and foggy - no views...). 2 days later (on my way back to Atlanta) the sun was shinning - so I just ~had~ to come by and check it out again. Glad I did... views were great!
Joel Hopper - Nov 30, 2009 5:41 pm
Spring Break 1994It was a windy afternoon on a five day AT trip. There was a porta-john on top that had to have one of the best views in the Smokies.
xDoogiex - Nov 24, 2009 7:29 pm Date Climbed: Sep 22, 2009
HP #4very cloudy so couldn't see anything til i left it started to clear up and had awesome views at Newfound Gap. lots of people! felt bad driving to the parking lot so i hiked to Andrews Bald and back and summited twice
mtnbnd - Nov 4, 2009 1:27 pm
Busy with nice viewsWalked up the paved trail in sandals. Nice views. Lots of people.
derekthered - Oct 4, 2009 5:10 am Date Climbed: Mar 29, 2007
hardly a climband i could barely see anything. this was actually my 2nd visit to the mountain, the first being when i was a year old (got solid photographic evidence). spent the night in the mt. collins shelter.