Clingman's Dome

 On our final full day in Tennessee, which just happened to be the warmest too (somewhere in the upper 70's/lower 80's, us four siblings headed out for one final hike.  Alex stayed at the cabin, since his hip was bothering him (likely from a previous day's hike), Mikayla flew back to Houston Sunday morning to return for work, & my dad stayed back at the cabin, also to do some work, though little was accomplished with the competing games of pool with Alex.  

So, David, Jonathan, Abi, and I drove a nearly dizzying height to hike the half mile paved path up to the highest point in Tennessee, Clingman's Dome.  Winding and weaving roads through lush green mountain top greens and colors with peaks of astonishing heights and views around almost every curve.  Before we even started the hike, it was clear why this was the highest point in Tennessee.  The drive up there was probably the most beautiful drive and most enjoyable road I have ever been on.  Unfortunately, we did not get pictures of the road or anything along that drive.  It was just stunning, and to think, every square inch of it was created by God!   WOW!   

Upon arriving and finding a parking spot in this busy tourist site, the four of us Baurer kids started off on the steep half-mile hike to the top.   

These images are the view along the paved path up to Clingman's Dome. 

 

 As we reached Clingman's Dome, we found it was a large concrete spiral built in 1959 leading up to a lookout.  

 

The view was stunning.  Pictures cannot even begin to capture the depth of the beauty.  As a information sign told us at the top, on a clear day you can see up to over 70 miles away!  According to the national parks website, on a clear day expect to see over 100 miles, however air pollution often limits it to under 20 miles.  I think we were able to see at least 50 to 70, based on the map indicators and the distant peaks we could see.  The website also states that the lookout tower is 6,643 feet above sea level, standing as the highest point in the Great Smokey Mountains!

 

 

Here are a few panoramic views from the tower.

(Notice the row of three Baurer siblings looking over the rail on the right side: just after the man in the yellow shirt is David, then Jonathan, then Abi).

The path back down went a lot quicker, though we stopped more often for pictures. 

This is the view over the parking lot from the pile of rocks pictured in the upper left of the image above.  

This is the sight from the side walk by were we parked.  Again, images cannot even come close the the magnitude of beauty we saw before our eyes.