Photo by Larry Vaught
Okay I keep hearing you are only as old as you act — something no one ever really told me until I started getting old.
Maybe that’s why Tuesday at age 70 I was determined to make it to the top of Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I really am not sure how many times I’ve made that climb before, but it just seemed like something I needed to show myself I could do again, especially after I got to visit with the parrots from Parrots Mountain that I truly love.
It’s pretty cool because it is half in Tennessee, half in North Carolina and on a clear day like Tuesday you can see seven states — Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, South Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Park rangers insist on clear days you can see for 100 miles.
At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi. That’s why it was 82 degrees in Pigeon Forge when I left and 61 when I got to the top of Clingmans Dome.
It’s a scenic drive from Gatlinburg past Newfound Gap to reach Clingmans Dome and Tuesday was a high traffic day with a lot of folks taking advantage of the gorgeous sunny and clear day with bright blue skies.
You have to make a steep half-mile walk to reach the observation tour and then climb a bit more to reach the top. And steep may not do this justice, especially in the altitude.
The key is pacing yourself no matter the age and knowing when you reach the top the effort is going to be worth it.
But don’t underestimate how much fun the people along the paved path to the top can be. I watched mothers/fathers carrying young infants to the top. Others pushed strollers. Many youngsters also walked as did some folks even older than me.
I talked to folks from South Carolina, Michigan, New Jersey, Georgia, Indiana, Pennsylvania and obviously Tennessee and North Carolina. I also met several visitors from outside the USA who came to make the jaunt to the top.
The Appalachian Trail crosses Clingmans Dome, marking the highest point along its 2,144 mile journey, and there were a lot of hikers coming off the trail to make pit stops. One group of four had a driver waiting and told me they could not wait to get a shower at a hotel and then eat everything they could in Gatlinburg before resuming their journey on the trail the next day.
I couldn’t stop myself from wandering close to a half-mile on the Appalachian Trail just so I can now say I have actually “walked” the trail — and hope no one asks me exactly how far I went.
Pets and bicycles are not permitted on the paved trail to the observation tower but I did talk to one cyclist that we actually saw riding on the uphill climb to get to Clingmans Dome. He said it took him about three hours to make the ride from the visitor center outside Gatlinburg. I told him I wanted to tell him he was a “man’s man” as we drove by him and he actually said next time to roll the window down and shout encouragement because it helps cyclists.
Maybe the most interesting person I talked to was artist Jodee Hickcock of New Hampshire. She was stationed about halfway up the paved path painting a terrific landscape. She travels to different locations and has some terrific paintings (view on Facebook at Art of Jodee Hickcock where she says “nothing stops my wandering soul”).
I could not help watching her paint and then looking up her work because it is amazing. I also have a granddaughter with some artistic ability and she gave me some terrific career advice for her.
If you visit the Smoky Mountains, take time to check out Clingmans Dome at any time of year — but remember the road leading to it is closed from Dec. 1 through April 1 as well as other days due to weather.
6 Responses
Pretty darn cool Larry.!
Thanks Grant
Last year, when my Grandmother, at age 99 and her little brother at age 97, shared their secrets to a long healthy life, the answer from both was only two words.
Keep Going.
You’re doing that, and I am happy for you, just keep going my friend, and we’ll keep checking for your updates and reading/listening to what you have to say.
Thanks Darin. Loved your story and words here
Check out the
"Assault on Mt Mitchell
Held every year. From
Spartanburg to Mt Mitchell
Bike ride/race winner usually finishes in 5 hours. My Mitchell is highest pt east of Mississippi. About 800 riders !
Thanks Carl but not a biker