Exploring Great Smoky Mountains, Hiking to Chimney Top

It was very, very, very windy last night. Not constant, but big wind gusts would blow down from the mountains occasionally to rattle the tent and make me worry. I didn’t really sleep well. A big storm and a cold front were moving in for Friday.

The winds died down by 7 am today (Thursday). I added a couple of blog posts and some Shreveport and New Orleans photos to Facebook. Wrote a couple of blog posts. Then headed for Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Got to the entrance sign and realized I left my camera in

the camper. Back-tracked and redo. Took some photos of me standing in front of the sign (as I always do), and some more photos of the mountain views, including some selfies with the large tripod. Think I got some good ones of both views and features of the park. Stopped at the Sugarlands Visitor Center, bought some postcards, bookmarks, and magnets, got my Parks Passport book stamped, and got some good advice. No longer a shuttle service to pick people up at Clingman Dome if they are hiking in on the Appalachian Trail. He suggested I hike the A.T. to Charles Bunion and then drive to Clingman Dome.

I picked up quite a few maps – I love maps. In fact, I started scrapbooking because of maps. I wanted to include my maps in with the photos, but can’t do that in a photo album.

First stop: Chimneys Picnic area. Really beautiful river running downhill over huge rocks there. So picturesque! Dozens of picnic tables on cement slabs and two WPA-era local stone restrooms. I took some photos of the WPA style picnic structures, of the scenery, and of some of the flora there (lichens and wild flowers). Lots of people there enjoying the day and the water.

Then on to Chimney Top for a trail hike. There are 2 trails there – Prong Road is 0.9 miles and Chimney Top is 2 miles and requires one to crawl up to a mountain top over very steep rock for the last several hundred yards. I opted for Prong Road. I walked uphill for 1.5 hours and thought I would never get to the end, so I stopped on the 3rd set of bridges and turned around. Little did I know that the Prong Road Trail ended at the end of that bridge. Missed it by that much.

But the scenery along the way was fabulous, and everyone walking on the trail was so friendly. It was great to be out in that clean, fresh mountain air enjoying the day. As I was almost back to the start, a light rain sprinkle started. When I got in the car to go to Clingmans Dome, a real

rain started. Clingmans Dome is 6,600 feet above sea level, so I was in the clouds on the drive up and really in the rain when I got there. Very dark and foggy at 2 pm, so headed back to my campsite. I did snap this photo of it.

Did stop at Clingmans Dome to check my lights, and sure enough the right passenger side headlight was out, so stopped at an auto parts store for a replacement light. He showed me all the stuff I would have to rembove to replace the light, and then gave me the phone number of a mechanic who makes house calls. Took a short nap, downloaded photos, made myself another Smithfield bologna sandwich with Chimayo red chile pepper power (delish), and then went to the Comedy Barn for a night of entertainment.

The Comedy Barn is HUGE! And stuffed full of kitsch. The comedy was clean, but sort of stale, and mostly came from making fun of audience members who volunteered to go up on stage for skits. I admit that I did laugh at them too. Maybe feeling uncomfortable and laughing helps. Would not go back on a return visit.