Chimney Tops & Clingmans Dome

After a quick stop at the Hard Rock Cafe for a t-shirt to add to my collection, Chris and I headed out the great Smoky Mountain National Park! We had decided on two hikes for the day: Chimney Tops, a four mile, labeled strenuous, out and back hike, and Clingmans Dome, one mile out and back labeled moderate. Although it was only two miles, it took us over an hour to climb to the top! We knew we'd have to scramble the rock face to catch the view, but I wasn't expecting that I could plunge to my death if I had a misstep (we were at 4,800 feet). Luckily, neither of us did and we have the pictures to prove it. If you are afraid of heights or are generally a nervous person, this is not the hike for you.

Since we live in the city, we don't have many opportunities to hike. Even so, Chris and I came prepared. It always amazes me how many people do not respect nature and embark on a trail without basic things like water, a simple first aid kit, a pocket knife and sustenance. We were good samaritans to an older couple from Ohio whom we had seen taking a break on the way up. An hour later, they were still sitting along the creek bed, a good mile or so from the trail head. The woman's knee had given out and she asked us if we had a pocket knife she could borrow to tear apart a sweatshirt to make a brace for her knee. Are you kidding me?! If your daily exercise routine generally consists of walking from the kitchen table to the counter to pour yourself another cup of coffee or there's a chance that one or more of your body parts could spontaneously fail, probably don't try your hand at a strenuous hike in the mountains. Get some postcards and say you did.

Our second "hike" (I use quotes here because, although it was steep, it was completely paved) was to Clingmans Dome, 6,643 feet, the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Here we had another 360 degree view which we shared with some pot smokers (the view, not the drugs).