Clingmans Dome (10/16)

Surprise, surprise, we woke up to rain again this morning. It rained most of the night too.  No hiking today.  Instead we are taking a drive up to Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the Smoky Mts.  It is 6,643 ft high.  They have a cool tower there that over looks the Smokey Mts.  It is a little bit of a drive to get there.  Part of this road we drove on Monday.  Today it is cold and rainy.  We stop at the visitor center and look around.  I bought a Smoky Mt pin.  I have been collecting pins from just about everywhere we go.
Back on the road it is getting colder, 47 degrees and dropping.  The scenery is spectacular. It is extremely foggy.

The fall colors are amazing.  The rain makes the colors more vivid.

We have to drive through several tunnels to get  to Clingmans Dome and it gets even foggier and colder.  At the top it is 39 degrees and raining.

We jump out of the truck and it is really cold.  I am not sure I want to go to the tower.  I make it as far as the visitor center and let Joe go by himself the rest of the way. I am so cold!!!!   While waiting for Joe I do a little shopping and buy homemade strawberry preserves and home made jarred peaches.

When Joe gets back he looks like a drowned rat.  I missed my opportunity to take his picture, I just wanted to get back to the truck and warmth. Here is what he saw at the top.
















So foggy you could not see much!

Now we head to Gatlinburg and lunch.  It rains off and on all the way home.  I am glad to be back home with the heater on, it is 51 degrees at the park.  I think I am in for the night.

Tomorrow we have a 8.5 mile loop hike planned.  It is suppose to be 71 and sunny all day.  Keep your fingers crossed for us that it really is sunny.  We have had enough of rain!!!!!!