Day 22 - Friday, April 12, 1974 - Derrick Knob Shelter to Clingman's Dome

10.0 miles - 164.7 cumulative miles

The observation tower on Clingman's Dome

Left Derrick Knob Shelter in a cold, wet, foggy grey morning.  The wind was still blowing hard.  Had a full shelter last night.  Five guys in one group.  Also the guy we met at Russel Field the night before.  His name is Dale D. and he's from over near Franklin.  Just hiking through the Smokies and taking 11 days.  Told us about a camping supply store in Asheville for a new pack for Rick.  Also at the shelter last night was the guy we spent the night with at Plum Orchard shelter with the messed up foot.  Freaky as ever.  Still talking about his natural foods, etc.  Ended up hiking with him half the day today.  We hiked a fast 5 1/2 miles to the next shelter and there met a guy we first met near Suches, GA.  He thought we'd be long gone because he was at the shelter we pulled into, half dead, after our 20 mile day.  He hiked with Joe H. a few days ago.

Moved on 2 more miles to Double Springs Shelter real fast.  Had a long lunch break and Dale caught up with us before we left.  He was staying there tonight.  We went on through the wet, climbing most of the next 3 miles to Clingman's Dome, high point of the Appalachian Trail (6,643 feet).  Started raining at about 3pm.  No view. [A little personal history here: I have been on Clingman's Dome 3 or 4 times and have never seen the view.  The one time I could have had a view, Marcia and I were driving through Newfound Gap after a spring snow.  It was a gorgeous sunny clear day with snow on all the trees.  We had intended to take a drive up and hike to the observation tower on the mountain, but the road was closed because of a plane crash somewhere in the vicinity.  On the other hand, on Marcia's first hike through the Smokies, she had a good view from the top.  Maybe someday.] There were people there and hikers starting out in the rain.  We got a ride halfway down to Gatlinburg.  Hitched a ride the rest of the way, checked in to motel, showered and went out to eat a Bonanza.  Rick is looking for a new pack.

My best view from Clingman's Dome