The route for my hot, cloudy late June walk southbound on the Appalachian Trail
Newfound Gap to Clingmans Dome elevation profile. This route tops out at the Smoky's highest point and gains almost 1700 feet of pure elevation (2800+ feet of total elevation gain)
My planned hike on this Saturday was supposed to be up Mingus Creek Trail. I had to make a quick change of plans when the route was closed.
A family of wild turkey along Newfound Gap Road.
Newfound Gap was bustling on this late-June Saturday morning
The typical Summer hiking crowd sets out from Newfound Gap, probably on their way to Charlies Bunion.
Newfound Gap - I love the view when there are no views
Appalachian Trail - Getting started just across the street from Newfound Gap. This is the spot where most thru-hikers hitch a ride to Gatlinburg for a couple 'zero-days'.
Appalachian Trail - Morning walk in the clouds. The conditions would not change all day at these elevations.
Appalachian Trail - Thick spruce-fir forest
Appalachian Trail - The trail and the familiar white blaze
Appalachian Trail - No views through the trees today
Appalachian Trail - Spooky cloudy walking
Appalachian Trail - The top of a dead Fraser landed directly on the trail
Appalachian Trail - Another blowdown blocking the way
Appalachian Trail - The red spruce branches were heavy with moisture and when the wind blew it 'rained' on me all day.
Appalachian Trail - I love the fern covered ground of the spruce-fir forest.
Appalachian Trail - Foggy conditions
Appalachian Trail - Young spruce in the clouds
Appalachian Trail - This stile is to let all but the hogs get into the fragile high-elevation beech forest
Appalachian Trail - The sign explaining why this area is fenced (zoom to read upper right)
Appalachian Trail - The fence protecting the beech forest
Appalachian Trail - Steps are abundant along this section of the trail
Appalachian Trail - New growth on the fraser firs
Appalachian Trail - Reaching Indian Gap and the intersection with the Road Prong Trail
Appalachian Trail - Road Prong Trail intersection
Appalachian Trail - The Park Service is collecting samples of wood-boring insects such as the balsam wooley adelgid
Appalachian Trail - I spent a little time 'off-trail' because I thought this is where the trail re-entered the woods
Appalachian Trail - Nope, this is where I was supposed to re-enter
Appalachian Trail - Continuing on the Indian Gap to Fork Ridge Trail section.
Appalachian Trail - The Indian Gap to Fork Ridge Trail section
Appalachian Trail - Indian Gap to Fork Ridge Trail section
Appalachian Trail - A trail worker's artwork
Appalachian Trail - Tons of blowdowns on this section. Notice how the roots peel the entire forest up
Appalachian Trail - A three-foot wide rock embedded in the roots of one blowdown
Appalachian Trail - A slight clearing on Mount Collins. I was hopeful that it would clear up, but it never did.
Appalachian Trail - A tiny mushroom beside the trail
Appalachian Trail - This little spring spilling out of a crack in a rock beside the trail is the headwaters of Road Prong
Appalachian Trail - Lots of very nice trail work on this section of the trail
Appalachian Trail - The Fork Ridge Trail intersection
Appalachian Trail - The intersection of the Sugarland Mountain Trail on Mount Collins.
Appalachian Trail - Atop Mount Collins
Appalachian Trail - Thornless blackberries in full bloom
Appalachian Trail - The 'view' from Mount Collins
Appalachian Trail - Trailside foliage
Appalachian Trail - A rest spot near Clingmans Dome Road
Appalachian Trail - A tiny mushroom
Appalachian Trail - Another blowdown peels back the forest
Appalachian Trail - Another blowdown peels back the forest right beside the trail
Appalachian Trail - The foggy highlands
Appalachian Trail - Lilys beside the trail
Appalachian Trail - When I was at this spot last August Turks Cap Lilys and Swallowtail butterflies were everywhere.
Appalachian Trail - A big standing boulder
Appalachian Trail - A big red spruce
Appalachian Trail - The crowds at Clingmans Dome observation tower
Appalachian Trail - On top of Clingmans Dome
Appalachian Trail - This spot atop Clingmans Dome is the start of the Mountains-To-Sea Trail
Clingmans Dome observation tower - even with no view there were big crowds
Clingmans Dome observation tower
The southern 'view'
Above the trees and in the clouds
The northern 'view'
Clingmans Dome Trail - heading down the trail to the parking lot
Clingmans Dome Trail - Views just a few hundred feet below the dome
Clingmans Dome Trail - Views begin to appear as I climb lower
Clingmans Dome Trail - Views to the south
Clingmans Dome Trail - Despite no views at the top, this Saturday was bustling at the Dome parking area
Clingmans Dome parking area - Southern views
