Date: 2017-06-13
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Clingsman Dome 
Miles today: 12.2

Tuesday, June 13: Derrick Knob Shelter (189.3) to Clingsman Dome (201.5) for 12.2 milesI decided to get an early start since I had set a 4:00 PM pickup at Clingsman Dome and I heard there was a good chance of rain this afternoon. I did sleep in my tent last night since the shelter was full (11 people). There are a lot of people from all over the US hiking the Smokies. The AT runs 74 miles thru Smoky Mtn Natl Park. Also I wanted an early start since the trek today would be mostly up elevation. The elevation gain would be 3900 feet (one of my biggest) and it ends with 1500 ft climb up to Clingsman Dome. Staying at the shelter last night were a dad in his 30's, his son and 2 of his son's friends. They were also at my shelter the night before. Also last night was the first night I slept in Tennessee. I now have been in Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. The AT follows the NC/Tenn border for about 70 miles starting at mile 174. I went into Tenn my second day in the Smokies. The trail crosses back and forth and sometimes is actually the border of the 2 states.I hit the trail at 6:55 AM. Most of the trek was uphill. Part of it crosses through tall grass and sometimes it was as high as my head. The trail was about 1 foot wide in some places. As I past the 5000 foot elevation the forest turns from oaks, hickory and maple to cedars. At 6000 feet it was all cedars.When I was in the tall grass (weeds) section of the trail, a wild turkey jumped on the trail in front of me and ran about 40 -50 feet down trail (again, no picture since my phone is usually turned off.)The views today were the best I have had so far on the trail. Not only could you see both east and west but you could see the storm rolling in over the mountains.I reached Clingsman Dome at 2:15 PM before the storms hit but the clouds had moved in so you could not get any views from the dome. Clingsman Dome is the highest point on the entire AT at 6612 ft. It is also at the 200 mile mark on the trail. I am at 200 miles!!!At the dome today a 4th grader from Tennessee asked if he could interview me using a GoPro video camera. He wanted to ask me about hiking the AT and it is pretty obvious I just came off the trail (the backpack and I smell). He was doing a school project about his vacation. I gave him some overall stats about the AT and the facts about Clingsman Dome. I also told him about my encounter with an upset mama bear. That was the part he was most interested in. I called a shuttle service to let them know I was early and they told me they would send someone now. We were about 23 miles to Gatlinburg but it is an hour drive.During the hour wait the storm rolled in with heavy rain, thunder, very close lightning, and hail. There were no shelters so I waited outside during this. The dad, his son and friends from Toledo, Ohio (they were at my shelter the last 2 nights) came up while I was waiting. At 3:30 PM the shuttle arrived and also gave them a ride into Gatlinburg. They were going to end their 6 day hike after 3 days due to the difficulty of the trail and the rain. I got to Gatlinburg around 4:30 PM and checked into the Days Inn (pretty rundown but I got a great rate and they have a shower). I laid out my stuff to dry and took a shower. That always feels great. I went to dinner at 6:00 PM at Great Smoky Mtn Brewery. I had the steak that my shuttle driver recommended and it was very good. I came back to my room, called Marilee, and went to bed while it was pouring rain outside. It is nice to be in a hotel room tonight.