Clingmans Dome and the Appalachian Trail

Clingmans Dome is the highest spot in the Smokies...and in Tennessee for that matter (Ryan found that out when he read the entire Atlas in the car on the way home)

We decided to hike on the Appalachian Trail for a couple of hours. We thought it was pretty awesome to think about how many people had walked where we were walking.


The trail was really narrow and rocky and we had to carefully watch where we were walking with every single step. The two or three guys who passed us on the trail with their multiple walking sticks, sturdy hiking boots, and full camping gear on their backs probably thought we were ridiculous with our tennis shoes and single water bottle. It was awesome!
Since this was our first full day of hiking, Ryan was really excited and wanted to squeeze as much hiking into the day as possible. Around 6:30pm he decided that we should hike to Grotto Falls...so we did...and I ran pretty much the whole way. If you want me to go somewhere fast, ask me to go when darkness is falling on a tiny trail through the bear-infested forest. Grotto Falls was cool though, so it was okay.