March 3rd – March 10th

Due to rainy weather, I was once again not able to go out to any hiking trails or nature parks like I had planned. The whole family planned to go to Clingman’s Dome on the 9th, however the rain percentage was too high. Hopefully we’ll be able to go there in a few weeks!

According to the National Park Service, Clingman’s Dome is the highest point in the Great Smokey Mountains and the highest point in Tennessee, at 6,643 feet. The observation tower (where we want to go) has a 360 degree view of the Smoky mountains, which is supposedly so beautiful. Since it is so much higher from the ground, it is said that temperatures can reach 10-20 degrees colder than in the lowlands. Whenever we go, we’ll definitely have to dress warmly. It’s only 38 miles away from me, so it’s not that long of a drive.

According to Tennessee Encyclopedia, the Cherokee Indians originally named Clingman’s Dome “Kuwwa’hi”, or “mulberry place”. A Cherokee myth was also recorded by James Moony in the late 19th century that said the mountain was home to the White bear, a sort of chief of all bears. I find learning the history around places like Clingman’s Dome really intertesting and it only makes me want to visit it more.