Clingman's Dome

Monday we (minus Gordon and Ruth) drove about and hour up the mountain to Clingman's Dome, which I think is the highest point in the Smoky's. We took some pictures, ate our picnic, and let the older kids do some rock climbing:

Our beautiful drive to the Clingman's Dome

In the parking lot of Clingman's Dome, there was still a 1/2 mile hike to the top

Rock climbing

Our littlest hikers - they had NO idea how easy there ride was!

Joel on top, Clay and Edie right below the pine tree, and Lydia in the lower right corner

So after our picnic we all hiked the 1/2 mile to the top of Clingman's Dome. It was an intense uphill hike, but thankfully it was a really nice sidewalk so we took Adelle and Ben in the double stroller and Stacy carried Evelyn in her Baby Bjorn. At the peak there was a tower with a spiral ramp to the top. What a view!

The ramp to the top of the tower

Ben walked up the whole ramp all by himself!

Lydia was hiding from the wind :)

Edie walked the whole 1/2 mile uphill by herself!

We all got fruit snacks at the top as our reward :)

Rolli and Joel spotted a black bear in the berries