Clingman’s Dome, TN

Elevation: 6, 643 ft.

Summit Attained: 06/18/08, Approximately 11 a.m.

           
Clingman’s Dome is crowded in June.  As I made my way up the concrete path with my mother, sister, and several of her friends, I was shocked to see how much traffic Clingman’s Dome, and the Smoky Mountains, sees on a typical day during peak season.  I couldn’t imagine how dedicated AT hikers must feel after enduring miles upon miles of rugged and varied terrain, only to break out onto the summit of Clingman’s Dome and find themselves in an atmosphere not unlike that of an amusement park. 

All sorts of people from all over the world clamor up the spiraling ramp of Clingman’s Dome’s concrete summit tower to see the impressive view of the surrounding Smoky Mountains, and the environment has paid the price. Traffic and noise pollution is ridiculous.  Local air pollution levels frequently rise to several times that considered safe by the EPA, to the point where the National Park Service warns visitor with respiratory ailments to avoid visiting the park on many days during the busiest months. 

To make matters worse, the trees that used to crown Clingman’s summit are now dying or deceased.  An invasive species of bug known as the Woolly Adelgid has laid waste to most of the Hemlock trees, and the damage is immediately evident to any observer.  Many of the dead trees have since toppled over, making the area appear as if an F5 twister touched down at some point in the not-too-distant past. 

Sadly, Clingman’s Dome serves as a prime example of the problems associated with making prominent summits and wilderness areas accessible to the general public.  While most visitors respect the environment and minimize their impact, the sheer number of people visiting the area, along with the occasional tourist hell-bent on doing as much damage as possible, causes damage from which an ecosystem cannot possibly recover.