At 6,643 feet above sea level, Clingmans Dome—now officially known as Kuwohi—is the highest point in Tennessee, ranking #17 among U.S. state high points and rising along the border of Tennessee and North Carolina within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This was my 18th state high point, and while reaching the summit itself turned out to be fairly straightforward, everything leading up to it was a reminder of why preparation—and a little patience—matters more than you think.
I tend to travel with the wind. Most of the time that works in my favor. Occasionally, it nearly costs me a summit. Clingmans Dome was almost one of those occasions.