Wanting opinons from anyone on this section around 20 Oct. Trying to hit the section when the leaves are in full effect. Is the Dome all its cracked up to be? Is there a better section close to commercialville (gatlinburg)?
Uni-pede
Section 5 from fontana dam
system
#2
Smokies were great! A lot of great views, spruce forest, ridge walking all throughout. A lot of people though. Other good sections near there are south from Erwin over Big Bald. Kinkora (Hampton, TN) over Roan Mtn South. Even further south like Wayah bald, Indian Head, and Mt Albert was great.
Grimace
system
#3
I am always predjudiced about roan that was my first at section I have hiked (yikes 20 years ago) with erwin close and roan and the camping center near laurel falls its an awesome are to hike (oh wait I keepm blanking out that horrid section between the town of roan and dennis cove) still a hard section to beat… if I was gonna pick one section though maybe from the road intersection south of Hot springs then across mills ridge (one of the most beautiful places on the trail in the south IMO. In fact if I was planning a trip where car safety was an issue that might be the one I would pick because I am sure that one could arrange to keep a car in hotsprings and there is plenty of road access where one could jump on and off… alot of blue blazers never see mills ridge because of the easy shortcut there and the tough hike up to lovers leap right out of town…
lostsole