We were about to make the climb to Clingman’s Dome. At 6,643 feet, the Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains and a favorite of hikers. There’s a steep half-mile long paved path from the parking area to the top, but the observation tower at the summit offers spectacular 360-degree panoramic views of the mountains that make the hike well worth the effort. So we started the ascent. Right away, I knew I couldn’t do it. While our friends Herb and Lorraine, along with my wife Sandy, headed up the steep grade, I fell behind. My [READ MORE]