Comments on: Gatlinburg Climbing

By: kartoone

kartoone — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 02:09:44 +0000

Thanks Colin – nice work on Clingmans. Oh wow, thanks for the compliment, that would be awesome to race Mt Mitchell again. I raced it in 1995 (21st), 1996 (5th), and 1997 (2nd to George Hincapie). Here’s a photo from the year I finished 2nd place – I was only 20 years old. George had already won by 18 minutes or more in front of me. http://toonecycling.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/assaultmtmitchell-2ndplace.jpg

By: Colin Payton

Colin Payton — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 01:00:09 +0000

Hey, Brian! I have been, like several people on here, following your Strava page for a while. Today, I rode the Clingmans Dome route and managed to take a satisfying second to you on the first big climb I’ve ever done. You have been daily (since you average an insane amount of rides a week) motivation for me. This is my first year cycling after a debilitating back injury and I am loving it. Hopefully you take on The Assault to Mt. Mitchell this year or next; it would be a pleasure to meet one of America’s greatest climbers on one of America’s greatest climbing races.

By: Joshua Longenecker

Joshua Longenecker — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:53:08 +0000

You were definitely correct about the road being closed…when I started seeing snow by 2000ft and large quantities of black ice in the top sections of the gap (even with salt, etc) I assumed the road to Clingman’s would be unrideable. Ended up being a sheet of ice!

Enjoyed the ride, though–both sides of the gap are pretty easy grades, and the visitor’s center on the NC side gave me a place to warm up. Brr!

By: Joshua Longenecker

Joshua Longenecker — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:18:52 +0000

Thanks for the info.

When I was reading about Clingman’s online someone made it sound like the ride on the spur was best in the winter when it was closed….but yes, I’ve definitely considered the possibility of not being able to ride it.

By: kartoone

kartoone — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:11:09 +0000

Definitely dress in layers. It is really easy to get too hot on the way up and then be freezing for the way back down. If the temp is on the lower end (20s) when you ride, then I would also wear either two pairs of gloves or at least use glove liners. I made the mistake once of only taking a thick pair of gloves and my hands were so hot that I spent half the climb taking off my gloves completely for a few minutes and then putting them back on once my hands got too cold. I believe the temperature was in the mid to lower 20s on the climb. Also, one last thing, prepare yourself to not be too disappointed if the road to Clingman’s is already closed for the year. Hwy 441 stays open all year round except during snow storms, but the 6 mile spur which leaves 441 to finish climbing to the top of Clingman’s closes every year for the winter. If Clingman’s is closed, you could still ride up and over the 441 pass (Newfoundland gap) down the other side, turn around and ride back over. This would give you two HC climbs on the ride.