After a fitful night, hearing animals around my car, I woke up early and headed up Clingmans Dome Rd. to the Visitor Center. It was cloudy, cool and windy at the pkg. lot so I put long pants on, a decision I would regret soon enough. The 1/2 mile paved tourist path is steep, no walk in the park and the guy I travelled with wasn't in good shape. Anyway when we arrived at Clingman's observation tower there was no wind and the clouds started breaking up. Looked in vain for a summit marker for my 5th HP this trip. Then headed down to hike along the A.T. for a while, first NB to Mt. Love, then SB to Mt. Buckley.