I was up early (0630) and spent some time getting organized. Ate breakfast (leftovers) in the room and then spent a little more time reading (didn't feel like rushing out of the warm room). My reposition yesterday put me only 20 miles from one of the highest sections, elevation-wise, on the AT. Between US-441 (Newfound Gap) and the Clingman’s Dome parking lot, the trail climbs and descends within a band of 5.5K’ and 6.5K’ and the elements up there can be quite unpredictable. Fortunately, today’s weather looked good enough for me to hike it. So I got ready and left Cherokee (0815), hoping for a great day on the trail. I headed north on US-441 and then took Clingman’s Dome Road until I located a place where the AT intersected a pull-out parking lot. I found signs for the Road Prong Trail there and got ready to go (0900). Just as I was getting ready to start (SOBO), a serious looking young hiker lady came out of the woods and stopped to chat. I learned that she was finishing her last 200 miles of a 2020 Thru Hike (interrupted at Franklin by COVID-19 while headed north in the Spring, she restarted from Maine in the Summer). She was headed the same way as I was but left me in the dust in just a few minutes after I started my climb behind her. After that, I only saw two other hikers all day: a young lady LASHer (Harpers to Springer) who was going the same way I was (we leap-frogged during breaks) and a brightly dressed trail runner (guy) who raced by me towards the north. I could hear the road most of the time, though, and it was clear that the great weather had brought a LOT of visitors to GSMNP! Like I had experienced the last few days, the high elevations were susceptible to being cloud-covered - today was no different. Temps had been in the mid 50s when I started but there was a strong, steady and cool wind blowing throughout the day - I had two layers initially but dropped one as the sun’s warmth began to balance out the wind (isn’t there a fable about that?). In some places, the ground was covered with a light layer of moisture - I probably just missed some actual rain. But the clouds rolled out through the morning and I soon started to get some great views on both sides of the ridgeline. The tower at Clingman’s Dome was visible a few times - it was quite daunting to see how much I had to climb... This was especially true in a few places where I had to descent a few hundred feet. For most of the morning, I got views of the trail and forest that reminded me of hikes in the White Mountain’s this year - alpine is alpine everywhere, I guess! The AT crossed back and forth across the NC-TN border the whole time I was walking and I was never sure about my current State. Despite the challenging terrain, I felt good as I clambered up and down - I didn’t even use my trekking poles for much of the day. Cautiously, though, I kept watching for unusual signs of fatigue (for the altitude) but didn’t notice any. All the trail signs were so mossed over that it was hard to track my forward progress (distance wise) but it was unmistakable, once I reached the tower, that I’d made very good time on the outbound. I didn’t tarry (large crowds there) and quickly headed back towards the car. I’d noticed a few places where the road got close to the AT so I took advantage of this opportunity and swapped rocks and roots for pavement. This decision worked great for my pace and I was happy to be in the sun. I’m not sure all the drivers coming up the mountain liked me being there, though, because there wasn’t very much shoulder. All told, I probably walked about four miles on the blacktop (big climb initially but then downhill) and reached my car by 1330 after a bit less than 12 miles. I felt REALLY good and thought about doing another few miles. But it was getting more and more crowded in the park and I wanted to tackle an “orphaned” section in Tennessee the next day so I departed ASAP (this was good because the conga line of cars going back to Cherokee with me was LONG). Got to see a huge elk herd at Occonoluftee and then headed east towards Asheville. Have to say that I’m pretty proud to squeeze in the section on November 9 - last year, there was snow and <30 degree temps in the area and that would not have been pleasant. I’ve been very blessed with weather this week - hoping for at least one more day of it... After getting cleaned up, I backtracked to Cherokee from GSMNP. Then took US-19 and US-74 to reach I-40. Used I-240/I-26 to continue north - stopped at a rest area to make reservations. By 1615, I'd checked into the Super 8 in Erwin, TN. Rested, cleaned up and then drove a short distance to get dinner at Taco Bell in Erwin (1740). Talked to Mollie again - she was getting excited to see me and was making plans to return to New Hampshire with me. Spent the rest of the night reading and relaxing in the room. Went to bed at 2230. A great day! AT Today = 6.0 miles / G.T. AT = 1762.0 miles