I am a "senior citizen", living in Oregon and generally hiking sections of the PCT with a few friends. I would like to do a brief section of the AT just for the experience and comparison. Last year I was in Nashville and went to the Smokey Mt National Park, Clingman's Dome, and saw where the trail crossed through this area. I know the entire trail, through the Smokey's is about 70 miles. We generally hike about a week and go 50 - 60 miles so 70 is doable. I'm wondering if it would be best to hike the entire trial in the Smokey's, or start at Clingman's heading North and go into North Carolina a bit just to experience the trail out of the National Park. And, is this the best part of the AP to hike or are there better segments?