This past weekend I had the opportunity to hike up to the lodge at Mt. LeConte with my sweetie. Mt. LeConte is located in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee and is the 3rd highest peak of that range behind Clingman’s Dome and another peak whose name escapes me right now.
This opportunity came my way when someone from the original group of 4 had to cancel due to a scheduling conflict. As it turned out two others also cancelled so it was just the two of us on this trip. I was already scheduled to be in the area for work so we met at our motel in Townsend, Tennessee on Friday evening. Our motel was located next to a visitor center which was hosting an annual Bluegrass music festival. Whether or not you enjoy this type of music (I do!) it was really cool to be in the Smokey Mountains and hear these local musicians playing their instruments just outside our room.
Before we called it a night we watched The Weather Channel to see the forecast for Saturday predicting a 100% chance of rain. As it turned out the forecast was right on the money. Fortunately we had packed with this possibility in mind so we were pretty well prepared for showers. There are 5 trails leading to the lodge and they ranged in length from 5 miles to a bit over 8 miles. Since we had two cars we thought it would be nice to hike two different trails. So we parked one car at Newfound Gap which was the trailhead for the 8 mile Boulevard Trail and then drove a few miles to Alum Cave Trail which is about 5 miles long. Since we were pretty sure we would get wet we felt hiking the shorter distance on Saturday would be the way to go. If more rain fell on Sunday we could still come down this same trail.
We hit the trail with grey skies overhead and the first hour or so was pleasant and dry. After awhile a light rain began and it gradually became heavier. For the last hour or so of our hike the rain fell hard and even with Gore-Tex boots and jackets we eventually became pretty wet. Alum Cave Trail was pretty challenging toward the end and the trail effectively became a stream as we neared the top. Some really impressive waterfalls could be seen all along the trail. Despite being wet I really enjoyed the experience of testing myself against the elements as we reached the peak.
Mt. LeConte Lodge was our overnight destination and I really enjoyed its rustic simplicity. The lodge consists of several 4 person cabins and a larger group cabin. The lodge has no electricity so each cabin is heated by a small propane furnace and has a small kerosene lamp for light. Food and supplies are brought in by llamas that travel up the Trillium Trail a few times per week. We packed along some wine, cheese and crackers which we enjoyed after getting into warm dry clothes. Dinner was served at 6:00pm and included roast beef in gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, cornbread, spiced apples and peaches. Coffee and hot chocolate was provided as well. What a great meal after a cold wet day on the trails.
Before dinner we heard someone yelling “YAAA – YAAA - Get Away, Get Outta Here!”. We learned at dinner that the folks next to us saw a bear outside their cabin. Overnight that same bear broke into another cabin and tore up a mattress while probably looking for food. Unfortunately this same bear had been in the camp before and will likely be euthanized if seen again near the cabins.
We were up early the next morning for a terrific breakfast including pancakes, scrambled eggs w/ ham and biscuits with honey. What a difference a day makes! The early morning was foggy and as we headed out on the Boulevard Trail the weather became more sunny and beautiful. We even had the opportunity to stop at a few scenic spots to enjoy a snack. Our hike down the trail was beautiful and was a great way to finish out the weekend. The last few miles of our hike went along the AT which brought us to the car where we loaded up. I was dropped off at my car and then we headed off for home.
Both trails we hiked were pretty challenging but doable for anyone in reasonable shape. Rain or shine, Mt. LeConte is a terrific trip which I would highly recommend to anyone if the opportunity comes their way.
