MtLeconte.com Hike

LeConte via Alum Cave Trail October 13^th, 2008

Connie Houk

With the bank being closed due to Columbus Day I jumped at the chance to hike to LeConte again. Liz had planned on going but something came up which prevented her from making the trip so I went solo.

I pulled into the lower Alum Cave parking area where several hikers were getting prepared to start their hike. I was on the trail at 7:55 a.m. I took a picture of the trailhead and a nice walking stick that someone had left behind for some other weary hiker to use. The view looking up the river was especially pretty with the yellow canopy of leaves. It felt very peaceful and it felt so good to be back in the woods. I always say that but it really does!

As I started my hike a cool breeze was blowing that would follow me all the way up the mountain. Sad to say though, it didn’t accompany me on the trip back down. I took a picture of the 3 rock steps and the tree that arches across the trail at the ½ miler marker. I came to the first foot log at 8:25 a.m. and made it a point to take a picture of all four of the foot log bridges. I had already warmed up by the time I got to Arch Rock and had to shed my long sleeve shirt. That’s where I met Jane and Jeff Williams, a couple from Missouri who were celebrating their 30^th wedding anniversary. Congratulations to them! I told them to be sure to check out Ed Wright’s website to see their picture. They were a very nice couple that I ended up talking to several times as we passed one another going up the mountain. Three older guys, maybe 60ish, passed by and when asked how they were doing they said to ask in about four hours.

It was up through Arch Rock, then the last foot log and over the 1993 washout. The ground was very dry and powdery, needing rain bad. At Inspiration Point I talked some more with Jeff and Jane and pointed out Dolly Parton Peaks to them. As I walked up pass the Eye of the Needle, there were no signs or sounds from the Peregrine Falcons. I took a picture of the Bluffs and you can see the three older gentlemen had arrived there. When I came upon them they were teasing one another. One told one of the other two if they made if back off the mountain one of them would get his a** kicked for coming up with the bright ideal of hiking to LeConte. It sounded as if they were having a good time. I hiked on and they passed again while I was taking a break at Gracie’s Pulpit. It was 9:30 a.m. and half way to the top so I had some cheese and crackers before heading for the Saddle.

I caught up and hiked with the anniversary couple through the Saddle but when we neared the lower steps they moved on ahead. A ranger spoke as he passed coming down the trail. This was the first person that we had met so far. Just before the Upper Steps I started meeting the overnighters coming down and there were lots of them. I had my momentum going when I arrived at the Upper Steps at 9:30 am, so I didn’t stop to take a picture until I got to the top. You can see Jane rounding the corner. It was there that I stopped to take some ibuprofen for my knees. I took time to enjoy the smells and the colors of the beginning of fall. The sun made the yellow leaves glitter against the bright blue sky. The sumac trees had turned so there were a few reds here and there.

I’m glad I hadn’t planned on getting a cold drink at Trout Branch because it was barely dripping. I had taken a frozen bottle of water and had some of it still left. Just beyond Betty Jane’s Stairway to Heaven I stopped to take in the views. It was so clear that Clingmans Dome Tower and the weather tower were easy to see. The three gentlemen caught up and one of them offered to take a picture of me for proof to show family and friends that I did hike the mountain. The views were breathtaking as I made my way to the level section where I caught up with Jeff and Jane, hiking the short distance to the lodge with them. The time was 11:20 a.m.

First things first, I took a picture of the date on the dining room and went to the office and signed the book; my #21hike. The views from the office porch were excellent. Looking through my binoculars at the traffic in Pigeon Forge made me glad to be standing where I was at the moment. I took this picture of High Rocks while sitting in the rocking chairs. Lunch time was very enjoyable on the front porch in the sun with Jeff and Jane. Henry Neel and another crew worker came out and I spoke to them for a moment about t-shirts. After I finished my lunch I went to the dining room where the crew was having a chili lunch (smelled very good!). I spoke to Tim Line about the t-shirts and then visited with my cousin Doug. I declined the chili and coffee he offered since I had already eaten. I will have to remember this on my next visit: go to dining room first! Doug had a cold and I hope he feels better soon. The three gentlemen had made it and was having their lunch at one of the picnic tables. They assured me that it had been worth the hike up.

I made my way back toward the food cabin to check out the door. Doug had told me a bear had tried to enter it a few nights before. From the looks of the door he must have been a hungry bear! I also took this shot of the view from the guest bathrooms. I said goodbye to Jeff and Jane as we parted ways. They were going on to Cliff Tops so I didn’t see them anymore. I know the views from there had to be excellent. I made one last stop at the hiker bathrooms and Lucky Me.....they had just been cleaned.

It was 12:10 p.m. as I made my way up the short cut from the bathrooms to the trail. I had a song in my heart for it was almost all downhill from here to my car. I met two nice college age guys from Knoxville just beyond Grassy Slide. We all took turns looking at Clingmans Dome Tower with the binoculars. It was an uneventful trip back down the mountain but very enjoyable. There were lots of hikers out and I met one couple from Maryville just above the lower steps and Chris and Allyson at the end of the Saddle. I didn’t take many pictures on the way down but just a few of the views and one of the trail littered with yellow leaves. I didn’t see any wildflowers or wildlife. The hike was too soon over. I arrived back at my car at 2:25 p.m. and already anticipating the trip with Ed Wright’s group on the 25^th. It was another great day for a hike!!