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Welcome to the "1001 Hikes to Mt LeConte and Counting" Home Page. In large part these pages are excerpts from my hiking logs to Mt. LeConte For the story of my relationship with the mountain you are invited to read along. The entire hiking log, 1001 Hikes to Mount LeConte and Counting, has been submitted to The Great Smoky Mountain Natural History Association for consideration to publish. No decision has been made as of this date. 

I moved from Oak Ridge, TN to Jensen Beach, FL In early 2001 to have my worn out knees replaced. Due to the 1600 plus miles, round trip to the trailhead. I have minimized my hiking . I have decided to post guest's hiking logs to keep my web site fresh and more interesting. I may also post my hiking logs from past years, to give the reader some idea of the weather conditions on the trail might be. Please remember that year to year changes in weather can be rather dramatic on this mountain. If any of you folks would like for  your hikes to be posted on this site, just send it along to me but keep it clean! I have added  a table with 28 years of weather data and weather charts to view the data graphically.

Keith & Kathy Richburg's Hike to the LeConte Lodge via the Alum Cave Trail 11/18-19/08

Trip up Mt. LeConte on 11/9/08 via the Alum Cave Trail by Adam Beal

Photo's from Larry and Wendy Wright's Hike in the Smokies 11/19-20/2008

Cove Mountain hike-Mike Howitz 10/09/08

Keith & Sandra Warren of New Hebron, MS hike with friends to LeConte Oct 20, 2008 (Pictures are now attached)

LeConte Lodge-Alum Cave Trail Bullhead Trail by Connie Houk October 25th, 2008  

Hike 1310 via the Alum Cave Trail to the lodge by Ed Wright, family and friends October 25, 2008

frank and sharon umbdenstock july 3rd 2008 hike to the leconte lodge

Connie Houk 21st Hike to the LeConte Lodge via Alum Cave Trail October 13th, 2008  

LeConte Lodge via Alum Cave Trail With Ed Wright’s Group August 31st, 2008 by Connie Houk

Hike 1309 via the Alum Cave Trail to the lodge by Ed Wright, family and friends August 31, 2008

Gerry and Nora Sturgeon's 2008 Great Smoky Mountain Adventure August 31, 2008

Kathy and Howard Frampton's' first trip to Mt. LeConte, Aug 11, 2008 via ACB

Father & Son Hike to the Lodge June 19-20, 2008

Gregory Bald Trail June 22nd, 2008 – 9 Miles Connie, Liz, & Jill Lusk

Ron Metcalfe's 14th hike to LeConte and Richard Adams' 3rd hike to LeConte August 10, 2008

Hike 1308 via Alum Cave Trail to the LeConte Lodge July 23, 2008 by Ed Wright & Glen Weatherly

July 20, 2008 Hike #55 to Mt. LeConte by Ronnie Holbert

Hike to LeConte via the AC/Blvd Trails 6-28-29-08 with the Knox Church of the Good Samaritan by Connie Houk

Pictures from Greg and his Dad's Visit the GSMNP from July 3rd to 5th, 2008

Abby, Jackson, and Ron Metcalfe  made an overnight hike to LeConte Lodge on Tuesday June 17, 2008.  

Ron Metcalfe's Hike # 12 to the LeConte Lodge in pictures, May 26, 2008

Hiking the Alum Cave Trail to LeConte May 10, 2008 With Video by Jeff Doran

Hike 1307 via Alum Cave Trail to the LeConte Lodge May 9, 2008 by Ed Wright & Friends

Raygan Houston and her Granddaddy Sam Houston - April 21, 2008 hike to Alum Cave Bluff

The First Year Anniversary of My Self-Rediscovery Journey on Mt. LeConte , 3/17/08 By Lynda Platone  

Hike 1306 via the Alum Cave Trail to the LeConte Lodge March 17, 2008 by Ed Wright 

Larry Wright's 3rd Hike to the LeConte Lodge 3-17-08

Ron P. Metcalfe's 11th Hike to the Lodge To Watch The Helicopter Fly supplies in and trash out 3-17-08

Ron Metcalfe and Richard Adams Hike to Mt. LeConte February 3, 2008 via the Rainbow Falls and Bull Head Trails

Ed and Ruth Gaines First Hike to Mt. LeConte November 18, 2007

A few Photo's from Larry Wright and friends hike to LeConte 11-14/15-07

Brian Fishburn October 18th Hike to the LeConte Lodge via the Rainbow Falls Trail  

Hike 1305 via the Alum Cave Trail by Ed Wright, family and friends 10-27-07.

Ron P. Metcalfe's November 2007 Hike to the LeConte Lodge, Slide Show

Ron P. Metcalfe and his daughter's August 2007 Hike to the LeConte Lodge, Slide Show

My Journey Continues October 27, 2007 Mt. LeConte Hike by Lynda Platone 

Hiking to Mt. LeConte Lodge with a Legend by Al Smith

Frank and Sharon Umbdenstock's hike to Abrams falls on Oct 13, 2007

Gerry & Stephen Sturgeon's hikes to Charlie's Bunion and Mt. LeConte - 10/6 and 10/8/07.

Mt. LeConte- First Journey October 2, 2007 by Beck Roberson

Larry Wright's Hike to Mt. LeConte September 7 , 2007

Hike to Mount LeConte September 1st, 2007 Connie Houk

Highlights of Cindy Wisnieski’s 14th Hike to the lodge with Austin & Charlie Wright, 09/02/07

Hike 1304 via the Alum Cave Trail by Ed Wright, family and friends 9-02-07.

Michael A. Howitz's Hike from Cades Cove to Clingmans Dome 8/14/07

Hike to Mt. LeConte , Sunday, September 2, 2007 By Lynda Platone  

Paul and Jeanne Sanders’ Hike to Mt. LeConte July 29-31, 2007

LeConte Lodge Overnighter June 23rd, 2007 Connie Houk  

Austin and Charlie Wright Attend Sailing Camp July 9-13, 2007

Ron Metcalfe's, July 17, 2007 hike to Mt. LeConte via Trillium Gap Trail and return by Rainbow Falls Trail

Father/Sons' Hike to LeConte, June 7-8, 2007

The Journey Continues – Mt. LeConte, June 10, 2007 By Lynda Platone

Hike 1303 via the Alum Cave Trail by Ed Wright, family and friends 6-10-07.

Family and Friends Day at Mt LeConte As Told By Gerry Sturgeon

A Journey of Self-Rediscovery to the LeConte Lodge, March 12, 2007 By Lynda Platone

Lisa Wright's Pictures from Alaska May 2007 Thanks to Al Smith.

Ron P. Metcalfe's Family June 2/3, 2007 Photo Journal of Hike to the LeConte Lodge via ACB Trail

Pastor Dale Campbell’s Hike to the LeConte Lodge on May 19th – 20th   

Greg and Troy's May 17/18 Hike to Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina

Ron P. Metcalfe's May 20, 2007 Photo Journal of Hike to Myrtle Point via the Alum Cave Trail

The Gerry Sturgeon Family Vacation in the Smokies 4/29 – 5/4/07

Wally Houston and Brother Sam Hike to Alum Cave Bluff April 27, 2007

George & Barbara Weckler Hike to Mt. LeConte April 25, 2007 

Raven Fork Loop Joe Fleming 3-24-07

Jamie Barnes and John Foster took an overnight trip to the LeConte Lodge to to celebrate turning 40

I survived my first day of "trail maintenance" on the icy cold Mtn ! by Glen Weatherly April 17, 2007

Hike 1302 to the Lodge by Ed Wright with friends for helicopter flights March 12, 2007.

Meg Workman's October 2006 Hike to the LeConte Lodge with her dad.

The Chet Wright family Ruth, Chet, Katie, and Megan Wright's Hike to Mt. LeConte Lodge 5/29/06

Cataloochee Divide Trail 1-6-2007 By Joe Fleming

Renee Obergfell's Hike to the LeConte Lodge on January 13, 2007

Jeanie Lawley's 11th hike to the LeConte Lodge with Family Nov. 17-18-06

Hike # 55 to the Lodge - Work Day at the Top By Joe Steele

Joseph and Jane Smith's October 23, 2006 hike to the LeConte Lodge.

In Search of the Adams-Westfeldt Copper Mine 11/03-05/06 by Joe Fleming and Ronnie Holbert

Gerry and Nora Sturgeon's Destination Mt. LeConte: October 29, 2006

Kent Smith's Hike up Trillium Gap Trail to the lodge on 10/23/06

Cindy Wisnieski's Hike # 11 to the Lodge, Oct. 9, 2006 

Louis and Beth Guidroz from Tuscaloosa Alabama's Hike to the Lodge 10-15-06

Greg Bryant, his father Bill Bryant, sister Kim  Hamlett and sister Wendy Adkins' Hike to LeConte 9-8-06

Ron P Metcalfe, his wife, daughter and son's, Sept. 3/4, 2006 Overnight hike to the LeConte Lodge

Ron Metcalfe, daughter Abby, Richard Adams and son Ethan's Hike to the LeConte Lodge 7/29/06

Ron P Metcalfe and his daughter Abby's, June 26, 2006 Overnight to the LeConte Lodge

Bill Keeton's August 2006 Hike to the lodge to see the work on the cabins.

Jeanie Lawley and 16 friends Hike to the Lodge for an overnight on 7/16/06

Jim Murdock and Dan Sherwood's Hike to the LeConte Lodge 7/20/06

Wally and Sharon Houston's Mt LeConte Hike Number One 5/16/06

Brushy Mountain Hike-06/16/06- By Mike Howitz

Hike 1301 to the Lodge by Ed Wright with Cindy, John  and Tillroe 6/14/06

Hike 10 6/14/06 Cindy Wisnieski Hike to LeConte with John, Tillroe and Ed.

Paul & Jeanne Sanders' Icy hike and overnight stay at the LeConte Lodge, March 21, 2006. 

Hike 1300 to the Lodge by Ed Wright with Tom Grubbs and Tillroe Smith 5/16/06

Hike 1299 to the Lodge by Ed Wright with Cindy, Chris and Bobby 5/12/06

Hike 1298 to the Lodge by Ed Wright, Ben and Yoann 3/13/06

Joe Steele's Jan. 28, 2006 Hike to LeConte

Bill Keeton's January 12, 2006 Hike to the Lodge via the Alum Cave Bluff Trail

A Smoky Mountain New Year Eve Hike to Mt. LeConte...By Leadfoot

Jeff and Courtney Mathews mid December visit to the Great Smokey Mountain National Park

Gregory Bald and Gregory Ridge by Connie Houk November 19th, 2005

Ann Jacobs and friends hiked to the Lodge via the Alum Cave Trail on 11/04/05 

Wright Family- Hike to the Lodge 09/04/05 by Cindy Wisnieski

Hike to LeConte via Bear Pen Hollow by R. Flynn November 22. 2003

Tom and Toni Pinner's late October 2005 Visit to the Smokies.

Joe Fleming's Hike from Newfound Gap to the  Fontana Dam 9-18/19-05

Patty Stevens Hike and stay at LeConte Lodge on September 14th, 2005 with Mary B.

Oconaluftee Loop 8-27-05 Joe Fleming

Hike 1297 to the LeConte Lodge by Ed Wright, Tom Grubbs and Tillroe Smith 9/01/05

Frank Umbdenstock's Thanks to Hiking Journal writers

Cooper Creek, Deeplow Gap, Thomas Divide, Newton Bald, & Mingus Creek Loop 7/3/05 by Connie Houk

Hike 1296 to the LeConte Lodge by Ed Wright 7/28/05

Hike 1295 to LeConte Lodge by Ed Wright and Cindy Wisnieski 7/27/05

Cades Cove to Deer Knob and Back By: Joe Fleming 7-16-05

Connie Houk and Friends Overnight Hike to the LeConte Lodge June 25th & 26th, 2005

Regina Forehand, husband and dad's Hike to the LeConte lodge Via the Rainbow Falls Trail

Overnight Hike to Mt LeConte Shelter Linda Nicholson and Mike Graves 7/24/05

Ruth, Chet, and Katie Wright's May 31, 2005 Hike to the LeConte Lodge

Hike 1294 to LeConte Lodge by Ed Wright and Tillroe Smith 6/30/05  

Hike 1293 to LeConte Lodge by Ed Wright and Friends 6/29/05  

 Danny Max, Matthew King, and Kevin Price hike to LeConte Lodge 6/12/2005 –.

Clingmans Dome To Fontana Lake and Back by Joe Fleming and Nathan Officer 5-29-05

Hike 1292 to LeConte Lodge by Ed Wright Family and Friends 5/29/05  

Dale Hunt's Day Hike to Mt. LeConte via the Rainbow Falls and Bull Head Trails 4/1/05

A Tribute to Pop Hollandworth by Larry Pless on his 90th Birthday

Bill Keeton's third trip to the Lodge on the Boulevard Trail 5/12/05

Hike 1291 to LeConte Lodge by Bill Wright, Tillroe Smith and Ed Wright  5/11/05  

Cindy Wisnieski’s 5th Hike to the Lodge on 04/04/05 with Martine Galeste, 

Bill Bryant and Son's April 18, 2005 Hike to Mt. LeConte

Alex Morris's Overnight to the LeConte Lodge March 31, 2005

My first solo hike to the Bluffs by Missy Whitt 4/14/05

Hike 1290 to LeConte Lodge by Peggy, Mark, Mike Haythorn, Tillroe Smith and Ed Wright  4/10/05  

Ron Nelson and Dave Chapman March 29, 2005 to Mt LeConte

Pig Pen's March 25/28/2005 Hike on the Boulevard Trail

Jordan McLaughlin's Porters Creek manway  Hike

Mt. Sterling Loop by Joe Fleming with Ronnie Holbart March 20, 2005

Bill Keeton's March 26, 2005 Hike to the LeConte Lodge

Joe Steele's Hike to Gracie's Pulpit on March 13, 2005

Chestnut Branch by Connie Houk March 5, 2005

Loop In Cataloochee By Joe Fleming 2-26-05

Mount LeConte via Alum Cave Trail by Connie Houk February 19th, 2005  

Need Help in Locating an Old Cabin Site near the Base of LeConte

Joe Steele & David DeShazo's 12/20/04 Hike to the lodge.

Joe Steele and Tillroe Smith's attempt to hike the Alum Cave Bluff Trail on 12/12/04

Bobby and Gwenette Watson's Hike to Newfound Gap via the LeConte Lodge 11/15/04

Hike to Hazel Creek By Ron Holbart and Joe Fleming November 6 through 8th, 2004

Hike 1289 to LeConte Lodge by Ed Wright  10/23/04  

Bill Bryant and Son's October 18th Hike to Mt. LeConte

Ronnie and Joe's Hike to Charlie’s Bunion via Porter’s Creek Manway

Patty Stevens September 28-30 hike and stay at the LeConte Lodge.

Ron Zaremba's October 6, 2004 Hike to the LeConte Lodge

Mike Howitz's 27 mile hike from Low Gap to Newfound Gap 10/16/04

Hike 1288 to LeConte Lodge by Ed Wright  9/14/04  

Jamie Barnes & Dad's Overnight Hike to the LeConte Lodge 9/9/04

Ronnie Holbert's Hike to Drinkwater Pool with Joe Fleming and Nathan Officer 9/6/04

Hike 1287 to LeConte Lodge by Ed Wright With Tillroe Smith 9/6/04

Hike 1286 to LeConte Lodge by Ed Wright With Nick Sansone 8/25/04

Suzanne Forshey and Brandy's August 12 & 13, 2004 Hike to the LeConte Lodge

A.T. From Newfound Gap to Davenport Gap at I-40 by Joe Fleming  8-8-04 With Pictures

Rhonda and Wayne Burgin of Newport KY Hike to the LeConte Lodge. 08/07/04

July-4th-2004 Overnight at LeConte by Joe Steele

Ronnie Holbert’s Hike #43 to Mt. LeConte with Friends from South Carolina August 3, 2004

Hike 1285 to LeConte Lodge by Ed Wright With Tillroe Smith and Tom Grubbs 7/21/04

Tom DuBose and Norman's Pinhoti Thru Hike - 11/11/2003 – 11/22/2003

An Appalachian Trail Journal and Photographs by Bryan Kent Gomes 

Hike 1284 to LeConte Lodge by Ed Wright for Austin and Charlie's Birthdays 6/19/04

Hike 1283 to LeConte Lodge by Ed Wright with Ronnie and Kirby 5/14/04

Hike 1282 to LeConte Lodge by Ed Wright with the Haythorns 4/10/04

Hiking Mt. LeConte February 4 - 7, 2004  by Nathan Fowler and Friends

Hike 1281 to LeConte Lodge by Ed Wright 10/30/03

Hike 1280 to LeConte Lodge by Ed Wright 9/29/03

Hike 1279 to Mt. LeConte by Ed Wright on 7/5/03 with a fine group.

Hike 1278 to Mt. LeConte by Ed Wright 5/16/03

Hike 1277 to Mt. LeConte by Ed Wright 4/19/03


THE ALUM CAVE BLUFF TRAIL

by

Ed Wright

I was introduced to the Alum Cave Bluff Trail September 1982. My youngest son, Bob and his shipmate Carl Miller, were home, on leave from the Navy. They were crew members aboard a Nuclear Powered Submarine. Carl and Bob were going to burn off some pent up energy by hiking Mt. LeConte. Their service aboard the Nuclear Powered Submarine put them under water for three months or more at a time. They invited me to hike with them. I still remember that hike well and I pushed myself to keep up with these two young men. We hiked to the top and they climbed around on the fringes of Cliff Tops and High Top. I watched from a safe vantage point during their daring feats. After they returned to duty, I resumed my regular exercise regime by riding my bicycle.

In the spring or summer of 1985, I hiked Alum Bluff Trail again with Joel Brown and two of his cousins, Brian and Kenny Crone. Joel had just finished serving an enlistment in the Army and was looking for some exercise. I recommended that we hike the Alum Bluff Trail. When Joel was 15 years old, he had accompanied my son Bob (16) and his friend Bill Langston (17) and me as we rode our bicycles from San Francisco, CA to Oak Ridge TN.

I did not hike the trail again until August 1986. Meanwhile, I had put more then 40,000 miles on my bicycle and literally flexed the lower crank bracket until it expanded to the point, where the locking ring would no longer hold the crank in the frame. Faced with a large sum of money to purchase a new frame or bicycle, I started hiking Mt. LeConte, regularly to get needed exercise. Although I did repair my bicycle, I opted to continue getting most of my exercise by hiking Mount LeConte. The following table represents my hikes of Mt. LeConte.

Year

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

Total

Cum

1982

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

1

1

1985

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

1

2

1986

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5

3

3

5

2

18

20

1987

5

2

3

1

1

1

0

2

1

2

1

2

21

41

1988

3

3

4

4

5

7

7

4

5

3

3

4

52

93

1989

4

5

4

4

6

5

7

6

9

10

7

2

69

162

1990

4

1

1

1

3

10

8

5

8

4

2

6

53

215

1991

8

11

10

12

28

27

16

26

28

28

23

13

230

445

1992

9

7

13

19

12

6

1

2

2

7

9

4

91

536

1993

8

7

3

9

13

12

12

9

10

9

9

6

107

643

1994

1

7

11

9

7

7

12

13

13

12

10

2

104

747

1995

7

5

11

11

10

9

10

10

9

9

9

3

103

850

1996

1

4

5

3

8

13

8

8

10

10

12

8

90

940

1997

7

10

9

12

12

14

10

13

14

14

11

5

130

1070

1998

4

5

6

11

13

10

11

13

11

12

10

6

111

1181

1999

4

1

1

1

3

4

8

9

7

8

8

4

58

1239

2000

2

2

5

4

2

3

3

3

2

1

1

0

28

1267

2001

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

1268

2002

0

0

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

8

1276

2003

0

0

0

1

1

0

1

0

1

1

0

0

5

1281

2004

0

0

0

1

1

1

1

 1

 2

 1

 0

 0

8

1289

2005

0

0

0

1

2

2

2

0

1

 0

 0

 0

8

1297

2006 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1301

2007

 1

0

1

0

0

1

 0

 4

 1305

2008 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 4 1310

 T/Mo

 69

 70

 90

 104

 130

 134

 121

 129

 140

 138

 129

 67

 1310

 1310

I never really had a goal in mind for hiking, except the year that I retired in 1991. I decided to set a mark for hiking Mt. LeConte, in one calendar year, which would only be broken by someone with lots of determination. I hiked the mountain for a total of 230 times that year. I also managed to spend several weeks visiting the National Parks in Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Canada and the Dakotas with my son Bob.

As I continued to hike Mt. LeConte via Alum Cave Bluff Trail, my curiosity grew about who had laid this great trail out and who did all of the hard work constructing it. I visited the Library at the Sugarland Visitor Center and was shown a thesis by Thomas Hallman Fearrington Jr., A study submitted to the Faculty of Clemson University in for the fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Recreation and Park Administration, April 1977.

Click Along for information was taken from that thesis:

 

    Hits since 8/25-08

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