LeConte Trip this Weekend

“Indeed we do. I would suggest we meet somewhere right off the interstate so the meet and drop on Sunday is quick and both of us can get back on the road (a 24 hr Walmart or grocery where the cars will be safe perhaps?). Not sure whose vehicle we'll be taking yet...sounds as though Mocs truck is probably too small for the 3 of us. I don't mind taking my Tacoma if one of you don't mind squeezing into the extended cab for the remainder of the ride up.”

“Never been up to LeConte so really can't comment...
last edited: 7/31/08 11:54:35 AM”

“Toph,
I sent you my phone number in an email.”

“Just waltz up an over to the "lodge" while you are there. I suggest going during "social hour".”

“Will do. How far of a trek is it out to Cliff Tops from the shelter?”

“Got it. Will give you a call tomorrow afternoon to check on your progress so we can time the meet better...”

“NE of Chattanooga is a shopping area. Hamilton Place or something similiar. It might give you easy interstate access and relative safety. Just a thought.”

“Trying to get the info straight, you guys going to get to the park Friday evening or Sat. morning”

“Eagle we are still awaiting word from Mocs on available slots! if there are no more Govmentmule and I are going somewhere and are up for suggestions if you'd like to join us!!!”

“It looks like we are planning to get up there Friday night although not sure where we'll be staying yet...waiting to hear from Mocs to see if he has somewhere in mind to camp that night.”

“******I have 3 more spots for a total of 7 including myself.*******

I thought toph and precision were coming over on Saturday morning but maybe I am wrong. If we were to go up Friday, I usually have decent luck at one of the frontcountry sites (Elkmont..etc.) It doesn't matter either way to me, so just let me know.”

“I would rather get on up there for an early start Saturday before the heat really sets in but if you guys want to wait until Saturday I can head on up and meet you at LeConte that afternoon/evening...”

“Spam looks like I'm in the 4 slots on this trip, thanks for the invite though, hopefully mocs can get a couple more slots. Looks like I'll be headed up Fri. night. When were you planning on going up?”

“I now have 7 slots eagle!

Toph-I don't care to go up Friday or Saturday, whichever you and precision would rather do if we are going to try and carpool. I can leave anytime after 4ish on Friday after work, or wait and leave anytime after 6ish on Saturday. Just let me know.”

“I think he's ok with Friday night but he won't get there until 7-8ish.”

“Great, looks like Spam might join in. Friday or Sat. good with me. I thinks it's 3.5 hour drive for me depending on traffic. Spam you guys want a ride?”

“Yes!!! Govmentmule and I are planning on leaving out around 5 pm Friday evening and we'll probably stay at a campground or possibly just go up the Parkway and stay Friday night around the Graveyard Fields area then get up early and head over to the Smokies.Eagle if ya want you can give me a call (828)447-3187”

“I will leave here noon-ish tomorrow. I'll make it there. as I fast as I can -- just say where there is.”

“You guys want to plan on trying to meet up at Elkmont camping area Friday night or somewhere else?”

“Elkmont is fine with me, I will call and make sure we can get a spot.

Precision- are you planning on coming to my house and riding up from here?”

“How far off the interstate do you live?”

“18-19 miles. I live north of the city (and the west side of the river) and the interstate is south and east of the city. I generally take Highway 27 to Dayton and then Highway 30 over to the interstate when headed from my house to the Smokies.”

“EagleJ is picking me and Paul up and I reckon we'll be at Elkmont late Friday eve!Mocs give me a call tomorrow! Cell#828-447-3187”

“The first ones to Elkmont just get a spot or two for everyone.”

“Here is a listing of all the "first come fist served" sites open for tonight at Elkmont.

http://tinyurl.com/Elkmont-Sites
last edited: 8/01/08 5:40:13 AM”

“So, just to be precise, we're meeting at your house?

If you guys don't want to hold up for me I could drive the rest of the way if we really need me to.”

“Toph and I have talked about meeting closer to the interstate. I have suggested a mall right off I75 (Hamilton Place Mall) where I think that we should be safe parking our cars, and it would probably shave 20-30 minuets off of our time. I am fine with meeting anywhere but if you have been on the road all day, you might prefer to meet at the mall.

Toph also said he might be leaving work early and if he does that he is going to go ahead and go straight to the park.”

“Just found out that I can dial it in this afternoon so I'm going to head on up to the park. I'll call one of you when I get up there to the campground...”

“I'm leaving now too.

Mocs123, I'll call as you suggest. When I get close to the exit.

Google says 465 miles to drive.”

“Live Bluegrass in Townsend this evening at 7PM at the Heritage Center (between the stop light and the NP).”

“home again jiggity jig. Excellent trip although I'm pretty sure I'll be sore for days to come...WELL worth it though.

Great meeting everyone and looking forward to the next time...

-Burl”

“Thanks to Mocs for a brilliant trip! Let me know if there's ever anthing I can do to help out on another... Thanks to Spam for the conversation and stories, and to Toph for hangin' with me... and the rest of eveyone for an excellent comraderie and hike.

I made it off the road, and am safe at my brother's house.

I wish everyone well, and hope we do that hike again. Thanks again. Please post some pictures when you can.”

“Thanks to all! I'm glad evryone made it home okay! Had a great time! I would love to make this one an annual trip!!!!”

“what were the temps like?

Spam, we are trying to make a annual winter Leconte trip. Last i heard you were close to getting all your cold gear...you down?”

“Glad everyone made it home safe and thanks to everyone for making it a great trip. I'll try and have my pics up tomorrow after work. I will definitely do this trip again.

The "official high" at LeConte Lodge was 70 and the "Official low" was 49. When we were at the lodge getting water on Saturday night it was 62 degrees at 7:30 or so, and my watch thermometer said 57* at 7:00 AM this morning.”

“Helloooooo Spam ol'boy!! Lawng time. I look fard to your trip pix. We're in Hazelwood now, so I'll be hiking w/ you again sometime eventually. Good getting back to WNC, I'm getting used to the wave again, hehe.”

“Back safe in G'tonia. I had a great time, it was great to meet all you guys, looking forward to hiking with you again some time.”

“Nake Ape WASSUP?????? Give me a email!

Opie I'm down! Man I've always had at least two of everything except for a water filter!I ain't gonna let some theif keep me outta da woods!I PREFER the winter time even in my hammock!
last edited: 8/04/08 4:28:32 PM”

“What trail would be best for a late afternoon start and nightime decent back to the car? I want to hike Mount Leconte week after next but, I will only have afternoons and evenings to hike. I fly into Knoxville Sunday the 17th and fly back out on Friday the 22nd. We will be doing high angle rescue training while there. I plan to drink beer most nights, I'll skip the beer and hike at least one night though.



The five trails to the Lodge and their ratings are as follows:

1) Alum Cave Bluff Trail: 5.5 Miles. The shortest, fastest, steepest and the most scenic. 2700' elevation Change. Unquestionably my favorite trail.

2) Bull Head Trail: 7.5 Miles gradual, long. A nice trail for descending 4000' elevation change. For a round trip hike go up Rainbow Falls trail and hike down the Bull Head Trail. They both have the same parking lot at their trailheads.

3) Rainbow Falls: 6.5 Miles, rocky, steep, 4000' elevation change. Too many loose rocks for a safe descent.

4) Trillium Gap Trail: 6.5 Miles, nice, Roaring Forks Road is very steep to the trailhead and back down to Gatlinburg. 3500' elevation change. Beautiful walk under Grotto falls.

5) The Boulevard Trail: 8.8 Miles. Many hikers think that the 1700 ' elevation change and the long distance means a gradual climb. Unfortunately the hike up has lots of ups and downs.”

“My pics are now up


http://tinyurl.com/LeConte-Trip-Pics”

“Mocs those are some really nice pics!The ones of the fawn are fantastic!I wish I had fresh batteries at the time we saw them.By the way that was actually a Peahen! LOL!I'll get my pics up soon...I hope!”

“Bullshead was easy to follow and non treacherous when we hiked up and down it in 4-6 inches of snow and ice, with no crampons and white out conditions. I'd vote for that one on the way down.

I haven't done Rainbow, but i'd say it or Trillium would be your UP”

“Hey Opie thanks for your input. I think up Rainbow and down Bullhead would likely be the best. Long roundtrip though!
last edited: 8/05/08 11:23:00 AM”

“OMG. Those pictures are great and that trip looked awesome! I must go there at some point...what was the mileage like? Is it a knee jarring trip?”

“Bateaux, any other way you would have to have someone drop you off or shuttle. I would say go up Alum Cave, and come down Bullshead, but you'll be nowhere near your car.”

“Mocs great pictures here's mine http://picasaweb.google.com/Bradleyx4/MtLeContes”

“Let me try that again
http://picasaweb.google.com/Bradleyx4/MtLeConte”

“It was 8 miles on Saturday with a climb at the beginning and the end, but nothing as bad as most of the trails in the Smokies. Sunday was a little over 5 miles all downhill. It was fairly steep but the footing was decent.”

“Nice pics eagleJ”

“Hey eagle, you like that picasa web page? I really like that layout, a better look than webshots.

Hey bat one thang you ain't considering is parking down at the Alum Cave TH, thumb up Hwy 441 to Newfound Gap TH. It's an easy thumb, morning or evening, unless there's a good grp of you. The rangers are used to seeing that and will take you on up to the Gap for your dayhike start. I've done it twice over the years, nair a prollem.

Spam, you got mail.

That Leconte Shelter looks pretty cool, I've never seen that before.”