2013 T-Shirt Design

3/23/2013

2013 T-shirt design. Design is on the back of the shirt.

The t-shirts are on the mountain and ready for people to hike up and buy one. We have a lot of new items for sale this year. I will post pictures over the next week of all of the new LeConte Lodge items for sale.

Now to the technical information. The trails are going to be a wreck this morning. We had more snow yesterday during the evening. The temperatures warmed up to a little above freezing which turned the snow to rain. It then dropped again, freezing the concoction. It is now a slushy, wet, cold mess. If you are day hiking today, please keep this in mind. You will need a good pair of water proof boots to keep you feet warm. Bring extra clothes to change into at the top of the mountain. Better yet, today is a great day to stay inside around the fire and read a good book. I wish I could do that.

Now, as for people hiking up with their kids for a their reservations. You do not need to spend the money on "micro spikes". Yak Traks are just fine for the hike up and they cost a fraction of the price. Garbage bags are great for protecting their feet from the wet snow. Just make sure you bring extra clothing for them to change into when they get here. Also, make sure they drink plenty of water on the hike up and make sure they have yummy snacks to munch on. The extra calories will help them make it up the mountain and still have energy to make snow men when they get here. Plenty of children have made it to the top in these conditions. They will do better then you could even imagine. One suggestion, I did notice several families hiking up for the same night stay up top. You may find it helpful to meet up at the trail head and hike up together. The kids will have fun meeting new friends and it will help take their mind off the hike. Just a suggestion.

Sharon Mansell

3/23/2013 01:41:34 am

What's the tshirt cost?

deborah

3/23/2013 01:49:27 am

we are coming up in august..i so want one of those new tee shirts ..how much are they?

3/23/2013 01:51:54 am

How is trail up to alum cave bluff? is it just as bad as at mt leconte?

Debi

3/23/2013 01:56:08 am

I'm kind of glad I waited til July to hike up now. Have enough of that snow mess at home. In St.Petes and its suppose to be around 80 today.

Workman

3/23/2013 01:58:08 am

What is on the front of the t shirt?

Tony Ga

3/23/2013 01:58:30 am

I do believe the lead hiker on the new shirt is our own doug y. Kids on the trail...we took our sons on a hike years ago up Blood Mountain. I guess I pushed them too far too fast and they hated it. They are both in their 20's and haven't hike since. Let them take their time and have fun. doug y have the ladies forgave you for calling them thorns? Ladies I think he meant it in a good way. Watching it rain here in North Ga.

Brian N bama

3/23/2013 06:01:08 am

Sorry Tony Ga, that has to be me, my 2 sons and my wife last november when we went up after the big snow. Loved that trip. Alum covered in snow is amazing.

3/23/2013 02:02:06 am

Look on the LeConte Store site for t-shirt prices.

doug y

3/23/2013 02:26:41 am

Tony Ga: Now, please don't get me into any more trouble than I need ! Debi and Gina KNOW who I was referring to ! You and me ! Their wish to hike the A.T. has captured my interest and I'll offer any help to them that I can provide from my experiences. I have to remember that in today's technologically oriented society anyone can find the information they seek and need on the internet, to start with anyway. I think it's grand goal. No, I don' think they had me in mind when they designed the new t-shirt; I appreciate your compliment though. In fact, the design gives me an idea for one of my art projects. I listed my email address on yesterday's post for "Workman" and if you, too, ever wish to communicate directly. I hope to have my own website up and running soon, too. Allyson: Your advice for the kids was perfect ! I know a person locally who wants to take her own children for a visit to the lodge in about a year and I'm referring her to your advice and this blog. Have a good morning all.

3/23/2013 02:55:20 am

Just messing with you...but you did wak into that one. Got your email address and sent you an email. When Debi and Gina start their thru hike I can be their "Trail Angel" while they are on the trail in Ga.

Gina

3/23/2013 12:03:40 pm

I'll take u up on that!!

3/23/2013 12:05:50 pm

and I must have missed something, LOL. I did about 4 miles on the AT the other day. A little afternoon hike near the GA/TN line, went to the Standing Bear Farm Hostel, talked with some thru hikers

3/23/2013 12:42:58 pm

Oh you know how doug y is. He called you and Debi thorns and I said you weren't. But I'm sure he meant it in a good way. LOL

3/23/2013 11:55:21 pm

Its all good, Trail angel sounds good too. I'll take any advice I can get. Thanks guys. :)

Tara

3/23/2013 03:12:00 am

We're hiking up on Wed with the kids likely on Rainbow Falls because of the icy ledges on Alum. What time would you suggest leaving? We bought some micro spikes, but have also borrowed yak traks for some.

elktonbrant

3/23/2013 05:09:25 am

Leave EARLY... You don't want to miss dinner. My wife and I (no kids) typically need AT LEAST 4 hours to go up Rainbow Falls to the Lodge (and that's in the summertime). I'd suggest being on the trail no LATER than 9 AM (I forget if dinner's at 5 or 6).

Heather

3/23/2013 03:15:58 am

We are hiking up on Tuesday with a couple of12 year olds. anyone else hiking up that day that wants to meet up with us? Looks like right now we will take Rainbow Falls.

Marilyn

3/23/2013 03:28:41 am

Nice shirts, can't wait to get mine in September. Good idea, Allyson, for those hiking same day to meet at trailhead. Always fun to make new hiking friends. Everyone hiking this week have safe, enjoyable and memory building hike and stay on the best place in the world! We're expecting 8-9 inches of snow Sunday-Monday here in Indiana so it will be a stay in, hot choc kind of 2 days.

Ronette

3/23/2013 03:31:47 am

Our group has hiked to LeConte for 20-25 years. We started with 16 of us and are now at 12 but we all started with 5-6 year olds. Each family has 2 kids and they had a blast hiking and growing up together on the trail. This blog will be even more invaluable if it affords families the opportunity to hook up with other families. It makes it so much more fun for the kids and for the parents because not only do they keep each other company but they also are some of the best cheerleaders. And there is always someone to hike with no matter the pace. Our kids have written many a story of their adventures on Mt. LeConte and now in their mid to late 20's, they still do their absolute best to make the trip. They do not want to miss it!! It has also encouraged them to hike and explore many other areas of the Smokies and the world. It has been a huge blessing for our families!

Mark

3/23/2013 03:54:30 am

Link to the pricing for merchandise:

https://www.lecontelodge.com/wp-content/uploads/LeConte-Merchandise-2013.pdf

Kent link

3/23/2013 04:35:08 am

I have a pair of Stableicers Lite I bought before my trip last November -- adding them to my trip check-list now.

I'm just hoping the weather isn't miserably wet, at this point. Unfortunately, I know that early April can be quite rainy. I'll keep my fingers crossed for at least one nice, sunny day out of the three I'll be hiking.

J Barnes

3/23/2013 05:41:48 am

Myself and our newly minted 11 year old boy scout will be hiking up Monday 4/1. We've been hiking up to the lodge for an overnight stay since he was 5. He's done great but it was all in the summer time. If anyone wants to meet up on 4/1 to hike up, especially any with kids, send me an e-mail. jbarnes215@charter.net. I haven't decided which trail (rainbow or alum) we are hiking up yet. I'll leave that decision to the Sat/Sun before. Would prefer alum if conditions permit. We are prepared - micro spikes, lots of layers, waterproof boots and gaiters, etc. We'll even be taking a sleeping bag and space blanket just in case something happens and we need to hunker down for a while. Be prepared! :-)

Nick

3/28/2013 07:27:14 am

We are hiking our first time with our 10 y/o son. We don't have spikes so we were thinking of Rainbow.

3/28/2013 07:37:00 am

Nick - are you hiking up Monday 4/1? Given the fact they still have 15 inches of snow on the ground at the lodge we will probably hike Rainbow up on Monday and down on Tuesday. It's been well traveled according to the posts here. 441 just opened up yesterday so not a lot of foot traffic on Alum. I really don't want to be hiking through drifts on Alum. If I see posts here over the weekend that Alum is in good condition I might consider it but I'd say there's a 75% chance we'll be hiking up Rainbow. If you are hiking up Monday we'd be glad for you guys to join us. We'll probably try to leave the trail head early in the morning so we can take our time.

3/28/2013 11:02:07 am

Yes, my wife and I are hiking on Monday Apr 1 with our son, staying two nites. We are coming from Asheville, driving that morning; we aren't comfortable with our timeline though and we would hate to hold you up.

3/28/2013 11:14:48 am

Nick - OK. Hope to see you at dinner at the lodge Monday night. Be safe.

Scott

3/23/2013 06:43:36 am

On the wait list, hope to come up the first week of April. We have been comeing up for a few years, and love it there!

3/23/2013 08:49:35 am

Tony Ga: I've been out back in my 'man cave' so far today where I don't have internet access; will be checking my emails very soon; thanks. Whoever that is depicted on the new t-shirts exemplifies the experience quite well; nice design this year. There's several questions here about trails and equipment. As for equipment, I admit that some of mine is relatively "old", but very functional. yet, I will be acquiring some new stuff throughout this year. I have an e-book on my Nook tablet which I found very informative and interesting regarding hiking gear and such; It's pretty detailed and in my personal opinion oriented to the dedicated hiker; nonetheless it has a lot of information that even beginners can put to their own use. Some of it I found sort of unrelated to my own hiking style and preferences, overall I'll recommend this book to those seeking gear information and facts, etc. I suspect that the fellow who wrote it whittles down his toothbrush to save weight !! Tony Ga: just took a moment to check, but your email hasn't come through yet; will check again later.
"the ultimate hiker's gear guide"
(tools & techniques to Hit the Trail)
by: Andrew Skurka 2012
{National Geographic Books}

Enjoy.

3/23/2013 09:56:25 am

doug y, don't know what happen to the first email. Sent another test email, fire one back if you get it.

Debnfl

3/23/2013 08:53:12 am

LOVE the t-shirt!! Question. You mentioned that with the trails in poor condition to use garbage bags to keep the feet dry. How does that work? Small bags inside the shoes over the socks? Just curious and trying to picture how that would work.

SAL in TN

3/23/2013 01:35:19 pm

Yes, sock then plastic bag then shoe. My mom put bread bags on our feet as kids when it snowed, which wasn't often enough to bother buying snow boots.

Starlit

3/23/2013 09:38:03 am

Love the new shirt! Our family will be hiking up in June. Praying my 5 year old cooperates! She will "practicing" and keeping her interested is hard at times. Husband says Alum, I'm thinking maybe Rainbow. Guess we'll wait and see!

Robert Johnson

3/23/2013 10:13:02 am

Please put the high and low temperatures and the snow depth on each of the daily posts.

FLAndy

3/23/2013 11:25:05 am

Robert - just go to the NOAA site, the lodge is where that information comes from:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/productview.php?pil=mrxrtpmrx

brian

3/24/2013 01:17:57 am

Any thoughts on updated weather reports on a hike up on Monday with a 7 and 8 year old? We have not hiked Mount Leconte before, and I am trying to make a safety call. The boys have done quite a bit of hiking in the West, but those hikes have been under completely different conditions.

Thanks for any thoughts or opinions.

Brian

Chris

3/24/2013 02:15:33 am

Same here Monday night, 8 year old. More worried about Tuesday coming down. Please advise. Thanks

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2013 T-Shirt Design

LeConte Lodge

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