Great Day For A Look Around

6/6/2011

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. " ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Great day for a hike out to Myrtle Point yesterday. Nice and cool. The rhododendron is on its way to blooming. I would guess that it is going to be in full glory within the next couple of weeks.

Juanita

6/6/2011 01:13:33 am

Yippeeee! I made my hike to Mount LeConte last Saturday. It is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life! LOL! I'm very sore and still recovering, but my hip did just fine and the weather was perfect. And the view from the cliff tops is a picture no artist could draw.

High On LeConte

6/6/2011 02:16:26 am

Juanita,
I think I speak for most of the readers when I say I am bummed that you did not come and introduce yourself. I wanted to your post your picture on the blog to celebrate your accomplishment. I guess you are going to have to hike back up here so we can introduce you to everyone.

Deb

6/6/2011 02:18:51 am

Congratulations, Juanita! What an accomplishment, and what joy it has been reading your comments.

Tim @ Appalachia & Beyond link

6/6/2011 02:37:33 am

Congratulations Anita. It is definitely quite the accomplishment, and you are correct, there is no way to truly capture what the eyes see on Cliff Tops.

Allyson,

We hiked Kephart Prong on Saturday, On the way up and down Newfound Gap the Rhodo's were in full bloom, but that was only near the top, it appears that they have already had their show at the lower elevations. The mountain laurel is still blooming though. So it won't be long up there.

Tim

Juanita

6/6/2011 02:56:40 am

Oh dear me, thank you Allyson but I'm not much for fanfare. However, I'm very sorry I did not stop by to meet you and your crew... especially that handsome Walt! If I were 50 years younger I might have to take out after him. LOL!

I'll be back, maybe again this summer before we head back to Coral Gables.

Jamie J

6/6/2011 04:28:35 am

Hey Juanita way to go! I think I may have been at the cliff tops with you, and taken a picture with your camera for you and your friends. Was your crew drinking a bottle of wine?

Juanita

6/6/2011 05:34:25 am

That was me Jamie, along with my nephew Keith and his friend Chip who are visiting us from Orlando. Thank you for indulging us by snapping some photographs. We brought along a celebratory bottle of vino to enjoy with our lunch (and we had a couple more bottles after we arrived back in Gatlinburg).

Santa Claus

6/6/2011 06:57:00 am

I was up there too. Me and the Easter Bunny hiked up together. Talked to Bigfoot at the top. LOL

Bigfoot

6/6/2011 06:57:40 am

It was nice seeing you and the Easter Bunny again. Take care.

Ann B.

6/6/2011 08:24:47 am

Congratulations Juanita! You're an inspiration to us all.

Melissa

6/6/2011 10:53:53 am

Congratulations Juanita. My dream is to one day make it to the top of LeConte and spend a couple of days. I'm 55 but have never done any hiking whatsoever so I am so encouraged by you. Thanks for giving me hope!!!

Marilyn

6/6/2011 11:00:28 am

Juanita, congrats on your initial venture to the top..sure hope it won't be your last! It is fabulous isn't it the feeling you get when you reach the lodge? Well worth the pain. Melissa, start practicing and you can do it too. I made my first trip up in 1976 on my honeymoon and stayed in the shelter (Love was grand then!) Now I opt to stay each year in the cabins as I turned 71 this past May and don't walk as fast as I once did. Lost that "loving feelin" for the man along the way but still have it for the mountain. Best darn decision I ever made! I can't imagine doing it at an older age and with a hip replacement too! You go Juanita!

Galen

6/6/2011 01:50:40 pm

My congratulations also Juanita.
Mellisa, You have plenty of time to make it up top. But don't wait too long. Once you go you'll want to do it often and wish you had done it sooner.
I hiked up with Ed Wright three years ago. I beleive he was 82 or 83 at the time. His first hike to LeConte was when he was 58 and he hiked it over 1300 times in his last 24 or 25 years.
I still want to do it twice in one day like he did.
So to all who haven't made it up yet, as long as your legs will move you head on up. You don't have to do it in record time. Pick a day with long daylight and take your time and enjoy every step and view.
My wife and I usually make it in three and a half hours up. But this year it took five hours due to knee problems.
Even with the bad knee she is glad she went. You will meet some of the nicest people on the trail and up top.
So head out and enjoy.

Kathy

6/6/2011 04:58:33 pm

Congrads to Juanita, I love hiking up and love spending the night. I too have slowed down in the pass few years. I really ached when we hike in May and told hubby don't let me do this again. it took a week of knee pain and I am ready to go again. Pain goes away but memories always linger on . I do need to hike when it it not real hot the heat take alot out of me. I am 64 and really want to hike again soon. Hi to all the staff at MtLeconte

vicki towe

6/7/2011 05:03:06 pm

We hiked up Saturday and Back down Sunday. We also enjoyed the views from cliff tops and the Sunrise service on Sunday morning . It has been several years since I was able to do anything else but just make it to the top and go back down the next day. My daughter and I made it a day hike a month ago. She is 8 and she loved it can't wait to take her for over night.If you have never been please go you will be so glad you did. We had two newbies with us this year they loved it!

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Great Day For A Look Around

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