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Hanging on to Summer

8/2/2014

 
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As the dining room fills up with guests coming down for their fill of pancakes and Tang, I am sitting in my room wrapped up in a blanket and typing my morning post. The nights and early mornings are still chilly. I am not used to wearing my down jacket in early August. My eyes see the summer flowers but by my body is telling me it is fall because of the cool nights. The low last night 52º with a high of 60º. We are gearing up for a Saturday on the mountain. We have seen a lot of folks getting their last minute family hikes in before the kids start back to school.
I guess fall really is just around the corner.
Tom Kerschner
8/2/2014 02:23:45 am

I hiked to the Lodge on July 31st had lunch then back down. One of the great days of my 71 years on planet earth. I will be back God willing but hope to stay overnight and enjoy pancakes in the AM.

norman
8/2/2014 05:13:37 am

God bless every one out hiking! Where ever they are. Tom, hope you have many more 'great days'. And yes, thoughs pancakes and tang are great!

Tom Kerschner
8/3/2014 05:32:35 am

Great day on July 31st. I hope I will be able to stay overnight next summer. I did my share of Hiking with the Boy Scouts but what an experience. Keep the Blog going it keeps me going.

Missy Emrich
8/2/2014 07:10:02 am

The Hubs is wanting to hike up Trillium to LeConte this fall. I'm thinking about coming back down either Bull Head or Brushy Mountain so we can mark off 3 routes (we took Alum up and down last fall). I think Bull Head is the one that everyone says has great views & is less rocky? Easy descent? I don't know much about Brushy Mountain trail? Also - the main thing I need to know is how far are the other trail heads from Trillium? Any help with logistics is appreciated.

doug y link
8/2/2014 09:13:26 am

Missy: I believe the accepted distance from the Trillium trailhead back down to the Rainbow Falls / Bullhead trailhead is about 1.7 miles with a connector trail between, etc. Rainbow and Bullhead split a short distance from this trailhead. I believe that others who frequent this site will have better information than me. The Brushy Mountain Trail intersects the Trillium trail up at Trillium Gap. The other trailheads are more widely separated. Sorry I cannot be more helpful; Good hiking.

Missy
8/3/2014 06:33:44 am

Thanks, Doug!

tomk in SC
8/2/2014 10:54:33 am

I think Bullhead UP and Trillium DOWN makes more sense. Bullhead absolutely beats you up going down. UP it isn't bad at all. Just aerobic, but no jarring. The views in winter are great and reports from this site suggest they are good in summer as well. Doug is correct. 1.7 miles by trail from Grotto Falls parking lot to Bullhead/Rainbow parking lot. Brushy Mountain is a whole bigger logistics thing. There's no walk between the trailheads. You would need to dump a car at Trillium Gap/Grotto Falls parking lot then drive to Greenbrier to start up Brushy Mountain. Just before Trillium Gap on Brushy Mountain there is a trailside pool of cold deep water one could stuff themself in to bring body temp from 98.6 to like 50 in five minutes! I swear I am going to do that one day. Stinging Nettle for a short stretch below the gap as well. Wear long pants. I didn't and itched for a couple of hours and then it was gone.

Missy
8/3/2014 06:34:48 am

Thanks, Tom!

Ashley Plauche
8/2/2014 11:34:46 am

Alison & Chris, so sorry we weren't able to make it up on the annual family overnight trip tonight to see you before you move on to new adventures. Maybe Josh and I will get to come visit on a day hike this fall. Hope you all are well!

linda carr
8/3/2014 05:17:46 am

Will someone please tell me how difficult the hike up to the lodge. I've wanted to hike it for so many years now I find myself at 68 yrs and still haven't got there. Please some feed back.

Missy
8/3/2014 06:40:15 am

Hi Linda - We hiked up Alum for the first time last fall. The difficulty is directly related to your fitness level. If you are a regular hiker, you shouldn't have much trouble with it. If not, it will be much more of a challenge. If you can get a reservation at the lodge, that takes off some of the pressure to making the trip back down the same day & you can take all the time you need to make it up to the lodge. You absolutely must try it. You will only regret not attempting it. Hike your own hike and enjoy!

Sandy Arden
8/3/2014 06:27:56 am

Mt Leconte & Cades Cove, my favorite places on earth! How beautiful!


Comments are closed.
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