i wanna sleep with you in the desert tonight with a billion stars all around.

1/31/2012

It is an absolute perfection and virtually divine to know how to enjoy our being rightfully. We seek other conditions because we do not understand the use of our own, and go outside of ourselves because we do not know what it is like inside. Yet there is no use our mounting on stilts, for on stilts we must still walk on our own legs. And so on the loftiest throne in the world we are still sitting only on our own rump. Montaigne

Morning,

It was another beautiful day on LeConte. The high was 37. The low was 21. It was 33 and clear at observation. The ice on Alum is still rather treacherous, so be sure to use caution.

Please remember to use the Park Service's reservation system. It is a violation of Park policy to tent camp in the 'backcountry' on Mt. LeConte. You need a backcountry permit to stay in the shelter. That is the only place to stay on Mt. LeConte while the lodge is CLOSED. If I'm being redundant, it's because people are being ignorant, stubborn, lazy, obstinate or some wonderful combination of the previously mentioned uniquely human qualities.

Henry link

1/31/2012 01:20:35 am

It looks like Davey's Wood to me.

Chris D

1/31/2012 01:53:32 am

I'd like to add JP's description of the law breaking folks on the mountain by calling them very disrespectful. The rules are in place to protect the mountain. I've seen a tent pitched on the Cliff Tops years a ago and couple of kids with a tent &a fire out toward the helipad this past summer. Just a total lack of respect for the mountain.

Kenny

1/31/2012 01:53:46 am

how long take from parking lot to summit through Alum Cave trail? I would like to go over there at 2/19, thanks

Ryan

1/31/2012 02:57:50 am

If you are a veteren hiker in great shape and a normal pack with your supplies, probably 2 and a half hours. If you are in the majority of hikers that visit this forum(classified as recreational hikers) probably budget 4 hours up and 3 hours down. Plus figure in stops for pictures and time just to take in the beauty of the hike.

1/31/2012 03:53:23 am

Thanks Ryan. I'm experience hiker, but i'm taking my wife with me, which she is new. I'm just try to in and out, and get it there as early as we can from Pigeon Forge. Hoping the weather is good for hike. Thanks

Pam

1/31/2012 04:24:19 am

I'm a walker but on central Ohio FLAT ground. When my hubby and I did the trip last summer. We went slow and easy and 4 hours up and 3 down. Will worth it though! Take plenty of water and snacks along. And don't foget to buy your T-shirt at the top to prove you were there!! Also I recommend walking sticks of some sort.

Paul B

1/31/2012 05:53:34 am

Pam, being a Central Ohio flatlander, did you happen to make the Hocking Hills "Winter" hike on the 21st? I was all packed and ready to go when Old man Winter decided to arrive for the only 12 hours this season and grace us with an ice storm that kept us from getting out of the driveway much less the 2 1/2 hr drive. Just curious how it went from someone that braved the slick rural roads.

1/31/2012 05:18:41 am

The lodge office will be closed so buying a t-shirt not be an option

1/31/2012 05:40:30 am

Yea. I was wonder where I can get that. :)
Is Alum Cave still busy of hike duning this season? I try to get trailhead at 6.

Sherry

1/31/2012 04:07:27 am

Hey JP, I talked with them on the hike down yesterday. Explained the entire system when they told ^^Me they were tent camping. They were jerks. Too bad there are so many of them.

Debi link

1/31/2012 05:41:34 am

Unfortunenately the ones that are ignorant are probably not reading this either. Beautiful pics.

Marilyn

1/31/2012 06:52:26 am

Kenny; RE shirts. You might try calling LeConte's office in Pigeon Forge 865 829-5704 or log on to their website 222.lecontelodge.com to see if they have any shirts. I doubt they have 2012 dated shirts as the 2012 season does not start until mid-March. They might have some leftover 2011's and could tell you how to get one of those. Enjoy your hike up, be safe and warm.

1/31/2012 07:11:15 am

Great! I'll remember this, Thanks a lot :)

Paul

1/31/2012 08:14:34 am

Paul I didn't and haven't made that hike. Someday I would like to, but I'm a warm weather hiker!! Plus this yr. my father-in-law was very ill and passed away. Some yr. I'll make it there!!

Tai

1/31/2012 10:23:58 am

Last time at Silars bald shelter in November it was snowing sideways. 4 young guys showed up without reservations. All of them were wearing blue jeans, soaked to the bone, and the next morning we found out that they didn't hang any of their food.

Mike

1/31/2012 12:09:06 pm

This is what happens when there is a total lack of backcountry rangers. There are enough in the front-country to keep you from speeding though. (Not speaking from experience) These disrespectful people that ignore the rules will not change their ways unless some one with authority that can write them a violation or arrest them is present at the time of infraction. All that we law abiding citizens can do is waste our breath on instructing them on the rules. I could rant on, but why?

1/31/2012 12:37:44 pm

On second thought, I will rant a little more. It’s not all the NPS’s fault for not having the funding for the backcountry rangers…although they could lobby for funding better maybe. And it’s not just the Gov’ment or the Department of the Interior for cutting the budget to the NPS….Its OUR fault for letting it happen or continuing on status quo. We need to write letters make phone calls and get pro active to change things. “The squeaky wheel gets the grease”
I’ll stop now.

scott

1/31/2012 12:07:15 pm

Um actually, most of those qualities you mention are not uniquely human. However, you were correct in using about the people you descibed

H Clark

1/31/2012 12:33:53 pm

The issue of not following National Forest regulations are evident in the Red River Gorge area of Kentucky. The camping rules are simple - Do not camp within 300 feet of hiking trails/roads and do not camp under rock ledges. However, the evidence is clear that many campers choose to ignore the rules even though thousands of acres of land are available for use.

1/31/2012 11:17:10 pm

We were at RRG in October and there was a young couple camped within 20 feet of the edge on Auxier Ridge. Their tent had collapsed due to winds the night before. This is why people die there every year. It is an amazing view, but not the last one I want to see on this earth.

Randy "OPIE" Taylor

2/1/2012 05:45:46 am

I tried every day in December to get reservations for the month of January, no matter how long my trip, or what day I requested...I was told that the shelter was full. And I know how to work the system.

I don't know how this is, when I would start calling 5-10min before the backcountry opened, and 1-2 days before the 30 day window...they still said FULL. So no doubt that pple are stealth camping...and it's wrong. If they front office knows pple are trying to jam a certain shelter or reserved site, WATCH that site.

I finally have reservations for this Saturday....and great 60% chance of rain, and lows above freezing at the lower elevations.

JP, I'll be watching your Friday post, to see if we are still going to come up. If it's a monsoon and above freezing, I'm not coming up to play in the mud with you and the bobkitten in 36F temps. lol

John

2/1/2012 06:58:28 am

So......you work the system, but you're complaining about other people working the system?

2/1/2012 01:26:31 pm

I'll second that.

OPIE

2/2/2012 12:17:39 am

I meant I know how to call ahead 30 days in advance to get spots and how to call multiple numbers to get an answer. I'm following the rules, and not stealth camping or jamming into a shelter without a reservation.

Erik Kreusch

2/1/2012 06:21:26 am

JP, thanx for the hospitality. Found three mice traps and removed them from the shelter (one with a dead mouse that had been sitting there for days). The shelter also had wood piled near the recently closed fireplace. The fireplace was closed so that folks aren't cutting the trees around the shelter down for firewood. Hey folks dress warm and respect all forms of wildlife. If you don't want mice then don't sleep in the shelter. It is ashame that people feel like these places should be more like home. Enjoy the outdoors for what they are. Great day and a wonderful hike. Enjoyed our short conversation. Peace bro. As always, EK

James W

2/1/2012 07:14:09 am

JP You might want to suggest to the forest service, that they post a big red sign, (heres your sign) for dummies, at each trailhead to let hikers know there is no tent camping on mt. Leconte permitted!!

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9/5/2013 08:27:31 pm

Hey, can you tell me how to get the backcountry permit? I would really like to get one as soon as possible. Thanks in advance. And the link to backcountry reservation website is not available when I checked now! Regards.

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i wanna sleep with you in the desert tonight with a billion stars all around.

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