Hello to everyone. I'm getting a late start writing--been busier than I expected for a misty day on the mountain. We've been pleased to welcome an office and dining room full of guests Sunday afternoon as the morning mist progressed into a light drizzle. We received only a trace of rain Saturday with a high-low of 64 and 51. The forecast called for a 40 percent chance of showers for us today (which we've already received albeit gently), but the skies are lightening slightly as of 2:30 p.m. I just got done unloading llamas for a rare Sunday trip up LeConte. We've been so busy we had to schedule an extra trip for supplies. Rex, the caboose of the llama string, had the responsibility for the most interesting cargo--approximately 80 metal-tipped wooden hiking sticks for our store. The llamas follow each other so putting those metal-tipped sticks on the last llama proves much safer. Just the same, Rex could have been classified as an ancient weapon of war chugging up the mountain with his payload of spears. I think he was glad to just be carrying dirty linens home on the return trip. My highlight from yesterday was viewing a world-class sunset, without question one of the three best I've seen on LeConte this year. Photos will never do it justice, but at one time sunset looked like the sky was a blanket set on fire and rippling from the west in a vain effort to extinguish it. The show was absolutely spectacular on a day when the skies above LeConte were pretty pedestrian for the most part. Have a fine day. Happy trails. 
I'm not the only one who was enthralled with Saturday's sunset. A group of guests assembled on the deck on the dining room to take in the show.
Gina
7/14/2013 10:10:25 am
Awesome photo! Tuesdays weather looks great, 84 down here in the valley and no chance of rain as of now, should be a fantastic day up there. Wish I weren't working
norman AIRBORNE
7/14/2013 11:46:12 am
wish i could!!!!
Debi
7/14/2013 12:53:58 pm
No words can describe, just awesome! And about time!!! :)
Chuck
7/14/2013 02:07:20 pm
My wife and I made the trip up Sunday for the day. First time up top and hopefully not the last. Great to see the Llamas on a Sunday. Not much of a view due to clouds but awesome there nonetheless.
Devin R
7/15/2013 01:57:17 am
Are these temps for the past couple days lower than normal? I don't recall seeing a low in the 40s in July over the past couple years.
Brian N bama
7/15/2013 02:45:53 am
Trying to plan a 3 night hike on the AT thru the park starting at north end of the AT with the 3rd night being a stay at the Lodge. Does any one have any suggestions?
tomk in SC
7/15/2013 03:20:28 am
I hiked it three years ago. All in just over 40 miles spread over three days hiking. Drop a car at Newfound Gap and have someone drop you off at i-40 and the AT. First night at Cosby Knob. You will need to take around 10L of fluids and have a pump/treatment at Cosby. Drink a lot and refill at Davenport Gap shelter. From there, Pecks Corner and on to LeConte. You will need reservations at the shelters and LeConte is hard to get. When are you going?
Brian N bama
7/15/2013 04:18:08 am
The goal is to spend 2 nights between Davenport and Newfound gap(hopefully staying at a not so full icewater shelter) the 3rd day we would finish up to newfound gap, drop our packs, gather my youngest son and head back up to the boulevard trail to the lodge for the final night. Not sure if this will be possible. I will get on waiting list for a night in October at lodge and book shelters accordingly.
tomk in SC
7/15/2013 04:40:08 am
If you can get someone to escort your son to Icewater, then you meet him there. The three of you hike to the Boulevard, you and your son take it right and the escort hikes back to NG alone. Doug is bang on re Icewater. Great shelter, but the rangers don't police the permitting in a meaningful way. They need to confiscate unpermitted gear and sell it on eBay or impose serious fines. Non permitted sheltering is common as is failure to fine. They DO police the shelter at LeConte, especially on the weekends when the ranger is there.
doug y
7/15/2013 03:32:43 am
Brian: I have hiked the 70-mi portion of the A.T. through the G.S.M.N.P. about fourteen times beginning in 1964, and it is my favorite "long" hike there. I'm about a year or two overdue for it now, but with my rapidly deteriorating knees I have no idea when I'll be able to do this segment again, but I will as soon as I get some repairs done to the knees. Except for one time I have always begun at Davenport Gap, ending at Fontana dam, taking from four to eight days for the journey; now, it would require the longer time ! I often hike just one mile the first day, beginning late in the afternoon and staying at the Davenport Gap shelter, then on the following days I plan to hike usually around 7 miles per day, depending on which shelters I plan to stay at. I wouldn't know which ones to recommend to you, but with any Parl trail map you should be able to select the ones you want and the distances you wish to cover per day. A side trip and stay at the lodge sounds like a great part of your plans, too ! One thing I wuld tell you is that I personally would avoid staying at the Icewater Spring shelter as it can get terribly overcrowded there because so many unthinking idiots trek up there from Newfound Gap and have no permits for that shelter or any other, etc. I have seen people almost come to blows over that, and the people who have taken the time and decency to acquire the proper permits from the Park Service are the only ones who have the right to those limited bunk spaces. I am not near my own trail maps so I won't try to name particular shelters, but you should easily be able to do that if you have any good such map. The side trip to the lodge might prove to be the most difficult to schedule around, but I believe you can do it. Let me know if you want further thoughts, and if so, after I've looked at my maps when I get home later today, I'll be glad to mention an idea or two. I hope you eventuallyhave a wonderful hike - - your intended rooute/plans sound just grand ! Good morning.
doug y
7/15/2013 03:19:16 am
That first photo has to be a "world class" shot !! To me it appears that the brilliant colors in the sky parted just for that tree ! That will have to be added to my scrolling screen saver I made recently. I was in the Park this past weekend, arriving Friday so I could ride the Cades Cove loop early saturday morning when it's closed to vehicular traffic until 10:00a. I made camp in the cove campground ratther early on Friday afternoon so I had plenty of time and rode the loop that afternoon although pausing for vehicles was a frequent necessity; luckily I didn't get run over. I was at it again just as the sun was beginning to light the sky Sat morning and it was a wonderful ride that early. I spotted five separate bears at different points along the way but since none of them seemed to want to stop and talk I rode peacefully on. This time of day, for me, is the only time to bicycle around that scenic loop. Saturday afternoon, after making camp again at the Elkmont campground, I took a day hike up Jakes Creek trail, saw the Avent cabin {cannot imagine how I missed it several times before} and I had the will to take my good 'ol time, and it was most refreshing, meeting very few people except for two or three solitary hikers doing the loop that follows the "Cucumber" trail. Elkmont is my first and foremost favorite place to tent camp as there are plenty of different day hikes that begin and end there. On my way out I met a wonderful couple with whom I chatted for a few minutes. As it turned out, they are frequent readers of this blog, and they were a bit surprised to meet me as they had read my posts several times. It's always a distinct pleasure to meet other readers, etc. They told me they were "gearing up" to hike Mt. Leconte and I encouraged them to do exactly that. I won;t mention their names, but their initials are J & R A. I told her that I'd better see her making a post soon on this site, too !! It surely was a great weekend to be in the Park, and I would have loved to have spent it up at the lodge, but nonetheless I had a great time doing what I love best. G'day.
Kent
7/15/2013 04:34:53 am
I was looking at Jakes Creek trail just yesterday, doug h, as a possible first day-hike when I come down in September. I want to warm up with something not overly strenuous since I'm planning my most ambitious hike to LeConte yet for the next day: up Trillium Gap, then down Bullhead. Also, I'll hike out to Mrytle Point. That should be close to an 18-mile day, I figured. :)
doug y
7/16/2013 12:39:26 am
A good hike is taking the Cucumber Gap trail which bears left off Jakes Creek, then you can return down the Little River Trail tp Elkmont; or, take the trolley from Elkmont to the Laurel Falls parkng area, but go across the road and follow the trail there which goes through Mids Gap; this intersects with the Huskey Gap trail and goes down to the Little River trail and thus back to Elkmont, a total of about 8.7 mi.
Mary F
7/15/2013 06:12:41 am
Doug my group just got directions to the Avent cabin from Ranger Mark when we visited the Lodge on Friday. Learn something new everyday :-)
J & R
7/16/2013 02:48:29 am
Doug pleasure to meet you last weekend. Fun to meet a regular on this site. We are back home in North Alabama looking forward to our next trip to the mountains. Good luck on your demonstration and display at the library this week! Hope to cross paths again.
doug y
7/16/2013 04:27:31 am
Somehow I missed your reply. My apologies. The pleasure of meeting you two out on the trail was mine as well. I do hope that you have in your plans a hike up Mt. Leconte, and even better, a night or two at the lodge. I believe you'll love it indeed ! My "art exhibit" opened yesterday (it's Tues now of course) with not a lot of fanfare which is fine with me. Just think, you met me before I became famous in the art world !! hehehehe.....Actually, I don't seek nor need such "exposure", etc. I'm always planning another hike in the Smokies, and the less time in between them the better. Yes, hopefully we'll cross paths again, so, keep reading this blog and stay in touch. Remember my friends: "No matter where you go, there you are !" G'day.
Donnie
7/15/2013 03:51:10 am
Awesome pic as always !! Great Job ;)
Pat N.
7/15/2013 05:01:52 am
Great post and pics, Nathan. Sorry to hear about your papaw. I'm sure you delivered a wonderful eulogy.
Marilyn
7/15/2013 07:20:48 am
Doug
doug y
7/16/2013 12:42:01 am
Yes, it's a good side journey, one I, too learned of recently. I began hiking in the Smokies in 1957. A lot of miles, a lot of miles !!! Comments are closed.
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