 Juxtaposed nature. Hello again, dear readers. I hope that everyone is starting their week off right today. Up top, we are awaiting a stormy Monday to set in sometime this afternoon. For now it is pleasant, 65 and overcast, but there is rain settled heavily in the slow rolling clouds that are making their way up the mountain as I speak (well, type). Yesterday's high was 67 and the low was 56 and .05" of scattered rain fell through the afternoon. Everyone stay dry and have a great day!
Galen B.
7/20/2015 06:16:34 am
Had a chance to hike in the Boulevard on Friday. My last of the five trails. After a nice visit with several of the crew I went down Alum Cave. Just wanted to say "THANKS" and a great job to the trail crew for the work they have completed thus far. The steps at Arch Rock are amazing. Other parts of the trail that have been widened, filled and roots removed made for a great hike down. Again thanks for all your hard work so that we can enjoy our favorite mountain.
Mike
7/20/2015 07:03:15 am
A cloudy, rainy day on LeConte is better than a day at work.
Mike
7/20/2015 07:05:28 am
Make that FAR better!
Karon
7/20/2015 09:02:12 am
AMEN! - as I sit here at my desk A double amen on a cloudy day at the Lodge or on the mountain, those being my favorites. One of my favorite hikes is to park at the Alum parking lot and get a ride up to Newfound gap (used to be comfortable with using my "thumb" to get a ride but not these days so much) then out the A.T., left on the Boulevard trail and ending up back down at the Alum trailhead. I did that journey once mostly in a rain and thick and mysterious fog ! I forget that mileage but think it was approximately 11 miles or thereabouts. I regret that for many years I hiked right past the Lodge without checking it out thinking it was maybe a backcountry facility for Park rangers, etc. How ironic and stupid of me not to ever take a few minutes to walk down and just look around the Lodge grounds and facilities ! Living so far from the Park (but certainly not as far as some readers and followers !) I suppose I was always too focused on just getting into the Park on onto a trail ! Well, I am trying to make up for lost time since my first stay in 2004 ! And I, too, love and support the Lodge and still enjoy this site. G'day and good hiking in good boots !!
Steve D
7/21/2015 01:25:50 am
Hey Doug- that hike on the Boulevard and down Alum is one a friend of mine and I are going to take this year. Looks like 13 miles>but whose counting? Good long hike. Also, we are going to try to do Mt Cammerer this year out of the Cosby campground. Have you done that one? I had one guy tell me that was his favorite hike. Tks for your kind words from yesterday. Maybe I will see you on the trail sometime. Coincidentally, my plans this summer include some hiking in the Mt. Cammerer area and a bit of camping at the Cosby campground where I haven't camped in a long while. I've hiked all the trails in the Park twice and the current officially accepted figure stands at about 803 miles and, yes, there's some good hiking in that portion of the Smokies. I've heard it said that the Cosby campground is the "best kept secret" in the Park, and I can agree with that. If we ever meet on the trail, I'll be the one who's taking his time ! By the way, my favorite trail to the Lodge is Trillium. G'day
Franklin
7/21/2015 02:40:58 am
My first trip to the Lodge was 1998, and I went via the Boulevard. In talking to other guests it was suggested I go down Alum. I was hooked on Alum and have used it more than any of the other trails to access the lodge. Doug, I may be wrong but I think the combined mileage from Newfound Gap using the AT, Boulevard, then down Alum is around 16 miles. It's a great hike whatever the distance.
Yes, Franklin, my memory failed me for a minute. Now I remember a figure of 17 miles, but that, according to other good comments here, is probably high. Regardless of the mileage, it's an excellent hike. In the words of John Muir: "No matter the trail, bathe yourself in the spirit of the wilderness"
Steve D
7/21/2015 03:23:37 am
I just looked at the hikinginthesmokys website, the Boulevard is listed at 15.6 miles roundtrip, so dividing that in half and adding the 5 miles for Alum, would be 12.8 miles.
ric
7/21/2015 04:33:18 am
13.5 for the 2 trails plus the 1/2 to cliff tops (ya gotta go if you're there). at any rate, an excellent hike. mt crammerer loop makes agood day hike, just start early. in the fall or when the wildflowers are blooming is unbelievable.
Franklin
7/21/2015 06:32:30 am
My bad. It would be a great hike even if it was a couple more miles. Comments are closed.
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