Spring????

3/21/2010

I know that spring is supposed to be here, I just have a hard time believing it. We still have quite a bit of snow on the ground. If we could just get a few days of warmth and rain, that would make a difference.
I had a few people asking about the llamas. The llamas will be using Bullhead trail for the first part of the season. I am not sure when the first trip will be. The trail is very deep and the snow has a hard ice pack on top. That would not be easy on the llamas. We are going to take it day by day. We have plenty of clean linens and food to last for a while.

For all of you hiking up in the next week, remember the trail closures:

Rainbow and Bullhead are closed until March 27th.
Grotto Falls trail head is closed until sometime in May.
The Park Service is asking for hikers to not take Boulevard trail for a while. It has not been cleared of blow downs and has a lot of snow on it.
Alum Cave Bluff trail is the only open trail for the next week. I will keep you posted on any future trail updates.

Ric

3/21/2010 03:45:56 am

Hi! Coming up to the Lodge this weekend. Yes, I've definitely been reading all the blogs on this site and the trail advice on leconte-lodge.com! Any other sites others recommend? Any updates to advice on "must have crampons"? Bringing up a pretty big group with a wide range of ages, experience levels and fitness. A few of us have been up several times, but in early fall not during heavy snow. Not crazy about bringing this mix up Alum Cave. Also did Cherokee Orchard open as scheduled? Still thinking Rainbow Falls is our best option if so. If you reply: thanks for humoring a relative newbie.

Terry Fritchman link

3/21/2010 03:23:30 pm

Ric,
Cherokee Orchard is not currently open. It is scheduled to be closed until the end of this month (the 27th is the target date) so there is no access to trailheads from there.
Would suggest checking the NPS website for the park to construction updates. Looks like Alum Cave may be the only access for a while.

Doug Y.

3/22/2010 12:51:35 am

My anticipation is building for my April 4th trip up; trying to "thin out" my daypack or else I might use my larger internal frame; I've always been guilty of over-packing; have two friends who've expressed an interest in coming, but doubt they can get their gear by then; told them July might be better for them; only extra item I want is a small digital camera so I won't have to bring my big one which is rather large and bulky; glad to hear that everything is ready for opening today; I'd like to be there; crickey ! I'd like to be there ecvery week ! Have a good week.

Diane Finney

3/22/2010 08:27:51 am

My husband, my 16 year old son and I are hiking up on Sunday, March 28th. The Yaktraxs are on their way from REI. I am concerned about the Alum Cave trail, never hiked to LeConte before and was not planning on the ice and snow. Any tips for us? Did not plan on bring much to the top, light weight fleece for warmth and rain gear and just the basics. We are newbies for sure, would appreciate any advice on gear, time to day to start our hike, etc. Thanks!

Comments are closed.

Spring????

LeConte Lodge

Archives