Starting to Reminsce

9/16/2014

Chris and I made it back to work and back to the fall temperatures. The high yesterday was 60º with a low of 49º. There was a chill in the air for most of the day. We did get a nice ending for a day filled with cloud coverage. The sky opened up and made for a beautiful sunset.

With only 70 days in the countdown, I am starting to reminisce. Someone asked us where we were going this winter. I had to chuckle a little as I said, "Gatlinburg and our little production facility we built for our new business."
No far away countries with amazing beaches and fruity drinks for us this winter. We will put our nose to the grindstone and work, work, work. Matt and Rachel came back last night with the giddy feeling one gets after purchasing tickets to Thailand for the winter. I remember it well. Our first winter off the mountain took us to New Zealand for two months. We hiked, kayaked, and looked for the elusive kiwi bird, which we never found. We made some great memories and will have stories to tell for decades. With all the excitement of far away places, it still felt like home when we hiked back up the mountain the next March to start our second season on our favorite mountain top.

Melissa

9/16/2014 12:19:03 am

Rachel waited on us when we were there and she was awesome. Very friendly and patient while we were deciding what to buy. And she kept us fed in the dining room! We had a great time! :)

Scott

9/16/2014 12:57:20 am

Allyson
Will you ever come back and run the lodge in Future? We have been making a lot with Your Olde Virden's Red Hot Sprinkle. Maybe someday you can sell them in a store in NH. If not I know I can order online anytime.

Allyson

9/16/2014 05:02:06 am

Scott, it is my hope that we will be so busy with Olde Virden's that will not have time to do anything else. Of course, I will always make time to visit my favorite mountain top. Thanks for asking, but I am sure Ruthie is going to do a stellar job and you are all going to love seeing her smiling face greet you at the top.

9/16/2014 11:52:24 pm

Thanks Allyson for taking the time to write back. Yes Ruthie will do a great job when we were There she was very nice took time out to talk with us. It was my first up there but will not be my last .

Steve D

9/16/2014 01:14:36 am

Hi all-I haven't been on here for a while, but wanted to share something with everyone and throw out some encouragement to anyone who might need it.
Its amazing how one phone call(or one post on a blog?) can change someones life.....one evening in March 2012 my phone rings and its one of my brothers calling. He says he is coming down in May and wants to know if I want to hike Mt Leconte with him. Our father hiked it when he was in his 70's and we always said-if he can do it so can we. Only here we were in our 60's and we hadn't done it yet! So I said sure lets do it. My brother didn't make it down that May, but I decided to do it anyway and with a small amount of preparation hiking in May 2012 at the ripe old age of 61 I made my first round trip day hike of Mt Leconte. I am happy to report that a week ago on Tuesday, I made my 50th dayhike trip up that beautiful mountain! Like all Leconte lovers, I really just can't wait to get back up there. The mountain seems to have a mystical relationship with those who become part of its history.
I am telling all this to encourage anyone/everyone who might be thinking about going up this wonderful mountain. Don't wait! Go do it! This experience has literally changed my life, and given me so many blessings that I cannot even start to recount them here. I have met so many good and kind people on that mountain that I consider myself fortunate to be out there each and every time. I want to thank all of the staff at Leconte Lodge for their great attitudes, and the eagerness with which they are willing to share a few minutes of their day with us day hikers. Allyson-Chris-Nathan-JP-Tim Line-I am grateful to all of you for the many kindnesses you have sent my way. And Allyson-you know I love those no bake cookies and hot chocolate! JP-you were a great companion/mentor for my winter hiking, which I never expected that I would fall in love with.
So anyway, I am just very thankful and wanted to express that!\
Have a great day all, and I hope to see you on the mountain.

Steve D

Tony Ga

9/16/2014 01:28:34 am

Steve D congrats on the 50th hike. Looking forward to hiking with you one day.

9/16/2014 06:02:12 am

Thanks Tony Ga-we will do it!

doug y link

9/16/2014 03:03:24 am

Hey Steve D: Your words regarding the Leconte experience were so eloquently expressed ! Yes, anyone who makes the trek becomes a part of its mystique, and sometimes it's months later when that realization manifests itself, and once it does a person is usually never the same again !

9/16/2014 07:16:06 am

Thanks Doug-I have enjoyed your commentary for a long time. How is your recovery going?

norman 'airborne all the way' in ga.

9/16/2014 03:27:10 am

Way to go Steve, 'all the way'!

Elaine

9/16/2014 07:31:58 am

You beautifully expressed what so many of us experience when coming to our mountain. I also did not take my first Leconte hike till age 66 and my main goal now is to be able to continue into my 70s. Why did I procrastinate for so long!

Kent

9/16/2014 09:10:25 am

Steve D, congratulations on 50 hikes to the summit! That's pretty impressive for a such a short period of time!

It's always amazed me how mountains have a restorative effect on me. Many people who hike in the Smokies may get a great deal of joy from the experience, but they may not feel the same intensity of connecting with nature as myself and many of the people who frequent this blog do. When you meet others along the way who understand the inexplicable power these surroundings have on your psyche, it's a special thing.

Whenever I hike to LeConte now, I feel a sense of coming home – home to a place that has come to mean a great deal me. The lodge and the staff play a big part of that. But there is something about the character of this mountain that keeps me coming back to experience its features again and again.

gloria & bill

9/16/2014 01:29:51 am

hiking up and staying on top will never be the same without you and chris there greeting and waiting on every one..:( makes me sad for you guys to leave it.

Marilyn

9/16/2014 04:32:35 am

Stunning picture today. Overcast here in central Indiana so it brightens my day. Thanks, Norman for well wishing for my knees. Getting better and better every day as I'm sure Doug is finding out too.

J T Mobile

9/16/2014 07:43:47 am

Doug y Did you have your knee surgery ?

norman

9/16/2014 12:32:52 pm

While walking around Kennesaw Mountain, not over but around the Mtn, with all the new ball bearings (acorns) & hickory nuts on the trail in +80 degree; i keep thinking how nice it would be to be on MtLeconte!! You people are so lucky!!!

Tammy

9/16/2014 05:36:37 pm

Hey all! For the past week I have been reading all the daily posts and comments and thoroughly enjoy them. I visit the park and surrounding area 1 - 2 times a year. Year before last my daughter and I hiked Alum trail but turned around at the cave/bluff. It took us 2.5 to 3 hours round trip from the trail parking lot. In late July my husband and I visited the area and I wanted him to see how beautiful the cave/bluff was. It took us 4 to 4.5 hours round trip from the parking lot (because of me, not him, and the heat had something to do with it also) We are returning this October and I want so badly to make it all the way to the lodge as a day hiker. I have an illness that greatly affects my joints/muscles and energy level daily. I want to make it to the top while I still feel like I can make it. Like several of you have said I feel like it is something I NEED to do! My question for all of you is what is the best, most level, less strenuous trail to hike up there. I tend to think just go up Alum all the way since it's the shortest. And because of the shorter daylight hours (end of October ) would we even have time for a round trip in one day. Thanks for your help!

ric

9/16/2014 11:54:48 pm

tammy - with physical limitations, its hard to say. all the trail have their ups and downs - litterally... alum is the shortest at about 11 miles round trip. the bluff is about 1/2 way to the lodge. i tend to think thats where the up hill starts but the views are wonderful the further you go. trillum gap is more of a gradual climb. it is longer at almost 14 miles round trip and gains a little more elevation. i think the trail footing is a little more forgiving than alum. the llamas use this trail mon, wed, and fri. the gap is almost 1/2 way up and is a good place to assess your energy. the incline on trillum is pretty consistant. from your post, looks like you are doing about a mile per hour; not knowing how long you spend enjoying the views from alum bluff, so youre looking at 10 - 12 hrs hiking time. if you give it a shot, aim for a day light start and enjoy.

if it possible, check with the lodge about overnight cancellations. that would take all the pressure off. i think they have a twitter account or you could call them. i wouldnt try rainbow falls (my favorite) or boulavard (the longest) given your situation.

tomk in SC

9/17/2014 01:34:30 am

Alum Cave is the express route. It has a steep section approaching the bluffs, but you know about that. The key for you, and for everyone, as days get shorter is to calculate a turnaround time as you start up. Begin with sunset. Let's say it is 730PM. Now look at your watch as you are starting up the trail. Suppose it is 10AM. That leaves you 9.5 hours for the round trip and 4.75 hours (9.5/2) until your turnaround time. If you start at 10AM then your turnaround time is 2:45PM. That means that wherever you are at 2:45, it is time to head downhill. Even if you are very close. Most folks descend a bit faster than they climb, but unless you are a trail runner, the difference is small. The difference is your reserve, Nobody wants to get caught on a trail in the dark. Take a pair of flashlights either way and eat and drink on the way up, including electrolytes. Note that if you can get moving earlier, say starting up the trail at 730AM, that gives you a total of 12 hours, 6 hours until turnaround or 130PM. The math changes a bit if you make it all the way! If you start at 730AM and arrive at the lodge at 1230PM that makes your hike up time 5 hours. If the sun sets at 730PM use your up time for your down time and leave 5 hours before sunset or 230PM. The big takeaway here is to start early and do the math.

9/17/2014 02:16:16 am

Good advice guys-I would take Alum and like tomk says set your turnaround time depending on what the sunset time is in October when you hike. It will be to your advantage to start around daylight for sure. Not sure what that will be in late October but you can call and ask the folks at Sugarlands Visitors Center and they might have that. Their phone # is 865-436-1291. Be flexible and just turnaround if you see that it is too much. Good luck Tammy!

9/17/2014 03:12:44 am

Thanks for all your help! I had already decided that 10 days before our trip I would check to see if there were any overnight cancellations. Staying overnight would certainly take the pressure off of deciding if we had enough time to make the round trip and for the past couple of years it has been something I've decided I would really like to do. If the weather is clear one day, like ya'll said we are going to try to start at daylight and see how far I get. I'm not from the area but I love, love, love the GSMNP and enjoy every trip I make!

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Starting to Reminsce

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