Great Smoky Mountain National Park - Mount LeConte - February 6, 2005 - Member Trip Report
| Hike Name: | Great Smoky Mountain National Park - Mount LeConte |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | North Carolina |
| Trip Rating: |  |
| Trip Date: | February 6, 2005 |
| Duration: | 1 day |
| Trail Conditions: | Poor |
| Trail Traffic: | Light |
| Trip Weather: | Sunny |
| Trip Winds: | Light |
| Trip Precipitation: | None |
| Trip Temperature: | High: 51-60, Low: 21-30 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Trip Report: | Sunday (2/06/05) – DeLisle, Ewing, and Porter decided to take the original 10+ mile route out this morning and left the shelter at 8am. The rest of us slept in a bit and got out of Mount LeConte by 9am. We took the Alum Cave Trail down to US 441 which was a six mile route that was shorter but steeper than the other route. The upper portion was covered with packed ice, and it was extremely difficult to descend on it (and without the Leki poles it would have been much worse). Moehlick and McKinney led our splinter group and I didn't see them again until I reached the trailhead and heard them yell from the back of a pick-up. They hitched a ride to the Sugarlands Visitor Center and I made it to the parking area in time to see them pulling off. It only took me about 15 minutes to score my own ride, though, and a guy and girl from Ohio gave me a lift to the visitors center. The girl grew up in Somerset (fifteen miles from my hometown.) After the fifteen minute hitch, I found Moehlick and McKinney sitting in the grass at the visitors center and joined them for an early lunch. A park ranger rode up on a mountain bike as we sat in the grass and asked us for our permit. He confirmed with the backcountry office that we were legit (since the paperwork was with DeLisle) and then wished us well. This is the first time I have ever been asked for a permit in the park. DeLisle, Ewing, and Porter walked into the parking lot about 45 minutes later and after we loaded up the SUV's, we picked up Brunn around 1pm who was waiting at the Alum Cave trailhead. From there, we headed to Franklin for lunch at Pizza Hut and made it back to Atlanta in time to watch the Super Bowl this evening. |
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