The Illusive LeConte Lodge!
Fall in the Smoky mountain national park is an amazing time. While this was not my first trip to GSM it felt all new because I managed to win the lottery and get cabins at the Illusive LeConte Lodge. Now more about LeConte Latter in the journey. After work we drove up to River's Edge Motel in Cherokee South Carolina. The next morning we woke super early to head to the trail head for the Alumn Cave Trail. This is an 11 mile 3,077ft hike. For those staying at the lodge we only had to make it 5.5 miles and 3,077ft to lay our heads down for a rest!
The first mile of the trail is very flat and brings you to Arch Rock. To get there you walk over some sturdy but cute log bridges. Arch Rock is a massive black slate natural arch that has had steps carved through it to hike through. From here the trail started to get steeper!
We Finally made it to half the way up the mountain at Alum Cave Bluff with its stunning orange clay. It was gorgeous and time for our afternoon lunch break!
The next two miles of the trail had us gassed. This section is known for its steep grade and gives the hike its "hard" status on All Trails. The steep grades continue on bringing beautiful overlooks of the Smoky's until you hit the Fraser Fir Zone
The hikers on the trail were super kind and the trail critters were adorable as we entered the the Fraser Fir Zone. This zone marks the 6,000-foot plateau of the hike. Most of the old growth is dead due to the balsam wooly adelgid and acid rain. But thanks to environmental protections and regulation changes there are many new balsam trees growing!
The first glimpses of the lodge were a relief and we went to check into our cabin and get our complementary hot coco! The lodge is hike in only and gets its supplies via lama train. The lottery for cabins opens in october of the year before.
Information directly from the LeConte Lodge website tells you the following about the lodge """ At an elevation of 6,593 feet, Mount LeConte is the third highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. LeConte Lodge® is located west of the summit at 6,360 feet elevation. Although LeConte Lodge® is now under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, it predates the national park’s establishment in 1934. In 1925, when the movement to establish a national park in the Smokies was in full sway, a tent camp atop Mt. LeConte was erected by Paul Adams to entertain visiting dignitaries from Washington, D.C. Jack Huff, a Gatlinburg mountaineer and founder of the lodge, began constructing the rustic retreat in 1926. Jack, along with wife Pauline and their family, continued to operate the lodge until 1960. """
But what I can tell you is the gas heater, kerosene lamp light, and chatter of the mountains creatures made it a surreal place to spend the night.
After a much needed nap, in our cozy cabin, we climbed 200 more feet up to see an amazing sunset! This climb was so much fun and most of the lodges over night guests went up together!
The sunset had so many layer so I am just going to put my favorites! I could go on and on about this sunset and am so thankful to my body and my knees for carrying me up this trail!
Post sunset the lodge served dinner family style by lamp light!
After dinner we dove back into our cabins and slept the night away. The next morning we were fogged in so no glorious sunrise but it did mean we got to sleep in until breakfast was served.
Then it was time for checkout and to take our selfs back down the mountain!
The weather was spitting rain and the climb down was slippery. Make sure to be prepared we were so thankful to the traction on our boots and our hiking poles!
The smoky's in the fog were magical. About half way down the sun peaked through and started drying the trail!
And what trip to a national park would be complete without the obligatory national park sign photo!!
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