The Garage Mahal: Mt. LeConte

(June 13, 2015) As you can see in the picture below, the Mt LeConte trail is 5 miles (yup, that would be 10 miles round trip).

We had a pretty good thunderstorm come through the night before, and most of the rhododendron flowers fell off. Still beautiful though.

That is the entrance to the trail going to the top.

Here we go, Mt LeConte Lodge or bust!

There were some pretty steep and slick spots along the trail.

Up in the clouds now, and not much of a view.

Up we go!

Into a pine forest and a very wet trail.

We were so happy to see this sign!

At 6,593 feet elevation, Mount LeConte is the third highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the LeConte Lodge is located near the summit at 6,360 feet elevation. When the movement to establish a national park in the Smokies was in full sway, a tent camp was erected where the LeConte Lodge now stands to entertain visiting dignitaries from Washington.

Although the LeConte Lodge is now under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, it predates the establishment of the park in 1934. Jack Huff, a Gatlinburg mountaineer and founder of the rustic lodge, began building the retreat in 1926. Eight years later, Jack and Pauline Huff were married at a sunrise service at LeConte's now famous Myrtle Point, the traditional place to watch spectacular performances of daybreak. Jack, Pauline and their family continued to operate the lodge until 1960.

You can't mention Jack Huff without relating the famous story about taking his mother to the lodge. Back in 1928, Huff's mother, after hearing about all these wonderful views from the top of Mount LeConte, wanted to see them for herself. Unfortunately, she couldn't climb the mountain, so Jack attached leather straps to a wooden and wicker chair, then literally carried her up the mountain on his back. Unfortunately for them the all-too-frequent fog and clouds encircled the mountain, preventing Jack's mother from enjoying a view. Jack carried her back down three days later.

There are no roads up to the lodge, so supplies are brought up by helicopter several times a year and via llamas three times a week. Llamas are much gentler on the trail than horses. The llamas generally pack on Monday, Wednesday and Friday using Trillium Gap Trail, north of Gatlinburg.

Are you looking at me?

These lucky little guys are about the get the leftover pancakes from breakfast.

One of the unique things about the hike up to Mt. LeConte is the lodge and overnight cabins at the top. You can stay at the newly refurbished backcountry shelter or at the comfortable lodge and its cluster of well-weathered and simply furnished cabins. The beds have sheets and three blankets so there is no need for a sleeping bag. There is no electricity, and no running water, however. If you feel the need to wash up before dinner, take a wash bowl from your cabin and fill it with warm water from a faucet outside of the dining hall. The lodge serves a hearty dinner and breakfast, so all you need in addition to your day-hiking gear is a toothbrush, small towel and a flashlight.