Outdoor Knoxville

On October 26th I decided to set out on my first hike in Great Smokey Mountains Nation Park. At three in the morning I decided on a sunrise hike on Alum Cave Bluff trail to Mt LeConte. The hike is five and a half miles to Mt LeConte with an elevation gain of 2,853 feet. It does get a bit steep and rocky so make sure you are wearing good hiking boots. I arrived at the trailhead at 6:30 am with just the company of the stars still in the sky. With my camera gear packed and my headlamp shining bright I started on the trail. The beginning of the trail is easy and flat following Alum Cave Creek. It was cool trying to imagine what was around me in the darkness when all I could hear was the sound of the waterfalls. The trail continues on along the creek and crosses it a few times with the help of some log bridges. After about a mile and a half the trail passes right through a natural rock arch. Stone steps help lead you up through the arch but are usually wet and slippery so it’s good to use the cable guide on the side. From this point the trail stops following the stream and begins to climb up towards Peregrine Peak. As I reached the peak the sun was beginning to rise and I was greeted by many red squirrels enjoying their breakfast. The peak is also home to Peregrine Falcons as the name suggests. I spotted one in a tall pine while photographing the sunrise. The trail continues on from here up to Alum Cave Buffs. On the way to the bluffs I heard some rustling down in the brush below the trail. I stopped and watched a Black Bear cub appear out of the wooded tangles. Foraging for something to eat he showed no interest in me as I clicked away with my camera. The mother was no where in sight but I knew she was near so I continued on my hike. Once you reach the bluffs it’s a nice spot to take a break and enjoy the sites. This is where many people end their hike but I suggest putting in the effort to get to the summit for some amazing views. After the bluffs the trail drops for a short period but then the climb to LeConte begins. During the climb you will have cables along the route to help you make your way. Some natural springs flow across the trail which would make travel difficult in colder weather when the trails become packed with ice. Along the way you will have great views over looking the valley below where you started your hike. As you start to near the top you will be able to see Sugarland Valley off in the distance. At this time the leaves had already dropped around the trail but the colors were in full swing down in the valley. Once you reach Mt LeConte lodge take the short spur hike to Cliff Top and be prepared for some amazing views. On a nice clear day you’ll see many ridgelines fading off into the distance. This is a great place to have lunch, meditate or even take a nap. After I photographed the amazing landscape and ate my lunch I turned back to head down the trail. Use caution and take your time going down the trail. You definitely don’t want to turn an ankle all the way up here. I’d suggest using a hiking stick to help control your steps and ease the impact on your knees. On the way up I passed a few people hiking down from the lodge that had stayed over night but once I hiked back to the bluffs there was a flurry of people. This seems to be a popular trail which is why I would suggest starting early and hiking to LeConte. Once below the bluffs the hike was all new to me since I had hiked it in the dark with no moon that morning. The trail was neighbored by many waterfalls which provided many great photo opportunities. Overall I enjoyed the hike very much and plan on taking a friend when she comes down to visit. I’m a fast paced hiker and this one took me about 6 hours total but that includes many stops to take photos. I would suggest allowing a good 8 hours to complete the hike. Take your time on the climb and decent, stop and enjoy the sites and enjoy lunch atop LeConte on Cliff Top. The lodge at the top is open for overnight stays and more information can be found at www.leconte-lodge.com. I hope you enjoyed this article and perhaps it inspired you to go out and do the hike yourself. You can check out photos from my hike on my website at www.genos.smugmug.com/Landscapes/MtLeConte

Remember, It is travel into the unknown that frees the spirit and gives you a greater perspective on yourself.

Happy Hiking :)

Gene Groshon