LeConte Extravaganza!

“As you know HPM, Prowler and myself were considering doing all the approach trails relative to LeConte over Memorial Day weekend.

I talked to Lee Lewis on the phone today, who did the all a couple years ago, and did it in 24 hrs.

They carried food/water/headlamp/firstaid and that's it. (8 lbs packs). Their itinerary was to hike UP Alum, OUT Boulevard -- ride car down to next trailhead -- then hike UP Trillium (Grotto) and DOWN Rainbow, then UP Bullhead, and DOWN Porters Creek.

Let's do it. :)”

“That's 43 miles in 24 hours..

I would settle for 43 miles in 3 days -- SAT/SUN/MON of Memorial Day weekend.

Who's interested?”

“Yo.”

“im there!”

“hMmMm.. well we got THREE going anywayz.. :)..


Seriously.. which plan do you like best?.. this thread or the other thread?”

“TD, there are many of us that can't/don't want to/aren't going to do that kind of trip anymore. If ya want a big turn out on one of the hikes, make it easier. If ya want a challenge, go with smaller groups and have a great time!! I know for myself, Alum Cave trail up and down is a FULL day and I don't want to do that 4 days in a row. LOL”

“From Algebra I class (looooooong, long ago), they were known as Euler Paths.

Here's some trivia for ya... The mathmatician Leonhard Euler (of e fame) allegedly wanted to find a way to stroll around and about two islands in the river that ran through the city of Konigsberg without missing or repeating one of the seven bridges. Unfortunately, this proved to be impossible as TownDawg has discovered, because there were an odd number of bridges.”

“I would love to go, but have a thrilling conference on the business aspects of engineering. Yeah, that's what I thought. No roar from the crowd. Anyway, sounds like a fun, challenging trip.”

“Sounds like fun but Susan gets me on ALL holidays. I use Vacation time for Extended BPing trips.
It's an agreement we got.”

“gEEz... guys.. it's three day hikes.

We can do it easily.”

“I talked to HPM today on the phone.. we think it is doable.. and would be fun.. and we can set up basecamp at Elkmont.

I understand.. it's not for everyone.. but I do think I will get a good response out of the dayhiker crowd (TTA). Some folks might want to hike ONE day with us. We could have a totally different bunch to hike with each day.

We might go the 'favorite places' idea for Memorial Day, but the more I consider this idea.. I kinda like it.”

“WD - I traded wife for this one.”

“I don't do dayhikes.”

“Ok, I'm a little confused. I read all my background data on the SHELTER at LeConte, but I am not SURE which trail it is actually on.

I am assuming the boulevard?”

“The reason I am asking.. by switching the order of the trails around a little bit, we could make three dayhikes into a pair of overnights.. that way we COULD catch sunrise/sunset at LeConte conceivably.. and include a side trip that included Charlies Bunion by overnighting at IceWater.

By starting at Greenbrier, and doing the Brushy Mountain, we could turn right at Trillium as I recall and then come right back up Rainbow, spend the night at LeConte, and then hike out the Boulevard turn left on the AT and catch Charlies Bunion and overnight at IceWater, and then walk out to NewFound Gap, and go up the Alum and out the BullHead.”

“heh.. so quiet.. I guess I better let this thread die....

(like me and prowler and hpm will be after we do it.)”

“I find the answer to my question tho..

”

“The lodge (26) is basically at the junction.. and the shelter (27) is to the east on boulevard.”

“The shelter is on the Boulevard Trail.

Let's just take it offline.
No biggie.”

“Let me check, I might go.”

“You guys are gonna see thousands of people on Memorial Day Weekend. I went hiking in the Smokies on that weekend once, never again. Especially on any LeConte or AT trails”

“I disagree.. it's all in where you go.. when you go.. and how you go.. Where (which trails) did you go that weekend, Will?

And the point of doing all six approach trails is 'bragging rights'.. how we gonna brag if no one sees us?.. *smirk*”

“Just bringing this back up for TownDawg.”

“I'm still considering this one. But it depends on how my knee recuperates between now and then. I'm pretty sure it will be okay if I try not to act like a 25-yr-old on my exercise walks anymore.

Do we have a larger participant list than is suggested by this thread?”

“TD said he has over a dozen coming.
He posts his trips everwhere so he pulls more than just TTer's.

I and a couple of friends will meet everyone Sunday night but won't be doing LeConte. My schedule got messed up.”

“Bitpusher, are you trying to keep up with those 25 yr old woman while out for your excerise walk...just stay a few feet behind and enjoy the scenery”

“More info is on the ElkmontReservations thread.”

“Ewker, no, I'm trying to do at 39 what I could do at 25, that is, walk 4 miles an hour. I pushed too hard and my knee got sore.”

“here it is Sass!”

“thank you!”

“I may have to back out of the LeConte Extravaganza. My allergies are overactive this year, and unless they calm down soon, I'm not going to go spend 4 days in the middle of a pollen factory. Even taking all my allergy drugs is barely enough to keep my from sneezing my head off inside, much less outside.”

“what a wooose.... just because you cant breate or see and your eyeballs itch ya wanna skip out...scratch yer eyeballs out, hold yer breath and stumble down the trail like the rest of us.

hope ya get better soon :P”

“I know, DOM, I'm a real wuss. Can't stand the feeling that there are pitchforks in my eyes and little gnomes with jackhammers inside my head.

The sneezing isn't so bad unless I'm sneezing so hard my sternum pops.

Thanks for the well wishes....

Maybe in June I'll be able to do something.”

“I know the feeling well... I almost got to the point that every sneeze felt like my head was gonna explode.

4 asprin and 3 benedryl's to fix it...very bad..”

“Well, I certainly hope you WILL go. .regardless.. they have lots of good drugs for allergies.. if nothing else come hang out in the campgrounds, and do some chilling in Cades Cove, and do some interesting (easier) dayhikes.

You WILL be missed, if you don't show.. and there ARE a lot of people who are DEFINITELY coming. Lots of females lately, to be honest.. but hey, I ain't complaining.

My best guess right now?.. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 30-40 people will be doing all six approach trails to LeConte over Memorial Day weekend.

We have campsites reserved, and plenty of space. Come on if you can, bitpusher.”

“Daaaaaaaannnnnnnngggggg!

Still gonna be a Elkmont right?
I will be too on Sunday night.”

“Ya.. it's still on at Elkmont..”

“Campsites are reserved in my last name..”

“Just kidding.
I've got a site also.”

“LMAO!!... you are such a hoot Mike.. !!!”

“I viewed the Smokies from Look Rock a bit ago. Looks like TD's trip probably worked out afterall.”

“yeah, the weather is cooperating, hope he doesnt find all the trails washed out and all mucked up.

GO VOLS”

“LeConte got 2.75" of rain last night.

View from Look Rock: http://www2.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/parks/grsmcam/grsmcam.htm”

“look at the mountains today. Wish I were there instead of this bloody cube..”