SoCal Trail RunningOutside SoCalGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkDay 2- Sugarlands

Mount LeConte

I originally intended to add a hike to Alum Cave but ended-up going to the top of Mount LeConte. I'm glad I did, it was my favorite hike in the Smokies. Another 11 miles added to the trip total.
Most people here seem to consider Charlies Bunion a full day hike, but I was just getting warmed-up. So I decided to hike out to Alum Cave bluffs, one of the most popular hikes in the park. It was already almost 1:00pm, so my destination was only going to be the bluffs and not the Mt. LeConte summit (which is considered a full day hike in its own right). Well, we know how those things usually go...
1 Most people here seem to consider Charlies Bunion a full day hike, but I was just getting warmed-up. So I decided to hike out to Alum Cave bluffs, one of the most popular hikes in the park. It was already almost 1:00pm, so my destination was only going to be the bluffs and not the Mt. LeConte summit (which is considered a full day hike in its own right). Well, we know how those things usually go...
 I was honestly a little underwhelmed by Charlies Bunion, and this trail was also highly rated. I am really glad I decided to try it. The first couple miles have some of the best cascade-side trails I have ever been on.
2 I was honestly a little underwhelmed by Charlies Bunion, and this trail was also highly rated. I am really glad I decided to try it. The first couple miles have some of the best cascade-side trails I have ever been on.
 Reminded me a lot actually of Olympic National Park in Washington. Tons of water and endless green, just a different type of trees. I had no idea that at 85 inches of precipitation per year, this area is a temperate rain forest just like the Olympic pennisula.
3 Reminded me a lot actually of Olympic National Park in Washington. Tons of water and endless green, just a different type of trees. I had no idea that at 85 inches of precipitation per year, this area is a temperate rain forest just like the Olympic pennisula.
 The perfect back yard.
4 The perfect back yard.
And one last cascade shot.
5 And one last cascade shot.
 Now it's time to head up Arch Rock. A great example of the amazingly difficult (and maybe overzealous) trail work of the CCC.
6 Now it's time to head up Arch Rock. A great example of the amazingly difficult (and maybe overzealous) trail work of the CCC.
 Stone stairway heading up through the rock.
7 Stone stairway heading up through the rock.
 More amazing stone work.
8 More amazing stone work.
On to the next section of trail and more of the beautiful 1-rail footbridge creek crossings.
9 On to the next section of trail and more of the beautiful 1-rail footbridge creek crossings.
 More green Smoky Mountain views.
10 More green Smoky Mountain views.
 Made it to Alum Cave bluffs. It's not actually a cave, it's a concave bluff over 80ft high and 500ft wide. There's a steady sheet of water dripping off the lip even when it's not raining. Evidently in the winter, there are huge iceicles that fall off the lip.
11 Made it to Alum Cave bluffs. It's not actually a cave, it's a concave bluff over 80ft high and 500ft wide. There's a steady sheet of water dripping off the lip even when it's not raining. Evidently in the winter, there are huge iceicles that fall off the lip.
 Another view of the bluffs.
12 Another view of the bluffs.
A view of the dripping water falling 80ft off the lip of Alum Cave.
13 A view of the dripping water falling 80ft off the lip of Alum Cave.
 Alum Cave was supposed to be my turnaround point. But I had some time left, so why not go just a "little" bit further? Most of the crowds stopped at the cave, and the trail immediately got more rugged.
14 Alum Cave was supposed to be my turnaround point. But I had some time left, so why not go just a "little" bit further? Most of the crowds stopped at the cave, and the trail immediately got more rugged.
 The trail is narrow, slick rock. Evidently enough people have ate it here that the park service needed to add cable hand holds in several places.
15 The trail is narrow, slick rock. Evidently enough people have ate it here that the park service needed to add cable hand holds in several places.
 There's some serious dropoff in a few spots. Don't want to slip here.
16 There's some serious dropoff in a few spots. Don't want to slip here.
Deep rumbling thunder started, and I hoped it wasn't going to start pouring rain. I was only a couple miles from the summit though, so might as well keep going.
17 Deep rumbling thunder started, and I hoped it wasn't going to start pouring rain. I was only a couple miles from the summit though, so might as well keep going.
 Finally made it to the top. LeConte Lodge. You can actually make reservations here, which naturally sell out far in advance.
18 Finally made it to the top. LeConte Lodge. You can actually make reservations here, which naturally sell out far in advance.
 I'm usually not a fan of anything civilized on top of a mountain. But at least there's no road or tram, you actually have to hike to this lodging. Pretty cool.
19 I'm usually not a fan of anything civilized on top of a mountain. But at least there's no road or tram, you actually have to hike to this lodging. Pretty cool.
 The elevation listed on the lodge sign was the summit elevation, not the actual elevation of the lodge. So I decided to continue on for a ways until I hit the official 6,593' elevation. There's a backpacking shelter at that point. I stopped and chatted with some backpackers there for a while. And then the clouds burst and a torrential downpour started. Great. I had almost 6 miles to go to get back, it was already 3:30pm, it was pouring rain with thunder and lighting, on a trail I wasn't familiar with, and it was just me left on the trail. It was the most fun I had all trip!
20 The elevation listed on the lodge sign was the summit elevation, not the actual elevation of the lodge. So I decided to continue on for a ways until I hit the official 6,593' elevation. There's a backpacking shelter at that point. I stopped and chatted with some backpackers there for a while. And then the clouds burst and a torrential downpour started. Great. I had almost 6 miles to go to get back, it was already 3:30pm, it was pouring rain with thunder and lighting, on a trail I wasn't familiar with, and it was just me left on the trail. It was the most fun I had all trip!
I ran the whole way down so that I would hopefully get down before dark and then back to town for dinner before everyplace closed. It was late enough that the trail was empty almost the whole way down. I stowed my camera because of the rain, so I shot one last picture with my phone. End to another great day in the Smokies!
21 I ran the whole way down so that I would hopefully get down before dark and then back to town for dinner before everyplace closed. It was late enough that the trail was empty almost the whole way down. I stowed my camera because of the rain, so I shot one last picture with my phone. End to another great day in the Smokies!
    
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