Goin’ Across The
Mountain To Raise A Little Cane!
Our Hike To Mt
LeConte
Our good buddy, Doug McFalls, lives and works at
the lodge on Mt LeConte in the
Mt LeConte
is the third highest peak in the Smokies, but the tallest from base to summit. Making it the tallest mountain in the Eastern US.
If you wish to spend a night at the lodge, you
must make reservations well in advance and also be prepared to make
the hike, by foot, to the top of the mountain.
More Info about Mt LeConte
Lodge.
The shortest route is Alum Cave Trail. It is probably the most popular
and breathtakingly beautiful.
On this trip, we decided to take the Boulevard
Trail. Don’t let the name fool you! It isn’t a boulevard!! With our supplies on
our backs and a banjo on mine,
Doug, his nephew Tyler, Jerry and I set out on a
nearly 8.5 mile hike. UPHILL…..
On a short side trip, we walked out to the “Jump
Off” and took some fantastic photos.
After a lunch break, we’re back on the trail.
The Mountain you are looking at here is our
destination from the Jump Off.
In the picture below, off in the horizon you will see a flat topped
mountain that almost looks like a butte or mesa. It is English Mountain. In front of it is a smaller mountain that I believe is Webb. Jerry and I live
between those two mountains.
By the time we got to this wash off area, on the back side of LeConte, I was
beat! The cable at the wash off is for winter hiking. Something to hang on to when there is ice and snow,
cause it's straight down! 
Now the hard part begins…The steep ascent to the top. 
For a couple miles
now, Doug kept saying, “only about a half mile to go!” Then we came upon this
sign….UGHHHH!!!
Finally we did reach the top.
The LeConte lodge is an awesome place. It’s a small
village on a mountain top. These folks get back to basics. Don’t expect hot
tubs, hot showers or TVs and microwaves when you hike to the lodge. They do
have propane for cooking, which is delivered by helicopter at the beginning of
the season. They also have a solar panel which allows some
electricity.
I only wish I had taken more pictures of the village!
But you can check it out for yourself on their website. Mt LeConte
Lodge.
Most of the supplies are brought up the
mountain with llamas. Jerry and I live next to the Mt LeConte Llama farm, in 
After a good meal, we sat around in front of
Doug’s cabin, better known as the tack room, and did some pickin’. Doug played
bass, Jerry played guitar, I played banjo and Dave, one of the Mt LeConte crew,
also played banjo. Many of the guests came down to the tack room to listen…
But then the sun started to set! A magical time on
a clear night on the mountain.
We found a beautiful spot to watch the light show.
Yes, this ledge is as high and as narrow as it
appears!!
As the sun
went down, the lights from the towns below lit up like a picture show.
It was
amazing to watch the civilization below us, while we later sat on the cabin porch
with our oil lanterns and played more tunes. 
Jerry and I slept in the loft of the tack room.
Very comfortable! The air gets real cool up there at night. I had a small
window to look out.
I woke up a few times in the night and had a beautiful view
of 
The next morning after breakfast and a few dishes,
we headed back down the trail.
This time, we came down Bull Head. It’s only 6.5
miles.
Here’s Gatlinburg as we begin our descent.
I’ll have to admit, it’s as hard going down as
going up….maybe harder!
We made it in about 4 hours and today I’m am so
sore, the only thing I can do is sit at the computer and type!
God bless to all and enjoy the photos.