Route Climbed: Boulevard Date Climbed: Feb 7, 2005
Climbed solo on my birthday in conjunction with Kephart and Charlies Bunion. Started at Newfound Gap and used Boulevard and AT. Quite a bit of snow on the trail and did not see a soul the entire day, extremely rare for the Smokies. As a bonus, saw 3 elk while driving out of the park towards Cherokee. A most excellent birthday.
My first solo hike to LeConte, I went up as a crew guest since I will be working on the mountain next season. I have hiked LeConte 4x now and everytime has something different to offer. I'm so blessed to have grown up here!!
Route Climbed: Alum Cave Bluff Trail Date Climbed: 1982
First hike ever. Did this with my father and grandfather when I was four years old. I guess this is where I got hooked :) Don't really remember too much except that we ran into a couple of black bears and stayed at the shelter on top of the mountain and based on the pictures it has changed. Back then it was just the stone and chain link.
Route Climbed: Alum Cave Bluff Trail Date Climbed: February 19, 2005
An incredible trip for my first experience in the Smokies. Lot's of ice on the trail and quite difficult without crampons. 10 degrees at the top, but comfy night in my sleeping bag!! A late night ice storm made for a tricky descent the following day. Next time, I'll bring crampons.
Route Climbed: Alum Cave Trail Date Climbed: January 25, 2005
Perfect winter day on Leconte. Used crampons on the icy ledges for most of the way above the Alum bluffs. A few dicey spots due to rotten ice but it added to the fun. Thanks to Rusty, the lodge caretaker, who kindly pointed me to the summit cairn. Beautiful views near the true summit and from Cliff Top. It warmed up in the afternoon and there was lots of slippery slush on the way down. Tip for winter Leconte climbers - don't stand under the icicles at Alum Cave...
Route Climbed: ALUM CAVES,THE BOULEVARD TRAIL Date Climbed: SEPT-12ANDSEPT21-04
LOVE IT WAS NICE DAY CAROLINA BLUE SKY GOOD DAY FOR HIKE.MY FOURTH TIME HIKING THE MOUNTAIN AND TOOK A FRIEND HE WAS TAKEN BACK BY THE BEAUTY OF THE MOUNTAIN.
Route Climbed: Alum Cave Trail Date Climbed: October 2002
Cool hike through hemlocks to the Alum Cave where huge icicles hung down dripping in the morning sun. Periodically they would break off and come crashing down, shattering on the rocks below. It was pretty cool and maybe a little bit hazardous. The trail above here is in terrible shape and barely 18 inches wide in a couple spots with pretty steep dropoffs. Here, and in other exposed sections they have eyebolted cables to the rock face for handholds. Nice views across the Great Smoky Mountains along the way and at the top. The best hike that I did that week in GSMNP!
Route Climbed: Alum Cave Bluffs trail Date Climbed: July 23, 2004
I started at 7:00am in the moring and reached the Le Conte lodge around 11:00 pm (at a slow pace). After grabbing a quick snack, I hiked to the summit of Le Conte. After snapping a few pictures, I ate lunch at the Cliff Tops and then started back down. I reached the trail head at 3:00 pm (slow pace). This is nice and relaxing. Although steep in certain spots, it is well worth the climb.
Route Climbed: Alum Cave Bluff trail Date Climbed: 4/1/2003
I hiked this sucker on a bad leg. At the parking lot, I took the trail to the left to get to the top. Nice views on a nice day. I drove to Clingman's and hiked to the top later in the day.
Route Climbed: Alum Cave Trail Date Climbed: New Years Day 2004
Beautiful day. Driving ou to Austin Tx for a new job assignment. Hit the trail about 10:30. A ranger told me the trail was completely icy, said I would need crampons. I found that hard to believe, since it had been in the 50s and 60s the prior day or two at the base elevation. Anyhow, I told him thats what the "Oh shit " cables were for. As it turned out it was icy in spots, but there was no need for any equipment. There are alot of awesome views from the trail and summits.Alot of dead trees.There was also alot of traffic up there, mainly just to Alum cave. I was hoping there would be some of those man sized icicles in the cave,but alas it had been too warm. Adios!
Route Climbed: Alum Cave Bluff & AT Date Climbed: 1968-2000
Grew-up an hour away. Has become way too crowded April - September, but still a great place to go. Views are magnificent. Recommend going in the winter (AT Blvd).
Route Climbed: Alum Cave Bluffs & AT/Boulevard Date Climbed: Several times 1974-2003
I've climbed LeConte a number of times. Only once did I fail to make the summit. In 1982 I took a three-day backpacking trip through the park the last weekend of April. We went up the peaks toward Charlie's Bunion from the east and then we were supposed to summit Le Conte via The Boulevard. However, a late season snowfall was far deeper than anything we'd expected, with a uniform depth of about three feet and waist-high drifts. Being Southerners, we didn't have snowshoes, or suspect we'd have needed them. As darkness overtook us, we had to set up camp on a ridge and spent the night sleeping in our tent atop the snow--the night I realized sleeping on snow is pretty darned miserable. I had a good sub-zero down bag and an insulite pad, so I didn't get cold, but the surface was so uneven and so unyielding that I woke up pretty miserable. With the snow so deep, we backtracked to the AT and walked on down to Newfound Gap and hitched a ride to our car.
Summited it latest this September, and posted a trip report. Went via the Alum Cave Bluffs Trail and did it as a quick day hike.
e-doc - Jan 26, 2006 8:53 pm
Route Climbed: Rainbow Falls, Alum Cave, Boulevard Date Climbed: multipleIn the winter, the shelter is one cold and windy place. Met some backpackers from Atlanta in shelter, freezing their butts off.
Livelife4Summits - Jan 6, 2006 2:36 am
Route Climbed: Boulevard Date Climbed: March 12, 2003Well..this was a sort of a culmination of a long week in the Smokies....we had fun and met some wild and crazy people doing the AT...
vbc285 - Dec 3, 2005 4:25 pm
Route Climbed: Alum Cave Trail Date Climbed: July, 1996GReat Day Hike. Ran into a Bear on the way down!
Alcas24 - Nov 3, 2005 1:52 am
Route Climbed: Boulevard Date Climbed: Feb 7, 2005Climbed solo on my birthday in conjunction with Kephart and Charlies Bunion. Started at Newfound Gap and used Boulevard and AT. Quite a bit of snow on the trail and did not see a soul the entire day, extremely rare for the Smokies. As a bonus, saw 3 elk while driving out of the park towards Cherokee. A most excellent birthday.
kckahne9 - Sep 29, 2005 5:46 pm
Route Climbed: alum cave Date Climbed: sept. '05My first solo hike to LeConte, I went up as a crew guest since I will be working on the mountain next season. I have hiked LeConte 4x now and everytime has something different to offer. I'm so blessed to have grown up here!!
M.Whitt--East Tn.
davis13 - Jul 31, 2005 8:56 am
Route Climbed: Alum Bluff Caves Date Climbed: Twice in the 90'sClimbed once in the summer with my Dad and once in the winter with my little brother. I consider both 2 of my all time favorite hikes.
Cortez - Jul 20, 2005 10:34 am
Route Climbed: Alum Cave Date Climbed: October 31, 1999A scary Halloween climb.
The foliage at lower elevations was remarkable. The air was crisp and damp. Camped at the shelter near the summit. Great hike!
This was Jennifer's first Southern Sixer
Hiking Party:
Michael Booker
Jennifer Booker
Steve Color
pingzingr - Jun 16, 2005 3:18 am
Route Climbed: Alum Cave Bluff Trail Date Climbed: 1982First hike ever. Did this with my father and grandfather when I was four years old. I guess this is where I got hooked :) Don't really remember too much except that we ran into a couple of black bears and stayed at the shelter on top of the mountain and based on the pictures it has changed. Back then it was just the stone and chain link.
growski - Apr 27, 2005 12:07 pm
Date Climbed: July 1998great views
Michael Crofford - Apr 15, 2005 4:39 pm
Route Climbed: AT/Boulevard Trail Date Climbed: May 03, 2003Beautiful spring day. Only saw 4 people on the entire way to the summit...couldn't believe the trail was this deserted on a Saturday.
desainme - Mar 20, 2005 7:32 pm
Date Climbed: Spring 79 winter 86Been up from Alum Cave and also enjoyed this summit via the Boulevard. The tallest mtn east of the Mississippi.
hikeman76 - Feb 21, 2005 2:04 pm
Route Climbed: Alum Cave Bluff Trail Date Climbed: February 19, 2005An incredible trip for my first experience in the Smokies. Lot's of ice on the trail and quite difficult without crampons. 10 degrees at the top, but comfy night in my sleeping bag!! A late night ice storm made for a tricky descent the following day. Next time, I'll bring crampons.
Bill Jirousek - Jan 31, 2005 11:13 pm
Route Climbed: Alum Cave Trail Date Climbed: January 25, 2005Perfect winter day on Leconte. Used crampons on the icy ledges for most of the way above the Alum bluffs. A few dicey spots due to rotten ice but it added to the fun. Thanks to Rusty, the lodge caretaker, who kindly pointed me to the summit cairn. Beautiful views near the true summit and from Cliff Top. It warmed up in the afternoon and there was lots of slippery slush on the way down. Tip for winter Leconte climbers - don't stand under the icicles at Alum Cave...
REDHEAD1 - Oct 9, 2004 8:50 am
Route Climbed: ALUM CAVES,THE BOULEVARD TRAIL Date Climbed: SEPT-12ANDSEPT21-04LOVE IT WAS NICE DAY CAROLINA BLUE SKY GOOD DAY FOR HIKE.MY FOURTH TIME HIKING THE MOUNTAIN AND TOOK A FRIEND HE WAS TAKEN BACK BY THE BEAUTY OF THE MOUNTAIN.
dunking_deutschman - Aug 30, 2004 1:18 am
Route Climbed: Alum Cave Trail Date Climbed: October 2002Cool hike through hemlocks to the Alum Cave where huge icicles hung down dripping in the morning sun. Periodically they would break off and come crashing down, shattering on the rocks below. It was pretty cool and maybe a little bit hazardous. The trail above here is in terrible shape and barely 18 inches wide in a couple spots with pretty steep dropoffs. Here, and in other exposed sections they have eyebolted cables to the rock face for handholds. Nice views across the Great Smoky Mountains along the way and at the top. The best hike that I did that week in GSMNP!
Tbacon251 - Jul 26, 2004 1:48 am
Route Climbed: Alum Cave Bluffs trail Date Climbed: July 23, 2004I started at 7:00am in the moring and reached the Le Conte lodge around 11:00 pm (at a slow pace). After grabbing a quick snack, I hiked to the summit of Le Conte. After snapping a few pictures, I ate lunch at the Cliff Tops and then started back down. I reached the trail head at 3:00 pm (slow pace). This is nice and relaxing. Although steep in certain spots, it is well worth the climb.
hgrapid - Feb 23, 2004 11:09 am
Route Climbed: Alum Cave Bluff trail Date Climbed: 4/1/2003I hiked this sucker on a bad leg. At the parking lot, I took the trail to the left to get to the top. Nice views on a nice day. I drove to Clingman's and hiked to the top later in the day.
petersbike - Jan 24, 2004 1:14 pm
Route Climbed: Alum Cave Trail Date Climbed: New Years Day 2004Beautiful day. Driving ou to Austin Tx for a new job assignment. Hit the trail about 10:30. A ranger told me the trail was completely icy, said I would need crampons. I found that hard to believe, since it had been in the 50s and 60s the prior day or two at the base elevation. Anyhow, I told him thats what the "Oh shit " cables were for. As it turned out it was icy in spots, but there was no need for any equipment. There are alot of awesome views from the trail and summits.Alot of dead trees.There was also alot of traffic up there, mainly just to Alum cave. I was hoping there would be some of those man sized icicles in the cave,but alas it had been too warm. Adios!
rleslie - Dec 22, 2003 8:07 pm
Route Climbed: Alum Cave Bluff & AT Date Climbed: 1968-2000Grew-up an hour away. Has become way too crowded April - September, but still a great place to go. Views are magnificent. Recommend going in the winter (AT Blvd).
BobSmith - Nov 14, 2003 5:14 pm
Route Climbed: Alum Cave Bluffs & AT/Boulevard Date Climbed: Several times 1974-2003I've climbed LeConte a number of times. Only once did I fail to make the summit. In 1982 I took a three-day backpacking trip through the park the last weekend of April. We went up the peaks toward Charlie's Bunion from the east and then we were supposed to summit Le Conte via The Boulevard. However, a late season snowfall was far deeper than anything we'd expected, with a uniform depth of about three feet and waist-high drifts. Being Southerners, we didn't have snowshoes, or suspect we'd have needed them. As darkness overtook us, we had to set up camp on a ridge and spent the night sleeping in our tent atop the snow--the night I realized sleeping on snow is pretty darned miserable. I had a good sub-zero down bag and an insulite pad, so I didn't get cold, but the surface was so uneven and so unyielding that I woke up pretty miserable. With the snow so deep, we backtracked to the AT and walked on down to Newfound Gap and hitched a ride to our car.
Summited it latest this September, and posted a trip report. Went via the Alum Cave Bluffs Trail and did it as a quick day hike.