Our Summer Trip to the top of The Mount

Mount LeConte Lodge is the highest inn in the eastern United States, and the only way to get there is on foot.  Last year we hiked the Alum Cave Trail and had a fun time at Mount LeConte Lodge, so we decided to do it again.



Bob’s always ready and eager to get started. 


There are several trails to the top of Mount LeConte, and this year we chose the Boulevard Trail, which followed the Appalachian Trail for a good while.  The Appalachian Trail is always well maintained, at least the sections we’ve hiked.


They have sign posts along the way to reassure you that you’re not lost….and to keep track of the mileage.


I liked this view of the Smokies from the trail, and you can see how far we are from the road.


It looks like we have 5.3 miles to go to reach Mount LeConte Lodge.


More of The Smokies.


It’s me, taking a little break.


The trail is  not always this flat, but it is almost always this pretty.

 
This is an Appalachian Trail shelter we passed.  It was the largest App Trail shelter we’ve come across, and the guy in the photo told us it can sleep up to approx. 15 people.  You must have reservations, and Mr. Ranger will check!


We made it!  This is Mount LeConte Lodge, and a few of the cabins.


This is the cabin we had this year.  It had three bedrooms and a common room, but NO bathroom, running water, or electricity.


This is the common room in our cabin, with the bed for one unlucky person.  I wouldn’t want to sleep in the common room!  The dishpan on the wall near our door is used to get hot water from the outside faucet near the kitchen.  Each room also has an oil lamp, no running water or electricity, remember?


They do have a small solar panel for the workers, but that’s it.


The cabin up the hill was where we stayed last year.  It was a one bedroom cabin, and we liked it better than the larger one.


The Lodge worker left this little girl ring the dinner bell.  You better listen, because there are no phones to call you for dinner.


All meals are served family style, and Bob s said the roast beef was really good.  I ate a lot of green beans and mashed potatoes, but not the beef which was swimming in thick, dark brown gravy.


We did it!  It was an eight mile hike and not too steep, but there were a lot of long ups, and long downs.  Next year we’ll try a third trail, it’s a fun place to hike.