Mount LeConte Edgeventure

March 19, 2021 by EdgeofMountain 2 Comments

I have wanted to go do the famous LeConte trails and summit Mount LeConte, in the Great Smokies National Park, for a while now.

I have also been wanting to go back to the Smokies, anyway. I have really “only” backpacked the 70sh miles of the Applachian Trail portion, of the Park. I have not hiked anything else, there.

We decided to do a family trip. to the area, so it was my wife, 2 young adult kids and myself.

The company I work for, has a few “resorts” as they call them, across the country. The employees can stay at these resorts for free. Nice perk! They have one in Pigeon Forge, so this is where we stayed. It was basically a hotel, but nice.

Mt Leconte is the third tallest mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is over 6500 feet. The only way to get to the top is by 5 hiking trails. There is a rustic log cabin type lodge at the top, with several small log cabins. I am not sure how these were built, since you can only hike up. The lodge/cabins are pretty popular. They stay booked. They, of course, do not have electricity up there. “LeConte Lodge – Review with Photos, Prices, & Insider TIps” https://smokymountains.com/park/things-to-do/leconte-lodge/

Another huge factor with the lodge is that the supplies are brought up and taken down, by a pack of llamas. The llamas go up and down every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. They always use the Trillium Gap Trail. The lodge was closed, when I went, so the “llama train” did not go that Friday. Maybe I will see them next time!

Here is a link and video on the llama train. https://www.mysmokymountainpark.com/where-to-stay-camp-eat/restaurants/leconte-lodge-llama-train/

The 5 trails up are as follows: Alum Cave (the most popular), Rainbow Falls, Trillium Gap, Broadway and Bullhead

Each trail has its own features. Alum Cave has an arch rock, that you go under. It is a tunnel, cave effect type scenario. The trail has many Cliffside parts, with chains to hold on to. It is around 5 miles with 2700 feet climb…pretty steep!

Trillium Gap is around 6 miles long and has the Grotto Falls waterfall. The waterfall is amazing. The trail goes under and behind the waterfall.

Rainbow Falls Trail has Rainbow Falls, which is a beautiful and tall waterfall.

Broadway is the longest of the trails and goes from Clingmans Dome, to the peak.

Bullhead trail is the fifth trail.

My original plan was to get in as many of the trails as I could, in a 50K or so distance. I routed out to go up Alum, for a sunrise summit, down Trillium, up Rainbow for a second summit and back down Broadway. This was a figure 8 route. The only negative was that I would have to do 4 miles of road, to get from Broadway to my car, at the end. The National Park roads are narrow, with not much shoulder. Worth it though, to get 4 of the 5 trails in, in one swoop.

My wife and kids had to work and do school, that Friday. I went down a day early, so I could do the trek, before they arrived on Friday evening. I took Friday off work and drove down Thursday evening.

My route was 33sh miles and over 8000 climb. It was not a speed effort, so I’d be out there at least 9 hours. It would be self supported, so I would filter water and carry all my food. I used a small hydration pack and carried PBJ sandwiches and cliff bars for food.

I got to the Alum Cave trailhead and started the trek around 5:15am. Sunrise was around 7, so I had 1:45 hours or so to do the steep 5 miles, in the dark.

I got to the top in around 1:40 and went over to Myrtle Point, for the sunrise view. It was SO cold up there! My fingers were aching.

After the sunrise, I found the Trillium Gap trail and went down it. I was able to run down it. I came up to Grotto Falls. What an amazing spot. As I mentioned before, it is a 20sh foot waterfall, that goes over the trail. You get to go behind and under the waterfall.

At bottom of Trillium Gap, I took the Rainbow Falls trail back up, for a second summit. This took a good while to do. On the way up, was the Rainbow Falls.

There was a small crowd at this Falls. I had not seen hardly anyone, before this point. I continued on, up Rainbow.

I finally summited for the second time and took a short break.

The rest of the trek would be down 8 miles or so of Boulevard trail, then 4 miles of road, to the car.

As soon as I started on Boulevard, there was a lot of ice and snow. I had encountered a little ice and snow, prior to that, but not enough to be a factor. This trail was much much different. Different side of the mountain and different conditions. I kept going, thinking that the ice and snow would be bad, at the top only..and that it would get better in a few yards. The ice was major slick, like a skating rink. It took up the whole trail and there was no way around it. I tip toed over it and fell and slid twice. Bad slides. I looked and this went on for the next several yards. I did not have micro spikes, or I would have kept going. Unfortunately this was not remotely safe to be on. I trudged back up and had to abort that trail.

My only choice then, was to go back down Alum Cave, which was still a great option. I got to see it in the light. I was able to see the Arch Rock and other views-features, on the way down. I was able to run some of this. There were some icy and technical parts, that were not wise to run. The trail was fairly crowded, so had to work around people. Not a bad crowded. I got to the bottom of trail and was finished. I nerdily did a little extra, to have an even 30 miles in..and was done! 30 miles and 8000 climb. Great adventure!