ED, just a note about our last hike to LeConte.

Our closest friends and traveling buddies, Rex & Sheila Johnson drooped my wife Gwenette and I of at the AC trail parking lot at 6:40 CDT. About half way to Arch Rock we made a short stop for our breakfast biscuit. On to Inspiration Point we took a quick break and back on the trail with Gwen setting the pace, bypassing the Alum Cave we arrived at the Lodge .

After a pit stop we had a snack on the swing under  the store porch, refilled our water bottles, looked over the changes to the store ( skylights, heater, rockers ) and on to the Boulevard Trail a first for both of us. It was a beautiful clear day, and after we passed Myrtle Point and the Rock Pile, I pointed out the parking lot at New Found Gap our destination, which seemed so close as the crow flies but it was about 7 more miles by the trail. We met the first of  a group of 29 people from Jacksonville Fla. on the way to the Lodge for and overnight stay. 

The last leg of the Boulevard Trail was a long incline we thought would never end. At the intersection of the AT we were just under 3 miles from New Found Gap. Thinking we had plenty of daylight we made radio contact with Rex, who was already at the Gap parking lot. About a long mile from the parking lot darkness caught us. I had a good flashlight, but with four very sore and tired legs it was one rough finish to our hike. Rex had the car lights pointing up the trail as we emerged after more than 10 hours and 13 miles.  We both decided we had over extended ourselves. But we are looking forward to our next hike.

Two Happy Hikers,

Bobby and Gwenette Watson

Glencoe AL

ROLL OVER TIDE B & G Watson