Wright family - Hike to the Lodge
by Cindy Wisnieski 09/04/05

After conferring with Ed and Bob Wright, the decided meeting time to be at the ACB trailhead was going to be after 7:00 a.m., since the Wright-Haythorn group was so large, and checking out of the Holiday Inn in Cherokee might take some extra time. Not to mention, that the breakfast service might be slow at one of the fast food restaurants over the Labor Day weekend.

I arrived at the trailhead @ 6:55 a.m. I decided to be early because when I met Ed for his 1,295^th hike in July, I was several minutes late because I decided to chase a sunrise @ Newfound Gap that never occurred! Ed and Bob might stop near Newfound Gap and photographed the morning sunrise. Having the priority of punctuality first on my list for this birthday hike, I arrived at the trailhead ahead of schedule, being fully prepared to start my round of photography, with Charlie and Austin being first on my list!

Being early proved to be advantageous! I met Jeff Mathews from Cincinnati, Ohio and his father Mike Mathews. Jeff is an avid reader of Ed’s website, as well as an avid fan of Ed’s! Jeff decided to join the Wright family- hike so he could meet Ed and learn more about Mt. LeConte. I asked Mike to take a photo of Jeff and I while waiting for the Wrights and Haythorn’s. 

Ed and his family, including Megan, arrived around 7:18 a.m. Jeff’s excitement when he met Ed for the first time is almost too hard to describe. I hope Bob captured it in our group photo. Before starting on the hike, I took a quick shot of my two favorite hiking buddies, Austin and Charlie. 

We began the hike with Laura, Mike, Megan, Bob, Lisa, Austin and Charlie taking the lead. Jeff hiked with me and Peggy, Mark, and Ed were a little behind. As we progressed a little further, our group became divided. Ed was feeling some fatigue, so Peggy and Mark stayed with him, and the rest of us hiked on.

Laura, Mike, Megan, Bob, Lisa, Austin, Charlie, Jeff and I hiked ahead. Jeff increased his pace substantially and joined Laura, Mike and Megan. I continued to encourage Austin and Charlie to look for salamanders. This decreased our pace, which was really beneficial to Lisa and me. It had been a while since Lisa did this hike, so I was glad that she was able to see firsthand the fun and memories created by Charlie and Austin!!!

Our group reconnected at Inspiration Pt. I was able to capture Megan, Mike and Laura enjoying the scenery. Moving ahead, Bob and I decided to share the photo taking. The goal was to duplicate Ed’s way of photographing the adventure experienced on a hike to the lodge, the memorable family moments, and the favorite points-of-interest. (Eye of the Needle) Sorry to say, there were no peregrine falcons, but Lisa and I both thought that we may have heard them when we were taking our break at the Bluffs.

Speaking of the Bluffs, we had an indescribable time driving certain members of our group up the wall! Megan was the first to exemplify this!! Charlie and Austin also had a round of fun with climbing the walls under the supervision of Laura! We even took a few spare minutes for some group photos. 

Time was starting to run against us, so it was onward to Gracie’s Pulpit, where the first view of Mt. LeConte was perfectly visible and clear. 

Laura, Jeff, Megan and Mike hiked ahead, and the Wrights and I hiked slower, which was an added bonus, because both Lisa and I were able to clearly witness the first salamander being uncovered by Austin and Charlie, setting the precedent for many more salamanders to follow! 

Fifteen minutes or so later, Ed’s daughter, Peggy caught up with us, giving us an update on where Ed was located on the trail. Ed’s major request was for us to keep hiking to the lodge, so, we complied and kept going! Peggy spent some time hiking with us. The boys were leading and I let Peggy and Laura supervise the salamander hunt, while Lisa and Bob brought up the rear. I’m not good at rushing time along while I’m enjoying Charlie and Austin’s company. It was so rewarding to see these two fine young gentlemen inspect almost every rock with the hopes of finding the cute little salamanders. But given the strenuousness of the trail, we had to start quickening our pace. It was almost 11:35, and we were still about an hour or so from the Lodge.

As hikers would pass us up, we would ask about Ed and the reports were indicating that he and Mark were at Inspiration Pt. Another decision was made for Peggy to head back down to rejoin Ed and her husband Mark. Bob, Lisa, and I continued the hike, with Austin and Charlie discovering more salamanders.  Bob hastened them along, I hiked with Lisa; and we even managed to find a few minutes to chat with the Perkins from Morristown, Tennessee.  We then continued upward, pausing for several moments to enjoy the pristine views. 

Since Bob and the boys were getting ahead of Lisa and me, I did a "Hey Austin, How about showing us what your Grand-Daddy would photograph if he had been on this hike?" Here’s one idea Austin had and here’s the view both Austin and Charlie pointed out. 

Before making our last steep climb to the lodge, (Betty Jane’s Stairway to Heaven), we met up with Laura, Megan and Mike. Laura was carrying Ed’s birthday cake, and I managed to con Mike and Megan for a quick snapshot, with me being in the middle. The "fast-hiking threesome" also mentioned that the other half of Ed’s birthday cake was still at the lodge, and asked us if we would bring it down with us. (More about that later!) We said our good-byes…i.e., see you later at the parking lot, and on we went.

A few minutes later, Bob called a quick respite before we attempted Betty Jane’s Stairway. Bob made a good judgment call, because with the recharging of everyone’s batteries, the Trio once again hiked up ahead of Lisa and me, as seen when they did the final climb up Betty Jane’s Stairway! 

Just before the Lodge, Bob informed Lisa and me that he was going to take the boys to Cliff Tops, since the outstanding views were accompanied with the azure blue skies. Once again, the "three avid hikers" went on. Lisa and I made it to the Lodge around 12:40, with the temp being 64 and sunny. 

While Lisa relaxed on the porch, I ran to photograph the date above the dining room door and managed to chat with my favorite Lodge manager, Mike, who really missed seeing Ed on this family hike! I returned back to the porch and Lisa lent me her cell phone for a quick check-in call to my nephew Jason in Columbus, Ohio. Jason was happy to hear the exciting news about Austin and Charlie finding (9) salamanders on the way up to the Lodge!

Charlie, Austin and Bob returned from Cliff Tops and we all went inside to do some last minute hat shopping. We then took a few minutes to get a Bob & Lisa Wright Family & Sons snapshot before heading back down. 

The downward hike proved to be just as much fun as the hike up to the lodge. Charlie and Austin really do a fantastic job on this trail and have no fear of heights or close edges During the climb down, Bob and the boys were once again ahead of Lisa and me. The beautiful views were still enticing me to participate in several more Kodak moments, instantly endorsed with Lisa’s approval. 

Once again, we stopped at Gracie’s Pulpit to enjoy a quick rest. Austin knew how to unwind. He climbed the rocks facing the four peaks of LeConte, and found a secret place to lie down. After our break, Charlie still felt a little tired, so Bob carried him on his shoulders for a short way down.

The clock was ticking and it was almost 5 p.m. We knew that Ed, Peggy, Mark, Laura, Megan and Mike would be waiting for us in the parking lot. We stopped several seconds at the Bluffs, where I remembered to tell Lisa and Bob that we forgot Ed’s cake. Time to keep moving, and not look back. Ed would understand and we knew that he enjoyed the cake baked by the lodge’s staff and hand delivered by Laura, Megan and Mike!

The hike down was very special because Lisa shared moments about her childhood, her wonderful horse and horseback riding adventures and awards, accompanied by more tidbits on Charlie and Austin!! We talked endlessly, as most women do, checked on the three hikers ahead of us, enjoyed the camaraderie and the beauty of the hike.

Charlie, Austin and Bob arrived back to the trailhead several minutes before Lisa and me. We were only moments behind and finally got to enjoy a brief but happy reunion with Ed, Megan, and the Haythorns. Jeff Mathews, the fine gentlemen from Cincinnati, Ohio, who started out with everyone, made it back to the trailhead hours ahead of us! A very wonderful hike, however, Ed, and Mark would have added to the excitement of the occasion!