Family and Friends Day at Mt LeConte

As Told By Gerry Sturgeon

When Ed posted his “Late Hiking News” announcement about the family and friends hike for June 10^th, I wasn’t sure I would be able to make it. I called my college roommate, whom I had not seen for 32 years, and invited him to join me on the hike anyway. When Larry said “yes” he would like to do the hike, my mind was made up. After all, I couldn’t very well invite someone and then back out of the hike myself. My wife, Nora, and son Stephen also accompanied me on this trip. At 6:00 AM on Sunday morning Nora and I had the joy of once again being with our old friend Larry and we introduced him to our youngest son Stephen.

After meeting up at the Sugarlands Welcome Center, we drove the short distance to the Alum Cave trailhead. We were the first to arrive, but by 6:45 there were 16 people at the trailhead waiting on the Wright-Haythorn family to arrive. Cindy took this picture of Larry, me, Stephen and Nora. I returned the favor by taking this picture of Martine and Cindy. Two years ago Martine hiked this trail for the first time with Cindy in 5 inches of snow, and upon coming off of the trail she said, “Never again.” Last October my wife hiked this trail for the first time with a glaze of ice on the ledges below Cliff Top. She too said, “Never again.” We were all very happy that “never” is a shorter period of time than one might think.

At 7:08 Ed arrived with his family, followed by Tillroe riding a motorcycle. At 7:15, after another round of greetings and picture taking, we headed onto the trial.

Larry and I posed for the obligatory trailhead picture, crossed the bridge and were once again, after 32 years, embarking on another adventure. At the one-mile mark Larry rested in the middle of the first foot log across Styx Branch. At Arch Rock Cindy, Charlie and Austin took a short side trip onto the rocks of Styx Branch. After a short rest, the group headed up through Arch Rock and began the rugged part of the climb.

This rugged trail was not without its rewards. Mountain Laurel was everywhere, as was the Catawba Rhododendron. To see the Rhododendron is the only excuse you need to visit the Smoky Mountains during early June. Everywhere you look, the mountains are purple with Catawba. Of course, the best place to view the Catawba is at 4500 feet, so bring your hiking boots.

Inspiration point is a favorite place of anyone who hikes this trail. The views are breathtaking and it’s a good place to rest and pose for pictures. Here Lynda, Tillroe and Mike smile for the camera. It’s also a good place to take that picture that will make all your friends say “Wow!” Nora and Larry demonstrate this particular pose.

Another attraction at Inspiration Point is the view of Little Duck Hawk Ridge and its two Eye’s of the Needle. Ron Metcalfe has dubbed these features Left Eye and Right Eye. I was thinking of something like Square Eye and Round Eye. And while one set of names isn’t any better than the other, I must admit that Ron’s pictures are much better than mine. You win this one Ron. On the other hand, this picture of “Round Eye” is pretty good.

From Inspiration Point the gang marched on to the Bluff. Martine, Mike, Lynda and Tillroe arrived first and got the best resting places. Even one of the local residents was on hand to greet the hikers as they arrived at the Bluff. This Mountain Boomer seemed a bit surprised to see everyone.

At Gracie’s Pulpit Cindy posed for this picture with Cliff Top over her shoulder. If you know Cindy you also know that she loves this mountain and the people she meets on it.

Continuing on from Gracie’s Pulpit there is a rhododendron tunnel. This is very cool. It’s a good place to relax as you prepare for the next feature of the trail. After climbing the log steps you enter a section of trail that seemingly goes up forever, thus prompting some to call it The Forevers. This section ends the way it begins, by climbing a set of steps. Here Cindy and Bob are preparing to climb the upper steps and begin the final leg of the journey to the lodge.

There are many more sights to see between the upper steps and the lodge, however, on this hot day, I removed the camera from around my neck and placed it in my backpack. Not to worry though, I’m sure Ed and Cindy took plenty of pictures of the upper section.

I do, however, have one last picture. Congratulations to Larry on reaching the lodge on your first hike up the mountain. And even though you didn’t say you would climb it again, you also didn’t say “Never again.” In my book, that’s a definite maybe.