1290 4/10/05 This hike was timed so that I could join my daughter Peggy Wright Haythorn and her husband Mark at their son Mike Haythorn’s lacrosse game in Cullowhee, NC.  Mike’s team, UNCC (University of North Carolina Charlotte) was scheduled to play their final match of the season against WCU (Western Carolina University). I drove up from Jensen Beach, Florida and met the Haythorns at the Shoney's in Waynesville, NC, for lunch. The place was covered up by members of the military also looking for lunch. They graciously stepped aside and let us enter first. The lunch was especially fine because Mark picked up the check.

We then drove in convoy to Cullowhee, NC and found the WCU campus without a problem but we drove around along time before find the intramural field where the game was to be played. We arrived early so we had plenty of time before the UNCC team showed up. The game got underway promptly at 2:00 pm, as scheduled, and it became clear very quickly that the Western Carolina team was over matched. I could not see the scoreboard but I feel sure that UNCC won by at least 13 to 4. My grandson Mike, # 25 for UNCC was in the thick of the action.  Each time a team scored a goal fans clapped their hands. I got so much exercise clapping during the game that I thought that perhaps I would not be able to make the hike. (Mike informed me later that the score was 16 to 2! The buildings on the WCU campus appeared to be new and modern although the football stadium, seemed rather small and antiquated. The enrollment at WCU is about 12,500 students.

Mike joined us as we drove again in convoy the short distance to Cherokee to spend the night before hiking Mt. LeConte. My grand daughter Laura Haythorn and her former rowing team mate, Sarah were supposed to join us but their school activities at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill put the Kibosh on that.

We were supposed to meet Tillroe Smith at Hardee's at 6:00 am for breakfast but when we got there we found out that they did not open until 7:00 am. That is a change in their opening hour without asking my permission. We headed to McDonalds and we were most pleased to see that Tillroe had made the same move.

After breakfast we all piled into my car and left the other two in the parking lot. This arrangement saved gasoline and provided for more camaraderie during the drive. (Take that OPEC) We arrived at the Alum Cave Bluff at about 7:10 am and by 7:15 we were headed up the trail. The weather was a nice 42 degrees. Everyone, except for me, had overdressed and soon started shedding layers. 

Before we reached Arch Rock, we passed many small waterfalls. Too bad that the morning light was not bright enough for me to capture the beauty of these wonders. We were passed by a fast young man from Des Moines, IA. Before reaching Grassy Slide we met him again returning from his fast hike to High Top. We paused for a moment near Arch Rock before continuing our trek. Shortly after exiting Arch Rock, we passed the scene of washout the June 28, 1993. Before reaching Inspiration Point, I viewed one of the Dolly Parton Ridges as the sun was rising.

We took a short break at Inspiration Point. Tillroe walked down the rocks. probably looking for a place for a coffee break, and missed out on a picture. We continued our climb toward the Alum Cave Bluff. I paused to take a couple of pictures of the Eye of the Needle and to look and listen for the peregrine falcons that nest just below the Eye. No falcons were seen or heard. As usual, I brought up the rear of the group. Peg, Mark, Tillroe and Mike were already at the bluff while was still climbing. We took another short break there. The day was ideal and offered fine scenery

We had not seen any wild flowers, snow or ice up to this point. The same would hold true for the entire trip today. I stopped above Little Duck Hawk Ridge and took a couple of photographs. The Eye of the Needle is in this ridge. We stopped at Gracie's Pulpit for a snack. The four peaks of Mt. LeConte were in the clouds so there was not a lot to see in that direction. Gracie's Pulpit, named for an old time hiker to LeConte, Gracie McNicol, is the half way point to the lodge in distance as well as elevation change. At this location the trail actually heads down and drops about 100 feet before reaching the saddle and starts climbing again. This is a welcomed respite while going up but it is a tough 0.4 miles upon the return trip.

A short distance above the saddle the new log steps come into view. As we continued our climb, we met six eagle scouts with their two adult leaders descending from an overnight stay at the LeConte Shelter. They were from Ft. Mills, SC, which is just across the Catawba River from Charlotte, NC. We then met two University of Florida guys with a girlfriend. Their father, Doug Williams from Boca Raton, Florida was a short distance behind them.

We then started meeting a group of 36 High Pointers, family and friends from Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, New York and Colorado. Tim Webb from Winston County Alabama is the guy that I have known for several years as we shared our common love for this trail. Tim was hiking with Craig Noland, Jim MacKay, Jean Trousedale. Frances Graham, and Jimmy Webb. As we continued our climb to Lou's Pulpit, we met a group from Indiana and Illinois.  Several of them were from Russellville, AL, and were taught by one of my nieces, Lela Ray and her husband Dr. Wayne Ray, former teacher and football coach and now superintendent of schools.

At Trout Branch, we met Marsh Wilkes from Perry, FL. Marsh was with two other couples, Bomber and Nena Brown, Terry and Angie Thorn and his 5 year-old granddaughter Brailyn Wilkes. Brailyn has just turned five and hiked the entire trail including a morning hike to Myrtle Point to see the sunrise without any major complaint. I had previously met Marsh on my hike  # 974 on April 21, 1997. He and anther guy were heading for the LeConte Shelter. He was pulling a trailer made with a bicycle wheel to bear the load of their gear. He said that he had pulled the trailer about 500 miles while hiking.

Grassy Slide was ice, snow and flower free. In fact the grass had not even greened up very much. The view toward Clingmans Dome was partially obscured by clouds but it was still far more interesting than those in Florida. As we started up Betty Jane Barnett's Stairway to Heaven, Tillroe asked about how Betty Jane was recovering from her knee replacement. I told him that she had graduated from the walker and was moving around with the assistance of a cane. He suggested that he would like to borrow my camera and take a picture of me for Betty Jane. I returned the favor ant took a picture of him also.

The Chimneys were indistinct from Margaret's Place but provided an interesting perspective. Paul's Face stood out boldly against the morning sun. This location is a favorite of the late Paul Dinwiddie and the present spry 94 year-old Margaret Stevenson

The lodge was a crisp 52 degrees and clouds were racing toward the East. I made a fast pit stop before filling my CamelBak with fresh water from the spigot. We then asked Chris Virden if we could buy some T- Shirts. I bought five for the family including two for Mike. Other than the outline of the four peaks of Mt. LeConte and writing, I don't know what they symbols on the design are for. (Tim Line informed me by e-mail that they are The drawings are of a pair of boots, a lamp, an outline of a cabin  and trees as seen through a lodge window.) Mike's, UNCC lacrosse team. provided great entertainment yesterday in downing Western Carolina. That earned himself a second shirt. Shirt prices have risen to $19.00 for the, el chepo short Sleeve variety. A night's stay is now $ 94.00.And Alan Greenspan says that inflation is under control? $ 19 for a T-Shirt? I can buy 3 for $ 10 in Jensen Beach but not the LeConte Lodge variety.

After purchasing the T-shirts we headed to the rockers on the porch of the Office for rest and refreshments. Chris, the lodge manager, volunteered to take a picture of the crew devouring our lunches. The propane tank farm was a welcomed sight. In prior years kerosene was used to heat the cabins and the place reeked with the smell of Kerosene. As we departed the lodge, the sky was still mostly cloudy and High Point was mostly shrouded by them.

Mark usually has a difficult time with his knees when descending from the lodge, but today, he and Mike set the pace, Peggy and Tillroe chatted and I brought up the rear. I paused at Grassy Slide for a picture of Clingmans Dome and Gracie's Pulpit.

When we reached Gracie's Pulpit, I took another snack break to satisfy my blood sugar needs. While we were there I took a picture of Cliff Top, with the lodge just beyond it.

Several hikers were resting at the Bluff as we passed through. I had to take a couple of more pictures of the Eye of the Needle and again looked for the elusive peregrine Falcons but without luck.

When we reached Inspiration Point, Mark and Mike were all rested and ready to speed down the final two miles. I paused to gander at the Dolly Parton Peaks before continuing my descent. Near the upper footlog, we met a friendly young man from Birmingham, AL but he is attending the University of Tennessee. Go Vols!

Just below Arch Rock, Two young couples passed us but they stopped at the third footlog. I think that the girls had to find a bush. One guy with a UT bandanna tied over his hair was wiling away the time staring at the ripples in Styx Branch.

We reached the parking lot at 2:15pm for a flat seven hour round trip. That's not a bad time for me in my present state of disrepair but I remember when I did the same trip in 2:55. It was a very nice trip with Peg, Mark, Mike and Tillroe. I had considered spending Sunday night at Tillroe's Camper and hike again Monday but all of that clapping at Mike's lacrosse game, wore me out so I headed toward Jensen Beach, FL. I dedicate this hike to Joann and Tillroe Smith's 13 year-old-grandson Bradley Smith who made his first hike to the lodge over then Easter holidays. Way to go Brad.