The Ezel, KY foursome took a break at Gracie's Pulpit. I paused for a snack and to catch my breath. It was very warm and humid with no breeze today. The view of Cliff Top from Gracie's Pulpit was OK but not great. I took several short rest stops after starting to climb out of the saddle.  Before we reached the upper steps, I met three ladies descending from their overnight stay at the LeConte Lodge. I nicknamed them the Mountain Mama's. I also met Gordon and Judy Smith from Floyds Knob Indiana, Don and Alice Smith from Kannapolis, NC, and Dr. Stan Slides from Cape Girardeau, MO. I chatted with them about my cross country bicycle ride and crossing the Mississippi at Cape Girardeau. Cindy, Ron and Cheryl and I also met this group yesterday.

I also started meeting the first wave of a group of 21 boys and four counselors'. The counselors' were from New Orleans, LA but the boys were from all over the south. In between groups of boys, I took a picture of a cone flower. I met several more groups of these boys but they were running and so strung out that I could not photograph them. At the top of the upper steps, I was able to stop a group for a photograph and a short time later met two more counselors' Will and Michael Benton from New Orleans. They are brothers and attend LSU. In my mind I have pictured these boys as being from very wealthy families. The cost of an overnight stay is almost $100.00/person and that does not include transportation and paying the escorts. They had also been to the space Center in Huntsville, AL and many other places. Some way to spend a summer camp! I was passed by a young couple before reaching Grassy Slide. The view of Clingmans Dome from Grassy Slide was extremely hazy. 

 

I met a large group of overnight guests below Cliff Top. They were from Charleston, SC and Atlanta, Ga. Starting from the bottom going clockwise is Martha (from Charleston, SC), Andrew (from Charleston, SC), Jim (from Charleston, SC), Carmen (from Atlanta, GA), Hartford (from Atlanta, GA), and Melissa (from Charleston, SC).  I was overtaken on Betty Jane's stairway to Heaven by a strong young hiker from Switzerland named Jean-Yves. I should have asked him to yodel for me. He looked like he had good lungs and everything else that one might need.

 

The lodge was warm and frequently socked in. I walked over to the dining room and took a picture confirming the date. While over by the dining room, I took pictures of Monks Hood and an out of focus crimson bee balm. I went inside the dining room looking for Tim Line and Michael Sherman to give them the two peaches that I brought up for them. I found Michael and he guided me over to the tool shed where Tim Line, Chris and Allyson Virden were having a pow- wow. I chatted with them for a while after giving the peaches away and returned to the water spigot and filled my CamelBak before going into the office and registering this trip. I returned to the porch and held a nice rocking chair down while I ate my lunch. Two day hikers were enjoying a snooze on the front porch. The cap on my CamelBak is getting hard to put on and make a good seal. I had water dripping down my back all the way to the parking lot. It felt good but I was out of water.

It was 78 degrees again today at the lodge. That is only one degree below the all time recorded high temperature of 79 degrees at the lodge. Josh, a lodge crew member, was chipping out debris from a rotting log on the front porch. That was one rotted log that he was working on.

 

After finishing my lunch and refilling my CamelBak, I started back down the trail. I snapped a picture of Paul's Face and another shot of the Love Vine before heading down Betty Jane's Stairway to Heaven. I met a man and his son from Louisville, KY near Grassy slide and took a picture of Joe Pye Weed below the upper steps. I paused at Gracie's Pulpit for a snack and to photograph the Rosebay rhododendron.

 

I took another picture above Little Duck Hawk Ridge and also at the Eye of the Needle. I took a couple pictures of a mushroom and a immature mushroom before reaching the parking lot at 2:45 p.m. I got a few sprinkles before reaching the trailhead. The sound of the nearby thunder was awesome. While I had a very enjoyable hike, it would have been better if Missy had showed up.

 

I drove to Newfound Gap and replenished my water supply. A thru hiker of the Appalachian Trail, named Pedestrian, was there waiting for a ride to Gatlinburg. I offered him fresh bananas, apples and peaches. He chose an apple. I wished him well and drove to the Ramada Inn in Walterboro, SC, showered and ate dinner at Shoney's.