1268 10/20/01 I hiked the Alum Cave Bluff Trail with Tillroe Smith from Moody, AL, Joe Steele from Leeds, AL, Jim and Barbara Davis from Newport, TN, Gerry and Diana Strech from Sterling Heights, MI, Ron Dunn from Murfreesboro, TN, Bill Wright from West Palm Beach, FL, Bob and Austin Wright from Stuart, FL. Barbara brought me a jar of blueberry jelly. I am looking forward to enjoying eating the blueberry jelly. I asked Jim why he had not brought me some Muscatine wine. He said that the crop this year was very poor. Connie Houk, from Sevierville, TN was supposed to join us but she and her hiking friends’ Sue Mount, Liz Rowland and Alden Douglass met us at the lodge and walked down with part of the way. It was a beautiful, clear 36 E F day at the trailhead as we departed at 7:35 a.m.. As we started up the trail, there was a note from Sandra and Keith Warren from New Hebron, MS welcoming me back to the trail after a year absence.

This was a special trip for me to test out my two new knee joints that Dr. Fraraccio of Stuart, FL installed on April 10 and June 11, 2001. It was also special to hike with my two sons, Bill & Bob and three-year-old grandson Austin and the many friends from far and wide. I am truly flattered that these folks would drive great distances and hike the mountain with me. Another reason that this trip held special significance is to see first hand, the hard work that the trail maintenance crew had done over the eight weeks.

As we started up the trail, my shorts and short sleeved T-shirt let me know that it was cold out there. My hands were the most uncomfortable but my many hikes have taught me that after a mile of hiking, I would be very comfortable. This proved to be true. By the time that we reached the first footlog, I was just fine.

Austin set the pace. At three years, his legs were very short and took two to three steps for every one of ours. He would want to rest frequently but kept on going after a short break and throwing dozens of rocks into Alum Creek and Styx Branch. His hands were also cold. Bob, his dad had him put one hand in his pocket and he held the other one. He was a real trooper though and I was really proud of him. He told Barbara Davis or Diana Strech that he was going to pass me in the number of hikes to the top.

While the frequent hiker could see evidence of trail work for the entire distance, the first timer’s would not notice much before reaching Inspiration Point. There the crew with their mechanical jack hammer cut the rocks approaching Inspiration Point and heading toward Alum Cave Bluff. They even put steps into the steeper rocks to provide ease for the hikers. At inspiration Point we were overtaken by Frank Giles from Gaffney, SC. I have met Frank several times before on this trail. We had also been overtaken and passed by seven young adults heading for the top.

We scaled the steps to the bluff and took a well-earned beak at the bluff and Austin enjoyed kicking up the dust and throwing more rocks. He enjoyed that so much that on the way down he "Rested" twice as long. Above Little Duck Hawk, the major trail work was in evidence. New steps were chiseled into the rocks and cables were installed. I point out the cars at the parking lot to Austin. We took another break at Gracie’s Pulpit and I pointed out the four peaks of Mt. LeConte and Paul’s face to Austin. He seemed unfazed that we were going to hike there. Austin took another break at the saddle. The trail was smoother from there to the former site of the Old Man’s stumps where a large log with a hand rail replaced this obstacle to hiking. Steps had been carved into the log and it was very easy to cross this area now. The trail above these new steps was also smoothed. We met David and Cathy Campbell from Gatlinburg, whom I had met before, Chris Burton from Myrtle Beach and John Fields from Knoxville, TN. They were followed by Jean, Jerry, & Kelsey Knoch from Nashville, TN and Jim, Lori & Brandon Brickhead from Hendersonville, TN. We took another short break three miles up and met more overnight guests and were passed by more fast hikers.

Before reaching Shirley’s Rock, we met two look-alike young lads that I named Pete and Repeat. They were followed by two backpackers, Brent Larimer and Carl Baggott from Orlando, FL. I asked them if they knew any of the five crew members from Orlando last year that I dubbed the Orlando Mafia. They didn’t know any of them. While no major work was done on the face of Shirley’s Rock, the trail above was extensively improved at the top of the rock and all the way to the upper steps. Before reaching the steps, Austin told his dad that he wanted to go back down so we all said our goodbyes and went on ahead. I later asked folks that were passing us if he has seen Bob and Austin going down. He said no that they were coming up so we sat down and waited for them. Bob said that after they ad descended about 50 steps, Austin said, I miss granddaddy and want to go to the top with him so they turned around and started up the mountain again.

Below Trout Branch, we met Ray Ogle and Ron Valentine. We chatted with them for a while before moving on. Ron said that the work recently done on the trail, was the finest that he had seen in 50 years of hiking. The greatest improvement made in the trail is in the trout Branch/Grassy slide area. Fabulous is all that I can say. Near West Point View, we met Dr. Kip Miller and his wife Jean Ann Miller and B. Z.. Lane from Gatlinburg. We also met Ben Debbie, Emile & Hanna Parker from Gainesville, GA and met Frank Giles from Gaffney, SC again on his trip down. Diana asked me where Bust @ss Rocks was. The work there was so smooth that she failed to notice it as we passed. There has also been major improvements at the Betty Jane's Stairway to Heaven. Steps and a new cable really make this spot easier than before. Thanks trail maintenance crew.

The lodge was clear and nice with lots of hikers and guests. There were no empty rocking chairs on the porch, so we went inside. Signed the register, bought T-shirts from Seth and sat down and visited with friends as we ate our lunches. Connie Houk, from Sevierville, TN and her hiking friends Sue Mount, Liz Rowland and Alden Douglass were there as was James Hall from Maryville, TN. He gave me a quart of 100% Pure Tennessee Valley Honey from Weaver’s Honey Farm in Louisville, TN. Mr. Weaver asked him to deliver the honey for him. Thanks to both Jim Hall and the Weavers for the honey.  Bob took a picture of Austin and me on the porch.

John Mansfield and his son Johnny, who turned two-years-old yesterday, spent lots of time visiting and asked me to go to the kitchen and visit with Donna and see the new entryway and the other improvements. The extension of the dining room was very nice, as was the porch facing Sevierville. The new doors to the porch provide lots of additional natural lighting and were nice. I asked John if they served on the new porch. he said that did not. I was pleased to see Wayne Davis, a former crew member from Maryville, TN, Also Henry Neel, Matt, Jack Huff’s daughter and many others. Wayne’s new moustache and beard were becoming but prevented me from recognizing him until he told me his name. The new crew quarters are nice but I didn’t take time to visit them. I asked John what happened to the two peahens. He said that the park directed them to get rid of the non native birds. They could not run them off so they had an open season on them. Bill snapped a picture of Diana, Tillroe and John outside the office as I was preparing to fill my CamelBak.

After filling our water containers we headed down at about 12:30. Diana was kind enough to take notes on this hike and provide them to me. I spent my time watching the trail to prevent falling and watching my grandson Austin continue to walk. I must admit that this made the trip much more enjoyable. I noticed that Austin hung onto the safety really tight at Margaret's Place.

As I hiked, I thought of the late great hiker’s Paul Dinwiddie, Ernest (LU) Lewellen, Buckey Sliger and the late Richard Haiman and his generous gifts to the park. I still enjoy the companionship of Margaret Stevenson, Betty Jane Barnett, Bo and Shirley Henry, Jean Lambert, Dave Scanlon, Tom "Monday" Morgan, Tom Borsch and his crew at the Happy Hiker and Bill Sharp and a cast of thousands of others.

Below Lu’s Pulpit, we Met Romeo from Evansville, IN, trail name "Ghosthiker" and also Sharon & David Weynand from Charlotte, NC. Austin continued to move along with frequent snack breaks and drinks from Bob’s CamelBak. Once he bit the mouth piece so hard that it remained in his mouth after finishing his drink. We met Duffy Betterton and Darragh Gott from Knoxville. Duffy is the new Chaplain at the lodge after years of doing other things like spending years in Chile. It was good seeing her again. Near the new log steps, we were passed by a couple from Dearborn, MI. she was an orthopedic surgeon or worked for one and was amazed that I would be doing this hike after just four months. She volunteered that Dr. Fraraccio should be proud of his skillful work.

Austin continued to put one foot in front of the other with frequent stops to eat, drink, climb whatever was handy or throw rocks and sticks. He especially liked the dry dust at the bluff and remained there for a considerable time. Near the big washout of June 28, 1993, we met Brandi Beals and Brian Soda of Brentwood, TN. Below Arch rock, Austin wanted to do something other than walk. He threw rocks into the creek. Threw Bob’s hiking stick into the bush. I would retrieve it and hand it back to Bob, he would hand it to Austin, he would throw it into the bush etc.. With this and other games he made it back to the parking lot. Every step of the way on his own two little feet and legs. He was even gutsy enough to ask me if we could do it again next Saturday.

While I did not keep count of the hikers that we met on the trail, I guessed that we met 350 to 400. Diana, took all of the notes and came up with 380 hikers and 10 backpackers. The trip took about nine hours but we all made it. We said our goodbyes in the parking lot and went our separate ways. Within 5 minutes after being strapped into his safety seat Austin was sound asleep. Thanks to everyone for making this a fabulous Return to Mt. LeConte!

After hiking Mt. LeConte, Bob, Austin and Ed were 15 degrees off plumb!

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