Lisa made us reservations at the Quality Inn in Cherokee, NC. I wish that I had paid closer attention to her plans because, although it is a very nice motel, they have a killer requirement of photocopying your drivers license and making all guests sign a blank check to pay up to $ 150.00 if they find something wrong with the room after you leave. I have stayed there many times before but this will be my last unless they change that requirement.

At the last minute Lisa could not go but Bob, Austin, Charlie and I headed north at 6:00 a.m. on June 18^th. The drive to Cherokee, NC was uneventful except for 100- degree heat in South Carolina. When we arrived at the motel in Cherokee, My daughter Peggy and her son Mike were already there. Laura was in summer school at the University of North Carolina and Mark remembered the sore knees on the descent of the Alum Cave Bluff Trail back in April.

After checking in and signing the stupid waver, we went down to the river to let the boys throw rocks and look for Pollywogs. Later we went to a Pizza Hut and pigged out on deep pan pizza and cinnamon sticks. I asked for two doggie boxes but it turned out that we didn’t need them. Bob and the boys took care of the cinnamon sticks and I took care of the pizza.

We intended to check out at 5:45 a.m. Saturday morning and drive to Hardee's for breakfast. When I awoke for a call of nature at about 3:30 a.m., the clock radio was blinking, indicating that the power had been off. I reset the clock and answered the call and went back to sleep. I woke up later and I could not see the clock. No lights in the room. I walked up to the front desk and was informed that a car had rammed a tree and knocked the electricity off in our section of Cherokee. I had to shower, shave, get dressed and pack my bags in almost total darkness. I did open the blinds and door to let a little light in. The lights came back on in time for a final check of my possessions. It was a practice of what it would be like if you were blind. We drove to Hardee’s and No breakfast because they had also lost power and all cooking surfaces were cold. I was looking forward to the sausage and bacon omelet in a bowl. We went to MacDonald's and ate. Apparently they did not lose electricity.

We arrived at the trailhead at about 7:10 instead of the advertised 6:45 a.m. Ronnie Holbert, Nathan Office from Morristown, TN, Larry Cooper from Indianapolis, IN, Cindy Wisniscky from Columbus, OH, Cheryl Hinkle, Sandra Delk from Greeneville, TN were all there and ready to go. Bob took a picture of us before we departed at about 7:15 a.m., under an overcast sky with a temperature of 61 degrees. We hiked at my slow easy pace and reached Inspiration Point at 8:30 a.m. Inspiration Point. Charlie picked a Mountain Laurel blossom and gave it to his Aunt Peggy. Bob and I took pictures of our hiking friends and the two boys of course. We did not leave Peggy and Mike out of the picture. Because Larry Cooper got left out of the picture at the trailhead, he got a solo shot here.

I stopped across from the Eye of the Needle on Little Duck Hawk Ridge and looked for signs of the peregrine falcons but I did not see or hear them. I did take a picture of the ridge though. We stopped for a short break at the Alum Cave Bluff. Both Bob and I took the occasion to photograph the hiking group. Peggy, Cindy and Austin struck a pose and Austin found the perfect rock to recline on. As we continued our hike, I photographed an overhead view of Little Duck Hawk Ridge.

We stopped at Gracie's Pulpit for a snack. I needed to eat something to keep my blood sugar level up. I did not want to pass out again on the trail. Nathan found a good spot to relax. The view across to Cliff Top showed clouds hanging over the top. The clouds would still be there when we reached grassy Slide. Shortly after resuming our walk, we met the all time hiking Champion of Mt. LeConte Ron Valentine. I took a picture of him and Ronnie Holbert. Ron still refuses to tell anyone how many hikes that he has made but my guess is more than 2500. I did see a few rhododendrons but they were beyond their peak.

We then met three backpackers they said that six folks had stayed in the LeConte Shelter last night. They also said that it was in the upper 30's and they got cold. A short distance later, we met Dave Pitt, the lodge carpenter and a friend. Dave is replacing the old sway-back wood shed. A good thing, it was ready to fall in. We then met Barbara and Jim Davis.Wilma Morgan, Ilene Merrick and Judy Nease from Newport, TN. We had met their son -in-law a short distance earlier. I asked them if they had made him angry.

A short distance further up the trail we met Fred Kastner and Barbara Faucette, from Cary, NC. At the top of the upper steps, I took a picture of a group of fungi clustered on a dead stump and a few more rhododendron blossoms. The view toward Clingmans Dome from Grassy Slide was all fog. We had hiked into the clouds. Austin and Charlie were impressed that we now had our head in the clouds!

I had to stop at Betty Jane Barnett’s Stairway to Heaven. The group took the occasion to have a short break. After passing under Paul’s face and Margaret’s Place we were now on fairly lever ground to the lodge. The lodge was cloudy and 60 degrees.

Many of the group stopped by the rest rooms and availed themselves to fresh water. I visited with Tim Line. He said that Nathan was back at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga and that Grace and a girl friend were on a road trip to Key West Florida. I told him to have them stop by. I met Alma Williamson from Cosby, TN and friends outside the office. After finishing visiting with Alma and refilling my CamelBak I went into the office and signed the register. The boys took a seat on the sofa and ate their lunches. I photographed recent changes such as the list of items for sale and a display case to show the items. The guys continued their resting on the sofa until a lodge crew member showed up to sell us Lodge Tee Shirts. I bought one each for Bob, Austin and Charlie. Bob also bought Charlie a lodge hat. We then went outside for a group picture and one of Charlie proudly showing his new clothing off.

After completing my chores such as refilling my water container and visiting the rest room, I took a few pictures of the new building that Dave Pitt is constructing and others in the part awaiting their turn to visit the facilities. As it turned out Cheryl Hinkle and Sandra Delk had to get Ronnie and Nathan rush them down to the Visitor’s Center at Sugarland for another rest stop.

We paused for more pictures at Paul’ Face and Margaret’s Place. Peggy and Mike had Austin and Charlie in tow. I was really proud of Charlie. He hiked to the lodge just fine. Way to go Charlie. We continued our hike down. Bob took a picture at the new log steps.

When we reached the saddle, the trail went uphill for about 0.4 miles. That stretch really slowed me down. We stopped at Gracie's Pulpit for another snack as we passed above Big Duck Hawk Ridge, I snapped a picture. I paused for another picture of the Eye of the Needle. It is always interesting and different. No peregrine falcons were in sight again. I photographed Dolly Parton Peaks at Inspiration Point and Bob with the Boys. A young guy from Bavaria Germany was resting there before continuing to the LeConte Shelter. We paused at the first footlog for a picture of the miniature waterfalls and the crowd taking a break.

Charlie was totally exhausted but was awake enough to want his dad to put his new cap in his pack when it started to rain. He didn’t want his new LeConte Lodge cap to get wet. Before we reached the trailhead, Bob picked Charlie up and carried him. Within less than a minute he was asleep on Bob’s shoulders. Charlie was truly a joy to have along. At one time, his shoelaces got tangled in a root and Bob didn’t realize it and was pulling him on. Charlie called out, "Dad are you trying to make a Bungee Cord out of me?"

We arrived at the trailhead a little before 5:00 p.m. 10 hours well spent. We said our goodbyes and headed home. Near Palm Coast, FL I asked Bob to stop and let me photograph one of four eagle nests that are there in dead pine trees.

A great hike with great friends. What could be a better Fathers Day Gift except to have the rest of the family along.