1288 9/14/04 On Sunday September 12, 2004 I was still a refugee from Hurricane Frances at my daughter home in Chapel Hill, NC. I chatted with my son Bob and he related to me that electricity had been restored to his home in Stuart, Florida but that my place in Jensen Beach, FL was still dark. Two weeks visiting anybody is a long time so I decided to leave at about noon Monday September 13, 2004 and head for Cherokee, NC to get in another hike to Mt. LeConte on my way back to Florida.

The new clerk, Ken, at the Best Western in Cherokee was most inefficient and made what I considered unreasonable demands of me on an attempt to register. I gave up and went across the street to the Travelodge. John, the manager, gave me a better rate than I was getting at the Best Western and checked me in efficiently so I stayed there. I got up about five a.m., brewed my in room coffee and did my morning chores before going next door to Hardee's for breakfast. I am not too sure that the breakfast omelet in a bowl with biscuits and gravy was the best for my arteries but it certainly was good.

I arrived at the trailhead at 6:45 a.m. and was greeted by mostly clear skies and a brisk 48 degrees. I hit the trail after arranging my pack and grabbed my hiking stick. It was just breaking dawn so I had to watch the trail closely. I moved along at a brisk pace for me at this stage of life. I enjoyed the roar of the water tumbling down the mountain in Alum Creek and then from Styx Branch as I hiked past. The trail gets steeper when it leaves Alum Creek and follows Styx Branch. The four footlogs were picturesque and Arch Rock was dimly lit and quiet.

As I neared Inspiration Point, about an hour after leaving the trailhead, I had a nice view of the sun ready to make its appearance above the Dolly Parton Peaks. I paused at Inspiration Point to enjoy the view before heading up the trail. I stopped across from Little Duck Hawk ridge to view the Eye of the Needle. The climb gets considerably steeper as you approach the bluff. I cruised on through this dusty area without stopping and paused to view Little Duck Hawk Ridge from above. I noticed that the haze was back in the air. I stopped for a snack at Gracie's Pulpit and heard a noise. I looked around and lodge staffer, Michael, was out on the point of the pulpit. He was headed down for days off. Before continuing, I viewed Paul's Face on Cliff Top.

As I was near Shirley's Rock, the sun was shining through the haze and was beautiful. I was moving up the trail faster than I normally hike because I had not met anyone except for Michael. I almost always stop and chat with people and sometimes I take their pictures to help me recreate the hike. The view of Clingmans Dome was great from Grassy Slide. I met three gentlemen from Birmingham, AL before reaching West Point View. One 78 year-old youngster was named David Morgan. Below Cliff Top, I met a couple from Clay City, KY and a lady from Salt Lake City, UT. At Betty Jane Barnett's Stairways to Heaven, I met three more ladies from Salt Lake City, UT. The four ladies from SLC were Jean, Nancy, Joan and Linda Kosky. There was a good view of the Chimneys, Clingmans Dome and the Newfound Gap. 

Near Paul's Face, I met Jeanne and David McLeod from Tampa and Gainesville, FL. Jeanne is a professional photographer and I assume that David is attending Gator University. He asked me to point out the Chimneys because he had hiked it previously. I met three Cameran cousins from Pennsylvania, Arkansas and Tennessee at the junction of the Bull Head and Rainbow Falls Trails. I stopped by the spigot and replenished my CamelBak water supply with fresh mountain water. I walked over to the dining room before going into the office to sign the register. I use the names on the register to glean the names of folks that I have met on the trail today. I visited with Billie and Bill Baggett and Donald Davis from Concord, NC before going to the rockers on the front porch of the office to eat my lunch. Chris Virden, the lodge manager came by and we chatted for a while.

By 10:20 a.m., I was on my way back down the trail. I met Tim Line, the General Manager of the LeConte and Charit Creek Lodges, near Paul's Face. He apologized for not responding to my last e-mail. He said that his computer was down for three weeks. I had asked him for Henry Neel's address in Iraq. Henry's unit has not left yet and are in training in Mississippi. When his unit is deployed, I will post his address so friends can send him cookies and warm greetings. I paused at Grassy Slide to appreciate the nice view. I thought that the water at Trout Branch dripping from the moss confirmed the unofficial name of the area as Mossy Springs. I paused to check my favorite blackberry bush buts but alas it was bare but there was a nice clump of Wood Asters to appreciate.

I saw lots of colorful Witch Hobble Bushes This shrub grows the full length of the trail and is one of the first to bloom in the spring and also one of the first to show leaf color change in the fall. At the saddle, I overtook the three Cameran cousins taking a break. Holy cow. I actually passed someone. Whoopee!

I paused at Gracie's Pulpit to look back over to Paul's Face and would have stopped for a snack but all the good rocks were occupied by weary hikers so I moved on. I enjoyed the mountainous views of Big Duck Hawk Ridge and the Newfound Gap area. I also looked down upon Little Duck Hawk Ridge before reaching the bluff.  I met the Mindenhoff's from Cincinnati, OH, there. I paused for a wide angle view of the Eye of the Needle and also a telephoto view of this one meter diameter hole in Little Duck Hawk Ridge. Chris and Allysen Virden, lodge manager and Chief Cook and Bottle Washer overtook and passed me before we reached Inspiration Point. I again had intended to stop there for a snack but all of the good rocks were occupied so I continued my descent. I finally found a seat below Arch Rock and enjoyed a snack. A young couple from Pennsylvania passed by non their way upward. They had their four- year-old son with them. Made me pine for my grandsons.

After I finished adding to my blood sugar, I scooted on down the trail but took time to enjoy the numerous mini water falls along Styx Branch and Alum Creek. I reached the trailhead at 1:03 p.m. A nice hike but I missed the usual companionship on these hikes. I drove to Walterboro, SC and stayed at the Ramada Inn. The next morning, I met a large group of Cherry Picker Utility trucks heading north. I took this as a sign that most of the hard power outage work along Frances's path of destruction had been completed. I was correct. I arrived home at 2 p.m. and found that the electricity and cable had been restored just one hour earlier. God is Great and so is life!

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