1289 10/23/04 I had hoped to hike with my son Bob, his two sons Austin and Charlie, my daughter Peggy, her husband Mark Haythorn, and my grand nephew Trey Barnes and his dad Jock this month, but the two hurricanes in September cancelled school holidays. Bob and his sons could not join us but I was most pleased that Don and Marge Tagert of Boca Raton, FL and Tillroe Smith of Moody Alabama did.

I left Jensen Beach, FL Thursday morning October 21, 2004 and drove to the Ramada Inn in Walterboro, SC. The traffic through the first 50 miles in Georgia was stop and go. Mostly stop, because of a wreck at exit 42 and bridge work at exit 49 but I did arrive safely. I got my favorite room, 101 and after cleaning up took the 100 yard walk to Shoney's across the street. The following morning, I had the Ramada's hot free breakfast, before heading for Cherokee, NC. I did stop at a nice fruit stand at exit 53 in Henderson, NC and bought a half bushel of apples for $5.00. I could have had another half bushel for an additional $ 4.00 but I did not know how I could eat or give away a whole bushel before they spoiled.

My next stop was at the Wal*mart and Shoney's near Waynesville, NC. I had a great lunch and continued my drive toward Cherokee. I took the Blue Ridge Parkway in order to enjoy the fall colors along this road. I was not disappointed. The colors were magnificent. Each turn of the parkway displayed it's splendor of foliage. I stopped often to enjoy the wonderful display of colors that nature provided. I stopped at the rest area and took another picture of the stuffed bear that my grandson Austin (3 years-old at the time) announced that the bear moved it's eyes and that he was afraid of it. I took a picture of a small part of the mural on display that showed Clingmans Dome and Mt. LeConte, because it was too hazy to see Mt. LeConte and Clingmans Dome from there. I continued on the Blue Ridge parkway past U. S. 19 and continued to enjoy the fall colors. I stopped frequently to more fully enjoy the leaf color of the trees. At one pull-out, I think that I was able to photograph Tillroe Smith's camper in the Big Stony Campgrounds.

My daughter Peggy does not believe in taking pot luck on a motel room and indeed most were sold out. She had reservations at the Quality Inn in Cherokee. Joey Anderson, the clerk, checked me in, in a pleasant efficient manner. I went to my room and took a nap before Peggy and Mark arrived. When they checked in and freshened up we went to Big Bob's for their buffet dinner. Peggy didn't know whether to be happy or sad when the waitress gave all of us a senior citizen's discount. I was happy and left a bigger than usual tip. We agreed to meet at the car at six a.m. and head to Hardee's for breakfast.  I got up about five a.m., brewed my in room coffee and did my morning chores before meeting Mark and Peggy to head for Hardee's. I am not too sure that the breakfast omelet in a bowl was the best for my arteries but it certainly was good. Jock Barnes and his 12 year-old son Trey met us there. They had camped out last night. The camp out and the hike to Mt. LeConte was to help Trey earn badges in the Boy Scouts.

We arrived at the trailhead at 7:00 a.m. and we were greeted by mostly cloudy skies and a brisk 54 degrees. Don and Marge Tagert from Boca Raton, FL were there and waiting. Peggy judged that it was too dark to hike safely at 7:00 a.m. so we chatted until 7:30 a.m. before hit the trail. I had intended on taking photos of the group but alas my flash was not working so I didn't get that group photo. Don did send me a picture of the family crew at the trailhead. Thanks Don and Marge..  We 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. We paused there for a short break. Trey took the time to play in Styx Branch. I also tried to take a picture of a couple that passed us but it was too blurred because of the lack of a flash. Don Tagert sent me a picture of the group of boys from Pigeon Forge, TN  near Arch Rock.

A short distance from the last footlog crossing Styx Branch, we Met Tim Webb from Double Springs, AL. I had met Tim several times before. The last time was on hike 1246, March 13, 2000. We stopped at Inspiration Point for another short rest and to take more pictures. Peggy, Mark and Trey took full advantage of the stop and enjoyed the view of the Dolly Parton Peaks.  While we were resting, Tillroe Smith overtook us. We cruised on past the Eye of the Needle but not without taking still another picture. We paused at the bluff and chatted with a group of boys from a Baptist Church in Pigeon Forge and their two counselors. One of the boys, Alex Miller, said that he was Mt. LeConte's # 1 fan. I said that this is the 1289th time that I have hiked it. Can you beat that. They all gave me a salute with Alex in the center. Alex handed me some printed information that had amassed and asked me to put it on my web site. I asked him to e-mail it to me so that I would not have to scan and OCR it but alas, I did not get it. If you read this Alex, please send it along and I will post it.

We took a snack break at Gracie's Pulpit. The peaks of LeConte were covered in clouds from about the 6,000' level. We all enjoyed the brief downhill portion of the trail to the saddle. I knew that it would be difficult upon our return hike. We continued up the new log steps. We met Ron Valentine near Shirley's Rock and I arranged for Ron and Tillroe Smith to pose for me. Don Tagert supplied me with a picture of Ron, Tillroe and me. Wow, thanks again Don. Above the upper steps we took another short break. Trey took full advantage of it. As we passed Trout Branch and Grassy Slide, Clingmans Dome was under heavy cloud cover. I took a good look at Paul's Face from below Cliff Top. We were happy to reach Betty Jane's Stairway to Heaven because we knew that the climb was almost over. The view toward Clingmans Dome started clearing a bit before we reached the site of the old horse gate.

The lodge was mostly cloudy and rather warm for late October. I stopped by the water faucet and refilled my CamelBak before walking over to the dining room and taking a picture. I then went inside the office and registered. I took a picture of the register but the flash was not working. The picture was blurred and not readable. I returned to the front porch of the office and joined other hikers in rocking chairs while I ate my lunch. Tillroe found a nice rock below the porch to sit on while drinking his diet Coke and eating his barbeque sandwich. Allyson Virden, the manager's wife, came by and gave me a hug. That made the trip worthwhile. She said that Henry Neel's unit, including Henry, were leaving for Iraq shortly. I will post his snail mail address when I get it. I hope that lodge guests and hikers will send Henry some cherry messages. Don and Marge Tagert headed for Myrtle Point so we said our goodbyes. It was so nice hiking with them again. They promised me that they would drive up to Jensen Beach and do the 12 mile beach walk with me. I also hope that Don will send me copies of the pictures that he took.

I  had a hard time getting everyone ready to hike down so I started out with Tillroe and left the others doing whatever they were doing. Peggy later informed me that Mark had broken down and bought a lodge T-Shirt. I had offered to buy him one the last time that he hiked but he said that he preferred the money. Near Margaret's Place, we met Ken and Ellen West from Henderson, TN. I had met them previously and they remembered! Mark, Peggy, Jock and Trey caught up near Grassy Slide. We met Dave Pitt, the lodge carpenter, his wife and son below the upper steps. The picture that I took was blurry but I did keep it. I am not only forgetting people, I am shaking the camera. Dave is a talented carpenter.

Above Little Duck Hawk Ridge, I took another blurry picture of the Alum Cave Bluff parking lot two and a half miles below via the trail. I resisted the temptation of posting another picture or so above Little Duck Hawk. I really have lots of them. There were lots of hikers at the bluff.  Some were leaving and others were just standing around. I enjoyed the leaf colors while others chatted. On our way down, I took a couple of pictures from the trail and toward the Eye of the Needle. There was one maple tree with brilliant yellow leaves above the trail. In many places the trail was covered with fallen leaves. This is an example of a fallen maple leaf. There was a group resting at Inspiration Point.

We met Lodge Staffer Michael below Arch Rock. He wanted to know how he could get a copy of my book. I told them that they were all sold. During our hike toward the trailhead, I enjoyed the colorful red leaves of maple trees and the colorful leaves of red birch  The view up Alum Creak also was rewarding. 

When we reached the trailhead everyone was happy to be down and had a great time. Tillroe was celebrating his 300th hike to LeConte today. He plans to stay in his camper another week and hike some more. Congratulations my friend and many more hundreds in the future. Trey said that he had fun but next time that he would need a new pair of feet. He and his dad, Jock, did fine. I hope that they will hike with us again soon. I enjoyed the hike immensely and loved the colors. I had to take a last picture from the car on the drive back to Cherokee.

Peggy and Mark drove me to the Quality Inn where I retrieved my wheels and drove back to the Ramada Inn in Walterboro. They were very crowded and I did not get my favorite room but I did get one on the ground floor. I drove home the following day and saw three wrecks south of Daytona. All three were single car accidents that just left the road.