Our overnight trek to LeConte would fall on the 4th of July this year and we were hoping to see some great views of the fireworks in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge that night.

Jeannette and I left around noon Friday and went on up to our camper in Townsend, Tenn. Sundown Resort Park would have their annual fourth celebration on Saturday the third and we sure wanted to be there to be a part of the activities.

Saturday morning started off with a scavenger hunt for the kids then a parade with all the decorated golf carts and the city fire car, siren and all. There was a hotdog lunch at the dining hall for everyone at noon.

Saturday evening at six everyone gathered for a meal of grilled chicken, roasted corn, baked beans, and fries. After dinner we gathered outside for an old fashion cakewalk and a cake auction. The highest bid for a cake was two hundred thirty dollars; a lot of money for a cake but it goes into our kitchen fund.

Jeannette and I was the cleaning crew so after we finished we went back to our camper to rest and watch the fireworks. After checking our gear for our hike the next morning we went to bed.

We got up at seven the next morning. I fixed bacon and eggs for breakfast then rechecked our gear for our hike to LeConte.

Joe Bryant was to be at our camper by nine a.m., then we planned to pick up Steve Roberson at Sugarland Visitor Center around nine-thirty. Joe showed up a little early so we picked up Steve and was at the Alum Bluff Trailhead by nine forty-five.

Tillroe Smith was waiting to join us on our hike so we had a good group going up. After introductions we left the trailhead at ten A.M. Central Time under cloudy threatening skies. The temperature was in the low fifties and very comfortable for this time of year.

About halfway to Arch Rock we met Jim and Marilyn heading down. They were to be our cabin mates that night but got mixed up on the date and went up a day early. The Lodge was full but out of compassion Josh put them up in Tim Line’s cabin to keep them from having to hike down that night and back up the next day. It was an extremely nice and thoughtful gesture.

After some laughs and pleasant conversation our group headed on up. I have to say we were disappointed that we would not be enjoying the company of Jim and Marilyn that night.

With that delay it took us over forty minutes to get to Arch Rock. Jeannette seemed to be starting out strong and doing well. I had both of our gear in my backpack and could very well feel it, but I felt very comfortable and strong.

We got strung out between Arch Rock and Inspiration Pointe. I had set a slow pace to get through the steep climb at Alum Bluff. We caught Tillroe, Joe, and Steve at the Pointe and took a good water break.

After the short water break we climbed on up to the Bluff. Our timing was great, just as we got under the Bluff it started raining.

We took a longer snack break hoping the rain would subside but it never did. We finally gave in, put on part of our raingear, and headed on up in light drizzle.

Because of the rain we didn’t stop at Gracie’s Pulpit but kept our pace through the Saddle and on to the Lower Steps.

We got strung out again but had agreed to gather at the Upper Steps for a rest and a heavier snack. We got lucky because the rain had stopped for a while and we ate in the dry.

The break in the rain didn’t last long. A short time after we started on up it began raining again. Jeannette and I had to stop at Mossy Spring and put on full raingear. We never took it off after that.

Jeannette and I reached The Old Horse Gate in three hours thirty minutes and the Lodge ten minutes later. Tillroe was well ahead of us; Joe and Steve came in about ten minutes behind us.

When we signed in at the new registration desk a new staff member, Jacob, introduced himself and offered to lead us to our cabin. Tillroe went along to see the cabin then headed back down.

Jacob came back by to light the heater then we went about changing into some dry clothes. Our tops were soaked but our pants, shoes, and socks came through remarkably well.

After getting into some dry clothes we gathered at the kitchen for hot chocolate and conversation. Steve Roberson was the new one to the group so we sat around getting to know each other a little better.

After a short while I went back to the cabin for a nap which was soon interrupted by my dear wife wanting my warm spot and as always she got. After the short nap Jeannette and I went up to the main Lodge to visit with the other guests and wait for the dinner bell to ring.

The dinner bell rang at six and we all headed to the dining room. We sat at our usual table and with only four of us it looked awfully empty. The table next to us was overcrowded so we invited two guests to share our table. They introduced themselves as Mike and Sam from outside Washington D.C.

We had the usual good meal of roast beef, green beans, and mashed potatoes. With a lot of good conversation the food went down easy and we all left stuffed as always.

The rain and clouds ruined any chance of seeing a sunset but it later cleared so we could see the parkway at Pigeon Forge and some fireworks. The only time I have ever seen a better view was the night David DeShazo and I spent with Ron Underwood at the top in mid February.

We sat in the Main Lodge for a while after dinner but with nothing to do it’s hard to stay awake past nine so we were all sacked in by nine-thirty.

We began rolling out about an hour or so before breakfast and began checking our gear and assessing the weather for our trip down after breakfast.

For some reason everyone ate like we had missed dinner the night before. The pancakes were especially good and everyone complemented the staff on a fine breakfast before we left the dinning room.

We went back to our cabin and immediately dressed and packed up for our hike down. The temperature was unusually mild but the heavy overcast made rain jackets feel good starting out.

We filled our water bottles and headed down at a little after eight-thirty under heavy misty skies. We were expecting the rain to come at any time.

Our first stop was at the Upper Steps to shed our raingear. The skies were beginning to clear and the temperature was rising. The next stop was at Gracie’s Pulpit for water and a short rest.

After the Pulpit there was a steady stream of day hikers and overnight guests heading up to the Lodge. We took a snack break at Inspiration Pointe while chatting with some people that were new to the trail.

We got spread out through Arch Rock. Jeannette and I didn’t stop until we got to the parking lot; Joe and Steve came in a short time later.

We dropped Steve off at Sugarland then Joe, Jeannette, and I went on to our camper in Townsend to let Joe freshen up for the drive back to Dalton, Ga. to pick up Lisa and Benjamin.

While Joe went to the bathhouse to shower Jeannette fixed him a sandwich to eat on the way back to Georgia. He left at twelve fifteen and estimated arriving at his in-laws in Dalton by three P.M. Central.

Jeannette and I took a long shower then just lay around for the rest of the afternoon. We retired early that night then returned to our home in Leeds the next day.

It had been a very well rounded weekend.