Hike To Mt. LeConte Via Rainbow Falls After 3 Ft. Of Snow From Sandy Pt.4

These are pictures that I took on a hike from Rainbow Falls via Mt. LeConte after Hurricane Sandy had dumped over 3 feet of snow on Mt. LeConte and The Great Smoky Mountains above 5,ooo feet . Such beauty in the snow covered mountains makes everything so pure , so beautiful and so mysterious ! I hope you enjoy all the pictures . Happy Hiking !

Amazing the amount of snow on all the trees

Even in the aftermath of the storm beauty can appear

“For the listener, who listens in the snow, / And, nothing himself, beholds /
Nothing that is not there and the nothing that is.”
― Wallace Stevens



Is this the steps to LeConte or the snow slide ?



Hurricane Sandy dumped over 3 feet of snow on the mountains

Winter wonderland set down on the mountain in the fall

So peaceful and so quite when I got there

Snow drifts to the roofs on some of cabins

Dining Room and kitchen at Mt. LeConte Lodge

One of the cabins at Mt. LeConte Lodge

Hike To Mt. LeConte Via Rainbow Falls After 3 Ft. Of Snow From Sandy Pt.3

These are pictures that I took on a hike from Rainbow Falls via Mt. LeConte after Hurricane Sandy had dumped over 3 feet of snow on Mt. LeConte and The Great Smoky Mountains above 5,ooo feet . Such beauty in the snow covered mountains makes everything so pure , so beautiful and so mysterious ! I hope you enjoy all the pictures . Happy Hiking !

Getting closer to Mt. LeConte Lodge

I really love hiking in the snow

“Snow falling soundlessly in the middle of the night will always fill my heart with sweet clarity”
― Novala Takemoto,  

Only one-tenth of a mile to go to the lodge

“Every Autumn now my thoughts return to snow. Snow is something I identify myself with. Like my father, I am a snow person.”
― Charlie English

So different with it all covered in snow

I stepped of the side of the trail here and sunk down almost to my waist

Untouched snow such a pleasure to see while hiking

Finally made it to Mt.LeConte Lodge

Amazing the amount of snow in October 2012

The Story Of Atti ( My Hiking Buddy )

I have had a lot of people ask about my hiking buddy who rides in the back of my backpack on our hikes through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Many hikers we meet think that Atti is a duck but she is actually a platypus. A Webkinz  ( which she is a Google on the Webkinz Site ) that my girls got me one day for my Birthday


Well the story goes like this :

My Daughters (who are twins ) which were at the time this all began was right at 6 years old . I had got them both a google for part of their Christmas presents . One was a white one and the other was a pink one . One day after Christmas it was raining and i started playing with their Googles and was making them talk to them . We all laughed and had a lots of fun but little did i know that they had took a saved their own money and bought me my very own for my birthday . Thus Atti arrived on the scene with me ! So like most adults I thought it was so cute that my daughters had took their own money to get me my very own Google but Atti just sat on my bed like most stuff animals do except my daughters had different plans for Atti . I was going on a over night hike with a couple of buddies that I hike with all the time in the Great Smoky Mountains but this one time they had to both cancel on me but I was already off and I was going anyways . Then my daughters heard that I was going by myself and they got scared that a bear was going to get me while I was hiking in the mountains . So they put Atti in my backpack and told me that I had to take her that she would protect me from any bears . I laughed and my wife laughed even harder and asked if I was going to take her with me and I said like any daddy that loves their daughters with all their hearts I said yes . So that they knew that she actually went with me I took pictures of her all on the trail . And Atti has been with me every since we have hiked all over the Great Smoky Mountains National Park , Cherokee National Forest , Nantahala and Pisqah Forest .

 One time that I went hiking without her and it was just a short hike at Baskins Falls . I was crossing over a stream going up to the cemetery and hit some black ice on the back side of the rock and i fell and broke two ribs. Since then she has always been with me on every hike even the short ones ! She has become my hiking buddy that is always with me no matter what . I even made her a raincoat that she wears when it rains. Over all this time she has become a little celebrity . She has probably had her picture taken over 100 times and from people all over the world from Russia to Australia that had come to the Great Smoky Mountains to hike and enjoy the great outdoors. Now my daughters are both 17 and tell me that I can leave Atti at home and I say never ever will I leave her at home now !

Atti at Rocky Top on way to Thunderhead Mountain

Atti at the top of Chimney Tops

Atti at Gregory Bald

Atti just hanging around at Mt.LeConte

Atti hiking with me Curry Mountain

Atti at Mt.LeConte in the winter snow

Hike To Myrtle Point Via Rainbow Falls / Mt.LeConte

Trail Description:
If you're trying to decide which trail to take to Mount LeConte: the Rainbow Falls Trail or Bullhead, I would recommend taking the Bullhead Trail because of the views along the way, (unless, of course, you specifically want to see Rainbow Falls). However, because the Rainbow Falls Trail is less exposed than Bullhead, the Rainbow Falls Trail might be a little cooler in the summer as you ascend to the summit of Mount LeConte. 
If you were doing a loop hike, especially during the summer, I would definitely hike up Rainbow Falls Trail and then descend via Bullhead.
The trail begins at the southwest corner of the parking lot. For the first two-thirds of a mile you'll climb steadily over a boulder-strewn pathway, while LeConte Creek cascades down the mountain on your right. There are many opportunities for some great picnic sites along this section of the trail.
The trail crosses over two footbridges, one at 1.7 miles, and the other at 2.4 miles, before reaching the 80-foot high waterfalls at 2.7 miles. Rainbow Falls is the highest single-drop waterfall in the Smokies. It receives its name from the rainbow that's produced by mist and becomes visible on sunny afternoons. During extended winter cold spells, an impressive ice formation builds around the falls. You may notice a little bit of ice just to the right of the falls in the picture on the left.
To continue on to Mt. LeConte, cross the footbridge at Rainbow Falls. Over the next 3.2 miles you'll climb more than 1700 feet before reaching the Bullhead Trail junction. This section of trail will take you past rhododendron, sand myrtle and mountain laurel that offer hikers beautiful mountain blooms during the spring.
At 5.4 miles, you'll arrive at a side trail, which loops back to the main trail after a short distance. The loop leads to Rocky Spur, an outcropping of rocks that offers nice views of the valley below.
At just under 6 miles from the trailhead you'll reach the Bullhead Trail junction. Turn left to continue on to the summit of Mount LeConte.
In another 0.4 miles you'll reach the Alum Cave Trail, which forks in from the right. At this point you'll have your first views of the LeConte Lodge.
A lot people end their hike at the lodge, however, to reach the true summit of Mount LeConte, you still need to walk almost another half-mile.
Before reaching the top of the mountain, the Trillium Gap Trail will branch off to your left at 6.6 miles. The summit, better known as High Top, will be at 6.9 miles. You'll know you've reached the highest point on Mt. LeConte when you've reached the cairn, or pile of rocks, just off the main trail on the right.Then one of the most incredible views in The Great Smoky Mountains is only .09 of a mile away called Myrtle Point . Believe me this is well worth the extra mile !

At 6593 feet, Mount LeConte is the third highest peak in the Smokies. However, measured from its immediate base to its highest point, Mt. LeConte can be considered the tallest mountain in the Eastern United States, rising 5301 feet from its base near Gatlinburg.

There is considerable controversy over which member of the LeConte family the mountain was named for. Most people, including the USGS, assume that Joseph LeConte, the famous geologist and charter member of the Sierra Club, is the man for whom the mountain was named. However, that claim has been challenged in recent years. The authors of A Natural History of Mount Le Conte, and the Georgia Encyclopedia, both claim the name honors Joseph's older brother, John, who was famous as a scientist and as president of the University of California, at Berkeley.
Unfortunately you won't have any vistas up at High Top. However, there are two places on the mountain that do afford outstanding panoramic views.

One is at Myrtle Point. 
To get to Myrtle Point you'll need to walk another 0.4 miles by continuing on the main trail, which has now turned into the Boulevard Trail. Roughly 0.2 miles from High Top, take the fork off the right side of the trail. Myrtle Point is another 0.2 miles from this junction. This vantage point provides nearly 360 degree views, and is the best location for sunrises on Mt. LeConte

The other place to go for outstanding views is known as Cliff Top, which is near the LeConte Lodge. You will have passed two side trails to Cliff Top, on your right, as you made your way up to High Top. Cliff Top is the best location for sunset views.  
One of the unique things about the hike up to Mount LeConte is the lodge and overnight cabins at the top. Hikers have the option of spending the night in the historic cabins which can accommodate about 50 guests a night (you will need reservations well in advance). For more information, visit the LeConte Lodge website.

The idea for the lodge was created when Paul Adams, an enthusiastic hiker and explorer, led an expedition up the mountain with some dignitaries from Washington D.C. to show them the rugged beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains, and to help promote the cause for the creation of a national park. The group spent the night in a large tent. The following year Adams built a cabin on that same spot, which eventually led to the establishment of the LeConte Lodge.   

 Adams is also credited with blazing the trail from Alum Cave up to the summit of Mount LeConte.



Hiking up Rainbow Falls Trail to Mt.LeConte and on to Myrtle Point 

Have always loved the log bridge crossings while hiking in the GSMNP 

Rainbow Falls water was very low this time up due to lack of rain fall early in the year



Rhododendron blooms still fresh with the morning dew     




The famous Mt.LeConte Dining Room with date and elevation

A beautiful view on the way to Myrtle Point just pass Mt.LeConte Lodge

Actual highest point of Mt.LeConte 

This is my hiking buddy Atti at Myrtle Point enjoying the view .... lol

Breath taking views from Myrtle Point



Another breath taking view from Myrtle Point  

 









Cute Little Doe At Mt.LeConte

This was a beautiful hike this summer in July , 2011 to Mt.LeConte via Rainbow Falls trail . At the the top i came back down the trail from Myrtle Point were I Come upon this cute little doe just grazing away without a care in the world . The same frame of mind that the rest of us had that day just enjoying all that the mountain and nature had to give that day . Sometimes I am amazed at how man/woman can coincide in such close proximity with nature without destroying the other . Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder and in the wilderness that is us all !

Cute Little Doe At The Cabins At Mt.LeConte

She Was Just Grazing Away With About 12 Hikers Watching Her

She Is Still Eatting ......LoL

Nothing As Sweet As Enjoying Nature On A Hike

Snow In The Great Smoky Mountains On Oct 1, 2011 ?

Well the old saying goes if you dont like the weather in East Tennessee just stick around it will change in 30 minutes ! This is so true : I went on a hike to Mt. LeConte on 10-01-11 via Rainbow Falls trail . The day started out cloudy and around 48 degrees when i started on the way up i saw 3 bears ( Mother and her 2 cubs ) which was really strange most mothers are very protective of their cubs and will stand up to show their size to scare anything away from their babies but she just looked up and went back to looking for food.

 The rest of the hike was very peaceful a lot of very nice and talkative people out this day . Some were just going to rainbow falls and others was going all the way to Mt. LeConte. As i got closer and closer to the turn at Bull Run/ Rainbow Falls the temperature started to really drop by the time i got to the lodge it was 26 the high for the entire day was 28 that day . Here are some pictures for all to enjoy ( I as always I hope you do )