For the several decades, TEHCC has organized a summer weekend trip to Mount LeConte Lodge in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This lodge (elevation 6593 ft) can only be reached by hiking trails. Even supplies are brought in by llama train once a week. The hiking distance to the lodge is 5.5 to 7.8 miles one-way depending on the route. The package price this year is $138.30 per person which includes supper on Saturday, lodging for the night, and breakfast on Sunday. We have four reservations in a five-person cabin (double bunk beds and a single). If you are interested in one or more of these reservations, please contact Steve Falling, 423-239-5502, for availability. You must be a TEHCC member to participate in this outing. You can find out more about Mount LeConte Lodge at www.leconte-lodge.com.
Mt LeConte Lodge July 9 – 10
Though the trip is full for this year, there is a waiting list available. To be placed on the waiting list, please send requests to chair@tehcc.org.
GSMNP S.W.E.A.T. Crew Needs Volunteers
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has just put out a press release looking for volunteers to help out with their trail maintenance efforts in the Smokies. It sounds a lot like their version of Damascus Hard Core, so if you’re looking for more, or missed out on this year, here’s chance to do more AT maintenance. SWEAT Crew ATC Press Release has all of the details.
The Week Ahead – May 23rd
Yet another week and we have you covered on all fronts. Hiking, flat water paddling, rapids paddling, and backpacking trips abound! Have a great Memorial Weekend.
- 4 days of backpacking in the Smokies
- Annual Bluestone River trip (camp and CL I-III paddling)
- Flat water day trip exploring the Holston River
- Buffalo Mountain Park Day
As usual check our schedule for the details.
SM900 – Lost Cove and Lakeshore Trails – May 27-30
Contact: Kent and Nancy Wilson
We plan to backpack the AT from Fontana Dam to the Lost Cove Trail and then the Lakeshore Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park about 40 miles. We plan to leave Kingsport around 11 am on Friday, May 27. Friday night will be spent at campsite 90. Saturday we will most likely stay at campsite 77. On Sunday night we will plan to stay at either campsite 74 or 75. On Monday we will finish the Lakeshore Trail at the “Road to Nowhere.” If you are interested in this backpack trip, please contact Kent Wilson at akwilson@eastman.com.
Friday Hikers: GSMNP – Porters Creek Trail, April 22
Collins Chew reporting
We had a day of glorious wildflowers on the Porters Creek Trail in the Smokies. Jerry Jones did great in recommending it. The weatherman blew it again as we had only a sprinkling of rain at the Kingsport meeting place and none in the Smokies. It was sunny in the afternoon. We had almost continuous wildflowers of many varieties almost all the way, including the showiest orchids I have ever seen. There were a great number of other hikers enjoying the flowers as well. I hope to make a list of flowers for those who were there and any others who request it. Hikers were: Olin Babb, first timer Wilford Corbin, Bob Harvey, Jerry Jones, Jerry Sluder, Deb and Eric Vrshansky, and Collins Chew.