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| Hiking | 15.50 Miles |
3,900 AEG |
| | Hiking | 15.50 Miles | 6 Hrs 2 Mns | | 2.94 mph |
| 3,900 ft AEG | 46 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | I headed to Tennessee to meet my brother and his family on their summer trip to Pigeon Forge. While there, I spent one day hiking to Mt LeConte which was well worth the effort.
I got somewhat adjusted to Eastern time and left very early on a Monday in early July. I would drive through Gatlinburg and would park at the Rainbow Falls Trailhead. I started hiking at 7:15am (4:15am Pacific!). I opted for a clockwise loop starting with the Trillium Gap Trail. But to get there I had to hike the lower connector section to start at the true trailhead. I would head up and made good time as I felt relatively good despite the early time change. Along the way I passed a sign that said this was an active bear area. I kind of scoffed at it and kept going. I didn’t expect to see any bears. I continued on and turned a corner and came face to face with two bears! We made eye contact and I quickly & slowly backed up. I took a mediocre picture as I retreated. I would then drop to the road running parallel to the trail and continued up. As I progressed, I spoke loudly and went quickly. A few minutes later a truck drove up and I asked for a ride. The guy had a full vehicle with his wife and two dogs in the back but said I could sit on the tailgate. I gladly accepted and rode the 1.2+ miles to the Trillium Gap Trailhead.
Once at Trillium Gap I headed up. This trail was busy with people and I wasn’t concerned about another bear encounter. I made good time as I passed Grotto Falls and continued up. The trail makes a steady climb as it heads for the high point. It was a cool and damp morning and this made for ideal hiking conditions. I kept at it and eventually caught a pack of Llamas carrying supplies to the LeConte Lodge. I had to wait several minutes to pass because the trail was tight & narrow. I would eventually pass and then arrived at the lodge soon after. It’s crazy doing all that hiking and coming to the lodge, it’s only accessible by foot. It was bustling with activity. I took a break & ate some food & enjoyed the views. Once ready, I continued my loop and started the descent.
I would descend the Rainbow Falls Trail which went exceptionally well. I saw very few people on the upper section and made good time. There were some fantastic views along the way and I eventually hit the highlight, Rainbow Falls. It’s a solid waterfall that’s well visited. I took my pics and felt my anxiety rise with all the people. From there I continued down and made fast time as the crowds grew. I would arrive back to the trailhead and found a parking warning on my rental car. The Smokies started a new program where you have to pay if you park. I ignored it figuring they would give me a warning, I was right! From there I loaded up and headed back to Pigeon Forge to meet my brother and his fam. This trip was fantastic and left me thirsting for more. The eastern hikes have a charm the southwest hikes lack. I will be back! |
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