Mount LeConte

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Mount LeConte - Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN

For more details and to view photos, click the link on the left.

Mount LeConte is one of the highest peaks in the Smokys, at 6593 feet in elevation. The only way to reach the LeConte Lodge is by hiking moderately strenuous trails up and back. Llamas carry supplies to and from the lodge. There are five trails to the lodge and they vary in length and difficulty.

The LeConte Lodge is actually made up of both cozy cabins and slightly larger lodge rooms. There is no electricity, but there are kerosene heaters and the accommodations include a wonderful home-cooked dinner each night for lodge guests (complete with wine - for an extra fee).

If you want to hike to a mountaintop and experience serenity, but you also want to enjoy a warm, dry room and a home-cooked meal, Mount LeConte is perfect.

Some of my favorite memories include:

	Making it to the top of Mount LeConte in near record time,
	Playing Trivial Pursuit,
	Watching Brian try to teach Phil how to play Euchre,
	Making bathroom trips in the rain,
	Looking out into the fog at Cliff Tops,
	The sense of community we shared at the Lodge dinner,
	The wine we had with dinner,
	Discussing life philosophies after drinking wine,
	Sharing a room with three men,
	Stacking rocks on my boot,
	Hiking all the way down Boulevard Trail in the rain.