Got to stay up on Mt. Leconte again this weekend. We had cold rain the entire hike up and visibility was very limited, but it was still cool with lots of waterfalls. 

 

we finally made it to the top completely soaked and tried drying out the gear in our cabin and anxiously awaiting the dinner they serve 

we got some sleep and typically go hike up to a good spot to watch sunrise, but there was some doubt we would be able to see anything. Luckily we all decided to hike up in the dark at 5:45 am and there was a cloud inversion, creating quite the spectacular sunrise above the clouds.

 

At one point the clouds looked like a lake spilling over the mountains like a dam 

after sunrise, we hiked back down to the lodge for breakfast, which would be the last time we saw the sunshine for the day

 

 

and then hiked a different route back down. Unfortunately most of the hike was going through those clouds and we couldn’t see too well. It was cool hiking through the area that burned in 2016, it’s a strange feeling walking amongst all the burned roots and trees, especially in the mist 

We finally got down below the clouds to where we could see a little further 

We finally make it back to the road where we had left the cars, and one of my buddies says “bear” fairly calmly and it’s standing about 40 feet from him across the road. Then it came across the road right toward all of us, little scary, but it went up a tree

 

What a great trip! The pic of the clouds spilling over the mountain is quite stellar and worthy of being framed and hung.

Very Nice ~

Great Smokey Mountains are looking good.

Thanks for sharing.

A-Jay

Beautiful!

Now that’s the way to do it!

 

Thanks for posting 

 

 

 

 

Mike

Update: muh leeeegs!!! 
 

feeling tight

That is a beautiful section of the state!

Gorgeous pictures, thanks for sharing!!

last time i was in the smokeys was in 1987, i was driving through looking for real moonshine but never found any.

4 minutes ago, throttleplate said:

last time i was in the smokeys was in 1987, i was driving through looking for real moonshine but never found any.

Well I don’t think you tried hard enough ? 

 

more likely the locals thought you were with the government. Moonshine is currency in the southeast 

Wow…. Those are great photos… Beautiful landscapes. thanks for sharing.

I just started hiking to get into shape. Can't wait to see stuff like this!

Man! That was great! Thanks for sharing.

Weve hiked up around Clingmans dome and Mt Mitchell, also water rock knob. Never did Laconte but would love too. Not positive I could cut the mustard and make it up there now. It’s been close to 10 years since I’ve done any Mt. hikes…

WOW! I follow the lodge on social media and enjoy their pics and blog. Thanks for sharing your trip/pics!!