Mount LeConte - 6.9.2009

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Drive the Newfound Gap road 8.5 miles south of the Sugarlands Visitor Center and find the trailhead next to the road.
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At 6593 feet, Mt. LeConte is the third highest mountain in the state of Tennessee.
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Walk along a stream in old-growth forest for the first mile...
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and occasional small waterfalls...
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At 1.4 miles larman arrives at the Arch Rock.
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The trail goes up through Arch Rock.
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ragman coming up through Arch Rock.
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larman at the Alum Cave Bluffs.
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Looking up from underneath the Alum Cave Bluffs.
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After leaving the bluffs, a lot of the trail is wet...
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created by the weeping walls...
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where cables help prevent slipping.
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One of the weeping walls.
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At 5 miles we found the LeConte Lodge...
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that had a nice dining room...
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and several cabins that can be reserved...
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complete with rocking chairs and a view of the Mt. LeConte summit on the right.
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Continue .2 miles to...
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the LeConte Shelter... leaving .1 miles to the summit...
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where larman adds a rock to the summit cairn (6593').
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ragman adds a rock to the Mt. LeConte summit cairn.
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We decided to take the side path to the Cliff Tops... in search of a view.
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larman found a nice view at the Cliff Tops.
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Clingmans Dome from the Cliff Tops.
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We saw some rhododendrons along the trail.