Ever Hiked to Mt. LeConte?

[waynesan]

Well after wanting to hike up to Mt. LeConte for the last several years, I've finally decided to give it a try before I get too old to make it. And I need some advice. I plan on taking the Alum Cave Trail some time week after next and I plan on carrying my LCP and/or my Ruger P94. There should be 2 -5 of us going on this hike and most, if not all, will be carrying. My question is about the lodge at the top of the mountain. It is my understanding that we can't legally carry in Federal Buildings within the parks, but is the lodge owned by the govt. or is it privately owned? And if it is privately owned, is it posted?

I don't know if I will even need to go inside the lodge but I figure I will need to take on some water when I get there and I don't know if I will need to go inside to do that or not.

Any advice about this or any other suggestions will be appreciated.

[Oh Shoot]

Don't know how much help this will be, but LeConte Lodge seems to still be managed on a lease basis from the Park Service by Stokely Hospitality, the same folks that own Applewood and other of the Apple Valley stuff there in Sevierville. I used to deliver to them.

According to 2010 concession list at:

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/parkmgmt/upload/concessions-list-map-2.pdf

they still do.

So I'd wager that it would not be classified as a "federal building", but don't take my word as definitive.

Their website is down right now.

they are lecontelodge.com which redirects to leconte-lodge.com, but both are down.

Contact info is listed in the PDF, in case you want to call the guy and ask if they're posted, but I wouldn't

- OS

EDIT: website came back up.

http://lecontelodge.com

http://leconte-lodge.com

And from their site:

Q: Does the park service own and operate LeConte Lodge?

A: No, the lodge is owned and operated by Stokely Hospitality Enterprises. LeConte Lodge is a concession of the National Park system.

Edited September 12, 2010 by OhShoot

[Oh Shoot]

oops

[deerslayer]

Sounds like it's privately owned and not government property. The employees don't wear uniforms. I'm definitely no lawyer, though. You don't have to enter the lodge to get water, but hot chocolate, "I Hiked it in 2010" shirts, hats etc. are available inside. Whatever you do, please don't call and ask if they are posted--if they are not, your call will probably remind them that they need to post.

[Fallguy]

Also remember, Federal Buildings are supposed to posted that they are such.

[Guest tnxdshooter]

Yeah years ago when I was like 12. NO where near in good enough shape physically to do it today.

[Guest boatme99]

Sounds like it's privately owned and not government property. The employees don't wear uniforms. I'm definitely no lawyer, though. You don't have to enter the lodge to get water, but hot chocolate, "I Hiked it in 2010" shirts, hats etc. are available inside. Whatever you do, please don't call and ask if they are posted--if they are not, your call will probably remind them that they need to post.

What he said!

[waynesan]

Whatever you do, please don't call and ask if they are posted--if they are not, your call will probably remind them that they need to post.

Wouldn't do it under any circumstances.

Sounds like I'm good to go then. I hope it turns out to be as good a hike as I've heard it to be.

The worst thing I dread is running up on one of these:

Edited September 13, 2010 by waynesan

[Guest mosinon]

Wouldn't do it under any circumstances.

Sounds like I'm good to go then. I hope it turns out to be as good a hike as I've heard it to be.

The worst thing I dread is running up on one of these:

I've seen big old rattlers in the smokies but they usually move on.

For the record, if what movies tell me is correct, you can't kill a snake with a gun. Really

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbUNSzwmVR8

[macville]

Okay, so I wrote an entry earlier today but it didn't post. I hiked LeConte back at Easter armed and when I got to the top found that the visitor's center (really just a room) and the dinning hall were posted. I know that LeConte Lodge is not run by the NPS, but by a private company (may be a non-profit). I have heard that the NPS "encouraged" the private businesses to post (the scum) However, you can get water easily up at the top as it's just a spout in the middle of the camp, and the bathrooms are not posted. So enjoy the hike, and let someone, unarmed, go inside and tell the employees to tell their bosses to kindly unpost the lodge. It's quite pointless as there is rarely a ranger up there to enforce anything, and that silly sign isn't going to stop anyone who means harm (how you would have breath the cause harm after the hike up, I do not know!)

Matthew

[Oh Shoot]

... but by a private company (may be a non-profit)....

Oh, Stokely Hospitality in general is far from non-profit, unless they run that particular concession as such.

I wonder if any of their fiefdom there in Apple Valley is also posted?

- OS

[chemprof]

That's a shame they put up a sign. Been up there half a dozen times and would like to stay at the Lodge sometime. Enjoy your hike! If you still have breath and energy at the top, take the additional stroll out to Myrtle's Point or other ridge overlooks--WOW!

[macville]

That's a shame they put up a sign. Been up there half a dozen times and would like to stay at the Lodge sometime. Enjoy your hike! If you still have breath and energy at the top, take the additional stroll out to Myrtle's Point or other ridge overlooks--WOW!

None of the cabins are posted, so you can stay there with your firearm, just can't dine with it.

[waynesan]

That's a shame they put up a sign.

Such a bummer. If they had to call the law in the event of trouble, how long would it take for them to arrive?

[waynesan]

Well I hiked up to Mt. LeConte yesterday on the Alum Cave Trail. All I can say is WOW! Really an amazing hike. Scenery is wonderful but the trail is pretty rough (for me), but I toughed it out and made it to the top and back in 7 hours, which included about 45 minutes eating and looking around up at the Lodge area. And the dining room and office are both posted like was mentioned on here. I didn't see any signs anywhere else.

25 yards from where one of the no guns signs is posted is another sign warning of the presence of bears in the area. That just doesn't seem right, but that's the way it is.

[Daniel]

Could the trail be ridden on a mountain bike?

Edited September 24, 2010 by Daniel

[Daniel]

Not sure how that locked. Sorry.

[waynesan]

Could the trail be ridden on a mountain bike?

As far as I'm concerned it would be impossible to ride "Alum Cave Trail" on a mountain bike. But I have learned to never say never. There is probably somebody, somewhere, who would try doing it but I don't see how it could be done. Just too rough and steep with a lot of drop-offs on either side that would land you in a world of hurt if you got slightly off the trail.

[Guest mosinon]

25 yards from where one of the no guns signs is posted is another sign warning of the presence of bears in the area. That just doesn't seem right, but that's the way it is.

Well, I like the idea of carrying guns but the reality is that a bear attack is very rare. On the big list of things to be scared of bear attacks should be way down on the list. I'd worry much more about the humans you encounter than the bears.

[Guest oldsmobile98]

As far as I'm concerned it would be impossible to ride "Alum Cave Trail" on a mountain bike. But I have learned to never say never. There is probably somebody, somewhere, who would try doing it but I don't see how it could be done. Just too rough and steep with a lot of drop-offs on either side that would land you in a world of hurt if you got slightly off the trail.

Daniel, you will probably be the first person ever to bike the Alum Cave Trail if you do it. But you'd have to carry your bike through a lot of it. It's not something I would ever try. They take supplies up there with llamas using the Trillium Gap trail. I don't know if that or any other trail is bikeable.

The Alum Cave Trail is a great hike. Did it with family and their friends about 3 or 4 times. I saw a black bear while hiking once, but it was in a tree. Probably about 75 yards off the trail or so.

Sometimes it gets cool at the top, so if you are going to stay up there overnight you might want to take a fleece or sweatshirt and some long pants. Cliff Tops is good for sunsets if it's not cloudy. Myrtle Point is a bit further, but I've heard it's good for sunrises. Be sure to get some hot choco at the lodge.