Last weekend, Murray and I joined a group from church and hiked up Mt. LeConte. It is the highest peak of the Smoky Mountains in TN. It was really funny seeing people’s reactions when Murray or I would tell people where we were going. Most people really seemed to think I was crazy or were really worried about me. Haha. Maybe I should have been more nervous about it, but I really didn’t even think a thing about it. I am blessed to have easy pregnancies, and I try to stay really active and work out throughout them so it just didn’t seem like a big deal.
Turns out they accurately described the trail as strenuous, but I don’t think I’m the only one that felt that way or that it was because I was pregnant. It was about a 5.5 mile hike, and took us a little over 3 hours up and about 2 hours to come down. Maybe doesn’t sound that bad, but there were some pretty steep inclines that got those muscles working and burning! It was a BEAUTIFUL hike though. We walked along pretty vegetation and a stream at the bottom, climbed through a really neat cave, passed a huge bluff, and had amazing views from the top.
We had a cabin rented at the top so all 12 of us were able to eat dinner, watch the sun set, spend the night, and enjoy a yummy breakfast before hiking back down. We had the best time getting to know these 5 other couples better and have some very funny memories… watching Anne clog to Grant’s “Cotton-Eyed Joe,” witnessing Kelby’s fleece vest and shades in action, and many more! Murray probably over shared… big surprise. Haha. Oh well! What happens on the mountain, stays on the mountain! Right guys?
Now for the photo overload…
We stayed in Pigeon Forge Thursday night and ate at the Old Mill for supper. It was so good!
Up and ready to go Friday morning… after breakfast at Flapjacks of course!
The trailhead… here goes nothin!
I called it a cave, but technically this is Arch Rock.
All along the way, the trees would open up for us to see some amazing views of the mountains around us.
Murray and I have had a running joke since his 3rd year of med school about rhododendrons. It’s dumb, but basically he tells me every plant we see is one. Of course, I never believe him anymore, but this time, he was being serious. A few were even starting to bloom!
The group at the Alum Cave Bluffs…
Just keep walking, just keep walking…
Lunch break!
We made it to the lodge! Just a short break before we made our way up the last little bit to the summit.
We had hoped to see some bears because there were a bunch of sightings while we were there, but no luck. We did come across this deer though.
At the summit! We enjoyed this for a while before hiking back down to the lodge.
We made our way back up after diner for sunset. It was FREEZING but so pretty!
The cabins didn’t have electricity or running water so we lived primitively that night and smelled less fresh the next morning. Haha.
Ready for the hike down in the fog!
It was awesome as we watched the fog lift off the mountains. So pretty! The pictures just don’t do any of this justice!
Snack break back at the bluff… I think it was about here that our motivation became getting down to eat Five Guys burgers!
My 17 week belly shot…
We made it down!
After lunch, most of the group headed for home, but Murray and I made a quick detour back to Cade’s Cove. We had an anniversary trip to Gatlinburg when I was pregnant with Cole, and we loved our time in Cade’s Cove so we had to go back while we had the chance. Again no bears, but deer and turkeys!
It was such a fun weekend, and we are hoping for and looking forward to more fun getaways like this one. Thanks so much to Mimi and PopPop for keeping the kiddos so we could have a fun, adult trip! The kids had as much fun as we did. We are lucky to have you!
