First hike to Mt. Leconte  OR- The Time I Almost Killed My Husband

I gave him a year. A YEAR.  I warned him.  I told him to do some walking and get in shape before the hike.  Did he take me seriously?  No. No, he did not. 

I wanted to hike Mt. Leconte in the Smoky Mountains, and I wanted to stay in the lodge on top of the mountain that can only be reached by hiking the mountain.  It took me two years to get a reservation at the lodge.  The reservation was for the following year, and now my husband had one year to get in shape for the hike.  The hike is 2763 feet in elevation in about five miles, so you can’t really expect to go from your recliner to the top of the mountain without some significant suffering. 

The image I had in my mind was of my family standing on the top of Mt. Leconte, celebrating making it to the top- fists pumping, big smiles, sun shining, with the beautiful view of the mountains in the background. That was NOT my experience.

It was a beautiful day, and we started out on the trail.  We made it to Alum Cave without incident.  My husband was getting tired, but he was still with us.  We rested a while at Alum Cave, which is about halfway to the lodge, then we set out to finish the hike. 

My husband started getting very tired.  He was falling behind, going slower and slower. It was getting very late. He was having trouble just putting one foot in front of the other. If I’m honest, I was feeling a little aggravated.  I TOLD him to prepare.  The image I had of this hike was not going to happen!

Finally, I sent my daughter, my son, and my son’s fiancée ahead to let the staff know at Mt. Leconte Lodge that we were coming, while I stayed with my husband.  He started complaining about his shoulder hurting. Great. Isn’t that a symptom of a heart attack?  I was thinking helicopter rescue, hospitals, oxygen masks, hospital emergency room….. I really did not think we were going to make it to the lodge.  Also, since we had no cell service, how was I going to call anyone to get a helicopter?

We kept plugging along, honestly having no choice but to keep moving.  My husband had little color in his face, and he seemed like he was having some trouble breathing. We rounded a curve and I suddenly had cell service.  I called my kids, who were now at the lodge, and told them to ask an employee at the lodge if they had someone who could help a struggling hiker.  They were told there was not anyone who could help, but they would save his dinner for him.  ????  Well, that was helpful. 

My son quickly put his hiking boots back on and started back down the mountain to help us.  He looked a little wild eyed when he arrived.  Due to the pain in my husband’s shoulder, I was carrying both of our overnight packs.  I had put both backpacks against a log so that I could get some water for my husband who had stopped a little further down the trail. When my already slightly frantic son approached the log in the dark, he thought the packs were a bear. At least he now had some extra adrenaline on board!

It had taken my son 12 minutes to get to where we were and it took us over an hour to get my husband to the lodge.  It was now totally dark and cold, so there would be no beautiful views, no sitting on the porch and relaxing in the big rockers, no exploring the grounds at the lodge.  Not exactly like the image I had in my mind. But my husband had made it up the mountain. The next morning, we hiked back down the mountain without incident.  Phew!  Heart attack avoided! And maybe next time he would listen to me about being prepared for the hike.  

On the ride home, my husband slept in the back seat for the entire eight hour drive.  I considered checking his breathing to make sure he was still alive. The next day, he could not smell or taste anything.  He got tested and was positive for COVID.  OK, so maybe he had another excuse for struggling on the mountain.  But I was still right.

My Top Tips for Mt. Leconte:

1. The Alum Cave Trail to Mt. Leconte is a great hike.  The views are beautiful, and the trail is very well maintained.  I highly recommend it.  You can hike up and back down in one day, so staying at the lodge is not a requirement.  We have made it an annual event.  My adult children and I hike. My husband stays at the campground.
2. If your husband does not prepare for a hike, even if he has been given a year, don’t take him on the hike. 
3. There are six trails that lead to the top of Mt. Leconte.  We have only hiked the Alum Cave Trail every year, but we plan to start hiking the other trails next year.  Alum Cave Trail is the shortest, but it is the steepest.  The other trails are Rainbow Falls Trail, Boulevard Trail, Trillium Gap Trail, Bullhead Trail, Brushy Mountain Trail.
4. Sometimes when your husband says he is not feeling well, he is really not feeling well, even if you were right.
5. If you want to score a night at Mt. Leconte Lodge, visit their webpage, lecontelodge.com, and follow the directions.  Be sure to submit your email request during the submission period.  The reservation requests are for the following year.
6. Rescue for a struggling hiker is not a service provided by Mt. Leconte Lodge.  But they will save your dinner for you.
7. Sometimes, in the dark, a shape is a bear.  Sometimes, it’s a couple of backpacks. Either way, it’s an adrenaline rush.