Welcome & Info - Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont

Winter 2013
Dear Le Conte Overnighters,
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Le Conte Lodge Overnight Weekend, April 19-
20. I hope you are as excited as I am about this adventure we’ll take together in Great
Smoky Mountains National Park. Please read the following as it contains important
information relating to our weekend.
HOW TO PREPARE:
You do not have to be a super athlete for this hike. However, you do need to be in good
physical shape. The Smoky Mountains are characterized by steep slopes and rolling hills
that are a challenge to any hiker. You can help to improve the enjoyment of your trip
before arriving by preparing yourself physically now. Exercise your legs, your heart, and
your lungs by hiking around your neighborhood or on hilly terrain. Better yet, wear your
hiking boots while you do this to break them in. By coming prepared, you will enjoy our
hike together all the more.
WEATHER
The weather here is usually pleasant in April. For the last four years, the month of April
has been characterized by an average daily high of 74°F. and an average daily low of
42°F. Keep in mind, however, that temperatures in the high elevations can sometimes
mean a difference of 15°F cooler, or more. And because the Smokies are a very wet and
humid climate rain is virtually guaranteed at some point during your stay here. Rain
gear is always necessary in the Smokies. Make sure you bring it!
WHAT TO BRING:
Please read the “Suggested Items to Bring” list. In addition, make sure to bring the
following:
• Sack lunch for Friday AND Saturday. On Saturday morning you have the option of
purchasing a sack lunch at the lodge for $10.00. This lunch consists of: a bagel, cream
cheese packet, summer beef sausage, applesauce, trail mix, cookies and a Gatorade
drink packet.
• Cash for a LeConte T-shirt (in the $20 to $30 range) if you wish. Also if you wish,
$10 for wine which will be served at dinner. Note: LeConte Lodge now accepts credit
cards, but you may wish to bring cash as a backup.
• You may also choose to visit www.lecontelodge.com which provides advice on
which personal clothing and gear to bring.

OUR ROUTE
Day 1: Appalachian Trail to Boulevard Trail to LeConte Lodge (8.1 miles).
Day 2: LeConte Lodge to Alum Cave Trail (5.0 miles)
WHERE TO MEET
The month of April is a very popular time of year to climb Mt. LeConte. The Alum Cave
Bluff Trailhead can be extremely busy as a result. Ample parking space for all our
vehicles cannot be guaranteed! Therefore DO NOT meet us at the trailhead (regardless
of what our brochure says). Instead we will meet at Sugarlands Visitor Center
between 8:45-9:00am. You can park your car there, use the restroom, and then hop in
the Tremont van for the ride to Newfound Gap.
We will begin our hike starting at Newfound Gap. Here we’ll hike on the Appalachian
Trail for 2.7 miles then take the Boulevard Trail 5.4 miles to Mt. LeConte for a total hike
of 8.1 miles. We will ask one of you to volunteer your vehicle as the shuttle transport.
What this means: from Sugarlands you will follow behind the van on the drive to
Newfound Gap, park your car at the Alum Cave Bluff Trailhead and from there ride in
the van the rest of the way. (Rest assured we will be able to find space for at least one
vehicle at the Alum Cave Bluff Trailhead.) At the conclusion of the hike on Saturday,
we’ll rely on you to shuttle the van driver (me) to Newfound Gap to retrieve the van. This
will take roughly 20 minutes.
So…please meet us outside the restrooms at Sugarlands Visitor Center between 8:45-
9:00am on Friday. We will meet one another for a brief orientation at that time and then
be on our way.
Do realize that we MUST depart Sugarlands no later than 9:15am to ensure that we have
a pleasant hike and do not feel rushed. We will not be able to wait for you if you arrive
later than 9:15am. You will be on your own at this point.
If you do experience a delay and miss us, here are my recommendations: 1) Please call
(865) 448-6709 and tell them you missed us. We will be out of cell phone range and
service can be very spotty in the mountains, but I should be able to reach the office once
we get higher on the mountain and will contact the office to ask about your absence. 2)
Drive yourself to the Alum Cave Bluff Trailhead. If parking is available, hike Alum Cave
Bluff Trail and meet us at the lodge. If parking is not available, drive to Newfound Gap
and hike the route described above (and below). Take a trail map!
ACCOMMODATIONS ON LeCONTE:
We will be staying in a single three-bedroom cabin while on Le Conte. Each room
contains two double beds in bunk fashion. Beds have fresh sheets, pillows, and wool
blankets. Each cabin also has a washstand but bathrooms are in a separate building.
Don’t forget that we will be sharing beds so if you don’t have a friend coming with you,
you will definitely have one when you leave!

WORKSHOP HEALTH & WAIVER:
A completed medical form is required of each participant. In order that we may better
meet your personal needs, we ask that you please fill out and send us the enclosed
medical form prior to your trip. We must have this form for you to participate in the
hike.
PHONE AND ADDRESS:
If someone needs to reach you, a message can be left at our office number: (865) 448-
6709 between 8am and 4pm. For after-hours emergencies, call the National Park Service
at (865) 436-1294.
We look forward to sharing the wonders of the Smokies with you. If you have any
questions or concerns, feel free to call. See you soon!
Sincerely,
Jeremy Lloyd
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS INSTITUTE AT TREMONT
9275 Tremont Road
Townsend, TN 37882
Phone: 865-448-6709
Fax: 865-448-9250
www.gsmit.org ~ mail@gsmit.org