My dad wanted to get me and my 4 sons to go but my younger 2 were too small at the time to go back in 2009. He passed away in 2010 and now my boys are 16, 17, 23, and 25 so we're gonna do it this year...very inspiring video and I love you dad!
We're so sorry to hear about your dad passing Jason. It hits home for us since my dad (Paul) had passed away only a few years before yours. He always inspired us to get out into nature and enjoy the beauty of the world. I'm sure your kids are going to love this hike. We keep going back to it over and over! Thank you for watching and thanks for sharing your story! 💓
I’m 4 mins into the video and have come to the conclusion that you two may be the nicest and happiest people on the planet. Hopefully my wife and I run into you one of these days.
Wow. Thank you so much for the kind comments Mark! You just made us smile. We hope we might see you guys too on a trail some day! There's so much to explore and so many great people to meet. 😊
Thank you for making this video. When I was your age I would spend every free minute I had hiking these mountains. Seeing this video brought back some fond memories. I've hiked the whole Appalachian trail twice and wouldn't trade those experiences for anything. Now I'm older and disabled so I'm so glad I have those memories to look back on. Watching your video brought those back. Things have changed a little though there weren't the hand cables back then. Not so many people and it wasn't unusual to meet a black bear on the trail. Stay safe and experience as much life as you can while you can.
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences Carl. We're so happy you enjoyed our video! Hiking in nature is always healing and hearing you were brought back to a happy time puts a smile on our face. Hiking the AT is on our bucket list in the future when we can tackle it. I'm sure it was an amazing time for you. So glad you found us!
I never comment on any videos, but I just honestly felt touched by just how kind-hearted you two are, your positive vibe/energy, and soothing voices. Not to sound cliche, but I felt inspired to improve myself even further so I can live with this type of positive energy at all times with my family
Wow thank you so much for the kind thoughts Gully Boy! You just brought a smile to our faces. 💕 It's great to hear from more people like you. When we're not traveling to big mountains and trails, we take a walk in our local park several times a week. Walking in nature is so healing and relaxing.
Well done. Later this year I'm retiring to Knoxville, just after I turn 70! In retirement my #1 goal is to go on hikes and Vlog about them from the perspective of a senior citizen. I've spent the last 48 years in TV and video production so I know what I'm doing with video and I can say y'all did a great job with your video although it was a bit long. The hike you did will definitely be on my list along with House Mountain and many others. Maybe in the future, I'll see ya on the trail! Good luck.
That's so awesome Dave! Congratulations on the retirement! That sounds like a fun project you're going to seriously enjoy since it combines the skills you have along with what you love. TH-cam is definitely a lot of work but fun too. Good luck and we hope we see you on the trail one day! 😊
Hey guys.You guys are beautiful people with positive attitudes and adventurous spirit.Loved the video to,it bought many memories. I was blessed to hike this trail back in 1974 or 1975 with Dr.George Sanko’s Botany class.We hiked with young,old men and women on the hike.We left from Newfoundland Gap.It was a pretty good hike for some but we helped some of the older and toke breaks.I packed heavy with the beer shanks,etc.We encountered black bear on the hike and at the top near the cabins that we stayed in.The University of Tennessee forestry students maintained and cooked for us.This was an incredible adventure and one I will never forget.Dr. Sanko was a legend at Dekalb Jr. college at this time.God bless the two of you and please be careful on your adventures.Thank you for bringing back such a great memory.
Thank you so much for the love William! 💓Wow that's a special memory you have of Mt. LeConte. It must have been such an adventure back then and to even see a bear on the hike must have been exciting! 😮 We appreciate you sharing your memory!
Stayed @ the Lodge many times. Have reservations @ the lodge again this August 2021. Each of the 6 trails to the lodge (to the top of Mt LeConte) have their redeeming values. The Alum Cave Trail is the most scenic, the steepest and the shortest to the top. You have to get off the paved roads to appreciate what God has given us in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The lodge is such a cool place to see. We're jealous you're staying there in August! We've only gone up to the lodge by the Alum Cave Trail but would love to try the other trails. Enjoy the view while you're there!
Oh I know! She's a special woman! 💗 I can't believe I found someone who enjoys so many of the same things. I wish everyone as much happiness that we have in life.
My husband and I just started hiking a few months ago after weight loss surgery. Neither one of us were ever hikers before. We're still just starting, but Mt Leconte is the first "big" one we want to do. So far, we're each at 5 miles, 500 ft elevation gain, so we're still working on it, but we hope to get there this summer. I love watching videos like this so we can get an idea of what's in store for us. Your muffin looked yummy, too!
Sounds like you're off to an amazing start! Mt. Leconte is rewarding all the way up so we're very excited for you both! You'll even have the nice Alum Cave Bluff about half way up. Keep up the great work!
Hi Sarah and Paul. Loved your video and energy. I watched it last Tuesday night, the night before I hiked LeConte for the first time, which was last Wednesday morning. I made my own video about it! Thank you for the inspiration and for helping me get up and do this hike! The views were beautiful.
Me and my 17 year old daughter and 23 old son took this trial last September. We also left a little late but we only had about 45 minutes of darkness at the end. I was 58 at the time and I came thru in better condition than they did. We were only planning to go as far as Alum cave but they regrettably (at the time) egged me on. It was always on my bucket list. I'm glad they talked me into it because I never thought that I would ever get around to it. Memories to last a lifetime 😊 Thank you. You made a very nice video out of your hike.
Wow. What a great hike to check off the bucket list! I'm sure you'll never forget that hike especially doing it with your kids. Thank you so much for sharing! ❤️❤️❤️
Really loved your video. My husband and I are so glad you showed this hike to Mt LeConte via Alum Cave. We are going to hike it this Fall for the first time. Love your videos!!
That's so awesome Paulette!! We're so excited for you guys! We'd love to go back there any time to hike this trail. It's beautiful. Enjoy and thanks for watching! 💓
We're so excited that you enjoyed this one Ann! It's a long road to the top of Mt. LeConte but so worth it! My elbow took a long time to heal but is doing better. We can't wait to get back on the trail again! 😊
My wife and I made the trip to the lodge and on to myrtle point several times. I so enjoyed your video, but I teared up several times as I lost her to pancreatic cancer in June. We loved the smokies
Wow Phil thank you for sharing and we're so sorry for your loss. You guys made it to where very few other people have been because it's quite a hike! Those must be some beautiful memories that you have of her. We're sending you a lot of love! ❤️❤️❤️
Thanks for the video beautiful colors once on the way to rainbow falls ran into the lama train I wanted to take a picture of them the wrangler said trun around and smile and I am not kidding the lamas turned and smiled I am now waiting on my 4th knee surgery so I don't know if I'll ever go hiking there again so thanks for sharing wonderful video.
We're so happy it brought you a smile! That would be so cool to run into the llama train. Wow! We'll have to look out for it when we go back. Hopefully you heal soon from your surgery and can get back on the trail again. 💕
Yep, love Mt. Le Conte, Alum Bluff trail. Back in the late 60’s, used to walk up to see the sunrise, then back down, in four hours total. There was only the lodge back then. When camping, we slept in tents then. Lovely walk.
Wow I bet it looked very different back then! Just a leisurely four hour morning hike? Haha! That sounds like a nice relaxing routine. Thanks for sharing! 😊
Came across your video last night. Love it! I moved to the Smokys in 2018 and fell into being a work aholic the first two years and stopped getting out on the trails. I turn 53 this year and after a loss of someone dear this year realized life is too short. I am cutting back on work and going to get back out there! Your video was inspiring. Thank you! What's the sauce recipe for your cashew and rice? Looks delicious!
Wow! We're so excited for you Hiking Gal! Work can easily start taking over more and more of your time if you let it. Nature has a good way of reversing that. Ha! Was it the creamy soup that you saw? It might be this one: psadventures.net/creamy-vegan-potato-leek-soup-recipe/ So happy you found us!
Another great video. The Smoky Mountains National Park is a favorite of ours, especially since it is no more than a day's drive from Louisiana. Stay safe...
So happy you enjoyed! It's a very nice hike with a lot of great features. The ice in some parts was a little tricky but in spring would probably be very nice. Summer even better with all the flowers. Glad to have you! 😊
Thank you so very much! We're glad you found us and appreciate you hitting that subscribe button! This was a really fun hike - truly a favorite. Please let us know when there's any other videos you really liked! 🥰
Thank you! This has got to be our favorite hike in the Smokies, but there are many other amazing hikes in Tennessee! We especially like those with waterfalls that you can swim in. 💗
Hiked this trail and stayed in the lodge in 1990, before a hurricane moved up from the Gulf. The Alum Dave trail washed out for a while. Glad to see the improvements made since then.
Setting out for out for Smokeys tomorrow morning from Chicago! Hoping my boys are up for Leconte, but if we can make it to the cave, I'll call it a win. Using this video as motivation!
So awesome! We'd love to be back there hiking again. I bet when you go there might be more flowers than what we saw. I'm sure you'll make it up to the cave. It's an awesome feeling looking out from the ledge. Good luck and enjoy it for us!
We're so happy you're enjoying our videos Damaris! That's one of the main things we love to do is hike and camp so you'll see a lot more in the future. Thanks for watching! 😊
Mt. LeConte is definitely one of our favorites! Smoky Mountain National Park is full of beautiful wonders. We could spend months there and not hike everything. We hope you get there sometime soon!
Amazing video. Thank you for sharing. My wife and I will definitely be adding this on our list. We were fortunate enough to get to do a 3 day backpack trip in Grayson Highlands State Park with the wild ponies (border of TN/NC/VA).
Wow that sounds like a nice trip with wild ponies. You can usually see some in Cades Cove in SMNP but that would be cool to see them while backpacking. We'll have to look up that park since we've never heard of it. Thanks so much! 😊
Wow! I bet it looked completely different back then. We would have loved to see that. What a great idea to take kids on a hike and learn about biology at the same time. 😊
I'm about to do this hike first week of February, wish me luck lol! I've done plenty of winter hikes in Asheville but never Tennessee. My boyfriend and I are very excited.
We're excited for you guys! 😊 It's a beautiful hike. I'm sure it'll still be a little chilly in February but it'll be a nice hike. Enjoy and let us know how it goes!
It's hard to beat the Smoky Mountains. So beautiful and always makes you feel alive! We had gone in the middle of winter and it was REALLY cold with lots of snow. It's gorgeous in the summertime!
I bet May would be a great time to visit with the flowers coming into bloom. We'd love to be back there again! Hiking to the top takes some time but it's really one foot in front of the other and you'll get there. It's hard not to keep going because the views just keep getting better. So happy you enjoyed the video. Have fun!
How did your trip go?!! Did you guys have fun :) I'm going there for a week, and will be doing about half a dozen solo hikes in the area and I'll be on this trail on day 2 - Sat 0ct 9th 2021. :) If there is any specific information you think will be useful, let me know :)
@@binoyrakesh it went well! Thank you for asking. It had rained the night prior so the hike was a little wet and there were times we were walking in an unavoidable quarter inch of water but it was beautiful and worth the effort. I would suggest getting to the parking lot of the trailhead very early. We got there around 6am on a weekday and it was mostly empty. Saturday will be busier though. Good luck and enjoy!
We're jealous! There's SO MANY amazing hikes in that area. Every time we go we always stop by one of the visitor centers and talk to the rangers to see if there are any closures. The park is HUGE so plan your hikes around an area. Going from the east side all the way to Cades Cove takes hours so you'll have to plan a bit. It's beautiful! Enjoy!
One of the significant drawbacks to hiking the most popular trails in the Smokies is the enormous crowds hiking these trails, especially on the big holidays. The Alum Bluff Cave trailhead parking area will be full by 7 A.M. and both shoulders of U.S. 441 for at least a half mile both ways from the parking area will be parked bumper to bumper. This necessitates walking on the roadside of the cars while very dense traffic flies by at 40 to 50 mph. And than you will have to navigate passing hikers ( 500 to 1,000 ?) on the very narrow and precipitous trail. In my opinion, good reasons to avoid these popular trails and find other less trafficked, but equally beautiful trails to enjoy.
Hi Thomas! Thank you for the comment, and we agree, it gets very crowded! It's great to explore the more popular trails on weekdays and in the off-season when it's much less crowded. But great point about exploring some lesser known, and equally as beautiful, trails in the Smokies. 😊
Wow what a great video I plan on going to gatlinburg for vacation this December and I’m hoping my wife is up for this trail. Definitely going to start the trail earlier that 11 lol and don’t want to be caught in the dark 😂
We're so happy you enjoyed it Javier! Mt. LeConte is one of our favorites that keeps us coming back. Definitely look into Charlie's Bunion also! It's another really nice hike that's not as well known. Enjoy! ❤️❤️❤️
What a gorgeous place to explore! Have not yet had the opportunity to adventure in this part of the country, but it looks all too enticing :) Keep rocking it you two!
Enjoyed the video!! We are blessed to live in East TN and enjoy almost weekly our Great Smoky Mountains! Have you guys ever hiked the AT? Come join us next time!
That must be amazing to living out in East TN. We've section hiked parts of the AT from GA on up to the north. We'd love to hike the whole thing one day if we ever had a lot of time available. That would be amazing! ❤️⛰️
@@PSAdventures that's all we have done this far, only parts. Have fun out there! Let me know when you guys come up next, my wife and I would love to meet up if you have time, always looking to meet new folks!
Ok so we went to Tennessee once and this was One of the few hikes that we did including Laurel Falls and climbing doom for sunrise. This hike being my favorite (we only went to the Cave Bluff we didn’t go to the top though) We are going again this summer and we’re looking for hikes that we will enjoy just as much we know we’re going to do the sunrise Clingmans doom again cause it’s easy to fit in … we don’t want to do Laurel Falls again but I’m trying to find a hike that I like as much as this one to put on my list …. any suggestions?!
Definitely! There are a ton more great hikes in Smoky Mountain National Park. Another favorite of ours is called Charlie's Bunion which you can get to right from one of the main parking lots. We did an entire video on that one as well: th-cam.com/video/E2BFzDDVYaI/w-d-xo.html There are many other great ones in the park. Grotto Falls is an easy one that's short to get to. Ramsey Cascades is amazing if you have time to hike all the way out to the falls. Chimney Tops is quite a workout for being so short. Definitely stop by a welcome center and get a map and ask one of the rangers for their favorite hikes. It's so helpful! Enjoy!
Oh wow Jerrod! 😮 I hope he's okay! There's a few areas you might have to watch out for if you get close to the edge but a ton of people hike it every day. It's pretty awesome!
@@PSAdventures he is fine! Just had a scar to hike it! Oh we did the whole trail that day and some. I have stayed up there twice in the cabins! The day my buddy feel I did about 10 miles because the medic kept sending me back 😂
I did this hike a couple months ago. If you go all the way to the lodge and don’t go to myrtle point then you would definitely regret it after seeing this. Loved the video
Definitely! It's awesome to hear others that made it to the top. It's so worth it to trek just a little farther once you get to the top. You actually don't have to go all the way out to Myrtle Point but it was pretty cool once we got there. Just don't forget how long it takes to hike all the way back down if you're staying for sunset! We hiked back in the dark.
so I'm going on a hiking adventure next week to the smoky montains! im so excited and also nervous! this hike looks so amazing so i think i might do this one. since im a first time hiker hoepfully i can hang out lol. i did research and they said this hike takes 8hrs! whew thats a lot of work! lol but im still willing to go, ill just be sure to get an early start because i do not want to be out while its dark lol. Thank you for sharing your experience and I hope to see more inspirational travel videos from you guys!
Wow that's so awesome that you're thinking of hiking the same trail! It's so beautiful and well worth the work! 8 hours probably sounds about right if you want to make it to the top and out to the ridge trails with the views but there's views all the way up the mountain. Pack a nice lunch and probably some warmer clothes for the top if you're going to hang out around the top since it gets a little chilly. Thanks so much for watching and enjoy the hike! We're jealous! 💓
So glad you liked it Jennifer! 😊 Wow! Alabama has mountains? We had no idea since we haven't really spent any time there. Might have to investigate that further. 😆
Love this video, thanks so much, it's so informative and entertaining. I'll be in the GSMNP late summer this year for 2 days and want to do this hike and a couple more. So glad I came across your video. The views are stunning! Quality video, thanks for sharing!
Wow thank you so much for the love Hawaii Girl! We keep trying to make our videos even better. It feels good when we think we've captured what a place is truly like and the feelings we're feeling. Thank you so much for watching and enjoy Smoky Mountain National Park! It's amazing! 💖
That's awesome Greta! There's plenty of other hikes that you can do that would be a little easier with kids. But this is still a great hike up to Alum Cave. You don't have to go all the way to the top to see some incredible things. We had hiked this a few years back and had some kids with us all the way to Alum Cave Bluff. Happy adventuring! 😊
We love the Smoky Mountains so much! It'd be awesome to go hiking some more in that area because there's so many trails we haven't explored. We're definitely planning on it in the future! ⛰️
Wowie zowie, a brand new wonderful video!!!!! IDK much about the Smoky Mountains. One of my nieces lives in Greenville, NC, not sure if that is near where you guys have been on this trip. Sure looked to be really cold!!!! It's pouring rain here today but tomorrow I am inspired by your video to go for a long wonderful hike!
The Smoky Mountains are so beautiful! It always feels like a reset to the soul. But yes it was super cold and Greenville is a very nice area! We love to stop in there sometimes.
My daughter and i did that trail 3 weeks ago. I'm 51 and over weight so it took me way longer to get there but it was so beautiful I'm so glad she made me do it. It took me 14 hours. I took it slow and steady so i didn't hurt myself. We did hike back in the dark for about 3 hours which I did not like at all. I was so tired and my legs were like jelly. I would like to do it again and shave off some time.
Wow Kim that's incredible and so inspiring! Mt. LeConte is quite a feat to overcome and rewards you all along the way. We've hiked it several times now and it always feels a little different every time. Thank you so much for sharing! 😊
I bet! We've wanted to go back when the rhododendron are in bloom. Everyone raves about how pretty they are! It's cool to see how our favorite trails look in different seasons. We'll have to experience that sometime. Thanks for watching Tracy! ❤️
Yo just move on up to Knoxville or Asheville area. Life so sweet to wake up every morning with there sacred mtns surrounding you. Warning.. does get a bit colder than Fl haha
Great video, thank you. Planning a hike with my wife this Labor Day. Can you comment on the camera equipment you are using and have you come across any bears up in Gatlinburg?
Sure thing Dennis! We've been upgrading our camera gear in our newer videos to a bigger Sony DSLR camera but this episode was all filmed on our GoPro Hero 8 Black and Samsung Galaxy S8 phones. We have yet to see any bears on the trails but we've actually seen them while driving around in the car. I'm sure they stay away from the more popular trails but it's always good to be aware! We do hike with bear spray just in case though. That would be a scary experience but we've always had the best time when we visit SMNP and it's not a worry for us. Enjoy your trip! 😄
I'm a little late for this one for comment but it was a wonderful video I'm glad I can lift you you doing this because there's no way I'm hiking up that mountain afraid of heights but the views were gorgeous keep up the great work
Oh man Kerry if you could overcome your fear of heights you would love this one! The trail isn't as narrow or scary as you'd think. This one will make you feel on top of the world!
Mt. LeConte definitely has some elevation gain and there are a few areas that are a little crazy to be right on the edge. This hike has always been on the top of our list of favorite hikes and we've done it several times now. Smoky Mountain National Park is such a magical place! 💓
This is my favorite hike too!💕 My kids and I miss it so much. Thank you for your videos. When you are in Orlando and if haven’t tried yet, there’s a vegan restaurant I highly recommend in the Waterford Lakes area called VLC that deserves some attention☺️
Wow! That's so awesome to find others who love this trail. And we've never heard of VLC bit we'll have to check it out. We used to live right next to Waterford Lakes! 😮
What campgrounds did you guys stay at? There aren't any Backcountry campsites near alum cave are there? Going in September, so, just trying to find a place to camp that's closest to Alum cave/ Mt. Leconte. Thanks for this video. Helped a lot!
There's definitely some backcountry campsites that you can stay at but since it's in the national park you need a reservation. We remember actually seeing one on top of Mt. LeConte with a shelter but it was closed at the time. The trail maps you can get at the visitor centers have all of the backcountry sites marked but I'd Google ahead of time to see if you can reserve them. We actually stay in Gatlinburg at Carr's Cottage and do day hikes into the park but camping there would also be amazing! We hope that helps!
Thanks so much for the question Spring Adams! Many times we've used our Mountain Laurel Designs Duomid tent for backpacking and even car camping. Lately we've been looking to upgrade with something a little bit bigger with another door though. When we're sleeping we use sleeping pads. I (Paul) like the Thermorest NeoAir XTherm and Sarah loves her REI Women's AirRail. We also like those small Thermarest Sit pads for saving our knees getting in and out of the tent. I hope that helps and hope you enjoy the Smokies! It's such a beautiful park! 💓 I'll have to update more of our gear here but here's most of what we use! (Click on backpacking for that gear) psadventures.net/gear/
It's a pretty awesome trail with lots of great views all the way and really cool features! Usually when we're hiking up to the Mt. LeConte lodge it takes us about 8 hours. You might do it faster or slower depending on how fast you hike and if you take any scenic breaks. Enjoy! 😊
Oh no! Hope you got another chance to do this hike! We haven't been back since the national park implemented the parking pass/fee situation but we've been hearing about a lot of issues with parking...
We just tried hiking this today. I couldn’t get over how narrow and steep it was after passing the cave so we had to turn around. I was so afraid! How did you guys push through it? I felt like I had to constantly crawl up the rocks and I kept thinking, how am I going to get back down later? Oh man. Props to you guys!! Maybe someday I’ll come back and finish!
It's so great to hear you were out on one of our favorite trails today Lindsey! Just thinking of Mt. LeConte makes us smile! Yeah after Alum Cave it does get a bit narrow but it gets better after that. I bet the narrow part right now in winter is a little scary with it being icy! It also gets dark early so if you're out in the afternoon make sure to bring a headlamp and warm clothes. Everyone has a different comfort level after hiking for a while and I'm sure you'll feel better with each trail. Thank you so much for commenting and enjoy the Smokies! We can't wait to go back. ❤️
Thanks so much for the question! We started right at the Alum Cave Trail parking lot and hiked up to Mt. LeConte from there. It was something like 2600 feet elevation gain and was about 11 miles round trip so it takes a while. It took us probably a good eight hours since we like to stop for the views and have a meal. Here's a good blog about it: hikinginthesmokys.com/mt-leconte-via-alum-cave-trail/ I hope that helps!
Awesome! This was back in November of 2020 so the end of the year. It was cold but so worth it! We got super lucky with the sweeping clear views. Since it was at the end of the year and cold we didn't get to see a lot of flowers like you might. Enjoy!
It's pretty awesome seeing it when it clear and sunny! We've done a lot of these hikes when it's raining and it's definitely not as enjoyable. It's worth going back to see the sweeping views. You get some good stories from hiking in the rain though! 😆
That's so awesome Randy! It really is a beautiful hike if you can make it to the top. We went in October before it got really cold. We made it up to Alum Cave one year around New Year's Day and it was FREEZING! Enjoy your hike though! We're jealous!
Hiking Mt. LeConte is definitely doable in a day. It usually takes us about 8 hours to hike up and down. So if you're driving around 1 1/2 hours from Knoxville as long as you leave early you should be able to make it down before it gets dark depending on how fast you hike. Good luck!
Hi! On this trip, we had visited the Smokies in November. Pretty sure it was early November because it can get cold very quickly at the end of the year!
Yes! There's the popular LeConte Lodge but it sells out quickly so you have to make reservations well in advance. There is also a Mt LeConte outdoor shelter that you can camp at. You would just need a backcountry permit and a reservation, but should be easier to get into than the lodge. Hope that helps!
No we haven't tried that one yet! We've always hiked the Alum Cave Trail up to Mt. LeConte but next time we're there we'll definitely have to check out Bullhead! We're always looking for great trails to hike. Thanks for the suggestion Dave!
Hi Tom! We recorded our Mt. Leconte adventure in November. It was definitely getting a bit chilly at that time, but we made it before the snow! Getting into Spring would be a beautiful time to visit the park.
Definitely not! This is probably as different from Florida as you can get but we truly love both environments. Sometimes we love tropical and then crave the mountains. Thanks for watching Patrick! 😊
Love driving down the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville! Did you get a chance to check out any spots in Asheville before you left? Mount Pisgah Trail or Rattlesnake Lodge? Thanks for sharing this video as I will be traveling here soon. Just subbed!
Definitely! It's so beautiful. Yes we hiked on the Mount Pisgah Trail in the previous episode to two waterfalls. What a beautiful area North Carolina and Tennessee is. Glad you enjoyed! 😊
@@PSAdventuresSuch an awesome view! There is a ton of places to explore on my channel that might interest you. Would love to hear your feedback! Cheers
Thanks for the question! We like getting campsites so then we can take showers at the campgrounds. Otherwise we usually get a cheap hotel and take daytrips so we can have a shower at the end of the day. Hope that helps!
We know what you mean about bringing back good memories. We had several on this hike from being here from years before. Thanks for the feedback on the music! It would be cool to edit one without any music but just the nature sounds. So glad you enjoyed! 😊
We filmed this in November of 2020 so it was a little chilly for us. They actually close some of the roads at the end of November like the road up to Clingmans Dome so you'll have to make sure to check before you go!
Thank you. We are going mid October for hiking and camping in the area. We were curious what the temperature might be like. Great video. We really enjoyed it.
Thanks for the question Aaron! There's always a possibility of seeing bears in the smokies. There's a large population of black bears in that area so if you're camping definitely take care of your food or anything that would smell good to them. With that being said, we've hiked many of the trails there and have never actually seen a bear while hiking. We've seen them on a few occasions though when driving the car along the roads there so they are definitely there! It's pretty rare that any bears attack but it's always possible. We still love camping and hiking in the smokies though! It's a beautiful park! ⛰🐻⛺
We never found out what happened to the two guys! I'm sure they were fine but probably tired and cold by the time they got back. We kept checking the hiking groups to make sure but it's a very popular trail so I'm sure they ran into more people. That was pretty crazy though!
My dad wanted to get me and my 4 sons to go but my younger 2 were too small at the time to go back in 2009. He passed away in 2010 and now my boys are 16, 17, 23, and 25 so we're gonna do it this year...very inspiring video and I love you dad!
We're so sorry to hear about your dad passing Jason. It hits home for us since my dad (Paul) had passed away only a few years before yours. He always inspired us to get out into nature and enjoy the beauty of the world. I'm sure your kids are going to love this hike. We keep going back to it over and over! Thank you for watching and thanks for sharing your story! 💓
I’m 4 mins into the video and have come to the conclusion that you two may be the nicest and happiest people on the planet. Hopefully my wife and I run into you one of these days.
Wow. Thank you so much for the kind comments Mark! You just made us smile. We hope we might see you guys too on a trail some day! There's so much to explore and so many great people to meet. 😊
Thank you for making this video. When I was your age I would spend every free minute I had hiking these mountains. Seeing this video brought back some fond memories. I've hiked the whole Appalachian trail twice and wouldn't trade those experiences for anything. Now I'm older and disabled so I'm so glad I have those memories to look back on. Watching your video brought those back. Things have changed a little though there weren't the hand cables back then. Not so many people and it wasn't unusual to meet a black bear on the trail. Stay safe and experience as much life as you can while you can.
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences Carl. We're so happy you enjoyed our video! Hiking in nature is always healing and hearing you were brought back to a happy time puts a smile on our face. Hiking the AT is on our bucket list in the future when we can tackle it. I'm sure it was an amazing time for you. So glad you found us!
I never comment on any videos, but I just honestly felt touched by just how kind-hearted you two are, your positive vibe/energy, and soothing voices. Not to sound cliche, but I felt inspired to improve myself even further so I can live with this type of positive energy at all times with my family
Wow thank you so much for the kind thoughts Gully Boy! You just brought a smile to our faces. 💕 It's great to hear from more people like you. When we're not traveling to big mountains and trails, we take a walk in our local park several times a week. Walking in nature is so healing and relaxing.
Well done. Later this year I'm retiring to Knoxville, just after I turn 70! In retirement my #1 goal is to go on hikes and Vlog about them from the perspective of a senior citizen. I've spent the last 48 years in TV and video production so I know what I'm doing with video and I can say y'all did a great job with your video although it was a bit long. The hike you did will definitely be on my list along with House Mountain and many others. Maybe in the future, I'll see ya on the trail! Good luck.
That's so awesome Dave! Congratulations on the retirement! That sounds like a fun project you're going to seriously enjoy since it combines the skills you have along with what you love. TH-cam is definitely a lot of work but fun too. Good luck and we hope we see you on the trail one day! 😊
Hey guys.You guys are beautiful people with positive attitudes and adventurous spirit.Loved the video to,it bought many memories. I was blessed to hike this trail back in 1974 or 1975 with Dr.George Sanko’s Botany class.We hiked with young,old men and women on the hike.We left from Newfoundland Gap.It was a pretty good hike for some but we helped some of the older and toke breaks.I packed heavy with the beer shanks,etc.We encountered black bear on the hike and at the top near the cabins that we stayed in.The University of Tennessee forestry students maintained and cooked for us.This was an incredible adventure and one I will never forget.Dr. Sanko was a legend at Dekalb Jr. college at this time.God bless the two of you and please be careful on your adventures.Thank you for bringing back such a great memory.
Thank you so much for the love William! 💓Wow that's a special memory you have of Mt. LeConte. It must have been such an adventure back then and to even see a bear on the hike must have been exciting! 😮 We appreciate you sharing your memory!
Stayed @ the Lodge many times. Have reservations @ the lodge again this August 2021. Each of the 6 trails to the lodge (to the top of Mt LeConte) have their redeeming values. The Alum Cave Trail is the most scenic, the steepest and the shortest to the top. You have to get off the paved roads to appreciate what God has given us in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The lodge is such a cool place to see. We're jealous you're staying there in August! We've only gone up to the lodge by the Alum Cave Trail but would love to try the other trails. Enjoy the view while you're there!
Here’s is truly a lucky man, to have a beautiful woman who love hiking and ruffing it camping , that priceless
Oh I know! She's a special woman! 💗 I can't believe I found someone who enjoys so many of the same things. I wish everyone as much happiness that we have in life.
My husband and I just started hiking a few months ago after weight loss surgery. Neither one of us were ever hikers before. We're still just starting, but Mt Leconte is the first "big" one we want to do. So far, we're each at 5 miles, 500 ft elevation gain, so we're still working on it, but we hope to get there this summer. I love watching videos like this so we can get an idea of what's in store for us. Your muffin looked yummy, too!
Sounds like you're off to an amazing start! Mt. Leconte is rewarding all the way up so we're very excited for you both! You'll even have the nice Alum Cave Bluff about half way up. Keep up the great work!
Hi Sarah and Paul. Loved your video and energy. I watched it last Tuesday night, the night before I hiked LeConte for the first time, which was last Wednesday morning. I made my own video about it! Thank you for the inspiration and for helping me get up and do this hike! The views were beautiful.
That's awesome that you're out there on one of our favorite trails. Enjoy!
Me and my 17 year old daughter and 23 old son took this trial last September. We also left a little late but we only had about 45 minutes of darkness at the end. I was 58 at the time and I came thru in better condition than they did. We were only planning to go as far as Alum cave but they regrettably (at the time) egged me on. It was always on my bucket list. I'm glad they talked me into it because I never thought that I would ever get around to it. Memories to last a lifetime 😊 Thank you. You made a very nice video out of your hike.
Wow. What a great hike to check off the bucket list! I'm sure you'll never forget that hike especially doing it with your kids. Thank you so much for sharing! ❤️❤️❤️
Really loved your video. My husband and I are so glad you showed this hike to Mt LeConte via Alum Cave. We are going to hike it this Fall for the first time. Love your videos!!
That's so awesome Paulette!! We're so excited for you guys! We'd love to go back there any time to hike this trail. It's beautiful. Enjoy and thanks for watching! 💓
WOW! Just WOW WOW WOW! Thank you so much for taking me along this one!!
PS: I hope your elbow is ok
We're so excited that you enjoyed this one Ann! It's a long road to the top of Mt. LeConte but so worth it! My elbow took a long time to heal but is doing better. We can't wait to get back on the trail again! 😊
My wife and I made the trip to the lodge and on to myrtle point several times. I so enjoyed your video, but I teared up several times as I lost her to pancreatic cancer in June. We loved the smokies
Wow Phil thank you for sharing and we're so sorry for your loss. You guys made it to where very few other people have been because it's quite a hike! Those must be some beautiful memories that you have of her. We're sending you a lot of love! ❤️❤️❤️
Thanks for the video beautiful colors once on the way to rainbow falls ran into the lama train I wanted to take a picture of them the wrangler said trun around and smile and I am not kidding the lamas turned and smiled I am now waiting on my 4th knee surgery so I don't know if I'll ever go hiking there again so thanks for sharing wonderful video.
We're so happy it brought you a smile! That would be so cool to run into the llama train. Wow! We'll have to look out for it when we go back. Hopefully you heal soon from your surgery and can get back on the trail again. 💕
I'm going on this hike next month and this video made me so excited!! Thank you for sharing :)
We're so excited for you MaryRose! It's a beautiful hike and it's even more this time of year. Enjoy and thanks for watching! 💓
Great video! Lovely couple! I’ve been planning a trip there in the next week or so and hope to have as much fun as you two did. All my best! Don in NC
Hello Don! That's awesome that you're going on this hike. It's always been our favorite in the Smokies! Enjoy and thanks so much for watching! 💓
Yep, love Mt. Le Conte, Alum Bluff trail. Back in the late 60’s, used to walk up to see the sunrise, then back down, in four hours total. There was only the lodge back then. When camping, we slept in tents then. Lovely walk.
Wow I bet it looked very different back then! Just a leisurely four hour morning hike? Haha! That sounds like a nice relaxing routine. Thanks for sharing! 😊
Came across your video last night. Love it! I moved to the Smokys in 2018 and fell into being a work aholic the first two years and stopped getting out on the trails. I turn 53 this year and after a loss of someone dear this year realized life is too short. I am cutting back on work and going to get back out there! Your video was inspiring. Thank you!
What's the sauce recipe for your cashew and rice? Looks delicious!
Wow! We're so excited for you Hiking Gal! Work can easily start taking over more and more of your time if you let it. Nature has a good way of reversing that. Ha! Was it the creamy soup that you saw? It might be this one: psadventures.net/creamy-vegan-potato-leek-soup-recipe/ So happy you found us!
One of my favorite climbs. Done it so many times and each time is just as amazing.
Same here! It's also our favorite hike in the whole Smokies! So classic and beautiful. Thanks so much for the comment!
Another great video. The Smoky Mountains National Park is a favorite of ours, especially since it is no more than a day's drive from Louisiana. Stay safe...
Thank you! It's a favorite of ours too. We love taking road trips, especially when it's only a days drive away. Stay safe as well!
What a great hike, thanks for sharing ! We hope to do it come spring, the ice would be a bit much for us
So happy you enjoyed! It's a very nice hike with a lot of great features. The ice in some parts was a little tricky but in spring would probably be very nice. Summer even better with all the flowers. Glad to have you! 😊
I've recently subscribed to your channel and am impressed with the content you make. This was another great video. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so very much! We're glad you found us and appreciate you hitting that subscribe button! This was a really fun hike - truly a favorite. Please let us know when there's any other videos you really liked! 🥰
Tennessee is beautiful! I didn’t know it was this pretty! Great video y’all!
Thank you! This has got to be our favorite hike in the Smokies, but there are many other amazing hikes in Tennessee! We especially like those with waterfalls that you can swim in. 💗
Hiked this trail and stayed in the lodge in 1990, before a hurricane moved up from the Gulf. The Alum Dave trail washed out for a while. Glad to see the improvements made since then.
They've definitely made some improvements since we had been there years ago. I bet it looked way different back then! 😮
Mt. LeConte is one of the best views in the Smokies. You picked a good one!
Woohoo! Yep, definitely our favorite hike in the Smokies. ❤️❤️
We will be hiking this trail in September... really looking forward to it.
That's fantastic! September should be a great time to hike this trail, before it gets too cold. Enjoy 😄💕
Thanks for sharing your hike. On my bucket list when I go to Great Smoky.
Awesome, it's our pleasure! This is definitely our favorite hike in the Smokies. ❤️
Setting out for out for Smokeys tomorrow morning from Chicago! Hoping my boys are up for Leconte, but if we can make it to the cave, I'll call it a win. Using this video as motivation!
So awesome! We'd love to be back there hiking again. I bet when you go there might be more flowers than what we saw. I'm sure you'll make it up to the cave. It's an awesome feeling looking out from the ledge. Good luck and enjoy it for us!
Did you get to the caves? How was it?
Great video! Love seeing your different hikes & camping videos.
We're so happy you're enjoying our videos Damaris! That's one of the main things we love to do is hike and camp so you'll see a lot more in the future. Thanks for watching! 😊
What an amazing trail! Can't wait for the world to reopen so I can come check it out 😊
Mt. LeConte is definitely one of our favorites! Smoky Mountain National Park is full of beautiful wonders. We could spend months there and not hike everything. We hope you get there sometime soon!
It’s open.
Amazing video. Thank you for sharing. My wife and I will definitely be adding this on our list. We were fortunate enough to get to do a 3 day backpack trip in Grayson Highlands State Park with the wild ponies (border of TN/NC/VA).
Wow that sounds like a nice trip with wild ponies. You can usually see some in Cades Cove in SMNP but that would be cool to see them while backpacking. We'll have to look up that park since we've never heard of it. Thanks so much! 😊
It was you!! Nice to meet you guys in person
It was so great to meet you guys too! ❤️ Good luck at Ragbrai and we hope to see a van in your future! 😁🎉
Great video.Did this hike around 1975 with Dr. George Sancos botany class.It was a blast.
Wow! I bet it looked completely different back then. We would have loved to see that. What a great idea to take kids on a hike and learn about biology at the same time. 😊
I'm about to do this hike first week of February, wish me luck lol! I've done plenty of winter hikes in Asheville but never Tennessee. My boyfriend and I are very excited.
We're excited for you guys! 😊 It's a beautiful hike. I'm sure it'll still be a little chilly in February but it'll be a nice hike. Enjoy and let us know how it goes!
Y’all reminded me of my old army days. Sleep top of mud snow and rain It was always cold. I do love the smoky mountains
It's hard to beat the Smoky Mountains. So beautiful and always makes you feel alive! We had gone in the middle of winter and it was REALLY cold with lots of snow. It's gorgeous in the summertime!
My wife and I are visiting the park, from Michigan, in May. Your video made us feel a lot more confident about hiking to the lodge. Thank you. 🖤
I bet May would be a great time to visit with the flowers coming into bloom. We'd love to be back there again! Hiking to the top takes some time but it's really one foot in front of the other and you'll get there. It's hard not to keep going because the views just keep getting better. So happy you enjoyed the video. Have fun!
How did your trip go?!! Did you guys have fun :) I'm going there for a week, and will be doing about half a dozen solo hikes in the area and I'll be on this trail on day 2 - Sat 0ct 9th 2021. :) If there is any specific information you think will be useful, let me know :)
@@binoyrakesh it went well! Thank you for asking. It had rained the night prior so the hike was a little wet and there were times we were walking in an unavoidable quarter inch of water but it was beautiful and worth the effort.
I would suggest getting to the parking lot of the trailhead very early. We got there around 6am on a weekday and it was mostly empty. Saturday will be busier though.
Good luck and enjoy!
We're jealous! There's SO MANY amazing hikes in that area. Every time we go we always stop by one of the visitor centers and talk to the rangers to see if there are any closures. The park is HUGE so plan your hikes around an area. Going from the east side all the way to Cades Cove takes hours so you'll have to plan a bit. It's beautiful! Enjoy!
One of the significant drawbacks to hiking the most popular trails in the Smokies is the enormous crowds hiking these trails, especially on the big holidays. The Alum Bluff Cave trailhead parking area will be full by 7 A.M. and both shoulders of U.S. 441 for at least a half mile both ways from the parking area will be parked bumper to bumper. This necessitates walking on the roadside of the cars while very dense traffic flies by at 40 to 50 mph. And than you will have to navigate passing hikers ( 500 to 1,000 ?) on the very narrow and precipitous trail. In my opinion, good reasons to avoid these popular trails and find other less trafficked, but equally beautiful trails to enjoy.
Hi Thomas! Thank you for the comment, and we agree, it gets very crowded! It's great to explore the more popular trails on weekdays and in the off-season when it's much less crowded. But great point about exploring some lesser known, and equally as beautiful, trails in the Smokies. 😊
Wow what a great video I plan on going to gatlinburg for vacation this December and I’m hoping my wife is up for this trail. Definitely going to start the trail earlier that 11 lol and don’t want to be caught in the dark 😂
We're so happy you enjoyed it Javier! Mt. LeConte is one of our favorites that keeps us coming back. Definitely look into Charlie's Bunion also! It's another really nice hike that's not as well known. Enjoy! ❤️❤️❤️
What a gorgeous place to explore! Have not yet had the opportunity to adventure in this part of the country, but it looks all too enticing :) Keep rocking it you two!
It really is beautiful, and also very different than the West to compare. So much greenery and a little more wet. Thanks so much for the nice words! 😊
Gonna do this trail soon! Very informative and just nice video!
Sweet! Hope you enjoy! This is truly one of our favorite trails.
loved the vid, thanks for showing us the hike and views, enjoyed it
You're so welcome John! Just thinking about this hike brings a smile to our face. It's still one of our favorite hikes in the Smokies. 😊
Enjoyed the video!! We are blessed to live in East TN and enjoy almost weekly our Great Smoky Mountains! Have you guys ever hiked the AT? Come join us next time!
That must be amazing to living out in East TN. We've section hiked parts of the AT from GA on up to the north. We'd love to hike the whole thing one day if we ever had a lot of time available. That would be amazing! ❤️⛰️
@@PSAdventures that's all we have done this far, only parts. Have fun out there! Let me know when you guys come up next, my wife and I would love to meet up if you have time, always looking to meet new folks!
About to section hike through the whole thing for a few days. Wish me luck.
Awesome Noname Man! Wish we could be there to experience that trail right now. Good luck and have fun!
Ok so we went to Tennessee once and this was One of the few hikes that we did including Laurel Falls and climbing doom for sunrise. This hike being my favorite
(we only went to the Cave Bluff we didn’t go to the top though)
We are going again this summer and we’re looking for hikes that we will enjoy just as much we know we’re going to do the sunrise Clingmans doom again cause it’s easy to fit in … we don’t want to do Laurel Falls again but I’m trying to find a hike that I like as much as this one to put on my list …. any suggestions?!
Definitely! There are a ton more great hikes in Smoky Mountain National Park. Another favorite of ours is called Charlie's Bunion which you can get to right from one of the main parking lots. We did an entire video on that one as well: th-cam.com/video/E2BFzDDVYaI/w-d-xo.html There are many other great ones in the park. Grotto Falls is an easy one that's short to get to. Ramsey Cascades is amazing if you have time to hike all the way out to the falls. Chimney Tops is quite a workout for being so short. Definitely stop by a welcome center and get a map and ask one of the rangers for their favorite hikes. It's so helpful! Enjoy!
The bluff at the bottom is where my buddy fell of the cliff! Not sure if I will do this hike again lol.
Oh wow Jerrod! 😮 I hope he's okay! There's a few areas you might have to watch out for if you get close to the edge but a ton of people hike it every day. It's pretty awesome!
@@PSAdventures he is fine! Just had a scar to hike it! Oh we did the whole trail that day and some. I have stayed up there twice in the cabins! The day my buddy feel I did about 10 miles because the medic kept sending me back 😂
I did this hike a couple months ago. If you go all the way to the lodge and don’t go to myrtle point then you would definitely regret it after seeing this. Loved the video
Definitely! It's awesome to hear others that made it to the top. It's so worth it to trek just a little farther once you get to the top. You actually don't have to go all the way out to Myrtle Point but it was pretty cool once we got there. Just don't forget how long it takes to hike all the way back down if you're staying for sunset! We hiked back in the dark.
so I'm going on a hiking adventure next week to the smoky montains! im so excited and also nervous! this hike looks so amazing so i think i might do this one. since im a first time hiker hoepfully i can hang out lol. i did research and they said this hike takes 8hrs! whew thats a lot of work! lol but im still willing to go, ill just be sure to get an early start because i do not want to be out while its dark lol. Thank you for sharing your experience and I hope to see more inspirational travel videos from you guys!
Wow that's so awesome that you're thinking of hiking the same trail! It's so beautiful and well worth the work! 8 hours probably sounds about right if you want to make it to the top and out to the ridge trails with the views but there's views all the way up the mountain. Pack a nice lunch and probably some warmer clothes for the top if you're going to hang out around the top since it gets a little chilly. Thanks so much for watching and enjoy the hike! We're jealous! 💓
This is one of my favorites! Reminds me a bit of the mountains in Alabama where I grew up.
So glad you liked it Jennifer! 😊 Wow! Alabama has mountains? We had no idea since we haven't really spent any time there. Might have to investigate that further. 😆
Love this video, thanks so much, it's so informative and entertaining. I'll be in the GSMNP late summer this year for 2 days and want to do this hike and a couple more. So glad I came across your video. The views are stunning! Quality video, thanks for sharing!
Wow thank you so much for the love Hawaii Girl! We keep trying to make our videos even better. It feels good when we think we've captured what a place is truly like and the feelings we're feeling. Thank you so much for watching and enjoy Smoky Mountain National Park! It's amazing! 💖
Great video! We going with our 4 kids soon so I don’t think we will make it all the way to Mt. Leconte, but that is definitely a future goal!
That's awesome Greta! There's plenty of other hikes that you can do that would be a little easier with kids. But this is still a great hike up to Alum Cave. You don't have to go all the way to the top to see some incredible things. We had hiked this a few years back and had some kids with us all the way to Alum Cave Bluff. Happy adventuring! 😊
@@PSAdventures yes, that’s our goal to get to the Cave Bluffs. Thanks for the great video & info!
I’ve hiked this trail. Beautiful views.
Wonderful! It's no wonder it's our favorite hike in the Smokies!
Alum is my favorite way to get to Leconte. My favorite trail period
We agree! It's such an awesome trail with a lot to see. It takes a while to get to the top but the reward is so worth it! Thanks for watching Dave! 💓
I really enjoy your Smokey Mt videos. Hope you guys make some soon
We love the Smoky Mountains so much! It'd be awesome to go hiking some more in that area because there's so many trails we haven't explored. We're definitely planning on it in the future! ⛰️
Wowie zowie, a brand new wonderful video!!!!! IDK much about the Smoky Mountains. One of my nieces lives in Greenville, NC, not sure if that is near where you guys have been on this trip. Sure looked to be really cold!!!! It's pouring rain here today but tomorrow I am inspired by your video to go for a long wonderful hike!
The Smoky Mountains are so beautiful! It always feels like a reset to the soul. But yes it was super cold and Greenville is a very nice area! We love to stop in there sometimes.
Hike looks similar to hiking Sandia mountains in Albuquerque
Oh wow! We'll have to check that out if we're in the area. Thanks for the comment!
My daughter and i did that trail 3 weeks ago. I'm 51 and over weight so it took me way longer to get there but it was so beautiful I'm so glad she made me do it. It took me 14 hours. I took it slow and steady so i didn't hurt myself. We did hike back in the dark for about 3 hours which I did not like at all. I was so tired and my legs were like jelly. I would like to do it again and shave off some time.
Wow Kim that's incredible and so inspiring! Mt. LeConte is quite a feat to overcome and rewards you all along the way. We've hiked it several times now and it always feels a little different every time. Thank you so much for sharing! 😊
Inspiration point when the rhododendron are in bloom looks like how I imagine heaven looks.
I bet! We've wanted to go back when the rhododendron are in bloom. Everyone raves about how pretty they are! It's cool to see how our favorite trails look in different seasons. We'll have to experience that sometime. Thanks for watching Tracy! ❤️
Yo just move on up to Knoxville or Asheville area. Life so sweet to wake up every morning with there sacred mtns surrounding you. Warning.. does get a bit colder than Fl haha
Wow what a great place to live! The area is packed with beautiful trails and good food. Enjoy the area!
Great video, thank you. Planning a hike with my wife this Labor Day. Can you comment on the camera equipment you are using and have you come across any bears up in Gatlinburg?
Sure thing Dennis! We've been upgrading our camera gear in our newer videos to a bigger Sony DSLR camera but this episode was all filmed on our GoPro Hero 8 Black and Samsung Galaxy S8 phones. We have yet to see any bears on the trails but we've actually seen them while driving around in the car. I'm sure they stay away from the more popular trails but it's always good to be aware! We do hike with bear spray just in case though. That would be a scary experience but we've always had the best time when we visit SMNP and it's not a worry for us. Enjoy your trip! 😄
I'm a little late for this one for comment but it was a wonderful video I'm glad I can lift you you doing this because there's no way I'm hiking up that mountain afraid of heights but the views were gorgeous keep up the great work
Oh man Kerry if you could overcome your fear of heights you would love this one! The trail isn't as narrow or scary as you'd think. This one will make you feel on top of the world!
Oh guys thank you so much I would love to see it that's something I should try and overcome thank you
You guys are so cute. Love your enthusiasm.
Thank you so much! So glad you enjoyed! 💕
Awesome 👏
Thanks so much! Have you done this hike?
This was a little much to watch for me. The views were spectacular but I probably couldn't do it at my age (so, it was nice to see yours).
Mt. LeConte definitely has some elevation gain and there are a few areas that are a little crazy to be right on the edge. This hike has always been on the top of our list of favorite hikes and we've done it several times now. Smoky Mountain National Park is such a magical place! 💓
very cool hike! thinking of moving there
Awesome James! It's still one of our favorite hikes! What a beautiful area it is. Thanks for watching! 😊
This is my favorite hike too!💕 My kids and I miss it so much. Thank you for your videos. When you are in Orlando and if haven’t tried yet, there’s a vegan restaurant I highly recommend in the Waterford Lakes area called VLC that deserves some attention☺️
Wow! That's so awesome to find others who love this trail. And we've never heard of VLC bit we'll have to check it out. We used to live right next to Waterford Lakes! 😮
What campgrounds did you guys stay at? There aren't any Backcountry campsites near alum cave are there? Going in September, so, just trying to find a place to camp that's closest to Alum cave/ Mt. Leconte. Thanks for this video. Helped a lot!
There's definitely some backcountry campsites that you can stay at but since it's in the national park you need a reservation. We remember actually seeing one on top of Mt. LeConte with a shelter but it was closed at the time. The trail maps you can get at the visitor centers have all of the backcountry sites marked but I'd Google ahead of time to see if you can reserve them. We actually stay in Gatlinburg at Carr's Cottage and do day hikes into the park but camping there would also be amazing! We hope that helps!
I feel ya on sleeping welll to the white noise of a loud stream
Definitely! Falling asleep to nature's sounds are the best. 💤
Love your videos they are so helpful! What kind if tent set up do you use? Is that a cushion pad underneath ut?
Thanks so much for the question Spring Adams! Many times we've used our Mountain Laurel Designs Duomid tent for backpacking and even car camping. Lately we've been looking to upgrade with something a little bit bigger with another door though. When we're sleeping we use sleeping pads. I (Paul) like the Thermorest NeoAir XTherm and Sarah loves her REI Women's AirRail. We also like those small Thermarest Sit pads for saving our knees getting in and out of the tent. I hope that helps and hope you enjoy the Smokies! It's such a beautiful park! 💓 I'll have to update more of our gear here but here's most of what we use! (Click on backpacking for that gear) psadventures.net/gear/
I must hike that trail. How long is it round trip?
It's a pretty awesome trail with lots of great views all the way and really cool features! Usually when we're hiking up to the Mt. LeConte lodge it takes us about 8 hours. You might do it faster or slower depending on how fast you hike and if you take any scenic breaks. Enjoy! 😊
Awesome video. Thanks for the share!
Thank you so much G-rad! So glad you enjoyed. 😊
Great video.....thanks for sharing.
We're so happy you loved it! Hiking Mt. LeConte is always an epic experience! Happy New Year! 😊
I attempted to do this hike yesterday, but there was no parking at all. 😢
Oh no! Hope you got another chance to do this hike! We haven't been back since the national park implemented the parking pass/fee situation but we've been hearing about a lot of issues with parking...
We just tried hiking this today. I couldn’t get over how narrow and steep it was after passing the cave so we had to turn around. I was so afraid! How did you guys push through it? I felt like I had to constantly crawl up the rocks and I kept thinking, how am I going to get back down later? Oh man. Props to you guys!! Maybe someday I’ll come back and finish!
It's so great to hear you were out on one of our favorite trails today Lindsey! Just thinking of Mt. LeConte makes us smile! Yeah after Alum Cave it does get a bit narrow but it gets better after that. I bet the narrow part right now in winter is a little scary with it being icy! It also gets dark early so if you're out in the afternoon make sure to bring a headlamp and warm clothes. Everyone has a different comfort level after hiking for a while and I'm sure you'll feel better with each trail. Thank you so much for commenting and enjoy the Smokies! We can't wait to go back. ❤️
Is it possible to get the gpx from you? Where did you start the tour and how long was ist (hours)?
Thanks so much for the question! We started right at the Alum Cave Trail parking lot and hiked up to Mt. LeConte from there. It was something like 2600 feet elevation gain and was about 11 miles round trip so it takes a while. It took us probably a good eight hours since we like to stop for the views and have a meal. Here's a good blog about it: hikinginthesmokys.com/mt-leconte-via-alum-cave-trail/ I hope that helps!
Thank you!
What date did you do this? I’m heading up April 30 plan to hike it.
Awesome! This was back in November of 2020 so the end of the year. It was cold but so worth it! We got super lucky with the sweeping clear views. Since it was at the end of the year and cold we didn't get to see a lot of flowers like you might. Enjoy!
You lucky ducks. We did this on 7/4/20. But it was rainy and cloudy.
It's pretty awesome seeing it when it clear and sunny! We've done a lot of these hikes when it's raining and it's definitely not as enjoyable. It's worth going back to see the sweeping views. You get some good stories from hiking in the rain though! 😆
What was the date of this hike? I love the cold for camping.
Hi! This hike was in November - probably early November though because it gets really cold around that time in the higher altitudes especially.
That’s MY fav trail!
It's right up there as one of our favorites also! Such a cool place to hike! Thanks for watching! 😊
Thanks for the great video. My wife and I are doing this hike the very end of October this year. What month did you do this hike?
That's so awesome Randy! It really is a beautiful hike if you can make it to the top. We went in October before it got really cold. We made it up to Alum Cave one year around New Year's Day and it was FREEZING! Enjoy your hike though! We're jealous!
We have hiked Alum Cave before but didn't continue to Mt. Leconte.
@@randyhise3420 It's worth the extra hiking! Are you staying at the lodge?
No we are just doing an out and back.
Great video!😀😀😀
Thank you Stephanie! Have you done this hike?
Can this hike be done all in one day as a day trip form Knoxville?
Hiking Mt. LeConte is definitely doable in a day. It usually takes us about 8 hours to hike up and down. So if you're driving around 1 1/2 hours from Knoxville as long as you leave early you should be able to make it down before it gets dark depending on how fast you hike. Good luck!
wow what a place would love to go
Such a pretty part of the country! One of the great parks of the US. Glad you enjoyed! 😊
Also... have you done grapeyard? Another one of my favorites
Not yet! But we'll have to remember that. Is that one up to the top of Mt. LeConte?
Nah its from greenbriar to gburg
Also, Monday, ill give you a bullhead report. Excited for sunday
Grapeyard is awesome!!! And camp 32 was so good. Ran into old friends there randomly, I highly recommend
Hey you guys we did bullhead to leconte to boulevard to AT... BULLHEAD IS GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!
What time of the year was this?❤
Hi! On this trip, we had visited the Smokies in November. Pretty sure it was early November because it can get cold very quickly at the end of the year!
Gorgeous
Thanks so much Kate! It really is!
anywhere to set up camp
@ the summit?
Yes! There's the popular LeConte Lodge but it sells out quickly so you have to make reservations well in advance. There is also a Mt LeConte outdoor shelter that you can camp at. You would just need a backcountry permit and a reservation, but should be easier to get into than the lodge. Hope that helps!
Really nice video!
Thank you! So happy to hear you enjoyed!
Have you guys tried bullhead yet?
No we haven't tried that one yet! We've always hiked the Alum Cave Trail up to Mt. LeConte but next time we're there we'll definitely have to check out Bullhead! We're always looking for great trails to hike. Thanks for the suggestion Dave!
We are doing bullhead to the lodge, then end with boulevard on Sunday! Gonna be hard but amazing! I'll let you know how bullhead is
We want to earn our 6 trail patch! Almost there
What time of the year was this?
Hi Tom! We recorded our Mt. Leconte adventure in November. It was definitely getting a bit chilly at that time, but we made it before the snow! Getting into Spring would be a beautiful time to visit the park.
"TOTO" ! WERE NOT IN FLORIDA ANYMORE!!!!
Definitely not! This is probably as different from Florida as you can get but we truly love both environments. Sometimes we love tropical and then crave the mountains. Thanks for watching Patrick! 😊
Love driving down the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville! Did you get a chance to check out any spots in Asheville before you left? Mount Pisgah Trail or Rattlesnake Lodge? Thanks for sharing this video as I will be traveling here soon. Just subbed!
Definitely! It's so beautiful. Yes we hiked on the Mount Pisgah Trail in the previous episode to two waterfalls. What a beautiful area North Carolina and Tennessee is. Glad you enjoyed! 😊
@@PSAdventuresSuch an awesome view! There is a ton of places to explore on my channel that might interest you. Would love to hear your feedback! Cheers
where can you shower at the great smoky park?
Thanks for the question! We like getting campsites so then we can take showers at the campgrounds. Otherwise we usually get a cheap hotel and take daytrips so we can have a shower at the end of the day. Hope that helps!
Nowhere, for some reason none of the campgrounds have showers in the park
The audio is really good on this.
Thanks! We usually use an external mic to try to get the best quality.
those where elk at the cherokee welcome center
Thanks so much! Sometimes we look at them and wonder between deer and elk. They can get really large also! 🦌
@@PSAdventures we seen them the day we moved from florida and we thought the same thing.
Thanks, brought back good memories! Personal preference, I would have liked the natural sounds rather than music.
We know what you mean about bringing back good memories. We had several on this hike from being here from years before. Thanks for the feedback on the music! It would be cool to edit one without any music but just the nature sounds. So glad you enjoyed! 😊
What month was this?
We filmed this in November of 2020 so it was a little chilly for us. They actually close some of the roads at the end of November like the road up to Clingmans Dome so you'll have to make sure to check before you go!
Thank you. We are going mid October for hiking and camping in the area. We were curious what the temperature might be like. Great video. We really enjoyed it.
Following you guys :)
Awesome Richard! Glad to have you along for the adventure. 😊
Should my girlfriend and I have fear of bears if we go to this park? Thanks
Thanks for the question Aaron! There's always a possibility of seeing bears in the smokies. There's a large population of black bears in that area so if you're camping definitely take care of your food or anything that would smell good to them. With that being said, we've hiked many of the trails there and have never actually seen a bear while hiking. We've seen them on a few occasions though when driving the car along the roads there so they are definitely there! It's pretty rare that any bears attack but it's always possible. We still love camping and hiking in the smokies though! It's a beautiful park! ⛰🐻⛺
@@PSAdventures Thank you!
What happened with the 2 guys
We never found out what happened to the two guys! I'm sure they were fine but probably tired and cold by the time they got back. We kept checking the hiking groups to make sure but it's a very popular trail so I'm sure they ran into more people. That was pretty crazy though!