Subject:: 2003 Weekend at Lake Junaluska and Leconte

This is  to record details of the (2003) weekend.

It should be a fun trip, and I really am looking forward to it. I love Lake Junaluska and LeConte, and I am glad more of my GrandChildren are going. Sorry I cannot do the hike, but I look forward to fellowship with  you and the children, walking around Lake Junaluska, and the "home" cooking.

Based on the checkin time of  3 p.m., I will not arrive as early as I first said I  and will get there a couple of minutes before 3 p.m. (to make sure we get lake side rooms).

Info is below

Don
7/31/03 Wed 10:00 p.m.
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Telephone Numbers

• Don Cell     704 533-4324
• Don Home 704 527-3510
• -649-5285
• Lake Junaluska Reservations       1 800 222-4930 (Bridget is one who helped confirm today)
• Mt. Leconte Reservations          1 865 429-5704 (Christie helped confirm today)

Reservations:

Three rooms at Lake Junaluska in the Terrace Inn.

• Reservation numbers are 4581572, 5649241,  8242099
• Lake Junaluska Reservations    1 800 222-4930 (Bridget is one who helped confirm today)
• Bridget said we were on backside but assured me she was moving us to Lake side (12:15 7/30)
• Bridget said she thought boat would be running, but I have my doubts. Remember one year we went after dinner and the other year it was not working.
• Meals are 5:30 to 7:00 for dinner, 7:30 to 8:30 am for breakfast
• Check in time is 3:00 p.m., Check out time is 11:00 a.m.

A cabin for eight  at Mt. Leconte
• Reservation Number is 6-2003-01532, but Christie says they will not have at the check in Office.
• Reservations are in the name of DON REDDING but that will not be a problem, Just tell them you are using DON REDDING's reservation. No need to have any thing in writing, she assured me.
• Mt. Leconte Reservations          1 865 429-5704 (Christie helped confirm today)

  http://donredding.com/hike.htm

• Saturday, August 02,2003:
  • Don leaves Charlotte around noon and arrives just before 3 p.m. at Terrace Inn at Lake Junaluska.
  • Don waits for others in lobby near check in or in a rocking chair on the porch.
  • Gabe, Christopher, Katie, and Jessie arrive in afternoon
  • Eat between 5:30 and 7:00
  • Boat ride maybe if working, walk near Lake, check out rocking chairs, maybe cross and dam
  • Sleep
• Sunday, August 03, 2003
  • Breakfast 7:30 - 8:30
  • x
    • Leave Lake Junaluska toward Smokies (decide if  want Parkway route or regular highway. (Don likes Parkway.)
    • Look for spot for lunch for tomorrow  maybe Maggie Valley (remember hard to find last year)
    •  drives to Alum Cave (I assume)  parking area, takes about an hour.
    • Hike  up Leconte (took Christopher and Gabe under 3 hours in 2002, Dad 3 1/2 or so)
    • Check in, good / easier time to buy T shirts if want.
    • Hot Chocolate at top (no kidding)
    • Dinner (I forget the time)
    • Hike to see Sunset at Myrtle Point (or is that for sunrise?). Kids, mind Gabe, beautiful but scary to Grand dads.
    • Sleep
  • Don
    • After breakfast hike around Lake Junaluska after others leave
    • Don Checks out for all
    • Drive to Chimney Rock, takes maybe 1 1/2 hours or less
    • Get a Cinnamon roll, best since Bah cooked them!
    • Go up on Chimney Rock
    • Decide then to come on home (2 hours) or spend night
• Monday
  • x
    • Pack
    • Breakfast
    • Hike down - this is so much fun, especially when you remember how it was going up
    • Arrive Raleigh
    • etc.,
  • Don
    • Retirement Party for friend and former employee at BAC 4:00 p.m., Bistro 100 Winter Garden, 100 N Tryon Street, Founders Hall (704 388-3713)

Directions from previous Years
these are last year's instructions, but I think they are still ok though I have not studied them. Let me know if there are any questions. Here is link to my web page about hiking / Leconte   http://donredding.com/hike.htm  Think about this: if you guys decide not to do the Leconte Hike, that is ok with me. You guys could hike a little around the Lake or in the Smokies or even on the Leconte trail and not go all the way. I imagine you could get a room at the Terrace for another night, and I would be glad to check on it if you like. There is plenty to do without all the effort of the Leconte hike and I could hang around  some also. Up to you of course, but I did want to mention this in case it helps you to know it is ok with me for you guys not to do the hike. I am sorry I cannot do it, and of course I am sad that I may never be able to again. It is true, the  "best laid plans" change. Oh, I see I mailed you a map last year. I will leave  getting a map up to you! Take care. See you Saturday. don 7/30/03 704 527 3510 cell 533 4324.
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-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	Info and Directions to the Terrace Inn at Lake Junaluska Assembly
Date:	Mon., 29 Jul 2002 09:21:14 -0400

from Asheville: Interstate 40 West to Highways 19/23/74 - Exit 27. Take second Junaluska exit 103 (US Hwy. 19). The entrance to Lake Junaluska Assembly is about 1/2 mile and on right at North Shore Drive. Turn right on North Shore Drive. Go to dead end. Turn right. Terrace Inn on left about 1/2 mile.

(Since this is so long, you might want to print and read later. Nothing you need to do right now.)

Good morning. Hope all is fine with you.

I have used the camel back several times and it is neat. It works well to have the water close. I  learned it is for water only and not to carry clothes etc. because of condensation.  For day hikes, it is great. Thanks again.

The Alum Cave route  is shorter and harder.  From results last year, everyone will do ok  (and better than I will) but it could be harder than we expect. The first mile or so to Arch Rock is easy and uphill a little. Then it is pretty steep and  hard for next mile to Alum Cave Bluffs, a hugh overhang of rock. Then it is hard again  for about 3/4 mile, then a little heaven for  another 3/4 mile, and then harder for the last couple of miles. This is when it gets me. The last 3/4 mile is level and slightly up but will feel easy by then. We just need to take our time when we need to.  I think it took us 5 hours for the 8 miles last year and we should do it this way in 3 to 4 hours of hiking, or less, for the little over 5 miles. A good spot to stop to eat is exactly half way (in distance, not time) just before the " a little heaven." There are 21 places where we will have the option to hold on to cables and I try always to use them although I have been known to get in a hurry and not.  Usually when there is a cable there is a spectacular view as we will be on  a steep incline on the mountain side with not much space between us and the valley. I think you will like the views. I mention all this so you can decide what you want to tell Christopher about using the cables. At most places I think we should use them and at some places, it is a must. My rule has been to  use them always, but I notice I sometimes forget.

• Take Interstate 40 to Exit 27
• At Exit 27 get on highway 19/74/23  toward Maggie Valley.
• Stay on 19/74/23 and do NOT turn off on exit 104 to (city of) Lake Junaluska.
• Stay on 19/74/23 and  turn off at exit 103 which will be highway 19 toward Maggie Valley and Lake Junaluska Assembly.
• Stay on 19  (past SOUTH Lakeshore Drive) and turn right on NORTH Lakeshore Drive into Lake Junaluska Assembly grounds.
• Go to dead-end.
• Turn Right.
• Go over maybe 8 speed bumps and past maybe 7 streets to Terrace Drive on Left in front  of Terrace Inn.
• At this point you can  park either on the right along the lake or take Terrace Road (a sharp U Turn to the left up a steep hill) about 70 yards to the registration check in parking area and to find a parking space.
• The registration desk is on 2nd floor.

wrote: on 7/15/02

Hi

Here are details about our trip for this year to Leconte.
 

• Sunday  (8/4/02) - Spend  night at Lake Junaluska Terrace Inn
• Monday  (8/5/02) - Hike up to Mt Leconte and spend the night
• Tuesday (8/6/02) - Hike down Leconte and return home

We have two rooms at the Terrace Inn at Lake Junaluska for Sunday night. We discussed  meeting at Lake Junaluska instead of my driving to Raleigh first. If we do that we should shoot for getting to the Terrace Inn in  time to eat in the dining room (serving line hours 5:30 - 7).

I will get you some directions later if I do not come to Raleigh.

(I double-checked Lake Junaluska Terrace Inn room reservations with Bridget at 1-800 222-4930 at 9:23 a.m. Monday 7/15/02 for the two rooms for  the night of Sunday August 4. Reservation numbers are 1532336 and 4672677, hopefully lakeside. The reservation # at Leconte for a cabin is 6-200202073 for the night of Monday 8/5)

The Alum Cave Bluffs trail is open this year and I suggest we take it. It has better views of the scenery and you will enjoy that part of the hike. It is shorter in miles and time required than the trail we used last year but  a little harder.  It is 5.2 miles and last year was over 8 miles. It is easy for the first mile, then hard to the cave at about half way and then harder from the cave on up. The last half mile is easy. The cave is a hugh overhang of rock.

You might want to do some checking on the internet about Leconte and our previous trips. Go to my home page of http://donredding.com/ and click Hiking/Mountains on the left menu. Most of the links still work but I have not checked it in a long time and notice something is wrong with some. I will fix someday but not now.

I am looking forward to the trip. Let me know if you have any questions now.

don

7/15/02 Monday a.m.