Post 900 Hike #92: Alum Cave to Mount LeConte (in/out 10.2)

This is a hike that Bob Bolinger and I planned to do on 12/23; however, that was also the first day U.S. 441 was open and thus X-C skiing took precedence (i.e., when there is good snow one should use it). Thus Bob’s and my hike to LeConte was rescheduled to 12/30.

We met at SVC at 09:00; we decided to hike to LeConte in and out on Alum Cave Trail rather than move one vehicle to Rainbow Falls parking lot. Because there were just two of us (ideally we hike with 3 or more), we knew that Alum Cave Trail would also have more hikers; however, if we went down Bullhead or Rainbow Falls Trail, we might have not seen anyone. We started ~09:30 after putting on our STABILicers (a brand of crampons for walking on ice & snow) in the parking lot; we knew that we would have ice and at least some snow.

I was really looking forward to this hike because I wanted to get more “hiking in the snow pictures” for my presentation at Wilderness Wildlife Week (WWW) on January 11th; because LeConte had ~30” snow 1.5 weeks ago, it should be a good day for pictures. Bob and I had hiked to LeConte ~3 years ago with icy conditions; I had also done this hike ~one year ago but ice was nominal. I assumed that there would be better pictures available today; I was not disappointed.

I was able to get many "ice pictures" for my WWW presentation but will share only three here. The first presented shows some of thick ice that we encountered. You'll note that the cable hand-hold is obviously not made for winter hikers, for it is present for only a fraction of the length of trail depicted.



In the second picture you'll note several reluctant and unprepared hikers that I had just passed; I noted one in particular who appeared to be quite scared. It was this young woman or one of her cohorts who asked a cohort if it was worth going on if one of them could be killed? I was glad to note that they discontinued their trek to LeConte and began retracing their steps; the state of the trail today was such that only experienced hikers with good equipment (i.e., top-notch crampons--I found hiking sticks to be particularly helpful too) should make this hike.



As we gained altitude, snow replaced ice on the trail. I was leading when Bob asked me to turn around and then step around a bend so that I was in full view; I was somewhat astonished when he sent this picture to me for I never realized how close I was to a rather steep drop-off. (Note: This picture was not added until 1/30/10.)



The last picture was made after Bob and I reached LeConte. To our surprise there was a group of teens eating at one of the picnic tables there; we chose to eat out of the wind on a porch of a cabin. Also to our surprise a few who we had passed arrived while we were eating lunch (although Bob and I never fell, some of these did--one said he walked on his knees when no guy-wires were available). While we were eating the group of teens passed below us; because their equipment suggested that they were novices, I assumed that they had come to LeConte via the Boulevard trail and I hoped that they would go down Bullhead or Rainbow Falls so we would not see them again (i.e., they appeared to be an accident about to happen).



I took only two pictures on the way down. Bob spent a bit of time helping a couple; the wife who had fallen a bit was most appreciative (husband did not communicate much). We tried to discourage several groups of hikers by warning them that the ice conditions were extremely severe without STABILicers or something comparable. Our advice appeared to bounce off one father with a teenage daughter and a son of ~8 years; however, I think his wife understood me. Again, although Bob and I had a very enjoyable hike, we had appropriate equipment and were experienced hikers. Unfortunately some folks do not understand that an element of danger can exist on this hike when it is icy, and particularly when they do not have good equipment. We hope that there will not be any report of 12/30 hiking accidents on the Alum Cave Trail; I would like to see some warning posted at trail head about how dangerous this trail can be in the winter if one does not have appropriate equipment.

Shortly before we finished our hike, we passed the group of teens that we had seen at LeConte; two young men were supporting a young woman who had sustained a knee injury. To our surprise they had gotten to LeConte via Alum Cave Trail; I am certain that members of that group sustained a number of falls prior to the one resulting in injury.

We arrived at my SUV ~17:00. With all the stops for pictures, helping and warning others, we did not break any speed records. In the parking lot there were two church vans; they were apparently waiting for the teens who were moving quite slowly with their injured cohort. I still worry about the family with the teen-age daughter and young son; the father in this family was truly devoid of common sense.