Winter Hikes on Mt. Le Conte - 2 Options - 16 / 15 miles - Strenuous

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QUALIFICATIONS
You should be comfortable hiking a 2.0-3.0 mph pace, and regularly hiking 8-10 miles with 2000-3000 feet of elevation change. If so, it's a good opportunity to stretch your distance a bit and add some increased elevation gain, which may open up more hiking events for you.

MEETING LOCATION
Everyone will meet Sunday morning at 9:00 sharp at the Rainbow Falls parking area, near the rest rooms. You may have to use the overflow parking area a bit further down the road.

DETAILS

Option 1 - Trillium / Bullhead - 16 miles +/-3800' - Difficult (Red arrow)

Hikers will hike about 3.5 miles up Trillium to Grotto Falls, and then continue another 2 miles up to the Brushy Mtn junction, gaining about 2200' at 440 fpm. They will then hike South on Trillium for about 3.5 miles to the junction with Rainbow Falls, climbing another 1500', before topping out near the lodge. We'll likely grab a lunch outside the Le Conte lodge, depending upon the weather (dress warmly). Then we'll begin our descent to the Rainbow Falls junction, and take the Bullhead trail SE for 6.1 miles back to the parking lot, dropping 3800 feet along the way. Hikers should be off trail around 5:00.

Option 2 - Trillium / Rainbow Falls - 15 miles +/-3800' - Difficult (Blue dots)

O2 folks will follow the O1 directions until reaching the lodge. After lunch they will drop to the Rainbow Falls junction and turn north-west dropping 1500' feet over the next 3 miles to reach Rainbow Falls. Hikers will then continue down to the parking lot, descending another 1900' to the TH. Hikers should be off trail around 5:00.

CAUTION
It's possible to have freezing weather and snow occur on Le Conte at any time during the winter. Carry an extra layer of insulation, and perhaps a dry shirt to change into if necessary, and whatever else you might need to stay warm.

** Depending on conditions on the trail, we may require mini-spikes to participate. **

WHAT TO BRING
We always suggest carrying the 14 essentials when going onto the woods. You can download a pdf file here that discusses these essentials. https://db.tt/6TXGHbeTsg

Because it’s the Smokies, we always need to be mindful of the weather as the seasons change, and bring an extra layer of insulation and a windproof/waterproof outer layer to be safe.

Bring a headlamp in case we are delayed for any reason.

NAVIGATION AIDS
Trillium - LeConte Loops Map => https://tinyurl.com/y5fuzl4j

O1 - Trillium-Bullhead Profile => https://tinyurl.com/y4b5ojkt

O2 - Trillium-Rainbow Falls Profile => https://tinyurl.com/yy3hmfd9

Leconte Hikes .gpx file => https://tinyurl.com/yyv6r7dr
[download only for import into a navigation program]

Trail Slope Key => https://db.tt/Z9fgt6Ghbx