LeConte Shelter Overnight Backpacking Trip

Grab a permit, let's spend the night at LeConte Shelter! It is $8 to book a permit for the shelter for one night. The plan is for me, and another hiker, to book the permits ahead of time. Each hiker attending will reimburse us the fee after the permits are purchased. I will send information for reimbursement after the permits are booked. Once paid, the $8 fee is non-refundable.

There are three trails that lead to LeConte from the Rainbow Falls parking lot: Rainbow Falls (6.5 miles), Trillium Gap (8.8 miles), and Bullhead Trail (6.8 miles). The elevation gain is around 3,900 feet for each trail. The elevation gain is based on the elevation profile in the Little Brown Book.

In the RSVP question, please write which trail you wish to hike in and out (up and down) Rainbow Falls, Trillium Gap, or Bullhead. Or you can answer, undecided.

For example:

• in Rainbow, out Trillium
• up Bullhead, down Bullhead
• undecided

I need volunteers to help with this hike. Please indicate with a number if you wish to volunteer.

1. Help to book permits for August 2nd on July 1st or July 2nd (I'm watching the backcountry website to see the exact date the permits will be available).
2. Lead hike in (up) Rainbow Falls, Trillium Gap, or Bullhead
3. Lead a hike out (down) Rainbow Falls, Trillium Gap, or Bullhead

For example:

• 1, in Bullhead, out Rainbow
• 2 and 3, up Trillium, down Rainbow
• 2, up Rainbow, down Trillium

Once the group is settled at the shelter, hikers are welcome to visit LeConte Lodge to enjoy the experience or to buy souvenirs such as water bottles, stickers, and T-shirts. If you plan to buy souvenirs, be sure to bring cash, or a credit card and ID. The LeConte Lodge gift shop is open from 9:00am- 10:00am and 12:00pm- 4:30pm.

LeConte Lodge also offers a sack lunch for $14.00. The sack lunch includes peanut butter and jelly oat bar, Propel grape drink mix, trail mix, fruit snacks, cheese crackers, Oreos, and 100% grass-fed beef sticks. The sack lunch is available to purchase from 12:00pm- 4:30pm.

Other activities at LeConte include visiting Cliff Tops or Myrtle Point. Sunset is best at Cliff Tops, and sunrise is best at Myrtle Point.

Sunday morning, we will leave after everyone has eaten breakfast and packed up. Again, hikers have the option of either going down Trillium Gap Trail, Rainbow Falls Trail, or Bullhead Trail.

Please bring all the gear needed for an overnight backpacking trip. Tents are not needed as everyone will be sleeping the in the shelter. I do recommend bringing earplugs to block out any outdoor or shelter noise.

Bring all necessary backpacking gear such as a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, food, snacks, fuel, backpacking stove, sleep clothes, etc. There are bear cables near the shelter for hanging food and other smelly items.

Please reach out if you have any questions about backpacking gear.