WOMEN’S GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS HIKING RETREAT

Esbenia Overbeck

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Disclaimer: This trip is rated Moderate (3). Participants should be capable of hiking up to 5-8 hours and up to about 11 miles per day, with as much as 3,000 in elevation gain and loss.

• Overview

  Join us on our Women’s Great Smoky Mountains Hiking Retreat! Enjoy three days of beautiful mountain views, a private tour of the Best of the Smokies, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience hiking up to Leconte Lodge. 

  Gatlinburg:

  Our adventure begins in Gatlinburg, a charming town nestled at the base of the Smoky Mountains. We'll stay in a comfortable hotel and enjoy the town's many restaurants and shops. While in Gatlinburg, we'll meet our fellow travelers and enjoy a night of relaxation before setting out on our hiking adventure.

  LeConte Lodge:

  After a day of hiking in the Smokies, we'll spend a night at LeConte Lodge, a rustic mountain retreat located high atop Mount Le Conte. The lodge features cozy accommodations, delicious meals, and stunning views of the surrounding mountains. We'll spend our evening enjoying the lodge's amenities, including a communal dining room, rocking chairs on the porch, and a short hike to Cliff Tops for sunset.

  ***We reserve the option to modify trip itineraries at the discretion of our guide as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, or other unforeseen incidents

• Itinerary

  Day 1: Arrivals

  Welcome to the Beautiful Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Plan on arriving today and checking into the hotel in Gatlinburg. We will have a meet and greet around 6 p.m.

  *** Dinner is not included on Day 1 or Day 2. Dinner suggestions or recommendations will be provided in our information packet.

  Day 2: Guided Tour of the Best of the Smokies

  7:00 -8:00 a.m. Breakfast at our Hotel

  9:00 Shuttle pick up for our guided tour, Best of the Smokies.

  This morning our guide will provide us with an array of hiking options, from hikes with waterfalls and views to history strolls and to stops at scenic vistas for photos. Your adventure might combine multiple short experiences, or one long hike that covers it all! We will pick the best adventure for you; your only job will be to follow your guide on the adventure of a lifetime. Picnic lunch with a deli sandwich/wrap, chips, and cookies included. Duration: 7-8 hours / Difficulty: Your Choice

  We will likely return to the hotel around 4 p.m. The rest of the evening will be free time. You can explore the town, dine out or dine in and relax to prepare for our journey to Leconte Lodge the next day.

  Day 3: Hike to Leconte Lodge via Alum’s Cave Trail

  7:30 am. Breakfast

  8:30 am. Checkout

  8:45 am. Shuttle pick up

  9:15 am. Begin our Hike to Leconte

  We start our adventure at the Alum Cave Trailhead.

  Although strenuous on the ascent, we will make frequent stops as needed for water breaks and to enjoy some of the views on our way. At the lower portion, we will see Alum Cave Creek and the Arch Rock. We will stop at the Alum Cave Bluff (an excellent overlook) at 2.3 miles. Here we can take a break to have our lunch or snack. At the upper portion of the trail, below Cliff Top, is a narrow cleft across a steep open slope with cables installed for handholds.

  Once at Leconte Lodge, we will check in and relax or explore for a few hours.

  Dinner is at 6:00 p.m. You will hear the Dinner bell, and we will meet in the Dining Room.

  After dinner, if the weather permits, we will take a short hike to Cliff Tops to enjoy the sunset.

  Day 4: Descent to Newfound Gap via the Boulevard Trail and a portion of the Appalachian Trail to Newfound Gap.

  6:30 am. Short hike to Myrtle Point to see Sunrise (optional)

  8:00 am. Breakfast

  9:15 – 9:30 am We begin our descent on The Boulevard Trail

  The Boulevard Trail is a rolling trail following a narrow ridge with steep forested slopes on both sides; the trail is steep at the beginning descent from the lodge. If we are not too tired, there is an exciting side trail just before the junction with the Appalachian Trail, which leads to the famous Jumpoff. The Jumpoff provides views of Charlie’s Bunion and upper Greenbrier Cove. (Optional) We will hike our last 2.7 miles on the Appalachian Trail to Newfound Gap. **** If you did not bring a sandwich or a snack for your descent hike, you may purchase a sandwich or a snack a la carte from the Lodge before leaving. Otherwise, make sure to have plenty of snacks on this adventure.

  Our descent hike will be approximately 8.1 miles and a net descent of 2,700 feet. Don’t expect it to go down constantly; this is a rolling trail.

  Hopefully, we will be done around 3:00 p.m.

  3:00 – 3:30 p.m. Shuttle will pick us up at Newfound Gap and drive us back to our vehicles at the Hotel.

  Farewell

• What's Included?

  · 2 Nights at a 3.5 STAR hotel in Gatlinburg, shared with another person. (Double room) which Includes Breakfast Days 2 & 3

  · 1 Night at Leconte Lodge, this stay Includes Dinner and Breakfast

  · Guided Tour of the Best of the Smokies

  · Lunch Saturday and Sunday

  · Guided Tour of the Best of the Smokies

  · Transportation to and from the trailhead for our hike to Leconte Lodge

  · All Tips for guide are included

• What's Not Included?

  · Airfare

  · Airport transportation,

  · Alcoholic beverages except where indicated in the itinerary,

  · Dinner on arrival day (day 1), and dinner on day 2.

THIS RETREAT IS FULL

If you have any questions, Please fill out the form below and I will get back to you as soon as possible!