The most spectacular part of the Alum Cave Bluffs Trail is reached when the climb leaves the connecting ridge and begins to climb the steep western slopes of the peak. Cables are strung along the rocks by the trail to aid hikers when the snow piles up or when ice smothers the trail.

This is but one of the many small streams and rivulets that make up the headwaters of Trout Branch, Bearpen Hollow, and Cole Creek. Each of those streams were once used as routes to gain access to Mt. LeConte, but today, you have to really, really want to go that way, as all the old paths have disappeared beneath the jungle-like growth of rhododendron, dog hobble, and laurel.

This is the point where the Alum Cave Bluff trail passes beneath the prominence of Cliff Top. It can be very treacherous when the ice and snow piles up so deep that you have to dig down to reach the cables. However, once you round this point, you're just a short distance from the top of the climb.

The final climb before turning the corner onto the main ridge of Mt. LeConte.

We're here! Gretch leads the crew around the final bend, soon leaving the Alum Cave Bluff trail behind as we drop down to the Mt. LeConte Lodge.

It's grey, it's very windy, but luckily, it's not very cold. We decide to drop in for a visit with the folks that caretake the Lodge during the winter months, providing daily weather updates from the nearly 6,600 ft. elevation of the rustic, weather-worn Lodge. I noticed that the log showed that the temps had dropped to -8 on Monday night, Dec. 22.

We enjoy some tasty and very welcome hot chocolate while catching up on the latest news from the guys that maintain the Lodge.

Not only do the guys at the Lodge deliver daily weather reports and maintain the grounds of the Lodge, they also provide search and rescue services on an unfortunately frequent basis. We heard some news about the recent fatalities on LeConte - a heart attack victim and a victim of exposure.

Here's a link to a previous LeConte trip in which the gang assisted in a med-evac under a bit more severe conditions - near zero temps, hurricane force winds and waist deep snow.

Warmed up, refreshed and ready to head on up to Cliff Top, we gathered our stuff and ventured back out into the wind and mist that was sweeping across the peak. By the way, one thing that the guys at the Lodge don't get enough of is fresh fruit - we like to take 'em some treats when we drop in for a visit.

OK - what's next? Let's go to Cliff Top and see what some real wind looks like!