APPLES CONQUER MT. LeCONTE

Up We Go
One Step At A Time


Arewethereyet
Great Smokey Mountains


In a rare mid week adventure, the Apples this week added another chapter to their unique off season training regiment by traveling to the Great Smokey Mountains to climb Mt LeConte.

The climb, hosted by AGFHOF Don Bernitt and fellow Apple Patty Pender, saw the Apples complete the 13.4 mile trek up and down LeConte is just over 8 hours. In a first of its kind for the Apples, the hikers left base camp on the outskirts of Gatlinburg, TN under the curtain of darkness as they headed into the Great Smokey Mountains.

From its base where the Apples started, LeConte is the tallest mountain in the Eastern United States as well as the third highest peak in the Smokies. The climb, which had the Apples trek up 6.7 miles to "Cliff Tops" at an altitude of 6,555 feet was a challenge to say the least.

Along the way, and after the sunrise, the Apples were treated to spectacular views as they 3 times crossed a deep woods stream before finally approaching 'Rainbow Falls' "What more can you say?" asked Pender as she paused to take in the beauty of the falls and the colors of autumn now bursting in the Smokies.

4 hours into the hike, the Apples reached the summit of LeConte and as can be imagined, were again treated to an amazing view as they looked out at hundreds of miles of majestic mountains high in the Smokies.

Of course, what goes up must come down. After a brief stay at the summit to enjoy the view and a sandwich, Bernitt and Pender then turned their attention to the long trek back down the mountain. Fighting ice slicked patches along the trail, and with black bear droppings at all turns, the Apples methodically worked their way back to base camp and the comforts of civilization.

In what she first termed an "aggressive hiking challenge", Pender was asked at the bottom if perhaps the Apples had bitten off more then they could chew. "No, I wouldn't say that" she said before adding, "but I wont be having any desert today."

When Bernitt was asked why the Apples would endure the rigors of the climb, he said, "it was either this or the Detroit 1/2 Marathon, and we decided this would be easier." Bernitt's comments referred to the fact that Apple Team Trainer Sue Krawczyk ran the Detroit race this past weekend and then challenged the Apples to pony up a workout of proportional value.

And so it goes, with the 2009 season behind them, and with 2010 just a few short months away, the Apples this week found another way to train and stay in shape as they lay plans to make a run at the 2010 World Coed Softball Championship.

From the fields of Granny White Field, to the summit of Mt LeConte, it is again just a matter of time before we hear that now famous cheer.........

How bout them Apples !!


**Photos Below