Day 3: Bunions, Knees and Pots
We left camp at approximately 6:15 this morning to head to Charles Bunion and a beautiful view of the sunrise. I really didn’t want to go; I was cold, tired, and simply dreading it. I wanted to stay in bed and sleep some more. However, I told myself the previous night I was going and I wasn’t going to wimp out now.
The sunrise was beautiful, the colors awesome. I got some great shots with the camera and was very glad that I went after all. I was a bit upset at how the lay of the land was though. Charles Bunion sits in a bit of a valley and by the time the sun came up it was bright and yellow as opposed to the dim red sun I was expecting to see. While I got some good shots, Chuck got some good shots from the shelter as well.
Going was surely easier than coming back though. It was almost all downhill there, so naturally it was almost all uphill on the way back to the shelter. By the time we got back Chuck and Coy were waiting on the oil to cook pancakes. Both Chuck and Coy’s cakes turned out well, but the mix I had must have been old or something cause it turned out like crap. It must have been too old and stuck to the pan. I ended up having to scrub the pan to get the mix off.
Shortly after breakfast it was time to get going to Mt. LeConte. While it was only 5.3 miles, I was sore a good part of the trip. Going downhill my right knee hurt. Going uphill, my left knee hurt. I think it’s official; I’m falling apart. We got to camp around 2 pm and headed down to the lodge to get water before stopping at the overlook for some spectacular views of Newfound Gap and Gatlinburg.
BTW- The portapot SUCKED! Don’t use it, go down to the lodge and use the one there.
