A little sore, but it was worth it

Seven of us hiked up Mt. LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Sunday, stayed at the lodge and hiked back down Sunday morning. It's a 5.7-mile hike and parts of it are pretty steep and rocky. Val and I didn't train beforehand, so we were the last ones to arrive at the lodge. We did it, though, and we loved the views. We stoped to take pictures several times. It's a good excuse to catch your breath.
Most of us didn't know each other at the start of the trip, but it was a great group. We fit together well.
I would recommend the trip to anyone, although I would warn light sleepers to bring earplugs for sleeping. The cabins are tiny and sound carries right through them.
The food isn't gourmet, but it is decent, and the views are spectacular.
I loved that it was 24 hours away from cell phones and the Internet. No news, no cares. It's deeply satisfying to sit on the porch and rock, even if fog rolls in and obscures the view. It softens everything nearby and cradles the cabin. It was as comforting as a hug.
But it does make the rocks slippery, so going down was a little scary, but Val and Leah and I stayed close together on the rocks and watched out for each other.
My goin' down muscles are much more sore than the goin' up muscles. Next year, Val and I will take some walks along the Shut In Trail to get in better shape.