June in Highlands

June is surely one of the most beautiful months in Highlands.  Gardens are thriving, flowers are blooming everywhere, and those hot days of July and August with their hit-or-miss afternoon thunderstorms have not yet arrived.  My mileage has increased to a reliable 25 or so per week now, including weekly climbs up Big Bearpen and weekend long runs of ten miles.  I have even had time to include some 400-meter intervals and some short hill sprints that my friend Skip told me about.

At the same time, life is more than running, and this time of year we start thinking about Mt. LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains, which we often climb in May or early June when temperatures are still cool and the myrtle is blooming.  It is a beautiful and special place, accessible from four trails that climb to its towering 6,593-foot peak.  The Alum Cave trail is our favorite way to the top, with views like this for most of the way:

Last year we were even lucky enough to see the llamas that deliver weekly supplies via the Trillium Gap trail to LeConte Lodge at the top.  The climb did not seem to faze them in the least.

We are planning on making this excursion, weather permitting, on Father's Day, and in preparation we have been ensuring that our new hiking boots are broken in by hiking some shorter local trails on days when we do not run.  Thursday I climbed Sunset once again (see post of May 28), this time with Martha.  Mountain laurel was still blooming, although it has passed its peak down at our house, petals scattered on the grass like confetti after a June wedding.  And both varieties of rhododendron.

I almost stepped on this little fellow, which reminded me of my snail-like pace on recent long runs, the same pace I anticipate setting during our hike.

Today we tackled the more ambitious Whiteside Mountain trail, which peaks out at only 4,931 feet and takes only part of an afternoon to complete rather than all day.  I regretted leaving my camera in the car - there were some beautiful and unusual small purple trillium blooming, and the view of Whiteside Cove seemed especially gorgeous.

But we are ready.  Running and hiking complement one another.  This time of year they seem like different churches a worshiper might choose to attend.  Like the Duke in As You Like It, we look forward to finding . . .

. . . Tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,

Sermons in stones, and good in everything.