I hope 1 day i will hike up to c this beautful place in person.

Ahh so jealous of the day you had yesterday :) Hope today is as good.

Kent: You said it quite well and truly ! That's precisely what I feel when I'm in the Park camping, hiking, or backpacking. Not a sense of order and calm, an OVERWHELMING sense of order and calm ! Yes, indeed !! When I'm approaching the Park and can spot Mt. Leconte, usually from the main drag in Pigeon Forge, that exact feeling begins to take over my heart and mind. I can't explain that adequately to anyone but those who read this blog and share my passion for those activities. I honestly never really feel truly and completely alive until I'm in those glorious mountains, surrounded by natural wonders that reduce me to insignificance when compared to them. People talk about going to that "big golf course in the sky", or that "race track in the sky", or something when they die, but I won't get into a religious discussion here. I will say that I know where I'll be going !! With each passing day now I can feel or at least sense the coming of spring weather and temperatures, and although I'm an experienced and knowledgeable cold weather hiker and camper, I am looking forward to this season with great enthusiasm. I got to thinkng about all the nice, thoughtful, and lodge-loving people who are frequent on this site. I think it would be a logistical difficulty to organize and conduct, but I think that on a particular summer day when the daylight hours are near their longest wouldn't it be great to have a "lodge lovers hike" up the mountain with as many readers, lodgers, and simply hikers participating !? There may be no one who even agrees with me, and it would be difficult to arrange, but personally I think it'd be at least an interesting event. Perhaps that would be too much to ask or assemble, and if so, but I thought it was an interesting thought for a moment, with the best of intentions on my part. I was wondering the other day if there are many wildlife sightings on the mountain during the winter. When I'm on one of my cold-weather excursions, sometimes in a blowing snowfall and cold temperatures, I am guilty of not always looking for signs of wildlife, although it's always very pleasant to spot anythng that has ventured forth on such days. I have only seen those falcons three or four times in all the year I've hiked there, but they are magnificanet birds ! G'day all.

Doug,I would love to meet other like minded people from this blog, and hike up to the Lodge. Although I am not a winter hiker, just spring, summer snd fall, because I live in Florida, but if you can arrange something for the spring/summer time, count me in!! I may have some room in a reservation I have for July, if it works out, I will post it here to see if there are any takers.

I would definitely be up for such a gathering, as well. Great idea!

Ahh-hh! Thank you JP for todays blog/thoughts.My husband and I are approaching 80 and can no longer camp/hike due to bad health. We depend on folks like you ,to enjoy the mountains along with our memories.God bless you in your adventures ,we will miss you when you are gone..

Early to mid May. The section between Trillium Gap and Brushy Mountain is absolutely covered/carpeted in blossoms

Hey Doug y your experience at the park and on the mountians is spiritual which, in many cases, has nothing to do with religion. Many religions have their own agenda. That spiritual experience comes easier when you can get away from life's responsibilities for a while. I love the mountians and the park. That spiritual experience I get there fills me with peace and joy. Sometimes when I'm hiking and it's so quiet and beautiful I can be brought to tears. I try to take this experience with me outside the park with mixed success. Some days good other days not so good.

I am not a machinery Ford or General motors.

I am sorry that picture is not like me and glad that I am a various case.

I am sorry this part is not right who try........ for flying but the bird can not fly the door is close the bird eats the fox or the wolf.

his spirit can still fly.

Organizng a day hike up to the lodge and back could be difficult, but I think it could be done; naturally, not everyone would be able to schedule to participate, and that bothers me as I would want everyone to be there that reads this blog and posts comments. of course, that's just reality and we'll have to see how this idea develops. MaryF: I definitely would be interested in a July spot. David C: yes, my many experiences in the Park are spiritual indeed; I was taking a break once on a trail that runs from the Laurel Falls trailhead {across the road from it actually} across Huskey Gap, and down to Elkmont campground [this is a good hike that requires only a trolley car ride ($1) from Elkmont to that trailhead] and as I sat there I', not afraid to admit that tears did come to my eyes ! Such a great sense of peace ! Have a good day all !