Good afternoon from a soggy LeConte Lodge. We've got lots of news to sort through today, but I'll start with the weather first. In an unassuming fashion, sunrise eased into the room and let itself in to start our day.
Yesterday we only received 0.08 inches of rain--not bad for a forecasted 80 percent chance of precipitation. Most of the day was cloudy, but we were kind of ahead of the game given the forecast. The high was 64 with a low of 55. After holding off most of the morning, we've seen steady rain since lunch. I'll continue with congratulations to Larry Russell, who often reads High on LeConte. Larry finished his 99th and 100th hikes to LeConte Lodge Sunday afternoon. That's right, Larry doubled the Alum Cave Bluff Trail (20 miles, partially in the rain) to hit the century mark on LeConte hikes. Larry's 43 hikes to LeConte Lodge in 2014 alone put him in rare company. Larry is a retired police officer from Covington, Tenn., (way out in West Tennessee) and is always a big help to LeConte rookie hikers. I was also glad to meet Debi and her family this afternoon. A frequent reader here, Debi journeyed from Michigan, will be staying with us soon and chose to get in an extra day trip up LeConte today. We did have a bear sighting in camp a couple of nights ago with no issues reported. However, we welcomed 15 members of the Crockett party last night, and wisely bears steered clear of LeConte Lodge. They must have heard about the namesake. Two of the Crockett party members, one of them 70 years old, have made the overnight trip to LeConte Lodge for 21 consecutive years. I'll wrap up with a little celestial news. We're expecting the most impressive "supermoon" of the year tonight. A supermoon appears larger and more brilliant because the full moon is closest to Earth. If weather prevents us from seeing this supermoon, there is another expected Sept. 9. Also, the Perseid meteor shower takes place in the predawn hours Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The brightness of the supermoon may make viewing the Perseids more difficult. However, the most impressive meteor shower I've ever seen on LeConte came thanks to the Perseids in 2010, when I saw about 75 meteors in two hours. It was spectacular and well worth the interruption of sleep. That about wraps up Sunday's news, glad almost all of it was good. Happy trails. Hello from LeConte Lodge. This afternoon I'll continue introducing you to the LeConte crew as Jeanie Lawley takes the stage in her first season on the mountain. However, first I'll update you on weather conditions.
The forecast today called for an 80 percent chance of rain. As of mid-afternoon (aside from a few light sprinkles), we're still living in the 20 percent on top of the mountain. We've not seen a great deal of sun, mostly clouds, but we've also avoided the washout of Friday morning. Friday's high was 62 degrees with an overnight low of 55 and 1.22 inches of rain. I expect we'll see more rain this weekend. However, every dry hour is more time for our guests to arrive safely and get checked in at the lodge before getting soaked. On to Jeanie's introduction, who was kind enough to provide the following. ---------- Well, as Nathan said, my name is Jeanie Lawley. My husband, Pat, and I live in Mt Olive, Ala. We've been married 41 years, have a son, Daniel, and a daughter-in-law, Nealy. They are a great blessing to us! I retired from AMERICAN Cast Iron Pipe Company in Birmingham, Ala., on March 3 after 25 years and "reported" for duty here on the mountain on March 14. Pat and I love living in the Smoky Mountains. It's been a dream come true. A friend told us about LeConte Lodge in 1997. I called and made reservations for the 1998 season. We fell in love with this mountain and the Smokies in general. We've been coming every year since. We love to camp in Cades Cove and hike the different trails there, also. I love being outdoors. I enjoy participating in 5k and half marathon races. One of my favorite/hardest races was the Doughnut Dash to benefit Children's Hospital in Birmingham. We had to run 2 miles, eat a dozen doughnuts and run 2 more miles to the finish line - all in an hour! My friend, Melissa, my daughter-in-law, Nealy, and I DID IT! We got the t-shirt and the medal! The medal was the main thing! One day I hope to hike the Appalachian Trail - all the way from Georgia to Maine! I've seen the beginning at Amicalola Falls, Ga., and climbed the steps, walked a little on the approach trail...who knows? I like to crochet, play guitar, travel and especially love spending time with family, friends and my church family...miss you all! Okay, enough about me! Put on your hiking boots and come on up to see us! ---------- Thanks to Jeanie for providing her introduction. I hope your weekend is off to a fine start. Happy trails. Hello to all of you from a waterlogged LeConte Lodge. It's been raining fairly steady since about 6:30 a.m. We've had a couple of brief respites this afternoon when we could see our neighbor mountaintops, though the valley was still covered with clouds.
The forecast for the rest of the weekend remains rainy, so be careful on the slick rocks and logs if you're coming up to see us. Thursday's temperatures were about what you'd expect for early August, a high of 70 degrees (the warmest day of the young month) and low of 53. We saw just a trace of rain when I checked early this morning. The rain gauge will tell a different tale tomorrow. When I headed to work this morning about 4:45 a.m., I could see Pigeon Forge gleaming in the valley. However, you could also feel the cloud layer hovering just above the summit of LeConte, precluding any early morning moon or star gazing. By 5:30 a.m., the cloud layer descended on the mountain, enveloping us in an unusually opaque darkness. I felt like I was swimming through a cloud of octopus ink plunged 2,000 feet deep in an Atlantic Ocean trench. In other news, I spoke with a gentleman the other day who used to haul food up to LeConte Lodge on horses and mules back in the 1960s. I don't think he had been on the mountain since the 1980s and was surprised to see what has changed (and what has not). He told several interesting tales about the route the horses followed from Cherokee Orchard up Rainbow Falls Trail to unload supplies at the lodge. He used to love staying over and particularly looked forward to meals at LeConte Lodge, all cooked over a woodburning stove fueled by deadfall hauled out of the woods by horses and mules. One story I particularly enjoyed concerned Ambrose, the LeConte Lodge mule from the 1960s. I've heard tales before about Old Joe (Jack Huff's horse, which he trusted enough to ride up to Cliff Tops) and Blacky (the LeConte workhorse from the early 1970s), but I'd never heard any Ambrose stories. You see, I've found mules are kind of like cats--people possess no tepid feeling about the critters. You either really like them or are not a big fan of mules. I asked the logical question to this gentleman, "Was Ambrose a good mule?" At the time of the question, this fellow was walking up the steps from the dining hall away from me. Upon hearing me inquire about the worthiness of Ambrose, this man wheeled around in about 0.0073 seconds and quickly answered. He acted like I'd questioned the sanctity of his mother. "Lord, yes!" he said. "He pulled a great many logs off this mountain." All these decades later, he was certainly still solidly in the Ambrose Fan Club. Happy trails to you and Ambrose, wherever he may be. Good afternoon to everyone. As she wrote yesterday, Allyson has headed down for a few days off. This is Nathan, and I'll be filling in until she returns.
Congratulations to those of you who hiked up today. This is one of the prettiest days of the entire summer. With a high of 65, low of 48 and hit-and-miss sunshine, Wednesday was nice too--but not as pretty as today. We've had more uninterrupted sun than I remember in a while. The clouds seem to keep building in the valley, but they've been slower than usual overtaking us. The forecast sounds like we might be in for a wet weekend, so make sure you pack appropriately for rain showers. I noticed thousands of bees this morning while doing my chores around the lodge. That made me think of a visit I had with Cookie (Huff) Bowling a few years ago, whose parents started the lodge as we know it. Cookie grew up on LeConte and told me she would catch in a jar white-faced bumblebees which never stung her. Our assortment of bees also seem to be strident pacifists, which makes them even better neighbors. We also never catch them as in the old days; they're strictly "free-range" bees. That being said, it seems like down below the late summer-early fall brings out the meanness in yellowjackets. If you do have serious bee allergies, remember to bring your Epipen if you hike. You might be a long way away from help. I particularly like to watch the honeybees. While the above is not a great photo, you might be able to see below the accumulation of orange pollen on their hind legs as they hopscotch from flower to flower. They remind me of little cowboys toting saddlebags of pollen. At any rate, the lodge wildflowers are at peak this week--with plenty of beautiful specimens of monkshood, crimson beebalm and coneflowers--a veritable pollen-palooza. Come on up and see us. Happy trails. Good morning from the lodge. There was just a little bit of color as the sun was making its ways above the ridge line. We are experiencing a little bit of cloud coverage, but that should burn off and make for a beautiful day. Chris and I will be hiking down to enjoy some days off. We will be working our favorite Farmers Market on Saturday and visiting with old crew members from the past. We love getting the phone calls from past crew telling us they are coming through town with their new born babies. I get to play Auntie and then give them back when it is time for a diaper change. I am just kidding, well, sorta. However, the connections we have made on this mountain will always be cherished. From our crew members to the amazing guests we get to see year after year. We have met some wonderful people and our lives will be enriched forever with those connections.
Now, on to the daily weather report. The high yesterday was 63º with a low of 47º. We are currently witnessing some cloud coverage, but that is expected to lift and make way for a gorgeous day up top. I hope everyone has a great weekend and happy hiking. There is a layer of cloud hanging over us this morning, making for a chilly start to the day. The high yesterday was only 59º with a low of 52º. We listened to the rain last night as nighttime settled in. I have found that I really like the sound of the rain on the rooftop. When that is the only sound you hear, it is so peaceful. I enjoy taking a moment each day and capturing the sounds of silence. I know that will be a rare moment when I get to the lowlands. I am trying to pause at least once a day and make mental notes of life on LeConte.
Yesterday was what perfect days are made of. Cool temperatures, sunny skies, and flowers blooming everywhere. The high was 68º with a low of 46º. The hikers decided yesterday was better for a day hike. Can't say I blame them. It was spectacular.
We are starting to see our number of guests drop again. It is that time of year when the families are at home getting the kids ready for the first day of school. We notice less large groups and more couples for this time of year. This is also the time of year we see the weather patterns shift. The rainy days seem to be replaced with cool and sunny days. We are coming into my favorite time on the mountain. I often tell people that September on the mountain is more like October in the lower elevations. We don't have much vegetation that changes color, so it is more cooler temperatures and crisp skies than fall colored foliage. We were braced for a busy Saturday which never got that busy. I guess a lot of kids are starting back to school sooner than I thought. The day started out with some rain, but shaped up to be a nice day. The high was 62º with a low of 48º. We were treated to some thunderstorms, out in the distance, last night. It made for a fabulous sunset. I will miss being able to look out my kitchen door and seeing some of the best sunsets in the southeast.
“We can never have enough of nature. We must be refreshed by the sight of inexhaustible vigor, vast and titanic features, the sea-coast with its wrecks, the wilderness with its living and its decaying trees, the thunder-cloud and the rain.”- Henry David Thoreau As the dining room fills up with guests coming down for their fill of pancakes and Tang, I am sitting in my room wrapped up in a blanket and typing my morning post. The nights and early mornings are still chilly. I am not used to wearing my down jacket in early August. My eyes see the summer flowers but by my body is telling me it is fall because of the cool nights. The low last night 52º with a high of 60º. We are gearing up for a Saturday on the mountain. We have seen a lot of folks getting their last minute family hikes in before the kids start back to school.
I guess fall really is just around the corner. August 1st already? This season is flying by. It won't be long before the crew sends off their warm weather clothing. Chris and I are already starting to sift through our clothing and figure out what we won't need on the mountain any more. Who knew one could accumulate so much stuff over twelve years on a remote mountain top in a national park. If the weather continues down the path it is taking, we will need our cold weather gear from here on out. The high yesterday was 58º with a low of 48º. I hope it doesn't deter the humming birds from visiting their favorite flower on the mountain. They have been aflutter around the bee balm. I think we can plan on another couple of weeks of flowers. The lower temps don't seem to be phasing them.
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LeConte LodgeWelcome to the official blog of LeConte Lodge. We hope you find the information provided here both helpful and enjoyable. Thank you for visiting the site, and we hope to see you on the mountain! Archives
April 2024
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