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Aug. 31, 2014

8/31/2014

 
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English Mountain, the most distant peak pictured, rises out of the morning fog draped in the valley.
Hello to all of you High on LeConte readers.  We stayed plenty busy yesterday on a pretty, pre-Labor Day Saturday.  I had to stay up late to count our sales reports, which should make all those folks in the Sevierville office happy.  I'm happy we have more room in the merchandise storeroom (and fewer boxes stacked sky-high waiting to fall and crunch my bald head).

We ended up getting just 0.36 inches of rain Saturday with a 71-54 high and low.  The Sunday forecast was not as promising, but it's been a nice day thus far.  I hope all our overnight guests arrive before we get any precipitation.  It was a little cloudy earlier this afternoon, so I started up the gas pump to counter the sluggish solar pump and get our wonderful spring water headed uphill to be treated in the holding tanks.  Of course, that guaranteed that the sun would pop back out.

We'll be bidding August adios tonight and turning the page to September.  August has been a nice month up here, albeit with some sporadic heavy rain.  The supermoon earlier this month was a great highlight for me, as was some homemade baklava from some nice guests in Indiana which arrived via llama.  I understand we are to get another viewing of the supermoon during the September full moon.  Even if it's not as brilliant, I'm hoping for a clear night.  My Granny told me many years ago about the old timers predicting how many snows we would have in a winter by counting the fogs of August.  I didn't keep a close tally, but if there's anything to that J.P. should have some snow to kick around this winter.

Allyson mentioned last week about how she enjoyed September on LeConte.  She's exactly right.  I think September is the most underrated month of the year on LeConte.  It's odd, but it's also one of our slowest months of the season.  Family vacations are in the rearview mirror, and the leaf-peepers haven't yet arrived in the Smokies in September. 

Meanwhile, up top, we'll get started on our autumn long before our friends in the valley.  We'll also, on average, see drier weather with cooling temperatures but probably not early flurries (usually those come in October on top of LeConte).  The visibility should clear up more often as we leave the haze behind and allow us to see clear across the Tennessee Valley to the Cumberland Mountains--a rare sight in summer.

We've also been lucky to welcome back some faces from LeConte past in August, from former crew members, chaplains and one of the First Kids of LeConte.  Just last night, we were happy to host Barbara Brown, daughter of former LeConte Lodge managers Herrick and Myrtle Brown.  The Browns ran the lodge during parts of the 1960s and 1970s and are well thought of by their former employees.  Herrick has passed away, but we pass along a hello from high on LeConte to Myrtle, who lives in North Carolina.  Their daughter, Barbara, told me stories of growing up with LeConte as her summer playground.

Thanks to all the nice folks who've come to visit us in August.  Come on back in September and see why we like it so much on top of LeConte.  Happy trails.

doug y link
8/31/2014 08:09:17 am

Ah Nathan, thanks again for your comments. And the photo of English Mountain is a very familiar one but one I never tire of seeing; it's one of the best views from up there. Come this Thursday I won't be able to access the blog for a few days but it is nonetheless in very good hands. "leaf-peepers", eh !? Nothing at all wrong with being one ! G'day

High on LeConte
9/1/2014 08:36:56 am

Doug,

Here's hoping you have a speedy recovery. I hope your recuperation progresses nicely. Have a good day.

Nathan

Elisabeth
8/31/2014 09:05:04 am

great commentary again today, thanks. I too make homemade baklava from a secret family recipe (smile). I will try to bring some up before the season ends for you all. Until then, we plan to visit you for lunch on the 18th......looking forward to that. My very first visit to LeConte last year wasn't until October, so I am excited to see it in Sept!!! Have a wonderful fall season and see you in a few weeks (if we have any extra grub from our trip, at that point, we will leave it for the staff!)

elaine
8/31/2014 09:08:16 am

Always enjoy the blog when you are in charge, Nathan. Can I assume from today's comments that our J.P. will be back this winter, or is that just wishful thinking on my part? With three of our faves leaving, it would be nice to have some familiarity with J.P. returning.

High on LeConte
9/1/2014 08:39:24 am

Elaine,

Thanks for the kind words. Last I heard J.P. was returning for winter caretaking duties. Have a good day.

Nathan

Tim
8/31/2014 11:46:23 am

Does slow in sept mean people could get rev. For a night at the last minute?

High on LeConte
9/1/2014 08:41:37 am

Tim,

I imagine we'll still be booked solid through September. Once in a great while someone will cancel at the last minute and a dayhiker could walk right into a cabin on LeConte. However, that rarely happens. The best course of action is to call our office and try to get in on a cancellation. Thanks for the interest and good luck.

Nathan

Rebecca
8/31/2014 12:08:11 pm

Thanks Nathan for the beautiful picture of English Mountain. Always a beautiful view from the Boulevard Trail. You do such a good job with the posts, will miss your perspective of things up top. Mr Doug, good thoughts coming your way for a speedy recovery after surgery!

doug y link
8/31/2014 02:11:50 pm

thank you.

Matt Sheppick
8/31/2014 01:02:35 pm

I am hiking up tomorrow(labor day) with some friends for a quick day trip and have some extra pack space. Would you all like for me to bring anything up? However, I need to know by 6am tomorrow.

Jan
8/31/2014 01:33:23 pm

Number of fogs in August tells you the number of snows? That's a new one! If that holds true in Ohio too... we're gonna have quite a few, counting one right now! At least where I live. The good ole' Farmers Almanac says we're in for a wicked winter, so JP will love it for sure!
Love the photo today. And I don't understand why people don't go out as much in September... they are missing out!!! Thanks for the great post!!


Comments are closed.
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