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Deluge Unleashes LeConte Falls

5/22/2012

 
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LeConte Falls, my least favorite waterfall in the Smokies.
I hope everyone's enjoying a fine Tuesday.  It's been a gray day thus far at LeConte Lodge as we've been living in a cloud.  Just after lunch that cloud layer began offering us a gift of steady rain.  If you want to be an optimist, the good news is that I sincerely doubt anyone's hike up LeConte will be hindered by dust storms Tuesday.

The gray conditions have been offset by an interesting group of guests, which I'll tell you more about on Wednesday.

Monday's weather proved exciting for about 45 minutes.  Pulling my laundry off the line proved to be a sound decision as we experienced a grade-A, frog-strangling rain beginning about 4:15 p.m.  It didn't last long, but we endured a couple of bouts of small hail interspersed with the rain and lightning.  Within 5-10 minutes, the deluge turned our stairs leading down from camp to the dining room into "LeConte Falls," my least favorite waterfall in the Smokies.

Officially, we received 1.08 inches of rain very quickly, but it surely seemed like more.  Thank goodness most of our guests were already checked in safe and dry.  Although crew member Alan, returning to LeConte from off days, was forced to seek shelter in a small cave just down from the Pulpit on the Bullhead Trail.  He arrived no worse for the wear.  Our high temperature from Monday was 55 with a 42-degree low.

A hail storm on LeConte provides a sensory explosion.  You are bombarded with all the sound and visual aspects which you all can imagine at home.  The thing that impressed me the most (and I've never thought about before I began working up here) was the heightened sense of smell caused by the hail bruising the spuce and fir trees high on LeConte.  Although I'm glad I wasn't outside getting pounded like the trees, the hail didn't do any damage to them.  It did create a heavenly aroma as the spruce and fir scents wafted across the porch.

On Wednesday, unless something changes, I'm planning on introducing you to the elder of LeConte last night -- an 85-year-old gentleman from Louisiana with an interesting method of training for his hike.  Stay tuned.

Come see us (just bring your rain gear, a good idea regardless of the weather).  Happy trails.
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The pea-sized hail striking our roof provided a symphony of percussion.
doug y
5/22/2012 07:54:23 am

I hope that water headed for the dining hall managed to stay out ! I agree wholeheartedly with your comments about the aromas one can enjoy around the lodge; they're certainly most refreshing; I'm looking forward to hearing about the 85-yr old gentleman's training routine ! It should be interesting; I'm only 62 and I'm having to change the way I prepare for my hiking trips; On my very first visit to the lodge in 2004 I met an 80-yr old gentleman who inspired me to complete the hike up Alum; I hope I'm able at that age; I was wondering if any bears have been spotted lately up there; Here in London, Ky there's not much habitat for bears, but just a few days ago I spotted some black bear scat in my upper back yard, so I'm hoping to spot this critter should it hang around long enough, etc. Have a great week up there !

Linda Murphy
5/22/2012 01:56:42 pm

I do believe we were at the lodge last year with the 85 year old gentleman you will be introducing tomorrow. He is a wonderful man full of great stories and a wealth of infomation. Sorry we missed him this year as we will be coming up the last week in June. Looking forward to your comments tomorrow!

Juanita foust
5/22/2012 03:30:59 pm

I really do love to hear these stories about the mountains at the lodge you all have probably have the best job ever. I was up there may 16 the day ray was there on his 80th birthday he inspired me I am planning on coming back soon.i want to see myrtle point this time .looking forward to the information from the 85 yr old tomorrow.

Debi link
5/22/2012 09:17:12 pm

Send a LITTLE bit of that rain to Michigan my grass is drying out. But wait til after the weekend, please. Ohh boy what a rain storm. Hard to believe it was so nasty down there when it was beautiful here. The hikers always amaze me. I hope I'm hiking at that age.

Virginia Blady
5/23/2012 01:56:46 am

I am REALLY impressed with the pictures on this site. Great way to get the day started! I will admit, the "water fall" was interesting but I am very happy that it was not in Will's backyard....not so good!

I do so wish I could make the climb, but Betty tells me my lungs would not hold out. What a bummer! I will just have to follow your blogs and Betty's "stories" and enjoy the view from my computer. Too bad I can't ride a donkey or a lama to get up there. I know I could get down on my own!

Jamie
5/23/2012 02:39:01 am

We made it down Bullhead on Monday just before the deluge began after enjoying a perfect weather window at the top on Sunday/Monday. What a privilege it was to make it to the top and back with my parents, both in their early 70's, and then sit at the table with the 85-years young gentleman from LA. Great times!

Lynnda link
5/23/2012 05:17:20 am

That looks scary, but I enjoyed the report a lot.

Allison Block
5/23/2012 08:45:18 am

My friends and I day hiked up on Tuesday and it was good going up but 1/2 way down it started raining on us but I'm telling you saw some of the most beautiful waterfalls coming off mountain that I have ever seen this was our 2nd trip up to Lodge and it was wonderful eventhough it was foggy and rained.


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