Hello to everyone. We're sky high in the middle of another beautiful day on Mt. LeConte. The weather is delightful and temperature pitch perfect. Our high topped out at 61 Wednesday with a mild overnight low of 43. I fully expect that low to get chopped down over the weekend.
In today's update I aim to tackle the most consistently asked question of a LeConte Lodge crew member. Every one of us answers this question at least five times a week, and that may be a conservative estimate. "Do you live here or do you hike up and down every day?" It's certainly a fair question, and I'll try to explain how that all works from a crew member's perspective. I always enjoy the wonderment on a first-time hiker's face when they reach the lodge and have no inkling that anything would be up here on top of LeConte. Taking in all LeConte has to offer and trying to figure out how these "mountain people" make it work is a lot to soak up after a hard hike. The quick answer to the most asked question: Yes we do live up here except for eight days a month. We all live in crew quarters. As a general rule, most of the cabins above the dining room are guest quarters. Meanwhile, the cabins below the dining room are crew quarters. Sometimes we share a cabin, but we all have our own room. You know about the lack of electricity and connected bathroom before you come up to work, so that's not a big deal. We use kerosene lamps and headlamps in our cabins just like our guests. We also use the same restrooms and clean them every mid-morning, though they do see a lot of traffic. They're certainly the nicest restrooms in the East above 6,000 feet. Considering some of the above limitations dictated by the location, our crew quarters are fine setups compared to housing in many other seasonal jobs. All of us have our rooms decorated with photos, books and different mementos from home. We have our own space, which is something of a rarity in this lifestyle. In Antarctica, I had three roommates in a tiny space. Thus, I really like my room on LeConte. Even after working in some of the most magnificent spots in the nation, the view from my porch on LeConte ranks tough to beat. We're open from mid-March (March 19 this year) until the day before Thanksgiving. We do have a winter caretaker (last year and this winter that person will be J.P., who does a fine job for us) who stays up during the offseason--December, January and February--to look after the place. However, we are not open and have no guest services available during the winter. The crew usually hikes up in early March as it takes a couple of weeks to get the lodge ready and stocked for opening, especially if we have nasty weather. Each crew member gets eight days off each month. Almost without exception, we hike down for our days off. As long as there are enough crew members up to run the lodge operations, you can take all your eight days together or split them up, depending on your plans. While down we try to stock up on some luxuries hard to find on top of LeConte--salad, ice cream, okra and sweet mint tea being favorite examples for me. Some crew members head home to visit family on off days. Others hole up with friends. Others spend time in campgrounds, motels or in the backcountry during hiking trips. Some attend concerts or work limited days on other jobs if you can finesse the schedule. I plan to early vote on my October off days, while others will apply for absentee ballots and some will be down on Election Day in November. Our schedule does force you to plan to maximize your off-time. I can always tell how hectic my off days are by how much cable news and how many episodes of "Bonanza" I get to watch. If I watched enough to hum the "Bonanza" theme song when I return to the mountain (which irritates my fine coworkers to no end, especially if I also sing the words), then I at least got a little rest on my off days. In the days when the Huff family ran LeConte Lodge, crew members stayed up the entire season (though the season was a bit shorter with a lower guest capacity). While we enjoy being on LeConte, current crew members want no part of those "good old days." Off days make you better for your "on days." I hope that answers a few questions. Thanks for reading. Come up and see us. Happy trails.
Cassie
10/4/2012 09:40:17 am
I have a question. When I spent the night there I was a little
High on LeConte
10/4/2012 03:05:41 pm
Cassie,
Ron Adams
10/4/2012 09:45:28 am
One would think that a hiker would do a little research about LeConte before hiking all the way up there. I know for my first trip up, I read everything I could find on the trail, and the Lodge, before I hiked up. But thanks for sharing what the crew does and how they live. Many will find it interesting, I am sure.
Ron Adams
10/4/2012 09:46:26 am
I have spent quite a few nights up there, and I have yet to see a mouse in my cabin. Perhaps I am just a deep sleeper.
Brian N bama
10/4/2012 10:58:42 am
36 days until I get to come up again. Can't wait. Will be bringing my dad and uncle for their first trip up in may 2013.
Mary Teffeteller
10/4/2012 11:18:51 am
What is the expected high temperature for Monday? We are hiking up on Monday, for the day.
tomk in SC
10/4/2012 01:17:23 pm
Generally speaking, the temperature at the top will be about 20F lower than the temperature in Gatlinburg. If the Gatlinburg high is expected to be 60F, expect the high at the top to be about 40F. Same story with the lows. Sometimes the difference is a but smaller, but that's how she rolls. So, to guess MON, go to the Gatlinburg 5 day forecast, subtract 20F and make your plans.
FLAndy
10/4/2012 01:43:38 pm
You can get LeConte specific forecast here:
Jessica
10/4/2012 11:34:14 am
Random comment/question: I noticed last week the sign at Trillium Gap says "Brushy Mntn 0.2" but the Park trail map shows "0.4" for that "dead end" trail. Does this mean it is 0.2 until one "officially" reaches the mountain, but 0.4 is the length of the entire trail (meaning out and back is a total of 0.8)? (Thanks ahead)
Jacob
10/4/2012 02:24:53 pm
To get to where you would see good views, it is .4 miles. The sign is very misleading because it is definitely longer than .2 miles.
Tony Ga
10/4/2012 12:29:51 pm
We'll be up there about lunch time tomorrow. Looking forward to the hike.
doug
10/5/2012 02:00:39 am
You're so right Debi ! Life is so short. Live for the moment every day ! A change of pace is something that has always 'propelled' me forward, especially when I'm out in the forests, on some remote trail, and usually in the Smokies. I've hiked all 900 + or - of the trails in the Park, but when I return to trails I've seldom been on I feel like I'm on new ground. I hike alone, but yearn for a good hiking companion, nothing more. I think that later today I'll throw my gear into my vehicle {I keep it always at the ready and can be loaded up in four minutes !} and drive down to the Park for the weekend; There's a trail going from the "Sinks" back over to Metcalfe Bottoms that I want to return to. That's just one of the many I have on my list. It would be nice to share that with someone. On the subject of mice, I've never seen one at the lodge, but in the shelters along the A.T. thru the Park I've had numerous "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" with them.. My personal rule is to never bunk down on a spot in those shelters that is next to a wall; sleep nearer to the middle, and the mice won't bother you quite as much ! Looks like a fantastic weekend ahead. I might just do a day hike up to the lodge and back either Sat or Sun. Have a great weekend folks !
J workman
10/5/2012 03:18:04 am
Enjoying the pictures and changes in colors, will be up in two weeks for two nights and bringing three friends, and my wife , any special items you guys need?
Ron Adams
10/5/2012 06:11:34 am
I enjoyed your bit about where the crew sleeps, what they do, etc., Really interesting. I have wondered if the crew has trouble adjusting back to "real life" when the season ends. Is it hard to get used again to crowds, cars, noise? Any thoughts on this would be of interest to me...........
High on LeConte
10/5/2012 08:11:46 am
Dear Ron,
Mike
10/5/2012 07:31:54 am
On your off days how does everyone get back into town. I know everyone doesn't have a car waiting for them at the bottom of the hill. Do you have friends that come and get you.
High on LeConte
10/5/2012 08:21:33 am
Dear Mike,
Ron Adams
10/5/2012 08:23:44 am
Thanks for a kindly and quick response! I found what you said to be really interesting about the garish neon lights, and the sounds that seemed louder than before. I bet it would be a bit of a difficult transition coming back to the "outside," as you say. Again, thanks for your comments. Greatly enjoyed them. Comments are closed.
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January 2025
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