High On LeConte
  • Home
  • Daily Posts
  • LeConte Team
  • FAQ's
  • Trail Guide
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer

July 13, 2013

7/13/2013

 
Picture
Morning on LeConte. The solar panel faces east and the damp clothes on the line await the sun.
Good afternoon to you all.  This is Nathan, and I'll be writing reports for a few days as Chris and Allyson take some time off.  First off, I've had the pleasure of meeting several High on LeConte readers, some for the first time, in the last few days.  It was nice visiting with you all.

While it wasn't exactly weather fit for a Beach Boys' song, Friday was the first day in July that we didn't record any rain.  There was some sun, sandwiched with hearty portions of clouds--much like today.  Friday's high reached 63 with an overnight low of 49.

While I was home Tuesday I decided to pick some blackberries.  I've always enjoyed blackberry picking since I was little and my mom would take us and make a cobbler--if we were productive enough.  With all the rain East Tennessee has received in 2013, this makes for a blackberry picker's bonanza.  You can pick and choose the cream of the crop, not just pluck anything that's close to ripe.

Of course, the best blackberries are always protected by a fortress of briars.  Those choice berries are plenty tasty, but there is a price to be exacted in blood by the thorns once you get past the parasites (seed ticks) and irritants (poison ivy).  Some of the best things in life require a sacrifice, but with some perseverance the cobbler can be pretty sweet.  Could be a life lesson there, or maybe I'm just dazed from losing too much blood in the briar thicket. 

At any rate, my forearms, tracked by briar scratches, look like I've just lost a "loser leave town" wrestling match with a mongoose.  I hauled the fresh Rockwood, Tenn., wild blackberries up in my backpack and made a chocolate blackberry cobbler last night for the crew.  It didn't last long.  I hope the bears and deer will be in for a treat this year as far as LeConte blackberries go.  Last year proved a little sparse for the "black gold" in the critters' diet.  I expect the blackberries to be peak about the third week of August up top.  I know our four-legged neighbors will be eagerly awaiting the harvest.

Finally, I'd like to thank LeConte Lodge general manager Tim Line for covering me when I had to head home to give my Papaw's eulogy last week.  He missed his Independence Day plans to do so.  Chris and Allyson likewise have been very helpful.  If I were a traveler trying to figure out where to spend my vacation money, it would be nice to know there's some substance behind the brochure.  So come on up and see us on LeConte.  We get more first-time visitors every day.  Happy trails.

Picture
Marsha
7/13/2013 07:48:50 am

I love all the post you all put on. It is on my bucket list to make the trek up to your mtn. & spend a night. How do I go about scheduling that? Keep up the good work. The pics are beautiful and I love all the interesting things you tell.

Terry
7/13/2013 08:04:42 am

Marsha, the office reservation number is 865-429-5704. Thaw are open during the week. Very helpful and willing to share info.

Marilyn
7/13/2013 08:13:30 am

Nathan, I enjoy your posts immensely as much as I'll bet your crew pals enjoyed your choc blackberry cobbler. I picked cherries a couple weeks ago and made cherry pie. Yesterday picked some apricots and apples. Friend of my sister's has childhood home in our town and she lives in California and only visits here. She has all these wonderful fruit trees and bushes on her property just ripe for the picking when she's not here. Peaches will be next and then the blackberries. I'm fortunate I don't have to endure the scratches. Another week the Indiana blueberry farms will open their doors for blueberry picking. that's always fun...except you have to go early in the morning to get the biggest and best and it is usually buggy and damp..but well worth it. Looking forward to my annual trek to LeConte in September. Seems like far off and then when it gets here it is like a thief in the night....gone, gone, gone til the next year.

Will have my 8 and 9 year old grandkids with me plus their mom and dad. First trip for the grandkids and I'm excited to show them what has been a passion of mine since 1976.

Lisa
7/13/2013 09:23:47 am

I hope to get some of those soon! I and 13 other ladies will be hiking up on Aug. 4th. I am praying for sunshine, happy trails, and a gret adventure! See ya then!

Paula & Nicole
7/13/2013 09:50:14 am

My daughter Nicole and I hiked to the top and back today. Her first trip. So glad the rain held off for us because the view was as wonderful today as is was the first time I hiked many years ago. Met many wonderful people on the trail and at the lodge.

Woody
7/13/2013 11:32:18 am

Blackberry picking is one of many endeavors that reminds me of the following. Only those who seek out such misery will endure it. The virtue of any undertaking is directly proportional to its difficulty.

Palestinian & Bosnian
7/13/2013 05:20:00 pm

Life is short too life is beautiful too this part is not right too.

JB & Sharon
7/14/2013 12:04:01 am

Very excited to be making our first trip up the mountain today

Debi
7/14/2013 12:06:14 am

Love that bottom picture today Nathan. Welcome back!


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    LeConte Lodge

    Welcome 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!

    Online Store

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010

    RSS Feed

For current GSMNP road and trail information, visit the Park's Twitter page, official website, or call 865-436-1200 and follow the prompts.

Picture

Picture

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture