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July 18, 2014

7/18/2014

 
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Good afternoon from LeConte Lodge.  The weather's not been too welcoming thus far today, but that's not kept many hikers off the trail.  Our office and dining room are full near capacity with folks stepping in out of the chilly rain and drying off before they head back down into the land of thick air.

It started raining lightly around breakfast this morning, but we've not really had any heavy showers--just enough to soak you through and get the shivers started on a cool, windy, gray July day at the top of LeConte.  Thursday's high-low was 60 and 48 with no rain.  After breakfast we had a run on ponchos in the office, which topped morning sales with nine sold.

As usual, we've had plenty of interesting guests.  I spoke with one guest in her 80s who first came to visit LeConte in the 1960s.  She's been coming up annually pretty much ever since.  She said she missed a few years about 30 years ago, which she told me almost apologetically.

I visited with another nice guest who was born in Ukraine but had been adopted by American parents.  She said her homeland was lovely, and I'd like to see it myself some day.  But it made me think how fragile our beautiful places are when their protection is shoved aside by conflict, which unfortunately happens everywhere in the world.
  There were even a few troops (though no real battle) scampering around Mt. LeConte during the Civil War (but that's a story for a different day).

Thankfully, there's not much to fight about up here today so far. 
Everyone left the mountain this morning with a belly full of pancakes, biscuits, grits, eggs and Canadian bacon, coffee, hot chocolate, treated spring water and Tang.  Hope to see you up soon, too.  Happy trails.

Sherleen
7/18/2014 07:47:01 am

I would love to read your version about the Civil war capers up there.Stay warm and dry . I love this blog .

Cp
7/18/2014 10:22:15 am

Great post! Hurray for pancakes! (And grits. Y'all's are especially delicious)

norman
7/18/2014 11:17:36 am

As I recall, you are right on!!

Becky
7/18/2014 11:23:53 am

I am curious which trail the older folks come up/down on. My mom wants to join us next year. She will be 80. She is healthy but I am not sure if she could handle the steepness of Alum Cave. Is Trillium easier?

jean d
7/18/2014 11:31:34 am

Yes, I'd like to know too. It has been many, many years since I hiked up with my Daddy and sister via Alum Cave. Which trail is least challenging?

Marilyn
7/18/2014 02:30:05 pm

Trillium is longer about 7 miles but it is not as steep and does have excellent view plus a waterfalls you can walk behind. Better on knees coming down the mountain. Rainbow is pretty strenuous. Boulevard is longest at 8 miles, Bullhead in my opinion is the most boring and I've never been on the Brushy Mountain trail so I can't say what it is like. I know several others on this site have done that trail. Guess it depends on how agile and fit our mom is on whether or not she could do Alum. I'm 73 and I usually go up Alum and come down one of the other trails just for variety. If you start early and take your time resting every now and then and enjoy the scenery I would think your mom would be ok. I never see any reason to race up that wonderful mountain..just enjoy the journey along the way. Good luck.

Norman in Acworth, Ga.
7/19/2014 02:08:29 am

Raining and cool, can't wait for Nathan!!


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