We were able to start flying around 4 p.m. yesterday. The weather was cold but clear. The high yesterday was 35 with the low last night of 13. We are going to finish up today starting in about 30 minutes.
Someone asked about the helicopter and why we don't use a local outfit? We need a helicopter that will carry heavy loads. This usually means a construction helicopter. This year the chopper is an AS332 Super Puma. It can carry close to 6000 lbs. Sorry to be so brief today, it is time to fly.
Pat N.
3/20/2013 12:40:22 am
Yes!!!! so glad it's happening for y'all. I knew if I drank my mountain coffee out of my LeConte mug, wore my lodge shirts/sweatshirts, and played my mountain music (since Monday) in your honor...the airlift was bound to happen!
Kelly
3/20/2013 12:42:05 am
Is this a picture of leconte or somewhere else. I did not know the buildings were so big. duh
doug y
3/20/2013 12:59:54 am
That's Leconte Lodge definitely. The camera angle I suppose makes that building look relatively big. Looks like three solar panels on the one structure or skylights {I can't remember from being there} and a solar panel on that lower building; other than the helicopter, the only signs of technology. Glad to see the photo and realize that the weather cooperated; Guess I'll have to wait until next year to watch the lift. As Pat N mentioned about her Leconte coffee mug, I've got to get me one of those ! I am interested as to what her "mountain music" is. I could definitely make use of some new melodies. Question: (I should know this) How many, if not all, of the propane gas tanks are replaced / refilled ? I know there's a bunch of them down below the lodge and am curious as to the amount of gas consumed in a single season.....I believe the lift takes two days, so, good flying today !!
Pat N.
3/20/2013 02:31:37 am
Doug,
Kent
3/20/2013 04:22:43 am
I found a decent video of the airlift from 2008 that might interest you, Doug. It really affords an excellent glimpse into the operation.
Matt
3/20/2013 01:49:36 am
I was in the Gatlinburg-Pittman High School parking lot and saw a helicopter hovering over the Lodge yesterday about 6 PM. Very cool. Looked very tiny compared to the mountain.
Debi
3/20/2013 01:54:46 am
I have a picture of all the propane tanks. And I just tried to count them for you Doug. But the way my picture is there too close together. I have counted them before and I think theres 52. I may be off a couple.
Tracy G.
3/20/2013 02:52:23 am
Happy re-supply day!!!!!!! Glad you have a beautiful day up top! Look forward to more pics.
Rebecca
3/20/2013 03:53:31 am
Was watching from Anna Porter Library. Great view of the mountain, and had a good pair of bi-nocs. Must be exciting up top.
Gina
3/20/2013 03:59:06 am
I wish 441 were not closed on my side of the mountain, I would love to have a look from Clingmans or somewhere. It adds a lot of miles for me to go around the mountain and back up. Hope full it will open on schedule mid May. I did see on the news theCherokee are going to pay the company doing the work an extra $18,000 for every day that it is opened ahead of schedule.
doug y
3/20/2013 05:17:39 am
Pat N., Kent, Debi: Many thanks for your information and suggestions. It's ironic or whatever you wish to call it that despite all my years of experiences in the Smokies that my knowledge of Leconte Lodge is sometimes a bit lacking. My first stay there wasn't until 2004, after about, then, fifty years of hiking and camping in the Park; I suppose it's part of the reason that I write so much when I post my comments here - - I cannot get enough of news regarding the lodge ! (as I've said: brevity isn't one of my virtues !) Just for one single solitary season I would absolutely love to work there as a crew member; I've applied twice, without results, but that's ok. I may be 63, but I can sure show those youngsters a few things about dealing with and pleasing people !! I'm also a pretty darned good cook and housekeeper. I know without any doubt whatsoever that I'd be a great asset. Menawhile, I'll be content to be simply a guest, and I could be that every week if it were available ! I sometimes forget about the gift shop at the Sugarlands visitor center - - I will probably make a special trip down there now just to buy one, or several, of those musical cd's; I recall now that I did purchase a nice screen saver of Park scenes there several years ago which I have on my old laptop; I often have it going when I'm out in my "man cave" building to watch and relax by. Yes, I'll go view that airlift video as soon as I finish here; I once had my pilots license, but let it expire some time back, but I still love to fly and I'm like a little child when it comes to planes; I guess it's why I'm interested in the lift. And I was wondering, from a logistical point of view, about the 'rotation schedule' for those propane gas tanks. That's a lot of fuel, eh !? When I'm snugly in one of the cabins at the lodge, the little wall gas heater is one of the most pleasant aspects of being there, not to mention those wonderful wool blankets ! But I've never stayed in one of the "group" cabins and sometime this year I hope to get lucky and get a cancellation and stay in one - - I've just always prefered the individual cabins, and my favorite is the one on the end, Cabin No. 9 I believe; sort of like being on "Cloud 9" !! I love the view from its door, especially at night when I can leave the door open and see the lights in the valley below. That sight always takes my breath away. Of course, one of these nights I could have a visitor, a wandering bear perhaps !! He'll have to take the upper bunk ! Oh, Debi, there's a photo of those gas tanks from about a couple of years ago showing how deep the snow got that winter and the accumulation was almost over the tanks; I'll have to look for it later. Gina: I don't know why, but I was thinking that you lived north of the Park somewhere; yeah, the closure would aggravate me terribly ! It'd be worth that for the people who operate the casino to have it open ! I'm not gambler, just a lover of the Park and the Lodge. Call me Jeremiah Johnson perhaps ! I'm just guessing, but I think that viewing the airlift from Clingmans Dome would be a wee bit too far away; it would be for me, but I'm just not sure about that. I think that, provided that you didn't mind getting there, Cliff Tops would be a decent spot to watch, although, of course, you couldn't really see the loads being set to the ground. To each his or her own, eh !? As Matt stated: that helicopter looked rather tiny from his vantage point. A great day to all !!
doug y
3/20/2013 05:40:53 am
I just watched the video you listed, Kent, and I had to return here and comment that I came away from it with a much greater appreciation of the logistics of the airlift ! Setting the net, loaded with supplies, down between the lodge structures indicates a great deal of piloting skill ! That's some accomplishment. The people using the 'human chain' to transfer the supplies into storage, etc., was likewise very interesting. And, Gina, I believe now that the best vantage point is exactly right there at the lodge ! Debi: the video did show the propane tanks a little, but I couldn't count them. Thanks again Kent.
doug y
3/20/2013 06:26:09 am
Debi: go to the post(s) of 3/16/2010 to see the depth of the snow then at the propane gas tank 'yard'; I believe that's the general manager Tim Line standing between two of the tanks ! I arrived there about 18 days later and the snow had melted, but not all of it ! I believe that the total accumulation for that winter was well over 100 inches with around 48 inches on the ground at one point !
Whiteman
3/20/2013 12:06:26 pm
There are 30 propane tanks for the lodge and 1 for the park service cabin. Each tank is 500 gallons and is filled to 80% or 400 gallons. A couple of years ago the last tank was almost empty before the airlift took place. The tanks are connected by 4 manifolds and are removed and replaced without interruption of service to the lodge.
Debi
3/20/2013 05:49:51 pm
Doug, I just went back and looked at those snowy propane tanks. Then I went into my album and checked when I was up there that year. I was up there March 31, 2010. The snow had melted ALOT. But they still had snow and I took a picture of a snowman someone had made by the office. I remember telling my husband were on spring break and come down to snow. We had just took a day trip up there that year. 3/20/2013 11:37:37 pm
Some pictures of the 2008 airlift at http://www.pbase.com/ronmetcalfe/march_2008 or by following the link of the little arrow beside my name.
Barbara
3/21/2013 12:12:19 am
Ron - Great website. Thx for sharing. Liked the photos and Ed Wright sites.
doug y
3/21/2013 02:22:54 am
Debi: It's Thursday morning now; I just wanted to say that I missed you by four days back in 2010; I arrived on Easter Sunday the 4th that year. Plenty of snow still on then, too. Comments are closed.
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