March 18, 2021

Always a bittersweet moment to bid our helicopter friends farewell.

Good Afternoon,

St. Patrick’s Day brought plenty of good luck to the top of Mt. LeConte yesterday. Clear skies, comfortable temps, and no wind made for impeccable flying conditions. Our team was able to knock the last loads of our annual resupply by lunch. It wasn’t long after the clouds rolled in, then started falling down, and the winds ramped up. And boy did they ramp up. Gusts of 70mph were forecast, and if the mountain didn’t get that high, it sure got close. It was still pouring plenty at recording time, at which point we had already rallied 2.12” of rain. Temps ranged from 53° to 38°, and we’ve been in the 40s much of the day. Skies are clearing for the afternoon, but more rain is anticipated for most of Friday. Could we see chillier temps and whiter precip? Stay tuned!

A special thank you to the outstanding men and women who contributed to our resupply effort these past several days. Your passion and commitment to our mission makes what we do possible. From slinging boxes, to wrapping pallets, driving flatbeds, regulating traffic patterns, and collecting trash, all roles big and small yet equally crucial to getting our season kickstarted.

Now that all of the goods are here, well that just means there’s more work to be done! Rain or shine, our team is charging hard toward Opening Day.

Perhaps Ron Underwood’s “Rembrandt” for the lodge, one of many such masterful solar-voltaic installations through the years.