March 19, 2018

OPENING DAY

     The snow has receded and the rain has washed it away.  The sun rises, marking a new day and a new season on Mount LeConte.  Camp sits quietly in the breeze, awaiting the first guests of the year to initiate a hum of excitement that will last now until Thanksgiving.  Rocking chairs on porches stand stationary as stone, guitars rest in a corner absent of sound, and every path between cabins is an open highway.  About the only activity gracing this mountain top emanates from last minute touch ups by the crew, smells of lunch wafting up from the kitchen, the bubbling of fresh coffee and hot chocolate stimulating the senses, and the chirping of juncos reminding you of spring's imminent arrival.  It's Opening Day at LeConte Lodge, and everything has come to life. 

     Where will your boots lead you this season?  What traditions will you revisit and pass along?  What new faces will you meet and what friends will you make around a table of soup and cornbread?  What lasting memories will take hold of your spirit and rock you to the core, leaving you longing for more as you regrettably descend the mountain?
     This mountain always has and always will maintain control of its own magic.  It always has and always will find new and invigorating ways to awe and inspire those who seek the summit.  The trees and the cliffs, they continue to stand the test of time, reminding us of what came first and what will remain long after.  LeConte is love, it is raw beauty, it is a fearsome force, and it is our escape from a different world.
     So where does the lodge fit in?  We serve as the mechanism for your escape, waiting here to greet you like an old friend with warm beverages in hand.  The experience above 6,000' can be foreign for many, especially in this day in age, and so our mission is to make our guests as comfortable as possible in a land different from their own.  The beef and gravy, the shirts, the cozy blankets, they are all staples within this operation, but the true experience is about bringing people together in nature.  Strangers flock to this mountain to test themselves, to learn more about their surroundings, to share in the wonder with family and friends.  So here we are waiting, as a crew, ready to bring you closer to the answers that only Mount LeConte can provide.  

     The doors are open, the beds are made, and the food is prepping.  Our crew, bringing boatloads of service industry experience to this business, are eager and excited to meet you.  They've been working diligently to get this place ready to entertain.  We'll have some new writers and photographers bringing their talents to this blog in the coming days.  We'll be introducing you to them all shortly.  So come on up and see us if you can.  For those of you who are able to follow along through this blog, we'll strive to bring justice to the sights, sounds, and smells of this wonderful place by sharing it with you.
     Thank you for coming along for the ride.  Thank you for choosing LeConte Lodge as your mountain getaway or afternoon reprieve this year.  We so look forward to hosting you.  Happy Opening Day, now let's make some memories!

Sincerely Yours in Lodging,
​
John Northrup
General Manager
LeConte Lodge