March 27, 2017

3/27/2017

Good Afternoon,
What started as a day full of sunny promise, has now turned into clouds and the occasional mist. Yesterday's high was 45 with a low of 38, and after observation we tallied an additional 0.2" of rain. We'll see how tonight shakes out.

Those of you who have visited the mountain in the last few days since we completed our annual airlift resupply have certainly noticed the quick rehabilitation work done on the Dining Hall steps. The final result is nothing short of a masterpiece, and it certainly has the look of longevity. Major kudos to Brian and Eric on tackling this project for the lodge. Even lodge Assistant Manager Ryn got in on the rock smashing efforts. When the rocks were flown in, with some numbers from the helicopter pilot, we were able to determine the weight of each individual block you see below. Each one comes out to about 435 pounds. Guests can once again enter the Dining Hall from the main doors and admire the work done by these trail work gurus.

The deconstruction process.

The finished product.

Special thanks go out to the Stabler family and friends for the delicious Apple Pies. Everyone enjoy the start of a new week and have a prosperous conclusion to the month of March.

Dick Northrup

3/27/2017 03:24:55 pm

A big THANK-YOU to Tim, John, and everyone involved with the step replacement! They look great!

steve

3/27/2017 03:30:36 pm

Those new steps look like a great improvement

Jeanette Meyer

3/27/2017 03:49:42 pm

Appears to be a top notch crew in the kitchen and the steps look absolutely great! Heavy work, I'm sure.

Tammy (Tx)

3/27/2017 04:14:23 pm

Great job on the steps! Can't wait to be walking down them to enter the dining hall in October! I have a question I hope someone from the lodge will answer. Do y'all still make the chocolate oatmeal no bake bars/cookies? Year before last I had a rough hike up in very extreme weather conditions for my first ever visit to the lodge, and I wasn't eating my dinner very well, so......my husband didn't even share with me that they were on the table. Shame on him! I was REALLY looking forward to those cookies! And, then on our trip up last year, you guys didn't make any so I missed them again! I saved the recipe that was posted a year or so ago and have made them myself. They are so yummy! Have a beautiful day!

Joan Fedrigon

3/27/2017 04:36:26 pm

Thank you to those who helped rebuild the steps. It is beautiful and a masterpiece!

Bill Yeadon

3/27/2017 04:49:43 pm

With those new steps it looks like the vastly improved Alum Bluffs Trail. And you all did it in a lot less time.

Loretta Sutton

3/27/2017 06:29:54 pm

The steps look great!!!! Can't wait to come visit and enjoy the beauty and peace on top of the mtn. I'm sure to be there a lot in the next few months. Day trips mostly but looking a cancellation. Thank y'all for everything u do!!

Pat N

3/27/2017 08:38:12 pm

Great job with some very heavy duty work!

cpw

3/28/2017 01:36:40 am

Hello up top. Have the Alum Cave Trail renovations been completed. Planning a trip up soon.

phillip

3/28/2017 08:54:43 am

The work on the Alum trail was completed quite some time ago, last year.

doug y link

3/28/2017 09:24:56 am

The steps look good and solid. With each block weighing 435 lbs they should be able to withstand the occasional heavy flows of rainwater that cascade down them. Good job.

Sherleen

3/28/2017 10:27:13 am

The steps look like a professional job well done. Thanks for showing pictures for folks like me that will never be able to come up the mountain,You folks make it seem like we have been there.I love our mountains. :-)

doug y link

3/28/2017 07:02:09 pm

Sherleen: I have a grand project in mind that I hope to do within the next year. It is where I hike up one or more of the trails to the Lodge taking photos every few hundred feet or as often as possible in order to document the trek, etc. Or perhaps making a video of such a hike. Once organized and edited I would want to make this available to nice people such as you who would enjoy having such a slide show or video, both or either of which would necessarily be of a lengthy duration. At one time a few years ago there was a short video on the Lodge's home page depicting people hiking up. I would produce a similar, but much longer video. It's just something I hope to be able to do, of course for no compensation other than the pleasure from sharing such a documentary with others no matter who they are. I will remember you if I can get this project completed. I don't think it's an original idea, but just a good one. G'day.

Al in Biloxi, MS

3/28/2017 12:46:21 pm

Wow! Two thumbs up! Any other "improvements " in the works? We'll see y'all this summer. Stay safe out there... Happy trails!

elktonbrant

3/28/2017 03:21:15 pm

Awesome job on the steps! The old ones were very well loved, but sometimes tough to negotiate after climbing up the mountain for several hours. Hopefully they'll handle the flash floodlike waters that create a waterfall better as well (please include a picture when this happens, by the way...).

Tammy, the no-bake cookies are worth the hike EVERY time. We have the recipe as well from an old blog post, but my wife knows not to make them because then I'll weigh too much to fit into my hiking clothes!!!

Tammy (Tx)

3/29/2017 04:51:59 pm

Elktonbrandt, I bet they are! Problem is I've never had the opportunity to sample them on either one of my trips up to the lodge!

Caner Dave

4/2/2017 11:06:30 am

I have been a mason's helper many times during my 70 years. The joints on the steps are impressive. The consistency of the overlap of the head joints is well done. Looks like they are much safer.

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March 27, 2017

LeConte Lodge

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