Good afternoon to all of you. I hope you all have exciting weekend plans in store. It seems like a journey to LeConte is in the datebook for many folks. We've been plenty busy lately, which keeps the paychecks coming.
We had light sprinkles of rain this morning, but not enough to amount to anything yet. The sun has made its appearance occasionally through the cloud cover. The forecast is for increasing chances of rain later today with the possibility of a soggy Saturday. We shall see.
Last night we were pleased to welcome Cookie Bowling's group, mostly from the greater Gatlinburg metroplex. It's one of the few nights of the season in which a single group occupies the lodge. Being a history buff, I particularly enjoy when Cookie comes up and shares her LeConte stories, which are particularly good because she springs from the First Family of LeConte Lodge--the Huffs. While Paul Adams also played an integral role in the early history of the camp on top of LeConte, the Huffs are recognized as the founders of LeConte Lodge.
Cookie dropped by the dining room yesterday afternoon to share some tales about her youth spent on the mountain. Cookie made her first trip up LeConte at three months. She worked at the lodge until she was 15 years old--heading up to open the season in April and shutting down in November.
Helping cook was Cookie's favorite job at the lodge (keep in mind she was cooking on a wood-fired stove in those days). Cookie's cole slaw recipe was a perennial favorite. She also didn't mind washing dishes and carrying firewood. She, however, never grew to be a fan of making beds--a sentiment she shares with current general manager Tim Line.
It was a treat to have so many decades of LeConte stories on tap with Cookie and Tim (whose employment with the lodge dates to 1977) both up at the same time.
There are too many stories to include today, so I'll offer you a hint at a Cookie Bowling story to come Saturday on High on LeConte--a kitchen, a bear, a problem. Have a fine afternoon. Happy trails.
We had light sprinkles of rain this morning, but not enough to amount to anything yet. The sun has made its appearance occasionally through the cloud cover. The forecast is for increasing chances of rain later today with the possibility of a soggy Saturday. We shall see.
Last night we were pleased to welcome Cookie Bowling's group, mostly from the greater Gatlinburg metroplex. It's one of the few nights of the season in which a single group occupies the lodge. Being a history buff, I particularly enjoy when Cookie comes up and shares her LeConte stories, which are particularly good because she springs from the First Family of LeConte Lodge--the Huffs. While Paul Adams also played an integral role in the early history of the camp on top of LeConte, the Huffs are recognized as the founders of LeConte Lodge.
Cookie dropped by the dining room yesterday afternoon to share some tales about her youth spent on the mountain. Cookie made her first trip up LeConte at three months. She worked at the lodge until she was 15 years old--heading up to open the season in April and shutting down in November.
Helping cook was Cookie's favorite job at the lodge (keep in mind she was cooking on a wood-fired stove in those days). Cookie's cole slaw recipe was a perennial favorite. She also didn't mind washing dishes and carrying firewood. She, however, never grew to be a fan of making beds--a sentiment she shares with current general manager Tim Line.
It was a treat to have so many decades of LeConte stories on tap with Cookie and Tim (whose employment with the lodge dates to 1977) both up at the same time.
There are too many stories to include today, so I'll offer you a hint at a Cookie Bowling story to come Saturday on High on LeConte--a kitchen, a bear, a problem. Have a fine afternoon. Happy trails.
RSS Feed
