High On LeConte
  • Home
  • Daily Posts
  • LeConte Team
  • FAQ's
  • Trail Guide
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer

May 22, 2017

5/22/2017

 
Greetings Readers,
​     Bit by bit we're easing our way back into the sunshine and out of the grasp of the clouds and mist that have dogged the mountain the last day and a half.  We welcomed another 1.2" of rain yesterday and early this morning, and precip chances still remain for the coming days.  It's also looking like daily temperatures will slide down into a milder range leading into the weekend.  Our high temp yesterday was 55, followed by a low of 48, so not much variance there.  Currently we're enjoying 58 degrees under a lightly veiled yellow orb.
     This past Sunday was an absolutely incredible day to be sharing in the LeConte experience.  We enjoyed hosting a great group of guests who were committed to taking command of the climb, despite the damp conditions facing them.  One among them most certainly deserves to be recognized.  We were afforded the opportunity to host an inspiring lady, known to her dear family and friends as "Granny," who conquered Mt. LeConte at the young age of 80 years old amid well deserved celebration.  It was a special moment for all of us present to a part of, and we can't wait to welcome her back for future birthdays!  Her love of family and friends, and appreciation of the lodge and mountain around her connect with the very pillars that make this venue so special.  Let's hear it for "Granny!"
     Attached to this wonderful occasion, was a post-sunset solo musical performance by Miss Ira Wolf.  Guests and crew were treated to an hour of melodic masterpiece by such a talented young singer and songwriter.  Music has always played a unique part in shaping the lodge experience over the years.  We've had the pleasure of hosting so many great, gifted folks with musical talents through the ages, several of which have been on crew, and we're so grateful to have witnessed another memorable evening of song.  If you'd like to replicate part of the experience, Ira's love for music can be heard and felt from her site, irawolfmusic.com.
     Slow as molasses, the skies separated after dinner service in just enough time to paint a colorful sunset of oranges and purples, with intermittent puffs of white and gray passing in between.  Everyone's just reward for ascending the mountain in the slog.  As guests assembled in the Dining Hall turned Concert Hall, chairs quietly began to fill, Ira's voice as light as a songbird spun sweet sounds, lamp light on tables and walls enhanced the ambiance and comfort, and time seemed to stop as the vivid colors of the waning sun failed to fade through the window panes we all faced.  The mood, the sights, and the sounds combined to make one of those magical Mt. LeConte moments where the setting simply takes hold of you.  It was as though you could feel the ghosts of lodge years past coming out of the walls and picture frames, pulling up a chair next to you in silence and nodding in approval of the occasion with a smile, thinking that this is what it's all about.  Family and strangers turned friends, coming together on a secluded mountain top, enveloped in the majesty of nature from the skies above to the rocks and grit beneath our feet, sharing in a common joy and passion.
     Thank YOU, as our guests and followers, for helping to provide these kinds of moments.  It is an honor and privilege to serve as the mechanism for these opportunities, and we so very much look forward to experiencing more with you.  If you've been here before, we hope you never lose inspiration for coming back, whether it's Granny's proof that age is just a number, or the desire to sit around a cozy heater in rocking chairs with strings in hand.  If Mt. LeConte is on your to-do list for the first time, we hope you can find your unique reason for calling this place special, and we encourage you to share it with us.
     Again, thank you.  This season is still just getting started, so let's continue to make some memories together! Have a fantastic start to the week.
Picture
All four Turks Cap Lilies (lilium superbum) are looking strong this season!
Woody
5/22/2017 02:28:10 pm

Way to go Granny! Hopefully she will indeed celebrate more birthdays on the Mtn. I had the pleasure of seeing Rufus Morgan celebrate his 93rd birthday on the Mtn. He was aged but not old.

Doris Sexton
5/22/2017 02:57:34 pm

Thanks ever so much for sharing with those of us who cannot join you.

norman (ga)
5/22/2017 11:14:44 pm

Amen, amen.. love the blog!

Kaye
5/22/2017 06:33:38 pm

One year I had the awesome pleasure of meeting a 91 year old Gentleman as we gathered for the sunset at Cliff Top Amazing these Seniors

Rob
5/22/2017 06:40:19 pm

Wonderfully written comments! Thank you so much for sharing details of this special evening you shared together.

winston thomason
5/22/2017 06:58:14 pm

thanks for your post , I read it every day, also a group of 8 spending Sunday night the 28th , I have not seen a picture of the 2017 shirts . are they available , we have several years of them, thanks

LeConte office
5/23/2017 09:37:08 am

Picture of shirts posted on March 24, 2017 blog. http://www.highonleconte.com/daily-posts/march-24-2017.

Fred Brisard
5/22/2017 08:29:00 pm

Thanks for the blog post. It certainly was an incredible occasion.

Pat N
5/22/2017 08:42:07 pm

This post truly embodies the magnificence of this mountain! The views that continue to lure hikers young and old. Sharing stories and music add to the mountain atmosphere!

Sherleen
5/22/2017 09:25:33 pm

Applause and hugs for Granny. Whoever wrote today's blog has a talent for using words.SO enjoyable.I felt I was right there with you all.Keep up the good work. I love this blog.God bless all.

Dana Parish
5/22/2017 11:28:53 pm

High Five, Granny. What an inspiration! Great description of the lovely concert. Wish I had been there. <3

Myra Phelan
5/22/2017 11:50:12 pm

Congratulations Granny & Happy 80th Birthday!!!

Steve D
5/23/2017 07:20:57 am

BRAVO FOR GRANNY! All of us are inspired by her courage and determination. The Lodge has affected multiple generations of families and changed lives. My parents brought my brothers and I up there for the first time around 1958-thanks to them for introducing us to that great mountain and lodge. Love this blog, and yes whomever wrote this-we are grateful!

Sherry
5/23/2017 01:38:27 pm

Beautiful writing! I felt I was there too and what a wonderful gift for everyone there who shared in celebration and music.

Tammy (Tx)
5/23/2017 01:46:36 pm

I love blogs like this one. I feel so much admiration for someone in their 80s....even 70s....maybe even 90s....who can make the climb up to the top of LeConte. I'm still in my 50s and it's a very tough climb for me! I will never, ever forget my trail angels, Paula and Glenn. They crossed paths with us on exactly the right day and exactly the right time. We had reservations for our first stay at the lodge, and I had only made it to Rainbow Falls when I just had a realization that I wasn't going to make it any farther, much less to the lodge that day. While Tommy and I were pondering the thought of pushing on or turning back, a couple (the last people we would see that day) came up the trail. The weather was very raw and threatening that day as well. They were day hiking up to the lodge and back out. We had a brief conversation. Paula asked why I was turning back and I hesitantly told her of my illness. Her face sort of sunk and she uttered the words "I think you should keep going". They continued on up the trail. I made the decision to keep going, but figured a turn around time as to get back to our vehicle by dark. In reality, it was a silly decision to keep hiking as I wasn't positive we would make it to the lodge by dark even if we tried. We hiked on for about 30 minutes and I just stopped and told my husband I couldn't go any farther, and that we needed to turn back. I THOUGHT i just couldn't endure any more. The constant uphill was guickly taking a toll on my lungs and body. At that moment, down the trail came the couple that had passed us at the falls. In disbelief that they were already on their trip back down the mountain I asked them "you've already been to the lodge and back?". The woman said "no". They had been talking about me on their way and couldn't believe I was even trying to make the trip up. You see I just happened to have an illness the son of their best friends has, and he could no longer enjoy the outdoors as he once did, and definitely could not make the hike up LeConte. They told me they were both emergency room nurses from Florida and they both decided to turn around and do whatever it took, even if we arrived after dark, to get me up to the lodge. Tears just welled in both my husband's and my eyes. They told me they wanted to help me accomplish my dream.....and their kindness will forever mean the world to me and that they DID help me to fulfill that dream that day. It was a day where we endured rain the entire way, hit 50 to 55 mph winds a little over half way up and NOAA weather had forecasted gale force winds of 80 to 85 mph through the night up on LeConte. Paula ran on up ahead to let the crew know we were on our way and we all 4 arrived a little past the dinner bell. We insisted that Paula and Glen be our guests and stay in our cabin with us for the evening and enjoy my first visit to the lodge with us. They accepted and it was a beautiful first experience staying at the lodge for all of us. I was able to hike up last October and stay again. Trillium was more forgiving than Rainbow, and the weather was perfect. I have reservations for one more visit this coming October as my goal this time is to complete all five trails to LeConte. After that......I just don't know. Not sure I will be able to do much more strenuous hiking. Time will tell and God willing. I know this comment has been WAY too lengthy, but I just wanted to share my experience of my first hike to the lodge. I will forever be grateful to Paula and Glen. Our meeting them on that trail that particular day was no mistake......it was meant to be. It is the truth that the lodge and Mt.
LeConte is a special place to many of us, and just being up there a healing and spiritual experience. Have a beautiful day!

Tenderfoot
5/23/2017 02:23:46 pm

I remember reading about your experience when it happened and I enjoyed reading about it just as much again Tammy! I'm happy for your and proud of you for getting out there and making it happen. May God continue to bless you with all five trails and many of them numerous times.

norman (ga)
5/23/2017 09:50:57 pm

I also read it at the time, and had to read it twice tonight. Wishing you the best Tammy and many more hikes for you and your husband. God bless.

Jeanette Meyer
5/23/2017 05:14:40 pm

John's wonderful story of the lovely birthday girl,Tammy's story, and other comments have certainly been inspirational to read today. Music & nature, my favorites, can be so beautifully intertwined. What a special evening for all & so well described. Would love to be on the top of Mt. LeConte again & will always treasure my special visits thru the years. Thanks John!

Jon Holliday
5/23/2017 07:30:12 pm

As the leader of Granny's birthday hike, and her son, I want to thank all of the crew at LeConte Lodge for helping to make Granny's 80th Birthday Celebration a very special event.

The chocolate cake provided by Stormi was great. Thank you John and crew for allowing the concert to be in the dining hall and setting up the chairs and most unexpectedly providing popcorn. You will forever be tied to Granny and this event. Thank you for helping to make her dream of celebrating her 80th birthday on LeConte come true.

Thanks to Ira Wolf, who drove from Nashville and hiked with her guitar to the top of LeConte in the rain. We were so happy that so many other guests joined in and listened to Ira play a concert in the lodge. At 6am she got back on the trail so she could hike down and get back to Nashville and into the recording studio before noon.

Go to LeConte Lodge, stay the night. It will clear your mind and lift your soul.

Tammy (Tx)
5/23/2017 11:45:17 pm

Thank you Tenderfoot, Jeanette and Norman for your kind words. I hope to meet some of you on the trails some day. Especially you Norman. We have had many conversations on this blog in the past....even gotten into a little trouble! Haha! I have been blessed again recently. My cardiologist, rheumatologist and long time physician all said it would be best if I could move to a cooler climate. Not being able to relocate permanently, we found a small condo for sale outside Gatlinburg in the mountains and purchased it a little over a month ago. Now I have a sometimes "home sweet home" close to these Smoky Mountains, and I hope to spend a lot more time here in the future, and hiking with a few of my new Tennessee friends. I always feel much healthier, happier and peaceful when I'm in my beloved Smokies! Oh, and I hope "granny" has many more birthdays and is able to make at least a few more trips up Mt. LeConte!

VOL in TX
5/28/2017 03:37:46 pm

Tammy (TX), being from TN and going to UT in Knoxville long ago, I understand the draw of the Smokies. Having lived in and around Houston TX since 69, I really miss the beauty of the TN hills.. I hope you enjoy your condo and are able to spend more time in the GSM. We try to get back that way once a year and that really isn't enough to enjoy all the beauty there. I hope all those who live close take advantage of it while you are there.


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    LeConte Lodge

    Welcome to the official blog of LeConte Lodge. We hope you find the information provided here both helpful and enjoyable.  Thank you for visiting the site, and we hope to see you on the mountain!

    Online Store

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010

    RSS Feed

For current GSMNP road and trail information, visit the Park's Twitter page, official website, or call 865-436-1200 and follow the prompts.

Picture

Picture

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture