Moving Day on the Mountain

7/9/2014

The clouds lifted long enough for us to fly the construction material to the lodge. The helicopter then picked up a load of mine and Chris's items that we have been using for the past twelve years. We have a little over 4 months left as the resident managers on the mountain, but our stuff is now sitting in a storage unit off the mountain. Our little cabin in the woods is starting to feel less like home. I feel a time of reflection in my near future.

One of the many questions that people ask while eating their breakfast, "Are the eggs real or powdered?". Well, I can say, with certainty, that they are real. The llamas deliver fresh eggs twice a week. The breakfast cook cracks an average of 6 dozen eggs a morning. The biscuits are made from scratch and the eggs are real.

norman

7/9/2014 12:43:53 am

oh that breakfast! was delisous as i remember. need on of those biscuits rite now. good luck on the construction.

norman

7/9/2014 12:46:05 am

one--- my mind is gone!

scott

7/9/2014 12:48:08 am

Allyson do they know who will be the new resident managers?
It must be hard to give up a job you love. But with all the stuff you
have going on off the MTN: I can see why you need to leave. Hope to meet you when we are up there on 8/28/2014 will be your first time in TN.

dan waits link

7/9/2014 12:59:16 am

As the days of this season at the lodge & this season of your lives as on site managers draws to a close, I'm sure lots & lots & lots of people will be saying lots & lots & lots of nice & wonderful things.

I just want to go ahead now & simply say thank you for y'all faithfulness over the years, always trying to offer a quality experience on a beautiful mountain.

Thank you for being you & making LeConte a place so many have come to love & appreciate.

And thank you for the daily blogs. It's allowed those of us who wish we were there too a chance to at least briefly be there through your blogs.

Good luck in the next season of your life off the mountain. I wish y'all all the best!

holly

7/9/2014 01:03:36 am

I LOVE reading these posts!! Cant wait to be there in a couple of weeks!! Thanks for sharing everyday!!

Christian

7/9/2014 02:57:39 am

Allyson, you and Chris will be sorely missed, the two of you will always be a part of LeConte Lodge! I wish you and Chris the best of luck in the upcoming new chapter of your lives. Helen and I will definitely be up to see you a couple more times before you leave :)

Brian N bama

7/9/2014 03:19:34 am

I have been fortunate enough to have stayed at the Lodge 5 times and the shelter a few times in the last few years. It has to be one of the most enjoyable things I have done. The pictures I have taken and looked at do not even come close to what it is like with your own eyes. I look forward to my annual November hike, thawing out in front of the heater in the office . If you haven't yet, get up, lace up them boots and go up top .HAPPY TRAILS

TracyG

7/9/2014 03:30:19 am

My one and only trip up top last September is something I will never forget. I remember looking at the pictures before we went, but to be there in person is just amazing. I too will never forget it, and think about it often. One of my favorite memories is one of the clouds floating through the window of the cabin as the mountain became socked in. Magical. Thank you for all that you do!

Clayton Webster

7/9/2014 03:38:13 am

Allyson saved my life once. After having hiked to LeConte for over 40 years, I came up with my daughter one time on the wrong day. Allyson managed to scurry around and find us a place to stay without having to hike back down with a disappointed daughter. Thanks once again!

Bobby Sellers

7/9/2014 03:55:47 am

I am really going to miss you Allyson. I don't know you, but I check this site everyday and have since my first hike up to leconte four years ago.

Pat N

7/9/2014 05:38:55 am

Love the posts! Don't leave!!! We all know when it's time to move on, and our family wishes you the very best.

Brian N bama

7/9/2014 11:00:21 am

Pat N, the first time I stayed at the lodge was by accident. My son and I were going to stay in the shelter Nov. 2011. It had started to snow on the way up and the temp had dropped to about 8* with winds 15-20 mph. As my son and I were literally unfreezing our clothing, John was working the office and another worker came in to tell him someone had cancelled. My son was very thankful that I had my wallet. I have been hooked ever since

Scott A

7/9/2014 05:46:39 am

Allyson, Ive been reading your blog for I dont know how many years.Everytime we have been up top, you and Chris were off. Sure hoping we can make it back up before you two leave. Like many others on here, you have touched my life thru your blog. Sorry in advance if I give you a hug :)

doug y link

7/9/2014 06:58:14 am

Allyson & Chris: I'll, too, express, my appreciation for your work at Leconte Lodge. With four months remaining in your tenure I know that it must surely be getting prominent consideration in your hearts and minds. I have always appreciated your comments and photographs. I wish you good luck. I had hope to make a trip up there once more before your departure to thank you in person, but my bloody knee is preventing this. I could nonetheless make the hike up, but I think I'd probably pay a high physical price even with the mental excitement of being on the mountain and at the lodge ! Being up there is far better than my most recent camping experience at Cades Cove just this past weekend, but I will address that subject on my own site.
I do have one small request if you can fulfill it and that is that I have a small bottle of your "spices", yet unopened. Before I try it I was wondering if you could send me an idea or two on what sort of food to use them on. If you can send me just a short idea I would deeply appreciate it, either to my email address or otherwise. Thanks. Perhaps one day in the future if we met we could share our experiences on Mt. Kilimanjaro, eh !? G'day

Anna

7/9/2014 08:28:02 am

Doug, sorry about your knee. Below is the link to Red Hot Sprinkle recipes/ideas.
https://www.oldevirdens.com/recipes-and-reviews.html

norman

7/9/2014 10:21:09 am

Doug, sorry to hear about your last camping experience. That would irritate me also.

doug y link

7/9/2014 01:36:49 pm

Thank you very much. Glad to get information from somebody before I go experimenting with spices ! As for my knee, I will overcome this temporary impediment. Thanks again.

doug y link

7/9/2014 01:38:41 pm

Yeah, Norman, it sure wasn't like being amongst great people like up at the Lodge ! I will never again go during a big holiday. Good evening

Becky Jarrell

7/9/2014 03:36:41 pm

Allyson, I have enjoyed your posts. Our whole extended family is coming up on Saturday. The last time that both my brothers and I came up together was in 1977 or so. My sister was too young. Now we are bringing our families!! One question: my son has had a recent knee injury and we still don't know if he can make it. Is Trillium easier on the knees than Alum Cave trail? Any advice for us?

tomk in SC

7/10/2014 12:58:24 am

Injury is very vague. However, Trillium has the most even slope of all the trails. Make sure he uses poles. Take him somewhere for a test drive...make him walk somewhere for 3 or 4 miles. If it has some slope, so much the better. Easier to test to failure somewhere where it is easy to pick him up than have him find out he cannot do this 2/3 of the way up the trail.

Laura

7/9/2014 06:15:24 pm

Thanks for all you have done over the years. We will be up next Wednesday with our extended family for my 9th trip up. We can't wait, and are happy to see you guys one more time before you retire. Peace.

Helen Bukulmez link

7/10/2014 05:33:41 am

Oh, it feels so surreal that this is your last season... Alyson and Chris: You have touched so many lives in a way not many are able to... Thank you for everything you have done. For us, the LeConte lovers, it may be the end to your genuine hospitality; but, for you it is a wonderful beginning and we will make sure to support your new business and stop by as much as possible. <3

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Moving Day on the Mountain

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