 Shall I ever again be able to connect the faces of outward nature, the mist of the morn, the star of eve, the flowers and all poets, with the heart and life of an enchanting friend? No. There is one birth and one baptism and one first love and the affections cannot keep their youth any more than men. Emerson Morning,
It was another beautiful day up top. The high was 41 degrees and the low dropped overnight to 26 degrees. It was 29 degrees and clear at 7am observation. We've had a good spell of clear days lately. I keep expecting it to turn, but I'll keep on riding this pleasant wave before the clouds come back. Alum is in fine condition. Be cautious on the icy sections up top and be sure to turn around by 3pm or so if you don't have a headlamp! I'll be checking out Bullhead today, so I'll be sure to mention how that looks tomorrow. Have a pleasant day out there, folks!
Trixie
11/26/2012 01:00:45 am
I am in awe of the people who winter caretake up there. I tune in frequently to see how things are going and to refresh my memories of a place I love to visit, but haven't been to in a while. Be safe...stay warm and let me know what the world is like up there!
doug
11/26/2012 01:24:59 am
Some say we must strive to be like the moon, reminding ourselves to always be on our best behavior and to be good to others. People complain when there is too much sun and it gets unbearably hot, or when it rains, or gets too cold. I hear few grumbles when the moon shines and everyone seemingly becomes happy and appreciates the moon in their own special way. Children watch their shadows and play in its light, people gather and tell stories and some dance through the night. A lot of happy things happen when the mooon shines, so there are reasons that perhaps we should be like the moon. While the astronauts spent mere hours on the moon I have remained on this world for a few years. My achievements are quite ordinary. There are times when I am bewildered by each mile I've traveled, by each meal I have eaten, each person I have met, each room in which I have slept. As ordinary as it all appears, there are times when it is beyond my imagination. I love tent camping in the midst of winter when the nights are cold and the air is crisp, resting in my sleeping bag where I can almost hear the moon passing overhead, its light struggling to penetrate down through the trees. It's such times that I long to be up on the mountain just to be that much closer to the moon and stars !
Jane Sorey
11/26/2012 03:52:00 am
How perfect an explanation of the moon and its power and beauty! EXCELLENT!
Mark B
11/26/2012 01:30:15 am
One insignificant day in the summer my family hiked to LeConte. It was early July, misty below and steady rain on top. The view was ten feet. In the office, the staff was busy selling shirts, an older Park Ranger was giving a talk to a group of ten. We sat in the dining hall for twenty minutes drinking hot coffee and talking with others about the nasty conditions. It was about then I began to think about JP's posts earlier in the year, and how much I hoped he would return.
tom d
11/26/2012 01:50:48 am
Good morn'in JP.Sitting on the porch before starting my day I catch a glint of sunshine off of one of the cabin windows on top of LeConte.A good way to start the day.You have a good hike and I'll be splitting some firewood.
bryan
11/26/2012 02:19:37 am
what happen water? I went up there on Nov 23th before winds came in. I was there in Leconte lodge and pump the water and the water dont come out and I had go back to shelter and melt snow down to use water. What happen pump water? Friday night was awful freeze and winds!.....Saturday morning is so beautiful full of snows on tree and ground :-) Boulervd trail in last 1 mile is the most tough I ever had deal with it, i will never forget that and im glad i made it!
Jen
11/26/2012 04:59:54 am
Some people have a way with words, others not have way.
JP
11/29/2012 07:13:40 am
Bryan,
Jason
11/26/2012 02:32:00 am
My wife and I hiked Mt. LeConte for the first time on Thanksgiving. The conditions were absolutely perfect and it was a hike we will not soon forget: at least not until the soreness goes away. Thanks to the caretakers from New Orleans who were watching the lodge for the day for the conversation and for selling t-shirts. We needed proof.
Jason
11/26/2012 02:32:35 am
(cont.) I was very surprised by how few hikers were out on the trail. We hiked the Alum Cave trail and in all, we maybe passed 20 hikers. I was also surprised the contrast in preparedness. We had four liters of water at the start, but we passed hikers with nothing more than an empty 12 ounce bottle in their hands. There were hikers headed up so late that there was no way they would return before sundown. Maybe they had a flashlight, but maybe not. There was also a guy with a loaded backpack and an emergency transponder who turned around just after the Alum Cave Trail because he was afraid that he may become a "statistic." Hi JP-I hiked up to the top Sunday 11/25, and was amazed at how many people were still trying to hike to the top late in the day. On the way down, I met several groups around 230-3pm who were still about an hour or more from the top. No way they would make it down before dark. Some of them were ill prepared as well. I did my best to talk two groups into turning around but neither did right then. I am wondering what happens when they get up top and suddenly realize they can't make it down before dark. Do you have people knocking on your doors for help or to spend the night? I hope they are all safe.
doug
11/26/2012 03:51:27 am
All quotes and philosophies aside, the comments I read here which speak of the hikers who get on the trail late in a day and unprepared for such adventurees really concern me. Like Jason stated: the lack of preparations that are witnessed along any trail, especially those leading to the lodge, make me cringe to say the least. I used to participate in and give some time to WIlderness Rescues Teams and have been directly involved in several resuces. In 1969 I helped search for the seven-year old boy who was lost at Spence Field (with never a trace found) and that will forever remain in my memory. Steve D commented on hikers who start late and when encountered are told that it would be wise to turn around and go back. I do the same, although I've met people who were insulted for me telling them that. Well, I would rather insult someone than to later learn that they had become another useless statistic. I don't want any glory or acclaim for my knowledge, but my experience speaks for itself and if I can be helpful to other hikers and campers I love to do so. I can just imagine those irresponsible folks who show up at the lodge late in the day thinking and expecting that they will be allowed to stay. Such arrogance, which is what I consider it to be ! I just don't know how these people can be stopped. They have every bit of right to be out there as any of us, it's just that they be more considerate of others as well as themselves. Well, JP, although you and I have never met, and I hope perhaps we can sometime this winter, it seems that the off-season has gotten off to a good start ! G'day.
Debi
11/26/2012 09:59:25 am
Next time you have to tell a person it would be wise to turn around you may want to add the story about the 7 year old. What a heart breaker. Could not even imagine. JP, your picture is awsome today! Good job.
doug
11/27/2012 12:11:37 am
Yes, Debi, I will definitely take your suggestion and the next time I meet someone out late on a trail heading in a direction which could lead them into a troublesome situation I will "bend their ear(s)" whether they like it or not ! In fact, in about an hour I'm leaving to drive down to the Park for a day hike, then a decadent stay at a motel tonight rather than camping, although I doubt I'll meet too many 'tourists' out on the trail I'm following which is a bit remote for the usual hiker. I was on my second hike of the A.T. through the Park in '69 when I came upon a very large crowd near Spence Field where I was going to stay that particular night. I soon learned about the disappearance of Dennis Lloyd Martin who was just a few days shy of his 7th birthday. He and some friends were playing while their fathers watched. They separated and Dennis walked into a brushy area and was never seen again; not a trace. Yes, it was tragic, disappearing almost right before his father's eyes. There was never any trace of him found. I remained there for four days helping in the search. Since then I've done that A.T. trip about once every five years and each time I pass through the Spence Field area my pace slows as I'm glancing around with the smallest of hopes of possibly finding something related to the boy, knowing full well how many years have transpired since his vanishing. It's one of several mysterious disappearances in the Park over the years. Sometimes I'm tempted to simply stand at a trailhead observing the folks starting out on a hike, reminding them of safety, proper gear, and such. One of my most vivid memories {and I've seen this more than once} is of passing a man and his wife, in their 30's I would guess, on the A.T. and she was wearing flip flops and he had on "penny" loafers ! This still bothers me. Cool, drizzly, and wet here in London, KY this morning and I can only imagine how conditions are up on the mountain. It surely must be quiet there ! Have a good day everyone !
Tony Ga
11/27/2012 02:52:34 am
The story: Comments are closed.
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LeConte LodgeWelcome 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! Archives
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