November 22, 2017

CLOSING DAY

Good Morning,
     As the sun rises to seize the day, we're waking up to twinkling lights in the valley below and a soft gradient of oranges brighten up the sky above.  It should be a stellar day on the mountain and all across East Tennessee.  Tuesday's weather was fairly breezy all day, with clouds dominating much of the first half before finally clearing off in the afternoon.  Our high temperature came in at 38 degrees, and our overnight low dipped to 25.  What snow remains is of course patchy, but everything that thawed and turned to slush yesterday quickly refroze.  Please continue to use caution if you intend on making an ascent, and have those traction devices on standby until we can confirm the trails are completely clear.

     Well, how does one attempt to summarize the thoughts, sights, sounds, and smells of an entire season on Mt. LeConte.  In the spirit of the coming holiday, only one way makes the most sense, and that's simply by giving thanks.
      Thank you to the devoted followers of the High On LeConte blog and elsewhere across social media.  Your love and appreciation for this sacred mountain and its lodge catering to thousands annually is what brought us together.  It's amazing just to think that our Facebook page skyrocketed from 16,000 to over 43,000 followers in the span of a few months.  That goes to show just how special this place is to so many from across the globe, and we're delighted to share it with you.  These channels serve as a bridge to bring the magic of this mountain directly to those of you who aren't able to visit as often as you'd like.  This site is also intended to assist upcoming visitors in their preparations for an overnight stay or an afternoon exploration.  We'll continue to provide you with pertinent information to make your future visit safe and enjoyable, while also including the inspiring and interesting tidbits that go into making the lodge experience so great.  We sincerely appreciate you coming along for the ride while showing your support through these various websites.  May your fondness and wonder for this majestic mountain never cease.
     Thank you to the courageous individuals and the devoted groups of day hikers who penciled in a trip to Mt. LeConte this season.  It was a pleasure to get to meet so many new and wonderful people who share in an appreciation for this place.  Your stories and experiences from the trail have all been equally entertaining, informative, and inspiring.  The crew is especially thankful for the charity that is bestowed upon them weekly, namely the delicious treats that so many lug up here voluntarily.  The Smokies are home to an infinite number of amazing sights and footpaths.  We're honored to play host to those of you that find Mt. LeConte a little more attractive than the rest.  Keep climbing, keep finding new inspiration, and keep enjoying these awesome scenic trails.
     Thank you to the countless folks who hung up their hats and kicked back their feet with us as overnight guests this season.  It's important to us that you hike away satisfied with your extended time on the mountain, and striving to exceed our visitor's expectations will continue to be this operation's goal.  At the heart of what makes this lodge so special is the bond formed between the people that travel here.  Some of you have been coming for decades, while others are still cracking the reservations mold as first timers.  We are grateful for the opportunity to serve you all, and desire the chance to welcome you back with cozy cabins and warm cups of hot chocolate for seasons to come.  From the soothing sunrises and sunsets to the festive evening music, and from the entertaining peach slurping contests to those victory-achieved, breath-easy moments of swaying back and forth in a rocking chair, we passionately believe there is something up here for everybody.  As a crew, our mission is to join in bringing that experience  to you.  It's the guests who make this collection of rustic buildings into a lodge, a house into a home as they say, and for that, we thank you.
     On behalf of LeConte Lodge and Stokely Hospitality Enterprises, it has been an absolute honor to serve you all this 2017 season.  We hope you continue to follow the happenings of this mountain through the winter, and we look forward to more actively welcoming you back for another round next March.  Happy Thanksgiving, safe travels, and thank you for making this experience so memorable!
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Sincerely Yours in Lodging,
​John Northrup