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October 01st, 2014

10/1/2014

20 Comments

 
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Good afternoon to you.  This is Nathan, filling in for Allyson while she's on off days.  We've enjoyed a nice last couple of days on top of LeConte.  We ended up getting some real September weather the last half of the month, featuring little precipitation, nice sunrises and sunsets and plenty of sunny days.

After I bragged about how nice September is on the mountain early in the month, the weather decided to make a liar of me.  We saw more gray skies and rain than usual the first half of September.  However, the most underrated month on LeConte came around and offered us only 0.59 total inches of precipitation from Sept. 16-30, a veritable drought.  We only had measurable rain on three days between Sept. 18-30.

I hope that sets a nice trend for us moving into October.  Today has been quite nice, especially through lunch.  We've seen a few more clouds this afternoon but no precipitation.  Tuesday's high reached 63 with an overnight low of 40.

We did have a report of a guest spotting a large bear Monday morning near Cliff Tops.  I hope the bears will pass through LeConte without hanging out too long.  There's just not much for them to eat up here right now.  The tail end of the blackberries finished up about three weeks ago up top.  Additionally, after last year's bumper crop of the brilliant red mountain ash berries, we have very few clusters on the trees this fall.  Conversely, Bill Stiver, the Park Service's top authority for wildlife in the Great Smoky Mountains, told me the hard mast (acorns, etc.) crop is excellent down below.  Maybe that will keep the bears moving downhill for dinner.

It seems we've had an Ohio theme going on for a day or two at LeConte Lodge.  We were honored to host Ohio natives Tim and Lisa Parkison for their wedding on Myrtle Point Tuesday morning.  The bride squirreled away a wedding dress in the bottom of her backpack and surprised everyone by hiking out to LeConte's eastern-most peak in wedding white.  Carol and Gene Parkison, the groom's parents, sprung for wedding cake for the whole lodge last night.  Assistant cook Nicholette worked hard to make it, and, after having a piece of wedding cake for lunch, I can testify it was tasty.

I first met Carol and Gene Parkison on the trail on a brutally windy, wet and cold night when LeConte was still holding on to winter in 2010, my first season on crew.  It wasn't a very fun hike for them, as the thermometer read 36 degrees when we arrived at the lodge and the wind was blowing rain up the steep slopes of Alum Cave Bluff Trail that night.  Once they arrived at the lodge, however, Carol and Gene took a liking to the spirit of the place.  We've been privileged to welcome them twice a year since--always a treat for us because of their enthusiasm for the mountain and warmth to everyone.

We were also fortunate to taste some fine "Ohio Buckeye" confections different Ohio natives hiked up for the crew.  The candy was delicious and the guests even nicer.

This being Oct. 1 and the beginning of reservations week, we wish all the folks on redial and all our cohorts in the Sevierville office answering those phones a good night's rest.  Happy trails.
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20 Comments
Jarrett Morgan link
10/1/2014 08:33:13 am

I like the picture of the lodge. It looks very Halloweenish with the weather. I think its a fitting picture for the 1st of October. I too hope the bears hang out in other areas of the mountains. Also, best of luck to everyone else making reservations.

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elisabeth
10/1/2014 08:42:07 am

happy day to the newly weds! That is a fantastic story! Wish I had been there to see it. It is now October, so I can honestly say I will see you later this month for our stay at the lodge (our first) cant wait. I have hiked up a dozen times this year...but this one will be truly special. Thanks for all you do!

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Kathy Taylor
10/1/2014 08:48:50 am

We were privileged to be staying at LeConte & meeting the happy couple---Tim & Lisa Parkison & his parents---Carol & Gene Parkison. They were seated at our table & what a delight it was to to get to talk with them. Lisa's dress was beautiful & she made a beautiful bride! So happy for them! We also were there to help feed the llamas which is always a highlight! We want to thank Nathan, Allyson, Chris, Matt, Rachel, Pat, Allen & all the crew for making our stay wonderful & making us feel like family! You all are greatly appreciated! Now I'm on redial for next year's reservation! Thanks to everyone!!

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Phillip
10/1/2014 09:09:13 am

The sign on the dining room says "Elevation 6593"; is this for the lodge or the mountain ? This makes the sign confusing. I have in my hand an official Park brochure giving the elevation of Mt. Leconte as 6593. Please tell me which is correct. Thank you.

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tomk in SC
10/1/2014 09:32:58 am

The highest peak on LeConte, High Point, is 6593'.
The Lodge is around 6390'
The sign is wrong, but apparently it is left wrong out of tradition.

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Kent
10/1/2014 09:42:40 am

Speaking of the sign above the dining room entrance, I was wondering when they installed the elevation and date placards. On the Twitter site, the image of the was taken prior to their installation.

Despite the triviality of it, this question has been floating around in my head for awhile. I must know! Now! ; )

Phillip
10/1/2014 09:42:42 am

Thank you tomk. I am going to research other lodge sites and links because someone told me the value there at the lodge, perhaps right at the dining hall, is listed somewhere. The sign, despite tradition, is confusing. Surely someone has information about this little inconsistency. Nice place to go regardless of figures, etc.

tomk in SC
10/1/2014 10:05:20 am

http://www.lecontelodge.com/about/
The lodge's own site puts it at 6360'.

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Fred
10/1/2014 10:28:58 am

tomk, I appreciate the imfo you give here and on the forum. What part of SC are you from? I am in Anderson.

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tomk in SC
10/1/2014 11:45:51 pm

Not far at all, SImpsonville!

doug y link
10/1/2014 10:17:00 am

Looks like the old discussion about the dining hall's elevation sign is alive and well. Yes, tomk, I have seen that figure myself. The sign on the dining hall is misleading as is suggested. I addressed this a bit on my own site; it's not worthy of spending time on here. I have thought all day about the folks who have now garnered reservations for the 2015 season. I don't have the patience to spend so much time on the telephone. I'll get up there three or four times next year, though. I wanted to this fall, but the knee surgery isn't going to allow a trip up just yet. Can't wait to return to the top !

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elisabeth
10/1/2014 12:32:25 pm

good luck Doug. Hope surgery goes well. see you up top next year!!

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norman
10/2/2014 04:17:19 am

Doug Y, glad you are going to keep your site "name".

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Paula Bridges, Jonesborough, TN
10/1/2014 10:17:41 am

Nathan, I always enjoy your posts and I love the picture. I agree that it looks very much like Halloween. I could barely read your post on my phone. Is there any way to darken it? I usually don't have that problem. Thanks!!!

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Sharon S
10/1/2014 10:51:25 am

Ditto. The last two posts have been in grayscale.

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elaine
10/1/2014 12:32:45 pm

The last 2 posts were quite legible on my laptop. I believe, Nathan, that our mast crop this year is going to be quite substantial for our bear population. At 4100 ft. the oaks are heavy with acorns and other nuts all around. It was sad last winter that so many bears went into "hibernation" quite hungry because of a poor mast crop.

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Rick
10/1/2014 01:16:02 pm

The last two posts are very hard to see ????

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Steve
10/2/2014 12:30:00 am

Isn't Mt Guyot the highest point in the Smokies??

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tomk in SC
10/2/2014 12:38:48 am

Nope. That distinction belongs to Clingmans Dome. Clingmans, Guyot, LeConte. 6643', 6621', 6593' respectively.

Steve
10/2/2014 01:33:57 am

Excellent, thanks. But eh, I was so close

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