Rhododendron in Full Bloom

6/23/2010

The dwarf rhododendron is in full bloom on the top of Mt. LeConte. You always know summer has reached the mountain when Cliff Tops is painted pink.It was a beautiful 71 degree day yesterday. Today is starting to look like a repeat performance.
I have had some questions about the bear we have in camp. He is still around. He is not causing any trouble, just paying us a visit every now and again. The Park Service will try and catch him again, at the moment there are other "problem" bears that need to be caught. We are just doing our job and trying to keep him out of camp. I will keep you posted when anything changes.

Doug Y.

6/23/2010 05:31:00 am

I would bet that the temperature on the exposed rock at Cliff Tops is considerably higher than down at the lodge itself; nice photos as usual. thanks.

Ron Adams

6/23/2010 09:35:10 am

Please educate me. Why are they still thinking about capturing your Mt. LeConte bear? Apparently he is not harming anyone, or attacking anybody. Why would they want to remove him from the mountain up there? I mean, he is in his natural element. Seems like a waste of time and money to grab him when he is, like I said, apparently non-threatening.

scott

6/23/2010 11:24:35 am

Let's just say that removing him eliminates the chance he hurts someone or gets hurt in return. Better to just let him live his life out away from humans

High on LeConte

6/23/2010 12:54:39 pm

Ron, the bear is the same bear that has gotten into a building in the past. He is coming around during the day which is not a good habit to let him form. He is in camp during the day. The park service would rather do a capture and release in hopes this would be a traumatic experience for the bear and he would want nothing to do with us "2 legged creature". It is for the best interest of the bear and humans to not have him around people and buildings. I say he is not causing trouble at the moment, but he could in the future. The safest plan is try and scare him away from inhabited places.

Ron Adams

6/23/2010 01:07:13 pm

Thanks for your response! I didn't know he had already gotten into one of the buildings up there. That puts a whole different spin on the situation. I do, however,think it's odd that the bruin isn't scared of all those people; you would think he would just naturally stay away.

carolyn boone link

7/1/2010 02:54:23 pm

I have been enjoying your daily post since 4-12-10. My daughter and a friend hiked up that mon. and spent the night.She has been going to the mt. since she was 3 yrs. old and she was 50 6-8-10.She had been to Alum Cave when she was in high school but not on to Mt.LeConte.I am 73 & my husband is 79.
Have we waited too long??We have been to Ramey Cascades. 8 Mi.round trip.Rough!

High On Leconte

7/2/2010 12:12:52 am

Hi Carolyn,
I can say that we get folks your age on the mountain all the time. If you decide to attempt it, I would take the Trillium Gap trail when it opens back up. Boulevard is not the easiest trail and it is 8 miles. I would plan on taking your time and enjoy the hike. Good luck and hope to see you up top.

Comments are closed.

Rhododendron in Full Bloom

LeConte Lodge

Archives