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September 30th, 2015

9/30/2015

 
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Cloud ocean this morning.
     Hello again. Today is still making up its mind about what kind of weather we are having...we woke up in an inversion and now the clouds have rolled in overhead as well. But it is a very comfortable 58 degrees outside. Yesterday's high was 63 and the low overnight was 47. We received 1.73" of steady rainfall all throughout the day and into the early evening. Y'all have a great afternoon! 
doug y link
9/30/2015 12:41:12 pm

I don't always agree with a few things regarding the Lodge, but as these are basically insignificant matters I try to let them just pass and fade away. I was just talking with a friend of mine in Maryland on my Amateur radio and he asked me several questions about the Lodge so I directed him to some of their web sites and links for information that would interest him. He's also a staff photographer for National Geographic magazine and I suggested to him that a nice 'full' article on and about the Lodge might make a good piece for an issue of that magazine although I doubt this suggestion will get very far. Nonetheless, in my opinion I would like to see such an article; I'm sure some will disagree perhaps, but it would be an interesting possibility. Sure wish I was up there on the mountain right now ! G'day

TwistyP
9/30/2015 01:09:01 pm

What a great idea! If this photographer needs evidence of further support, I'll be the second to hop on board. Without pause, I have subscribed to this periodical since I was a child and I can't think of a better magazine to host a LeConte Lodge article. Don't let the idea fizzle away, Doug.

doug y link
9/30/2015 12:48:08 pm

I meant to add that the photos the crew posts on this site, to me, are of a "National Geographic" quality !!

norman
9/30/2015 01:09:33 pm

Doug. what's your call letters? Agree about the pictures! HAGD

doug y link
9/30/2015 02:53:51 pm

Norman: WB4VXN

Remembering when the Travel Channel's Samantha Brown visited the Lodge and then presented a short segment about it on her show. Good to see the Lodge getting such attention, but in my opinion Brown's segment was not the best she could have presented. Maybe I'm too biased, but my biggest memory of her report was her complaining about the arduous trek just to get up to the Lodge. To all true Lodge supporters the hike up and down is half the enjoyment.

Mike
9/30/2015 03:23:28 pm

Ruthie: Would you mind posting some ugly pictures of the mountains and the lodge? I'm getting homesick for LeConte!

Tenderfoot
9/30/2015 03:46:34 pm

Mike, Ruthie is extremely busy up there and for her to take days and possibly weeks looking for that one ugly picture (if there is one) is no the best use of her time. Lol. I know you were just kidding.

phillip
9/30/2015 07:34:07 pm

Want an ugly picture !? Do what I do: look in a mirror !

Austin
9/30/2015 05:07:32 pm

Sounds like a few people completed the quest of doing all the Leconte trails (plus Brushy) in a day this past week. Brian Thomas and Shawn Carson hiked it in 19.5 hours, and John Northrup ran it in 11 hours. Congrats to all.

Tom Layton link
10/6/2015 11:21:17 am

Congratulations, indeed. John's time may be the record. Best I've seen previously was "under 12 hours" by Stan Wellslinger. By the way, I'm still working on the unofficial list of people who have hiked LeConte over 100 times (so far: 26 men and 8 women). Email me if this is one way the mountain speaks to you.

Ron Adams
9/30/2015 07:45:37 pm

I have said this before, Austin, but I will say it again. I just don't get the "hiking all the trails" in one day thing. Seems to me this kind of thing goes against the spirit of the mountain, and what hiking it means. To each their own, I know, but it has absolutely no appeal to me. I want to enjoy my time on the mountain, not turn it into some kind of personal competition.,

doug y link
10/1/2015 09:17:51 am

Well said Ron.

tomk in SC
10/1/2015 09:29:55 am

The mountain is different things to different people as it should be. To some it is all about the experience on the way up. To others it is all about the physicality of the hike up. To others the comraderie at the office or the food at the dining hall, perhaps sunset. The night sky, the muted voices before breakfast. To some it is one thing or another, to others it is the unopposed all of it. In any case it is many different things to many different people and almost all of us love Mount LeConte for what it is and for who we are because of it.

UTPete
10/1/2015 10:48:51 am

Against the spirit of the mountain? Are you privy to some form of communication with the mountain we humans don't have access to? Who says neither of those people enjoy their time on the mountain? Have you gotten to know any of the past finishers, or to find out why they did it, or what Leconte means to them? Tomk in SC is right, these mountains are for everybody and they mean something different for everybody. Maybe they're training for something. Maybe the're rebounding from personal illnesses or setbacks and living life to the fullest. Maybe they're raising funds or awareness for a worthy cause. I say good for them for challenging themselves. Perhaps they've inspired someone to get off the couch, to pull their face out of their mobile device, to get healthy, to explore the outdoors. No matter where you go, there you are...regardless of how fast or slow your legs may go. Happy hiking to ALL!

Norman
10/1/2015 12:08:20 pm

Well said UTPete

norman
10/1/2015 12:19:49 pm

By the way, what is the UT?

Tom C
9/30/2015 08:06:18 pm

This is one of the most beautiful photos I've seen in checking this site in over 3 years! National Geographic could only hope to produce a photo of this beauty!

Donna C.
9/30/2015 09:41:21 pm

I agree!

Tenderfoot
10/1/2015 09:50:40 am

Soooooo well stated Tomk in CC.......and so true! We all see and experience it in a little different way.

Cindy
10/1/2015 01:48:12 pm

Anybody think I will get through the reservation phone today? I have called over 700 times and getting busy signal! Ugh! Any suggestions??

Terri (KY)
10/1/2015 01:53:46 pm

I'd like to know too! Been trying since 7 a.m. CST. I'm hoping to snag a reservation. Good luck!

Melody
10/1/2015 02:32:30 pm

Keep trying! I was lucky enough to get through earlier. I was so surprised when it rang I squealed when the nice lady answered. I know she must have thought I was crazy. We are so excited for the opportunity to stay at Leconte Lodge. :)

doug y link
10/1/2015 01:55:25 pm

Cindy: put some "moleskin" on the blisters on your dialing finger(s) and keep on dialing ! Good luck !

Cindy
10/1/2015 02:04:16 pm

So good to know I'm not alone at least. It's my birthday today and I so wanna get through! Got the moleskin in place , Doug😀

Sharon Hall
10/1/2015 02:13:53 pm

I've been calling all day too! Just a busy signal-what up?

Vic
10/1/2015 02:27:13 pm

I am a high school math teacher (its ok, my class is taking a test right now so I can relax until I have all those papers to grade tonight!). I showed my class the picture of the "Cloud ocean this morning." Over half thought it was a painting and that this place we call "LeConte Lodge" does not really exist! I had to get photos off my computer to show them I had been there (in front of the dining hall with the date behind me) along with other pictures I took on one of several journey's up the mountain.

Several stated they want to hike the mountain and even wanted me to sponsor a hiking club. That would be really cool but we tried that a couple years ago and was shot down by the district for liability reasons. Since my students are freshmen and don't drive they would have to "coincidently" arrive somehow at the trail head on the date I was there to lead them up so it is not a school sanctioned event. Not many parents would be willing to drive 80 miles in the pre-dawn hours and then come back ten to twelve hours later to pick up their kids so that killed that ideal. (I can make the trip up and back much faster but we would only be as fast as the slowest hiker)

Anyway, loved the photo! Thanks.

doug y link
10/1/2015 03:11:57 pm

Vic: Your comments really struck home with me. After Vietnam, then 18 yrs as a civil/mining engineer, I returned to college and earned a 4th B.S., this one in education, and I taught science in middle school for several years and loved it. It is a rotten shame that one cannot take a group of youngsters as you mentioned on a hike up to Leconte Lodge for example. What a wonderful experience that would be for those children ! Experiencing the hike up alone would be delightful for them. But in this darned politically correct society this just cannot be done, and I think that's a bloody sad fact. It might be a monumental task to arrange for a group of students to stay a night or two up there, but such a trip would forever leave a good impression on them; that's just my feelings and opinion.

Vic
10/2/2015 10:05:28 am

You are right Doug. It is a shame but this is how our society has become because of the legal system with all these lawyers on TV advertising they will suit anyone, anytime, anywhere for any reason! That is why the district will not let us create the club.

I cannot even meet at school during lunch to talk to them about getting a plan together. It has to be on non-school hours and off school property to have the meeting. I am going to see just how many are really interested though and we will meet at the McDonald's or someplace at a time when we all "just happen to be there." If we could just get a couple parent interested we may be able to do the hike.

You are right though, it will be an experience they will never forget. Thanks for your support and comments.

By the way Doug, I was in the Marines in the 70's myself.

Lauren
10/1/2015 09:36:56 pm

Vic, you should look into Tremont. They are in the GSMNP towards Cade's Cove, and they have all sorts of educational programs for students, including hiking. You may have better luck organizing a field trip through them.

Vic
10/2/2015 10:08:10 am

Lauren, you may have a point there! I never really thought about Tremont as an option. I will search their website and see what it has. Thanks for the suggestion.

Phillip
10/1/2015 02:36:33 pm

Norman: come on now ! U inversity of T ennessee !!!



norman
10/1/2015 02:56:08 pm

Come on, I was hoping you were from Utah !! ha ha Should have figured as much!!

jeand
10/1/2015 05:10:20 pm

Or maybe Univ of Texas?

Fred
10/1/2015 05:05:12 pm

My daughter and I are coming up Saturday to the Lodge. Looks like we're expecting some really wet weather. We've been up in wet weather before but nothing like what they're predicting. Hope we'll see updates on trail conditions and warnings if there is any. Just trying to get a feel for what we might can expect on AC trail. Or would you advise a different trail? We know Rainbow is not a good choice in these conditions. Any advice would be appreciated. Hope to see y'all up there.

ric
10/1/2015 11:08:49 pm

goretex boots and dry socks. lots of wet weather springs, it'll probly be like hiking in a creek. rocks will be slick, make use of hiking poles and the cables.

Tammy ( Tx )
10/1/2015 05:26:48 pm

It's October 1st (yeah!!!) and no one (I was waiting on Ruthie) has said it so I will because I can use the luck! Rabbit Rabbit! Everyone have a wonderful October! :)

TonyG
10/1/2015 08:04:40 pm

I was panning through the website and noticed fewer crew profiles on "Meet the Crew" page. I see six, feel like 10 has been the norm in years past. Were some of them seasonals this year?

Donnie R
10/2/2015 01:51:30 am

Awesome photo ! Print it..frame it..and i'll buy it ;)

Ryan La
10/2/2015 03:43:47 pm

Who's got dibs on the first snow up top this year between crew members? Let's be official and post the crews name with the date.I've got a date in mind.


Comments are closed.
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