Simply

4/3/2012

I have to admit, I love my job. I am sitting at the computer with the window open and the cool air awakening my senses. The birds singing in the trees, the sun and blue sky warming the mountain, and the sounds of the guests making new friends and sharing their tales of the mountain. Life on the mountain is simple and good.

"As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness." ~Henry David Thoreau

doug y.

4/3/2012 12:41:13 am

So true, Allyson, so true; someone I cannot remember said that if you have a job that you love, you'll never work a day in your life ! I'm sure there are many lodge guests who would love to work there as I would, if only for a single season; Thoreau's quote is quite right; G'day and enjoy !

Renee

4/3/2012 12:42:10 am

Great pic! Miss y'all!! See you soon.

Debi link

4/3/2012 12:44:09 am

I'm trying to simplify!!! Just have to get through all these kiddies and retire and were sit to go. But I got it pretty good here too. Motorcyle's, beach, kyacks,sled dogs and my mountain 12 hours away. I do love those birdies making nest all over the place. Flowers and trees blooming. Its a beautiful!!

norman link

4/3/2012 03:43:25 am

Debi, just wondering what part of the country you live; you mention sled dogs??

Debi link

4/4/2012 09:08:44 pm

Norm, I live in Ludington,Michigan. I watch sled dogs part of the year April through Sept. The person I watch sled dogs for has his own kennels down here. In Sept. he brings them up to his UP kennels and rides the trails up there. He is a veteran Ididarod finisher, but he just runs the smaller races now, His name is Al Hardman. My older son watched them for 6 years, then passed the job down to my younger son 4 years ago. I help out and do mornings while hes in school and he does nights until he gets out of school, then takes over, But I do them whenever he needs a break and I'm always down there giving them love and attention. He has 24 dogs, I think. I can't keep track.

Rod

4/3/2012 01:01:12 am

I often wonder how the staff views guests. I wonder whether it's just a job or a passion. I'll try to be as "low maintenance" as I can be not to bother them, but then wonder if my lack of interaction with them is also detrimental, as if I am casting an image that they are not needed. I love to hold conversations with the staff, but concern myself that I am boring them with the same questions they've been asked a thousand times before.
Anyhow, it's nice you mention the joy you find in hearing the guest's activities. I guess I'm simply excessively concerned for others to a fault.

High On LeConte

4/3/2012 03:08:50 am

Rod,
I think I can speak for the crew when I say we would not be up here if it were not for the guests. That IS the job. Guest interaction is imperative to making this mountain the treasure that it is.

Debi link

4/3/2012 03:39:20 am

Rod, I too have thought the same thing. Don't want to bother them, there eating lunch. But they don't mind being bothered, they jump in a heart beat to help. You have a great crew up there. And yes I too as a guest would love to work there. Yes, you have to cook and clean, same things you do at home, so what. But the guest that come up there, WOW!! I'd never be lonely and feel out in the middle of no where with all those wonderful hiking people coming up with the same passion I do. There happy feeling a sence of accomplishment and also tired but still in a great mood and willing to share their stories because their enjoying the adventure. Your crew is great and always stop what there doing to say Hello weather their sweeping out a cabin, getting ready to close the store and go to lunch or eating they will stop and talk.

Tony Ga

4/3/2012 02:41:18 am

Treasure days like this.

Paul B

4/3/2012 05:30:20 am

One of my favorite posts. Not just for the beauty of the photograph, but your catching the essence of what makes this place so magical. Enjoying the journey with others also inspired is one of the ways the mountain draws us back.

Julie

4/3/2012 06:50:23 am

Getting ready to join you on Good Friday! So looking forward to the trip! It will be our first time, although I have talked about making this trip for years! Can't wait to see it in person!

Dee Shaughnessy

4/3/2012 10:06:49 am

..Just accomplished my 3rd hike/stay up there. As a 52-year-old female lone hiker, I especially appreciate the cream of the crop staff ANd the friendliness of all of the other hikers. LeConte seems to magnetically draw only nice people :)!

Becky Moore

4/5/2012 12:34:01 am

Always so appreciative of staff answering questions and sharing stories. Can't get enough of details about this awesome place; always looking forward to the next visit. In the meantime thankful for daily blog. Thanks to all staff involved in every part of this lodge!

Dana O

4/6/2012 04:33:43 am

I would like to express my appreciation to the staff and crew. My son and I came up for our second visit on April 2nd. At Bonnie's suggestion we hiked out to Myrtle Point, what an awesome view. Thanks Bonnie! We hiked out to Cliff Tops with some fellow overnight campers to watch the sunset looks of fun listening to others experiences. Tom and Holly kept us entertained they have have lots of experience on the AT. Great Trip!

Donna R link

4/9/2012 11:10:00 pm

Heading up on Thursday.. 17th trip. Always awesome!

Jason M link

4/13/2012 06:56:09 am

I was at the lodge on April 3th. This was my third trip to the lodge, but this time I hiked my a friend who had never been "in" the mountains. When I say in, I mean he has never left the paved road. It did not take long until the enchantment of these mountains over took him. A simple hike in God's creation does something to your soul.

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