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Welcome Back Henry

9/4/2012

 
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Longtime LeConte Lodge assistant manager Henry Neel came up to help the crew during the busy Labor Day weekend.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day weekend.  Things were a little damp up on LeConte, but that's really a good thing.  Our spring is running a little better, which is beneficial.  I think Saturday ranked as the busiest day of the holiday weekend.  One time I was headed through the dining room during a rain shower and wasn't sure whether I was at the lodge or Grand Central Station.  The lack of trains finally gave away my location, but there were plenty of bustling visitors to the top of Tennessee.

The clouds insulated us Monday and kept the temperature range quite narrow--a high of 60 and low of 56.  We totaled 0.20 inches of rain.

One of our favorite visitors of the weekend arrived in the person of Henry Neel, longtime assistant manager of LeConte Lodge.  Henry's name came up in one of the High of LeConte updates in the comments section a while back, so I'll give you a little update on Henry.

Henry came up to help out with lodge duties during a busy Labor Day weekend.  We were a little short on crew help and pride ourselves on being able to offer hospitable service regardless of how many crew members are on off days.  We were glad to welcome Henry back to help us meet that goal.

Henry worked 15 seasons at LeConte Lodge, from 1995 until his retirement at the conclusion of the 2010 season.  His tenure was interrupted in 2005 by military service in Iraq.  His 15 years of lodge service puts him in an elite group of people with that many years on Mt. LeConte.  Henry still does some income tax work, but is otherwise enjoying his retirement at his home in Jefferson City, Tenn.  Henry told me he particularly enjoyed doing some recent traveling to visit his family.  Henry's never been stingy with his stories, and held forth last night in the kitchen with tales from LeConte Lodge past, growing up in Mississippi and serving in Iraq.  We appreciate his help and look forward to his return visit to LeConte.

We were also glad to welcome the folks who scaled LeConte for the Ed Wright Memorial Hike on Saturday.  Ed passed away in 2009 after hiking LeConte more than 1,300 times.  Stop and read that number again--more than 1,300 times.  A group of Ed's family and friends celebrated what would have been his 87th birthday on Sept. 1 on his favorite mountain.  He passed away before I joined the crew, but I've heard some good Ed Wright stories from others and enjoy his accounts of his hikes to LeConte.

We were also fortunate to welcome the Sabos back to LeConte.  They've been up to visit several times this year and are always a pleasure.  They brought up some ribs for the crew, which we devoured with Sunday lunch.  Folks have been kind enough to haul up fresh fruits, vegetables, cookies and chocolate, but that's the first time to my knowledge the crew has been gifted ribs.

I've said it before, we have the best guests in the Smokies.  We enjoyed hosting plenty of guests during the weekend and hope they left the lodge happy and ready to return.  Happy trails.

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This photo was made on a prettier day on Cliff Tops. Look at the trees and it's not hard to tell which way the wind howls up there.
Ken
9/4/2012 12:56:59 pm

Gee, Henry, let me be the first to post...kudos to you for being the employee with the longest work history at LeConte. That is very impressive. With that said, who had the shortest employment history?

Ken Taylor
9/4/2012 02:40:17 pm

Glad to see such a nice story about a classy guy . The people who have worked there & those who work there now make it such a special place . Good luck Henry !

Gina
9/4/2012 03:32:05 pm

Congrats on your achievement Henry. As always thanks for the daily posts. I envy the LeConte Crew. You will have some special memories for the rest of your life. I would love to be able to work there for at least one season of my life.

Debi link
9/4/2012 10:32:22 pm

Me too Gina! Mt. Leconte really grows on a person and the need to return is always in the back of my mind.
Henry waited on us the first time we bought a tshirt. It must be great for him to go for the weekend and catch up with everyone.

Doug
9/5/2012 01:20:58 am

Debi said it very well: Leconte Lodge does grow on a person and it certainly is always in the back of my mind, but usually more toward the forefront; I wonder sometimes how many visits there I would have now had I started going before '04, as I had hiked by it many times in the years prior to then; It's not an elaborate place, but has a magical atmosphere for me; I enjoy this site daily. Thanks.

tomk
9/5/2012 01:50:47 am

Why is it fascinating to stare at a campfire?
What makes LeConte so special?
I think if you take away the lodge it is just another hike.
Move the lodge somewhere else and it is just another nice rustic lodge.
The combination could explain things.
I'm thinking it is related to the people there. The only way to get to the lodge is to hike about six miles through about three thousand feet of lift. That either filters people out that one might not like to spend time with, or more likely selects people in. Those that hike have to have some sense of adventure and not require a lot of "stuff" to enjoy themselves. I think the longer cell phone service is spotty, the better. I'm sure staff is an example of people selecting IN. I wonder what they hear from peers when they describe what they do summers.
It IS selecting in. Somehow, from all over the planet, people that hike LeConte have a common set of values that is so hard to find elsewhere, it is magic. Add to that some time at the top and the opportunity to chat and mix with folks like that, folks like us and it gets really special.
Henry, when you left, I missed you. Somehow, seeing Henry was another point of familiarity that makes the hike great.
So, what makes LeConte so special?

SusanB
9/5/2012 07:48:22 am

Very well said Tom!
We met a wonderful couple on our hike in July who we are now friends with. She told me that when she told her friends and family that they were hiking to LeConte, the family and friends thought they were crazy to attempt it. I told her welcome to the crazy club! LeConte is a wonderful place, time slows down and everyone enjoys having a conversation with one another without the technology distraction. It is amazing to me that complete strangers come together and enjoy time and nature. I wish I had found this place sooner!


Comments are closed.
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