December 20, 2023

GOOD MORNING TO Y’ALL!

MAYDAY! MAYDAY!

If you are interested in learning more about the 54 (or more) plane crashes in the Smoky Mountain National Park since it’s creation, you should read the book, MAYDAY! MAYDAY!

Yesterday afternoon at approximately 3:30 PM I was really concerned that I might be called upon to practice my first aid skills and to write another chapter for the book.

I had just hauled ten gallons of water up from the spring to the kitchen. While I was still “suited up “ for the fifteen degree temperatures, I decided to proceed on my daily ramblings around the top of the mountain to Apollo Overlook and the backcountry shelter. I like to visit the shelter every day in the late afternoon just to see who my “new neighbors” are for the night.

As I left the shelter I heard very loud airplane propeller noise approaching from the south (North Carolina) side of the mountain. As I stood and listened and watched, I saw a small single engine red and white airplane fly over High Top—the top of Mt LeConte. It was only about 100 feet over the tops of the trees! I have been hiking in the Smokies since 1980 and Mt LeConte for almost that long. I have never seen a single wing single engine airplane fly that low! If I was a pilot flying over a mountain that we know is 6,593 feet tall, I think that it would be prudent to fly at least above 7,500 feet elevation! He made it over the mountain and circled back to the south.

I was relieved that he made it! I really thought that the plane might crash. Then I would have to call 911, demonstrate my knowledge of first aid, and assist with a helicopter rescue. This would be interesting and exciting because there was less than two hours of daylight remaining. Then I would probably have to write another chapter for MAYDAY! MAYDAY!

He made it. I called the park service when I got back to the lodge. The ranger who answered the phone asked me if I had the numbers on the fuselage. The plane was so low that I would have been unable to see that because of the trees.

There is a cell phone app that enables you to take a picture of a plane and tells you the type of plane, the owner, the origin, the destination, the name of the pilot and probably anything else that one might wish to know. Perhaps I should get this app for my phone!

I think that we were all very lucky today!

Any other questions about what a Mt LeConte Lodge winter caretaker does “in all of their spare time?”

Have a Great Day!
WILDCAT/Bert