Nice Day For a White Wedding

No Billy Idol didn't stop by to sing his song from the title (though that would make for interesting after-supper entertainment), but we've been fortunate to welcome some interesting folks to LeConte Lodge the last few days.  Allyson is off the mountain for a few days, so I'll try to keep you up to date on the LeConte news until her return next week.

First of all, we'd like to congratulate Kelly and Bill Pyle on their Saturday morning wedding at Myrtle Point.  The Pyles certainly win Saturday's award for the best-dressed LeConte guests (breakfast is usually not that formal).  The forecast wasn't too promising, but the couple ventured out to Myrtle Point and returned to breakfast plenty happy.  Myrtle Point, the eastern-most of LeConte's four peaks, was shrouded in fog as the ceremony began.  However, Kelly reports that about two-thirds of the way through the service that the cloud lifted, the mountains appeared, the moon became visible in the dawn sky and the birds began singing. 

"There's no more perfect place on the planet to get married," Kelly said.

"LeConte is the best place on Earth," Bill said.

Sounds like the ceremony went just fine.

We were also pleased to welcome guests from a wide range of ages.  Our youngest guest Friday night clocked in at 10 months old.  I don't think he carried his own pack, though I think that's fair if you aren't eligible to vote until the 2032 U.S. Presidential election. 

Our oldest guest Thursday night counted 84 candles on his last birthday cake.  As the patriarch of the Jennings party, he's been dutifully leading his family up LeConte since Moses was a boy.  His granddaughter, Katie Patterson, served on the LeConte Lodge crew in 2009 and 2010.  We were especially happy to welcome Katie back to LeConte Lodge and the mountain she loves dearly. 

Keeping the theme of interesting guests, we also hosted two of Katie's relatives who have starred as zombies in AMC's hit television show, "The Walking Dead."  I'm a big fan of the show, but must admit I'm glad they didn't show up to the lodge in costume.  We have emergency plans for many contingencies at LeConte Lodge, but repelling a zombie invasion of the top of Tennessee is not in the employee handbook (note to self: something to work on over the winter).

Friday's high reached 69 degrees with a pleasant low of 57, perfect sleeping weather.  We registered 0.18 inches of rain.  The forecast calls for a good chance of more precipitation over the course of Saturday and Sunday.  However, as of Saturday at 2 p.m., we've yet to see a drop.

Come on up and see us.  Happy trails.

A partial look at the astounding view from Myrtle Point, site of Kelly and Bill Pyle's Saturday morning wedding. This photo was taken on a sunny Thursday afternoon.