The centennial season at LeConte Lodge continues to produce hiking records.
On Wednesday, Nov. 13, Lodge manager John Northrup joined Larry Russell with 100 ascents in 2024 This is only the second time in the history of the lodge that two hikers have recorded 100 hikes in a calendar year. Back in 1991, when Ed Wright set the annual record of 230, Paul Dinwiddie had 101. That was also the year that Margaret Stevenson set the women's annual record of 78.
There may have been another 100-time climber in 1991. Ron Valentine averaged close to 100 hikes per year in the 1990s, but his records from 1991 were lost in a fire.
John's wife, Bonnie, made her 66th trip of the year, Their lifetime totals are 552 for John and 389 for Bonnie.
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