The glorious dawn of the post-quarantine era

Even after a plague, the son always rises (Photo by Up'N'Adam Adventures)

 When the Great Smoky Mountains National Park reopened May 9 following the COVID-19 shutdown, no one was surprised that the first men on the mountaintop were named Adam—Adam Gravett on his 63rd lifetime climb; Adam Williamson, 44th; Adam Ozment, 40th; along with "honorary Adam" Chris Maulden, 59th. They climbed by moonlight to Myrtle Point, defying two inches of crusty snow, to witness the first sunrise after the quarantine. Maulden and Ozment were also there for the first sunrise of 2020. 

Playing it cool: Gravett, Ozment, Williamson

 Ozment and Maulden each have made five sunrise trips to Myrtle Point this year. Ozment wins the tiebreaker for the early bird award, based on this even more auspicious sunrise at Max Patch. 
 Also on opening day, Dr. Ed Jones made his 422nd climb, ranking 15th on our honor roll. On May 10, Timothy Massey logged #60, Philip Clarkson #59, and Melissa Coatney #26. Clarkson, the winter caretaker at the Lodge, is the 2020 leader with 12 climbs. Massey is halfway to his goal of #20for2020. Coatney, now up to #27, is aiming for #100 by the Lodge's 100th anniversary.
 On May 11, the llamas made their first trip since the quarantine.  I'm assuming they were led by Alan Householder, who ranks in our Top 5 with more than 1,200 climbs.
 Le Conte Lodge officially reopened May 18 after an eight-week shutdown. Social distancing has changed the experience―for example, meals are being served in cabins, rather than the traditional family-style dinner and breakfast in the dining room. Here is a description of the changes.