and i will hang for you. and you will hang for me. and the northern lights will take us in like refugees.

12/30/2012

14 Comments

 
Picture
Cherish friendship in your breast - New is good, but old is best; Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold. Joseph Parry
_Morning y'all,

It's a stunning morning up here today. The high yesterday reached 38 degrees. The low reached 8 degrees and it is currently 9 degrees and clear up top. The mountain received 5 inches of new snow, bringing our grand total up to 6 inches. There is a sea of clouds outside the kitchen porch. There are some gentle reds and oranges shading the horizon. It's good to be back.
_I had a fantastic hike up Rainbow yesterday. There was a light snow falling at the trailhead and I had a pack weighed down with canned goodies (thanks Ron & Marty!). It was a good excuse to take it nice & easy. I was watching the snow fall to the ground and all of the sudden I was at the Rocky Spur Overlook. I can not recall falling into such a wonderful lull while hiking since my days on the AT. It felt like a sober blackout. Perhaps the new snow intoxicated me! I really don't remember much of the hike beyond Rainbow Falls ... it was like I wasn't there.
_It is finally beginning to feel like winter. I can see my breath in the kitchen and have to blow into my hands every few minutes to keep typing. It's my favorite kind of pennance.

Remember, for the latest road conditions, check out the Park Service's twitter feed. Happy hiking!

https://twitter.com/SmokiesRoadsNPS
 


Comments

Rick
12/30/2012 9:11am

I always love the clouds in the mountains. As always great pictures. Thanks.

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Summer
12/30/2012 9:48am

We've been trying to get in the park for 2 days, but the road has been shut down. Hopefully we will get a chance later today. Looks beautiful! I miss the mountain.

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sheldon
12/30/2012 9:58am

It was cool to be on the mountain yesterday as that seen was in the making. First hike up Leconte as the snow was falling. FYI, heed JP's advice and stay with the favored trails. Bullhead is a bear with over a dozen tree-falls to negotiate.

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sheldon
12/30/2012 2:33pm

Scene, not seen. "Knowledge is what's leftover when you've forgotten what you learnt".

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Howard Justice
12/30/2012 10:18am

JP
Glad you're back safely. I looking at Leconte from Pittman Center now. Just a keyhole of blue now and then but otherwise I'm seeing the bottom of your Mtn clouds. Trying to attach a pic's ...I'm 7 miles exactly as crow flies from summit. As I've typed this clouds have lifted off brushy Mtn and snow is a wonderland pic from below! Thanks for all your info!

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Kent
12/30/2012 10:50am

I've experienced that state many times, JP. Krishnamurti used to talk about it as a separation between the “observer and the observed.” (Or something like that. It's been years since I've read his teachings extensively.)

There's a great sense of peace and contentment when it comes over you.

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JP
12/31/2012 9:11am

Kent,
Thanks for the comment. That's really cool. I'll have to find some of those writings.

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Debi
12/30/2012 1:55pm

Crispy Critters up there today. Stay warm! Beautiful pictures for my wallpaper, hard to choose just one.

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Kyle
12/30/2012 2:55pm

Hey we are on the road home now but we were the guys in the yellow tent by the shelter. We hiked up bull head and set up camp Friday night, then day hiked down alum and back Saturday. When we got back some people at the shelter mentioned some lodge caretakers were concerned about the unoccupied tent. Hope we didn't cause too much concern, we were just out enjoying the day without our packs We came down rainbow falls trail and are back on I-40 to Memphis now.

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g grampy abner
12/31/2012 9:11am

kyle, you must not know you are not allowed tents at any of the park shelters.

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Kyle
12/31/2012 9:40am

We realize that now but heading up there we thought that was only a rule for the AT. Once up there we didn't have much of a choice since the shelter was packed to the brim. We'll know to make reservations for plan to camp elsewhere next time, but we usually only make one trip per peak anyway.

JP
12/31/2012 9:12am

Kyle,
No worries. It's just unusual to find a tent parked at the shelter. Hope you had a warm night.

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g grampy abner
12/31/2012 12:53pm

kyle, I guess thats why some of the hiking books say carry a tent for backup. Better safe than sorry. I hope I didnt step on your toe.

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Beckie
12/31/2012 8:50am

We hiked to Alum Cave Bluff on Sunday afternoon after hwy441 finally opened. It was beautiful. The whole trail is snow/slush covered. I didnt wear gaiters & the back of my socks were wet by the end of the day. I've been wanting to try out my new ice crampons & they worked great. However, I was the only person we seen wearing them. My husband managed just fine without them. I probably should've focused more on keeping dry than playing with my new crampons. Trail conditions may be a different story new years eve, as the trail was getting very packed by the end of the day. The only thing I would warn any afternoon hikers about is falling ice. We made it to the bluff around 2:15. Got a nice little shower beneath the bluff as we walked by a rock face. Would've traded my ice crampons to my husband for his water proof jacket @ that point, lol! But as we walked underneath the bluff, lots of melting going on, some small ice littered the path, & I thought, wow I hope one of those big pieces dont fall. We no longer sat down & pulled out our sandwich when a SHEET of ice about the size of my calf fell directly onto the trail where we, just moments before, stood. That can quickly take your appetite! We packed back up & made as fast of a decent as one can in those conditions. We were afraid the next hour or so would only bring more melting. The bluff was in direct sun light @ that time. So keep this in mind & hike safe! Glad you are back JP. I really hope to see Leconte in the snow if road & trail conditions allow. I will check with you before coming to see if there is anything I can bring you.

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