Enjoy YOUR trip!

doug y, one hiker in the photo (plus the one taking the picture, twayne).

FYI. Took Bullhead 12/29/12 and there were over a dozen tree falls to cross, half requiring a crawl or a complete departure from the trail.

Have a great trip. Hope you get some sunshine after this long stretch of clouds and rain.

Have a great trip and take some pics to share with us. I do miss your quotes!

I will certainly miss your blogs. Have a safe trip, enjoy it and I will look for more blogs on your return.

My "theory" is that all the negative banner the other day has caused it. I feel like JP is a very non confrontational person and will avoid it any way he can and maybe some orders from up top has caused the change in his post. Also usually Allyson is here to delete any negative comment and when she does that it keeps it from getting out of control. I have been guilty of such post before and have had them deleted and they needed to be deleted. Like someone said this is no place for it. I will try to do better and keep this a "Happy Place".

1/9/12 towards the bottom of comments. Not to bring it back up for argument, just to read what happen.

I miss hearing about the intoxicating sunsets and the hair of the dog sunrises.

I forgot to mention that I have five of those remote, motion-sensing "trail" or "game" cameras. If the lodge people wanted I could easily let them borrow one for as long as they desired. TOny Ga: I think I owe you an apology because I may have been thinking of the photo of the other day of the two hikers because the one for today, 1/17/13 has just one. Anyway, regardless of how many were in either photo, it's always good to see those photos, and they serve also to make me envious that I'm not out there, too !

Sounds like snow on the mountaintop...hate that JP will miss it...but San Diego is a beautiful city...hope he enjoys his break. Hoping we get some beautiful photos of snow in the next few days on the blog. We have been checking out the photos of the flooding and road damage in the park.....lots of work to do.

Ive always enjoyed your comments Tony, I like your sense of humor. But then again Im from GA to, LOL. I live in Maggie Valley, NC now. I own/operate a small mom and pop motel here. There are so many mudslides around here right now. Very bad for business. Snowing now. Nice after four days of rain.

I stumbled upon this blog by accident about 3 months ago. Have been hooked on it ever since. JP (and Allyson's) posts have given me the incentive that I needed to get back in shape so that I can hike to the lodge. Sincerely hope that JP returns after his trip!

I have always enjoyed and appreciated the wonderfully~crafted posts by Nathan,
as well as those by JP and Allyson..
each writer has their own very unique style.

OK let's keep ourselves entertained while JP is off the mountain. Maybe some different topics everyone can chime in on. Here's the rules: No grammar lessons (as I worry about my grammar as I type), no negativity, no debating. Let's keep it positive, informative and FUN. If someone breaks the rules, the rule for the rest of us is to ignore it (which will be good practice for me).
I'll start it and if anyone else has one ask it.
Besides the hike to LeConte, what is your favorite hike in the Great Smoky Mountain Park?

Hey was that the last of June 2012?

Tony GA: Great Rules!
How about posting them in the Forum?
I'd add: Worried? Call the office 865.429.5704 and post.
Speculation (and I am guilty) snowballs.
Perhaps a Rules button will be added to the website for new folks.

Mt. Cammerer! it ain't easy getting up there, but it's the best (to us) view in the park. Every time we hike it I have to forget how hard it was before I'm ready to go again. Try to do it at least once a year. Probably will be the first hike this spring we do.

Mt. Sterling fire tower has some great views. Also, Rocky Top is a great spot with views of fontana and cades cove. Rocky Top might be a long day hike though, don't have my map in front of me so i don't have the mileage.

Tony Ga: Nice idea; my favorite hike is the Appalachian Trail from Davenport Gap to Fontana Dam, about 68-70 miles; I do it about once every five years. Next time, which will be next year, I plan to avoid the Icewater Spring shelter as there are often people coming there from the Newfound Gap parking lot and who don't have the permits required, making for some really overcrowded conditions. Otherwise, the A.T. through the Park is a good long one. I have done it in both directions but prefer the N.E. to S.W. route. I wasn't seeking to argue about the "hiker in the photo" at all; if anything I was pointing out my own misconceptions due to my eyesight. Debi: If you want the "awesome" effect, keep going up and down Alum, but there are some other good routes for panoramic views and it all depends on the length of hike you wish to take. I have lots of ideas. I recently took one from "The Sinks" up and back around to Metcalf Bottoms picnic area, roughly 7 -9 miles, depending on any side treks you may make. What kind of a distance is comfortable for you ? I try to be neutral with all the seemingly adverse comments here lately, but I fail to see that the blog has changed much, perhaps just some different views. I, too, enjoy all walks of life and on my own new website I intend to describe many of my experiences, but here I try to keep to topics involving the lodge and hiking in the Smokies. All the differing opinions make for interesting discussion. But I agree that some are unnecessary. I worry more about my spelling mistakes, perhaps unnecessarily, but I make them often. I was wondering if there was any snow accumulation on the mountain with all the activity around. It's really an odd occurence here in London, KY as there's snow everywhere around this county, but it's a "bare" spot; no snow at all, just some cold temps. I actually prefer hiking in winter and the only thing that gets in the way of that is sometimes when the Park service closes particular roads I want to take to the traiolheads. Again, nice idea Tony Ga. G'day

I was going to vote for Charlies Bunyon and Jump Off as well as a favorite. At 4 miles to the Bunyon and almost another 1/2 mile to the Jump Off it may be more than a warm up depending on what you are looking for. I will say that the sign for Jump Off says .3 miles but that was some of the hardest .3 I have hiked. We did Andrews Bald off Clingman's Dome last year. Only 3 miles round trip and had it not been a cloudy day I am told the views are great. If you like waterfalls and a relatively flat trail I hear that Abrams Falls in Cades Cove is quite nice.

Communication is key to life. 6 days of robotic mountain top information is not the norm from anyone who has every been in charge of this blog. I dare say we all follow these musings for more than just temperature status (they truly are a enjoyable read). My normal excitement of a daily journey to the site seems to be fading. I would just simply ask someone who knows why the blog methodology has abruptly changed "communicate" a response, which in turn would end such comments as this one. A view of all the comments by readers appear to be out of genuine concern for J.P and the lodge system as well. I trust that is how this entry is perceived.

Well said Pee Paw. I could write a blog about my shoe retail business, but I would doze off faster than the reader. This site is an escape from the day to day routine, and gives us all a chance to think of a wonderful place. JP and the other writers of this blog are fantastic ambassadors of the Lodge and GSMNP. The Lodge management should clear this up ASAP.

Weather observation, Florence, KY. Sunny clear and 28 degrees, the parking lot in front of my store is clear with many fine spaces zzzzzzzzz.

One of my favorite hikes, although not in the park, is the AT from Lemon Gap to Max Patch. When you clear the woods, and start the climb to the summit of Max Patch, you swear you can hear the music from Sound of Music!! The views at the top are unmatched!!

Morning to all you mountain readers, been in gatlinburg since last saturday. lot of rain this past week , thurs. afternoon snow was beautiful, rain changed to snow about 2 oclock .temp last night about 22 , everything frozen this morning . Hate to see the pictures of 441 across the park, this will be a major problem for a lot of folks . Hope to go to cades cove this morning , everything quiet in gatlinburg this morning . good day to all

According to national weather service site, LeConte received 8" snow yesterday.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/productview.php?pil=RTPMRX

I love all of the trails and hikes that I have done in the GSMNP but 2 favorites that come to mind are: Arnold's Bald and Ramsey Cascades.....I also love Tremont.....The beauty of the GSMNP is amazing....any hike you do is beautiful in its own way durning any season! Happy hiking all!!

P.S. Would love to see some pictures of the snow that fell yesterday!

It is me again......I meant Andrew's Bald....trailhead located off the Clingman's Dome parking lot! Oooops!

Nice to be one big happy family again.

I see where NOOA says LeConte got 8in, but anyone local in the area know about Cades Cove or other surrounding areas? Have two kids who are dying to see some snow! ;-) Trying to save them the disappointment though if we make the trip and the area didn't get much. We didn't get ANYTHING just 5 miles south of Knoxville. Thanks a ton in advance all!

Thats in Pisah National Forest that I mentioned earlier. I have hiked it also. Nice hike. John Rock a nice one to just down the road from it, nice view of Looking glass from there

I think my favorite is Bullhead, although I've only traveled it down not up..up might be a different story. My least favorite is Rainbow...rocks, rocks, rocks! Hiked to the Jump Off on New Years Eve...since we bypassed it in our Boulevard trips. Top of my list is Gregory's Bald in June....looks amazing! One of our favorite local hikes is Hocking Hills Winter Hike...google it:) if the weather is in its favor some amazing ice formations are created.

Yep...Buckeyes!

2" of snow in pigeon forge tn. 8" on laconte,love to read this blog daily i have met JP 3 times a good guy. Have a safe trip JP will see you soon.

is JP really bear hunting in Alaska?

Another fall favorite and one that isn't too strenuous...great if you have little ones...is the Boogerman Loop in Cataloochee. Driving into the Cataloochee Valley is the worst part...but what a rush..lol Get there early...take the hike...have a picnic packed in your car...and when you're finished with your hike...enjoy your picnic while watching the elk herds move into the valley...and listen to the bull elk bugle...perfect day.

True..I forgot about the bridge...I shimmied down the logs and made it across..my guys just went through the creek. I think that was in the fall of 2011. Always best to check the latest trail updates. But if all is ok..the kids will love the huge poplar tree you can get inside...me, too.

Born in Piqua and lived in Fletcher. Still have kin up there. Like it there, but after living so long in Ga I think an Ohio winter would kill me. Lived there from 1963 to 1979.

I did read the post from the Fraley family. It is quite a drive from where we live, but might be a great warm-up to LeConte. We have checked it out on line and it looks beautiful.
Fletcher...I know the area well. Drove to Saint Paris to work for years! Miami East?

Debi Mid June to July 1st Gregory Bald is a must and Andrews Bald is too.
I happen to live on the NC side and we tend to drive over early and hit the trails by daylight so we do alot of dayhikes. We have already been discussing the fact that this slide is going to hamper our hiking in TN. By the time we go the long way it will be too late in the day to dayhike some of the trails. Looking at pictures there is not going to be a quick fix for this slide and if we happen to get a major slide on 40 thru the gorge this winter and spring we will really be out of luck because there is already a slide on Cherohala Skyway-
leaving only 129

Tony Ga: I knew you weren't my friend; Your insights are very interesting as well as informative; that's all I, too, try to acheive with mine. It appears that your excellent idea has taken hold and I've enjoyed the last few minutes reading about everyone's favorite hike; There are many, of course, and these suggestions should serve others very well who might need or desire such suggestions. I have to agree with those who mentioned the Jump Off; many times I've gone there for a solitary picnic or simply to gaze off into the distance, so Debi, there's another good idea for you. This past year and this year I'm concentrating on taking some of the trails that I haven't taken for several years, some even for twenty or thirty years, having hiked them all in my years of being in the Park. I intend to get in that 70-mile A.T. journey through the Park, and as for the others I've mapped out and planned I'm going to focus on day hikes of three to twelve miles, both of which are purely arbitrary numbers. As for hikes that include one or two overnight stays at backcountry camp sites, well, those will possibly fall into place according to my whims, or perhaps depending upon if I find anyone wanting to accompany me. I find these last few years that having someone along enhances the journeys. I enjoy a modest amount of good conversation, and I promise that if anyone joins up with me that I won't talk their head off, which I am very capable of doing !! I'm not bragging or boasting or anything, but in all my years I've never been bothered by nor scared of bears, but I am giving in to wisdom and common sense in that I have purchased some "bear spray" just in case !! It appears that the number of posts today could well exceed 100 ! So, Tony Ga, I hereby nominate you for the "Royal Order of the Lodge" ! G'day to all and ENJOY !

doug - i understand your"non-fear" of bears. took me a few trips to outgrow mine. my 1st over nighter in the park i almost shared spence field shelter with a medium sized sow. the little girl within me startled it enough that i got the door closed... ramsey cascade any time and lower crammer in the spring are really hard to beat.

Jenny I read your book, hiking friend of mine heard you speak locally and we decided to read it. You are far more adventurous than I, I stick to the marked trails, lol!! Really did enjoy the book, thanks!!

The only time we have encountered bears on the trails have been at the Trillium trailheads/Grotto Falls. They frequent the parking areas and trailheads there. Never had a negative experience...the bears simply went on their way with a shew from us. We've seen scat many times on the trail...some pretty steamy..so we're sure the bears see us many more times than we see them...just like we like it. I was pretty skittish at first but I guess you just get used to them. We do carry bear mace and I wear bear bells. We talk on the trail and let the bears know we're coming so they move on their way...especially in switchbacks. We hiked this past summer in Yellowstone...our first in grizzly country and I was nervous..but saw nothing...even scat. We take precautions...double bag snacks and food...I don't wear scented lotions, etc. Another reason I love winter hiking..less likely to encounter bears..and no bugs!

Thanks everyone for the ideas. I wrote them all down and then also dated my index card Jan. 17th so I could look back at the post. Now, not to loose my index card, so I remember to look back at this post. Greatly appreciated. :)

thanks for this useful information it would be very helpful for the newbie like me you are doing good job.