Really missing the usual writing style of this blog site. It is very sad to vist here now.....no real description of the beauty or of the conditions....Hope the daily blogging becomes more descriptive before spring.....hate thinking it will be like this until Allyson gets back to the mountain top......

I have been following this blog for a couple of years now but I think I will wait to check back until the season opens this spring. I am so frustrated with it. I think JP is acting like a teenager by holding us hostage over some idiots remarks. I really prefer Allyson's post anyway. Simple yet descriptive and no pouting.....Later

Not nice, Shaun.

"It don't matter what is said, we can wake up from the dead and roll away the stone..." - "BEAUTY IN THE RIVER", The Ozark Mountain Daredevils

...yes yes Gold Mine T.W. please continue..
dyslexic dude walks into bra... ?

Dear Members of the LeConte Lodge Limited Partnership:

For whatever reason you kidnapped JP and replaced him with a droid. I am offering a ransom of 1 dozen Krispy Kreme hot ones delivered to your office for his safe return, no questions asked.

And I'll throw in a thermos of Green Mountain coffee, bold.

JP -- Sure do miss the stories you USED to tell about people you have met, places you have been and other exciting tales you would relate. Oh -- what did you do in San Diego? How is your knee?

Can't give it a rest. JP’s fans are like folks who’ve gotten free crack and have become addicted. Once hooked, the desperation for more only increases.

Following up on a bit of yesterday's fitness talk. No two ways about it, it is a hard kick in the shorts no matter who climbs the trail. My son who runs cross country was as sore as I was, but I know his heart didn't work as hard as mine! My 12/30/12 climb up rainbow had my legs after rest moments feeling like concrete. Someone mentioned to me lactic acid, do the electrolytes help with that? I walk an hour plus each day in a very hilly region of Cincinnati...one hill goes from the Ohio river up to a Church overlooking the city in an area called Mt. Adams...I think the elevation gain has got to be 600 ft in about 3/4 of a mile. There is no trail that I have been on in the Smokies as steep...but there is nothing in Cincy that goes for hours and hours up like the Bullhead trail, etc and the rest. Lastly, after I get back to my car after eight plus hours of hiking, I always feel great. Then after I drive to the chalet, I look like Herman Munster...I can barley move!
A cold beer always seems to help...or two...

JP,

thanks for advice on the traction. A seasonal ranger who is a mutual friend bought house next to my dads old place in Pittman Center. He's in noc occ now. I may pass on the Coffee etc to him to route to you. Great pic yesterday. If you looked closely there was a message in it. Keep up the reports. My 90yo dad worked w NPS and would call me every am years ago and tell me low temps on LeConte from the old NPS morning report. I occ share w him your weather updates. Brings a smile to him in the nursing home.

Calling for severe weather weds here in NGA bet it will impact GSMNP as well

"Let go of the past & go for the future.
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.
Live the life you imagined."
Thoreau

Deb,

This is the 2nd time a robospammer has seized it. It first happened in Dec., then it was cleaned up. I have thought that more of us ought to congregate over there, but the spammers will always stop that hope.

I am taking bets JP is not back, this is not his style. JP if you are reading this let us know you are back .

I know this is not directly related to Mt Leconte. We got a permit to hike the Grand Canyon in May any helpful hints for getting ready or hiking it Thanks
I also miss JPs comments on the mountain, people and life

Going North Rim to South Rim 3 nights 1st Cottonwood 2nd Bright Angel and 3rd Indian Garden last of May Also work long hours this time of year without much free time until mid April Going to Mt LeConte late April. Thanks for any advice as I have not done any hiking in the past until I hiked up Alum last April and spent the night at the lodge fell in love with the Mt

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and layers - even in May, it could be 45 in the morning when you start and over 100 when you get down to the bottom. The south rim will probably be dry and the north could still be snowy and wet.

I really liked the picture from yesterday. Really had a "loneliness" feel.

I agree with many of you folks; I miss JP alot and his beautiful writings, and his mountain descriptions. Seems to me it would behoove the Lodge administration to give us some kind of explanation for the odd change in writing from JP, or if he is still gone, it would be nice to know why. Not sure it helps the Lodge image much to keep all of us here guessing. I miss the old JP............hopefully the Lodge will see it fit to offer some insight into the change.

Agree.

Again i say...give it a rest already. Note the main page for HighOnLeConte states: It is our goal to give you the latest trail conditions, weather, and photos from atop Mt. LeConte. That's it! That is the purpose of the daily posts. Anything extra is...wait for it...extra!

Lol...this is fun.

Chicken Little, makes me wonder about your screen name, perhaps that is why you are so pissy!!! Sucks to be YOU!!! You must lead a sad little life!!

JP, Thank you for doing a great job keeping people informed on the conditions of the mountain and it's trails. That is important information if they intend to hike. Dang. I am bummed by the lack of sensitivity that the blog followers have, and it hurts me to think of it possibly bothering you. Have these folks never experienced writers block? Has it crossed the minds of these super rude and critical people what it is like to be JP, or what is going on in his life that may be affecting your writing. And sometimes there is contentment and inspiration so grand, that one has to keep it inside. Some of these folks have acted just like spoiled brats in elementary school, and a good hike up the mountain and night in the shelter would likely do them well. Thank you for taking care of the mountain JP. Please know that you are doing a great job,and don't be swayed by others critical nature.

Thanks, Kayah. I just appreciate the continuing photos and information. Sending thanks and good feelings to whoever is doing that.

I agree, if it is jp, is going through something but lets get over it. everyone wishes him well but lets move on.

Agreed this is getting old. How about those who are making the hike up keep us informed about the trail conditions, which trails, and what you encountered on the way up and down. I would love to see the upbeat informative nature of this blog return!

Bull Head is littered with blowdowns. Several mature red spruces have blocked the trail around West Point and Balsam Point. Still very icy along northern and western facing slopes. Rainbow is in great shape except for the last half mile where the trail is like walking on a glacier. Happy trails.