What a difference a few days make. Pretty picture!

Galen, we are in Ludington, Michigan. About a hour north of Muskegon right on Lake Michigan. I am really unfamiliar with the lower part of the west side. I know there is Sleeping Bear dunes, which is a hour in a half north from me. I hear its beautiful. We also, have one of the best state parks in Michigan in Ludington. Alot of hiking. You won't get near the elevation here. We do have some hills and beautiful views on the west side of Michigan and Lake Michigan is beautiful. We are considered the 3 most tourist destination in Michigan if you go to Pure Michigan. 1st is Mackinaw, 2nd is Traverse City and 3rd is beautiful Ludington Michigan. Just alot of beautiful views on the Lake shore. I would not live anyplace else, even though its cold in the winter I sure do love it here and our small community. And I must mention out Badger ship that sails into port in the summer time. Last of the coal driven ferries that there trying to out do the coal ash into the lake. Just a beautiful town in the summer time.

I see mt.laconte everyday from my front yard on Nubbin Ridge in w.Knox co. very beautiful right now at 5pm as the sun sets with 1/2 moon above..-J

Anybody going up in the morning via Alum Cave? An update on snow status would be great.

I was just looking into the 441. Last word on the net reports that they are reviewing the whole TN section as well. Looks like I'd be doing Rainbow Falls trail head.

I noticed several Ohioians on the recent postings. Wondering if anyone doing the Winter Hike at Hocking Hills Saturday. I was considering but concerned that 5000+ people over a soft wet trail would make it more of a "mud march".
Also, has anyone hiked the "Adventure Hiking Trail" in southern IN along the Ohio River about 45 miles west of Louisville? It is a 25 mile loop with several overnight shelters along the way. I haven't been able to get much specific info such as topo trail maps and mileage intervals. Hoping to hike it this spring but would like to find some better information and hear from people with prior experience.

I spoke to the Sugarlands Visitors Center Saturday morning, 441S is not open to Newfound Gap, Bryant was correct, they plan to review the Tenn side as well next week. The road to the Rainbow Falls trailhead is only open to where the science center is right now, but they hope to get it open all the way to the trailhead by this afternoon. Right now I plan to hike the Rainbow Falls trail up to Mt LeConte on Sunday, and will give a report on conditions when I get back. It will be quite different than last Sunday when I hiked the Alum Cave trail to LeConte in shorts. The wonderful thing about that mountain is that it is incredibly beautiful under any weather conditions! Have a great day all!

Thanks Marilyn,
I'll check it out.

US441 from Sugarlands to Newfound Gap is open now. This is info from the tweet site as of about 5:15pm.

Today's photo is one of the best composed shots I've seen in a while, but that's only my personal opinion and I have no established credentials as a photograph critic. Very nice angle and compostion nonetheless. The landslide on 441 will prove to be problematic perhaps and I hope they don't close the Tennessee side of it; I see no reason to do that, but I don't make those decisions there. I like the idea of posting comments about encounters with bears in the Park, and I have ploenty of them. One in particular was in the 80's on a backcountry overnight hike, from Clingman's Dome down through the vally ending at the Huskey Gap trailhead. During that single night at the campsite the three of us were lying on top of our sleeping bags as it was July and rather hot. I woke to see a mama bear not five feet from me ! She was staring directly at me and I remained as still as my rapidly beating heart would allow. I feared that even blinking my eyes would propel her into action, and I couldn't determine what exactly that might be. She could run off or charge right at me, in which case I would have had to go into a tucked position, which might or might not have prevented injury to me. Thankfully, she chose to wander off into the night. Perhaps I smelled bad to her or she was simply browsing around, sniffing us out for a tidbit or something. At the time I suppose I could have shouted out at her but didn't. Was I lucky ? Perhaps. It's the closest I've ever been to a bear, and I was indeed scared. I learned over the following years to be less frightened of them, but more cautious, and I've had a few more bear encounters while hiking since that encounter. Maybe I can describe a couple of them later. I believe that the advice that is given for bear encounters is mostly very good and I think that the poeple who are dedicated hikers know how to take care of themselves. It never hurts, though, to review one's skills and knowledge. G'day

Here's how to deal with a bear:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtO7OCzxcjs

Love this video, found it a while back when searching for trail info. That is one determined little bear!

Pavel,
Go up to the top of the page and click on the Leconte Lodge facts that tells you alot.

Pavel: The information given for the lodge has sometimes listed its elevatiion as 6593, and that is the accepted elevation for the peak of Mt. Leconte, but the lodge sits below the highest point of Leconte at around 6360 ft elev. There's a fellow who posts comments here occasionally who was a professional civil engineer and surveyor and I believe he said that he and a friend ran a level survey from an established USGS benchmark up at Cliff Tops down to the lodge, and his data agreed essentially with the latter figure above, although, of course, it depends on where one is standing at the lodge grounds. The lodge management used to have 6360 listed on its home page, but I haven't checked that site, yet. I try to stay away from such discussions regarding the elevation at the lodge because there has been a little unnecessary conflict over that subject and I have no need for that. If you get to stay overnight there some day you'll surely enjoy the atmosphere. Good luck.

Very useful post right here. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with me. I'll definitely be back.