are you serious? You truly have bobcat kitten up there? I hope so!

Just beautiful!!!

Happy Groundhog Day except that you & I were hoping for 6 more weeks of winter and ass deep snow.

Well said and good advice.

Ditto !

Good morning JP! Enjoy the snow :) Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Wanda, I have family in Chattnooga. I have told them they need to hike up to Mt. Leconte. They live so close!!

I read that the large feet of the bobcat//&lynx are furred heavily and hit the ground in a spread-toe fashion, making a snowshoe effect. Reckon that would make large paw prints in the snow!

GSMNP ????

oct 2,1999. Saw black one at polls gap parking lot. Though it was the worlds skinnest bear till it turned sideways and I saw that magnificent tail. I sat in the car a while with camera trying to decide if I really needed to make that hike. Did the hike but no further sightings. I always put the camera on the dashboard now when I'm up that way. But, officially, they don't exist...

Hey JP, do you have access to any hunting cameras that you could mount on a tree or area where the bob kitty is lurking. Being a hunter in Wisconsin, I use motion activated camera's on my land to see what is lurking around. I have yet to see a wolf, but many mountain lion, coyote, and fox. Would be really interesting to see what else is roaming on the mountain top.

I have some of those motion-activated game cameras around my property; with over a hundred acres I have plenty of room and oppportunity to capture random animals passing by and through; lots of wild turkeys, deer, other small animals, but as yet no bobcats; had a bear leave some scat last fall, but that was a one-time, solitary occurence. It's a sometimes interesting hobby. About a week or so ago I spent a single night on Mt. Leconte where I got up very early the next morning to witness the moon setting in the west, a most delightful and inspiring sight I've seen many times, just not from Cliff Tops until then. But the sight that really captured my attention was my favorite constellation Orion passing overhead. For me, it's a tremendously inspiring sight of which I never get tired of seeing. I wrote a poem about this experience, but I must say that I make absolutely no claim as a poet, so it might not be exactly in a form that is popular today, but it's the best I could come up with. Perhaps some will enjoy it. thanks.

ORION

Orion passed me by this morning, what a magnificent sight,
Easing across a star-filled sky on a crisp cold night;

Such beauty, resembling a spindly water spider perched on a
still pond,
Bespeaking of mysterious origins within a universer far beyond;

It was like an apparition looking down at me from the heights,
As I gazed back in awe aware of nothing but its lights;

My heart soared, my mind raced to see this cluster once again,
Many times before it had inspired me, and that will never end;

The Pyramids of Giza replicate its pattern, and a mystery this
insists,
I believe it's no coincidence that this connection truly exists;

No other constellation holds me so in its spell,
Not even Ursa Major, the Big Dipper as some may tell;

Within its stars lies the Orion Nebula, so fuzzy to the eye,
But through a telescope the most glorious in the sky;

My breath escapes as steam, for the air is crisp and cold,
But still I stand here transfixed, my spirit strong and bold;

I pale to insignificance before this heavenly view,
My words in describing it are unworthy and but a few;

If I could but transpose my emotions properly into verse,
Orion would come alive to you, feelings would be first;

So some clear night gaze up into the southern sky,
Perchance you'll see Orion, as it gloriously passes by !

Thanks.

Lovely poem Doug"

No names, just numbers. Was Crew in 87 & 07. My fave is #10. Never slept there but I like the set up....

If anyone has a report on blow-downs on Trillium that would be appreciated. Hope to come up Monday.

Awesome Doug, and thanks again JP!!

Or maybe this link will work, hmmm

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151500364017586.598851.605412585&type=1&l=4bf949065d

JP, looks like your bob kitty has turned into a bob cat.

Back to the Mountain Lion/Cougar/Panther subject. Who else has spotted one in the last 20 years? Pics?

I think the wildcat is an old friend.

>m ha ..That is so cute! You have fun observations, m ha.

The bobcat search for his mom he hope...