33" +

1/12/2011

High 28, Low 0. 5" of new snow.
Very Windy, with crazy drifts, I literally stepped into a drift yesterday up to my chest on Alum Cave Trail. It took an incredibly long time hiking up from the bluffs back to the lodge.
The sun came out for a little while yesterday, making for a really nice hike, the camera battery died, so not so many pictures.
You all know those icicles that hang off the alum bluffs? the ones that come crashing down when the sun shines? I always knew it was bound to happen, I finally got hit by one, right above the knee, big ole' bruise.
It's supposed to stay cold and keep snowing today/tonight.
The "new" lodge is the name for the center lodge with 2 side rooms.

Donnie

1/11/2011 11:44:49 pm

Awesome pics once again my man ! The family and I went to the Burg this past wknd. Absolutely beautiful down there. We pulled out monday morning for the journey back to the buckeye state and there was about 4" of fresh snow on the ground...so cool. Drifts chest high on the trail ?...YIKES ! I'll leave that for you buddy...Great work as always..Thanx.

Tom W. link

1/11/2011 11:50:03 pm

Good Morning Alex. Great pics! Guessing it's probably a good thing your leg took the impact of the icicle instead of your head. LoL. Sounds like a heck of an adventure hiking down to the bluffs and then back.

Mary F

1/12/2011 12:23:35 am

Incredible pictures Alex, stay warm and thanks for keeping us informed.

Timothy Massey link

1/12/2011 12:37:03 am

Impressive, and inspiring you are Alex. Sorry to read about the attacking icicle!
Good thing you're back safe and sound from it. Awesome photos as always. I come here pretty much every morning for a little motivation to stay active even in the extremes mother nature has to offer. So thanks again for your Time and Effort on this blog! I've posted a link to one of my facebook photo galleries of my own little snowy adventures, hope you enjoy! Stay warm and cozy. Peace...

Larry L link

1/12/2011 12:40:47 am

Hey Alex, awesome shots. If you decide you need some time to thaw out come on down to Florida for some nature photography. March is a great time to photograph birds and our awesome reptiles. Check out my images and drop me an e-mail if your ever down this way.

Last November I saw a women almost get hit on the head by an icicle that was at least 4 feet long on Clingmans Dome road. She was posing for a picture up under an icicle wall.

Atti's Taxi

1/12/2011 12:49:06 am

Alex beautiful pictures I hope your leg is ok you be very careful up there hiking around .

Woody

1/12/2011 12:54:45 am

Your encounter with falling ice is a good warning to others to not stop and tie their shoes beneath the lip of the bluff in winter. I have seen ice chunks the size of a buick hood fall and shake the earth upon impact.

Enjoy the snow, the quiet and the beauty.

MBK

1/12/2011 01:21:48 am

Awesome pictures. Wish we could experience the trails in all their snowy glory. Any other Tom Robbins books you recommend?

Anne

1/12/2011 03:10:49 am

Wow! Awesome pics! I've been on the trails in the winter but never when the snow was that deep. Take care and stay warm. Thanks so much for your daily updates..makes me feel like I am right there too.

sandy schlaudecker

1/12/2011 03:15:22 am

Awesome pictures, has to be BEAUTIFUL, I think it gets old quick,

Terri

1/12/2011 03:35:46 am

Alex...Again thanks for keeping posts going. I am glad to hear that you are okay after Icicle attack. Sounds like it could be a reality series...along the lines of 'when vacations attack'. Yeah...and i like hiking and all, but no chest high drifts for me...

Roger

1/12/2011 03:58:04 am

WOW!! The videos are a tremendous addition. Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderland!!

Vickie

1/12/2011 04:20:06 am

It's like your living in "snow heaven"! Beautiful...I want to live there year round...lol Great photos & stay warm♥

Kelly McClung

1/12/2011 04:30:08 am

Wow!! Truly awesome pics! Wish I had been there! One of these days I will get up there. Thank you for sharing your beautiful pics with us. Bless you!

Rod link

1/12/2011 06:10:25 am

You know you're really happy to see the sun when you just video the sun. :-)

Thank you Alex!

LarryVickery

1/12/2011 06:12:43 am

Love your posts. A way for an overnourished out of shape 64 yr old to enjoy LeConte. And DONT apologize for being annoyed at people coming unprepared.

paula

1/12/2011 07:59:42 am

thanks for the videos
thanks for the pics
what a mighty GOD we serve
do you really need to be up there all alone, when was the last time you went down the mt or have you been able to get down in all of that snow
and if you did get down how did you get back to town (walk)
it has been snow covered for almost a month now (right)and all of that ice, what kind of shoes do you have
full of questions, but i have just found this website
we just had 4-8 inches of ice and snow here in alabama and i only went as far as my driveway walking (very carefully)
however, i did have to get out and see it
thank you so very much

sandee link

1/12/2011 10:05:24 am

Hi Alex...maybe your post should have been titled " When icicles attack"..or "Snowdrifts...are they related to quick sand? "...lol..all humor aside I am glad you are ok. Do be careful out there and try and stay warm! :)

barb Darby

1/12/2011 10:27:18 am

Hi Alex,
thank GOD you didn't get hurt any worse from the Icicle..I get an uneasy feeling going under Alum cave anymore when making the hike to top of mountain..this is my favorite trail though..we always hike it in November..the terrain has changed so much around bluff area since we've been going up..It seems alot steeper now..thanks for keeping all pics posted..and you take care....

Jacob

1/12/2011 11:42:48 am

Sorry to hear about your accident. Ouch! I nearly saw someone get hit by an icicle the last trip that I made it up. Pretty scary. Did Channel 6 ever make it up or do they plan on making a trip to Leconte?

Mike

1/12/2011 09:22:23 pm

Your icicle incident reminds me of the movie "Christmas Story" where Ralphie has his accident with his 200 shot, range model air rifle with the compass in the stock and claims that he was hit by an icicle. His mother tells him, "Those icicles have been known to kill people". Thanks for the great blog.

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