action speaks louder than words and i'm a man with a great experience.

1/25/2014

Morning y'all,

It's a beautiful, blustery day up top. The high yesterday hit 17 degrees. The low was negative 10 degrees. It was 12 degrees and cloudy at 7am observation. The mountain received no new precipitation yesterday and our snowfall total is at about 4 inches. The winds are swirling right now, it is sure to be a brisk day on the trails. The mountain is due to receive a dusting of snow this morning. The trails are still rather powdery, but there are slick spots, so beware! Enjoy!

doug y link

1/25/2014 02:55:56 am

I don't know quite what you've got on the mountain, probably plenty of snow and ice, but we're getting it pretty good this morning here in London, KY !

Melissa

1/25/2014 03:16:31 am

This picture looks like a very frozen Rainbow Falls, am I right? My dad and I hiked that trail in December, it sure is a beauty! I love reading about JP's winter adventures on the mountain! As always thanks for sharing with us!

jean d

1/25/2014 04:32:02 am

What a beautiful picture. It's my new desktop wallpaper.
Enjoying today here in the valley watching it snow tiny flakes which are sticking to the hard surfaces and I guess the surfaces with grass too but they are only showing so far on decks, sidewalks, and driveways and bare garden surfaces. It's cold of course. Has reached 24 on my back porch as if 12:20. That's as high as it got all day yesterday. Wonder if the rest of the gang are seeing snow as the weather map of the eastern states predicted.
JP didn't mention that it was snowing there this morning but the meteorologists predicted 3 or 4 inches for the mountains on last nite's 11:00 report.
If it has to be cold at least there is something pretty to look at while we wait for spring. My daffodils are beginning to peep up through the mulch and snow. Yeaaa. So maybe only a few more weeks til working in the yard is more pleasant.
I know hiking in this weather is lovely but yard work? Not so much!

Tanya

1/25/2014 04:35:55 am

Wow…gorgeous pic!!! Having a heat wave here in E KY…28 degrees with lots of blowing snow.

Elisabeth

1/25/2014 04:51:56 am

(HA.....heat wave indeed! I just HAD to go hiking today....warm and snow!! Iwasnt sure where to go today, but remembered JP's blog about going up Chimney Tops and knew the trail would be blazed. I went for it !!! Lots of snow still up there and it began snowing while we were at the summit. On the way down our footprints were already covered up with snow and it was getting quite deep in places. I had a blast!!! ALL of the creeks were frozen over in a winter wonderland. If you can get there...even to the second and third bridges....you will get some GREAT pics! I will tell you what, I forgot how hard that trail was, however, and was huffing and puffing my way to the top! Quite the workout! Thanks for the update JP and have a safe and wonderful day up top...I think you will get more snow that you expect!!! (they closed the road while I was hiking! smile)

Mike E.

1/25/2014 05:22:42 am

I have a cabin rented for April 7. After reading all these pages, and storing away all the trails I want to hit while there...I dont think I have enough time scheduled. I always enjoy JP's blogs, and the pics. I wish I was able to make it more often, but.....life has a way of not allowing that...namely a job..lol...take care....

T-Wayne

1/25/2014 11:00:51 am

Do what you can when you can.Don't schedule too much,enjoy & take in what you do schedule!! ENJOY!!!!!!

Tom McLain

1/25/2014 07:09:09 am

Where was the last picture taken?

Cory walker

1/25/2014 08:40:45 am

Viewing these daily posts causes my soul to plead for a simpler life, a life of nature, views, solitude, and peaceful reflection of that behind and no worry of what's ahead.
I read your posts and see your pictures of this majestic place and I realize surely there's a depth to life that we never know living life in the modern way that we live. I was truly a man born out of his era. 100-150 years later than I should have been. thank you for this daily escape to a majestic mountain that I would love to be fortunate enough to live on

norman 'abr'

1/25/2014 09:21:11 am

Cory , I think a lot of us feel that way, I know I do!! Is the pic Rainbow Falls?

doug y link

1/25/2014 09:29:17 am

Cory: I don't know your age, but I believe I share the same sentiments as you regarding a simpler life. I've said to a few rare friends that I was born about 200-300 years too late ! As for living on Mt. Leconte, I don't think that's where I'd live if I were to have such a choice, as much as I like being in the Smokies and staying at the lodge. It's a great place and I'll stay there again many times I hope, but I would love to live somewhere in the vast wilderness between Vancouver and Alaska where I've been three times and seen the beauty there. To tell you the truth, the Smokies are actually too crowded for me at times, but for convenience these days it's a wonderful area to visit, hike and camp in, and whenever I can fit in a visit to the lodge it is very good. Yes, there is a depth to life as you said that is overshadowed by modern ways, etc. thanks for your profound comments today.

norman

1/25/2014 09:48:27 am

Doug, remember you are talking about 100-300 yrs ago. Not as populated as now!

Dixie

1/25/2014 04:09:31 pm

We have the same kind of soul !! I've said the same thing about myself for years !!

holtknoblady

1/25/2014 04:56:46 pm

Thanks, Cory, for so eloquently putting into words what many of us who follow this blog feel. It's as though you peeked in my soul and wrote down what is there. Thank you.

doug y link

1/25/2014 10:21:19 am

Exactly norman !! I would like to have seen this region, from Kentucky down to North Carolina, including the Smokies of course, back then. But, I'll make do with what I have and the era in which I live, as we all must do. By the way, I posted another "skunk" story on own site earlier. It's shorter than the one I had there before and was an experience that I had that was rather interesting during one of my A.T. hikes. You might find it a bit humorous. G'evening

norman

1/25/2014 10:26:45 am

THANKS DOUG

doug y link

1/25/2014 10:41:41 am

I forgot to mention in my reply to Cory, and you, the National Geographic program that has been airing lately. It's called "The Legend of Mick Dodge" Now, there's a simple and rugged life for you ! I can survive out in the wilderness, but I don't choose to. Give me my baby back ribs !

NORMAN

1/25/2014 12:23:10 pm

Doug, just read the AT skunk story,very good!! Norman

doug y link

1/26/2014 01:19:23 am

Thanks Norman; glad that you enjoyed it before I took it off a few minutes ago; looks like some comments I saw on here earlier this morning are now gone. Good.

Barbara

1/26/2014 11:51:04 pm

Dougy. I missed the skunk story. Can you repost? Thank you

Ken schmitt

1/26/2014 03:06:07 am

I check your site every day. It takes me to the trail I enjoyed every Oct.. for years. Enjoyed an overnight some years back. Touched the stars in the mourning.

Hey Jp

1/26/2014 05:36:25 am

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action speaks louder than words and i'm a man with a great experience.

LeConte Lodge

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