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and it's a perfect night for feeling melancholy.

1/9/2014

 
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There we two, content, happy in being together, speaking little, perhaps not a word. Whitman
Morning y'all,

It's another beautiful day up top. The high yesterday reached 30 degrees. The low was 16 degrees. It is currently 23 degrees and clear. The mountain received no new precipitation and our snowfall total has dropped to about 2 inches. The trails still have decent traction, since there has been only my foot falls to pack them down. I would bet that they'll grow slicker in the coming days as they get packed down and we start to get some temperatures above freezing to accelerate the thaw freeze cycles. Be prepared if you intend on visiting the summit, it is still pretty cold up here and the ice is sure to be tricky.
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Top photo: Branches on branches. Above: Snow, but not enough. I want the front door buried.
I went out for a micro adventure yesterday afternoon. I usually limit myself to the dawn and dusk hours unless I am out for an all day hike, they are typically the best light, the time of the long shadows and night creatures. I suppose I am drawn to them by habit. However, a new year should be about trying new things. I made an effort to get out during the peak of day and it was worth it. I ran out to Myrtle Point and Cliff Tops. The sky was an ecstatic blue and the ravens were putting on a mid-day show that I must typically miss. They seem to be the only creature more active at this time of day than at dawn and dusk. It was a pleasant surprise to make their acquaintance again. From Apollo Overlook, I saw one atop a crooked tree at Myrtle standing sentinel. As I closed in about a half mile later, I saw that he was exuding confidence at his place in the world. Anthropromorphism is a tricky idea, it can not be proven one way or another as we can not know another creature's mind, but at that moment, I would bet that raven was full of pride. There are some things beyond knowing and language. He had plenty of that.

doug y link
1/9/2014 02:57:27 am

Nice post today, JP, Thanks. I was up at Cliff Tops once watching one of those ravens soar around on the updrafts, marveling at the ease with which he seemed to float effortlessly up, down, sideways, plunging occasionally straight down, or upward depending on the direction of the air currents at that time. I do believe I rather envied that creature. As for trying new things, I am currently knee-deep in learning the new Windows 8.1 operating system on my new laptop. It's really making me realize how old-fashioned I am - - I wonder how I ever earned an engineering degree ! But I'm determined to master as much of it as I can absorb. I posted a reply to your comment to me on yesterrday's post. Have a wonderful day up there !

tom c
1/9/2014 03:02:46 am

JP, thanks for yet another thoughtful commentary on life at "the top". I suggest you consider bundling these beautiful entries into a book to be available locally in the Knoxville area! Would be a great item for our touring visitors to take such a collection home with them. Just sayin'.

Tony
1/9/2014 03:25:56 am

Here is a thought, on Tom's suggestion, have the book avaiable for sale at the Lodge for those that make the summit. It would go good with the T Shirt.

Kent
1/9/2014 03:35:12 am

Is the Rainbow Falls Trail in good condition? I'm hoping to hike that route on Sunday -- assuming I make it out of Illinois Saturday morning.

Jenny B. link
1/9/2014 04:01:56 am

Good luck with your trip, Kent! The forecast looks wet for Saturday but dry for Sunday, warm both days. There's bound to be re-freezing Saturday night. I wish I'd had the chance to look at Rainbow Falls Tuesday or Wednesday--I bet the ice cone had built up. Might still be some good ice left.

Kent
1/9/2014 04:24:34 am

Thanks, Jenny. I expect a pretty wet drive on Saturday, but the temps should be in the 40 and 50s most of the day. I expect 50s will feel like summer after the well below zero weather we had this week. Looking forward to it.

Would be neat to see some ice on the falls. yes. : )

GP
1/9/2014 05:35:21 am

JP, your words create a picture no artist could draw!!

Will link
1/9/2014 09:54:48 am

JP,
What's up brother. Hope all is well up on leconte. Looking cold and snow packed. Heading up to the greet leconte early February with my buddy taylor who you met last year during the crazy storm with the photographer strolling in to camp late. Left my YouTube channel below. Love to see you when we come up night of February 1st. Bringing another buddy too who is thru hiking the AT with me in March. Talk soon. Let me know u got this. http://m.youtube.com/user/wmwood2001

Tony Ga
1/9/2014 10:22:18 am

Hey Will, please make your videos "available to mobile" so I can watch them on my iPad. Thanks.

Tony Ga
1/9/2014 10:23:35 am

Also, are you going to use Trail Jounals for your Thru Hke? Trail name?

The Real JP
1/10/2014 12:27:56 am

Hey Will,

I look forward to meeting you and talking AT. I'll be on the mountain . Perhaps I'll run into you in Vermont, I'll be working on the AT there this upcoming Summer/Fall... Can't watch Youtube up here, otherwise I'd check out your channel...

Best,
JP

Will link
1/9/2014 10:28:07 am

Tony,
Most of my videos are available to mobile except for ones with music. The ones that have music, mostly being me leconte videos must be viewed from computer. For my AT travels I will probably use trail journals. But I will be posting videos to my you tube channel that you can subscribe to and watch. So do so! :)

Tony Ga
1/9/2014 11:19:16 am

Will do. Thanks!

Debi
1/10/2014 06:26:25 am

Love those snowy branches.
Its called tuning into the animal language. They know what they want, you just need to figure it out.


Comments are closed.
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