April 04th, 2015

4/4/2015

Down Rainbow Falls trail yesterday.

Hello again from a cold and dreary mountain top today. Yesterday's high reached 50 and the overnight low fell back to 28, but the temperature seems to be falling as the morning progresses, freezing the mist on the trees and onto the ground as well. So be cautious while making the ascent today!
Yesterday's weather stayed fairly mild until right after sunset when a long line of thunderstorms started making their way across the valley and up to us. In fact, the crew had quite the lightning show while we were in the kitchen dyeing Easter eggs after dinner! We received 1.35" of rain overnight and easily 60-70 mph winds rocked the mountain, so be careful of branches, slippery rocks, and refreezing ice if you are out hiking today!

The crew dyed eggs while a storm howled outside last night.

ron adams

4/4/2015 03:46:34 am

Nice shot of Rainbow Falls trail. Been up it twice, and the photo brings back memories; all those rocks! A park ranger once told me that the trail is "unrelenting." That's probably the best definition of the Rainbow that I have yet heard. And it's especially unrelenting on a hot July day.

Nadine

4/4/2015 03:52:26 am

Guess we talked to the same ranger - "unrelentingly up" is what our ranger said. We did it anyway.

Elaine

4/4/2015 03:48:07 am

Happy Easter everyone. So nice to see that traditions continue on our favorite mountain. Fantastic photography, Ruthie. Look forward to meeting you all in a few more days.

ron adams

4/4/2015 04:38:37 am

Yes, Elaine, it is nice to see some traditions still continuing. On the mountain, or off.

Linda M

4/4/2015 04:42:15 am

We came down Rainbow once...lost 3 toenails and walked funny for 2 days. It's an "unrelenting down" also!

Ron Adams

4/4/2015 04:49:09 am

Funny comments, Linda. I guess your downhill hike became funnier with time passing. Probably not so funny then.
I have only been up the Rainbow, never came down. That's another goal I have, coming down it. But hopefully not with the same results you experienced.

Peppermint Pattie

4/4/2015 07:54:26 am

Happy Easter to everyone. I'm loving your photos this season Ruthie. Thank you.

doug y link

4/4/2015 11:54:16 am

I was just wondering, Ruthie, if the crew will still prepare a birthday cake for someone, of course given ample notice, etc. ?

Jean S

4/4/2015 01:42:58 pm

Happy Easter everyone! Blessings to you all!

Amy Haney

4/6/2015 02:53:01 am

Rainbow Trail will forever go down in my memory as one of the forgot rings of hell in Dante's Inferno. At least this trip up. The trail is unrelenting and so rocky it was like walk a creek bed in spring all the way up! But praise be to God, Ruthie, ( the sweetest person in the world), recommended the decent via Bullhead which was like the grasses of Heaven in comparison. Sweet, Sweet Ruthie!

Kent

4/6/2015 03:23:00 am

Rainbow Falls is my favorite trail, probably because it is a little "unrelenting." I've always enjoyed punishing myself, I guess. Still, I've never experienced the agony some have described from the descent. It beats you up a little, but I don't think it's THAT bad.

I agree that Bullhead is a more tolerable descent, primarily because the last third is less rocky than Rainbow.

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April 04th, 2015

LeConte Lodge

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