April 5, 2023

Good Morning,

The winds are whipping up top today. Gusts of 40mph are expected and we’re feeling every bit of it. After starting out in a thick fog, the skies are slowly trying to open for us. We should experience a mix of sun and clouds today before the rain chances roll in tonight. We tapped 65° yesterday afternoon, and although all this air movement and cloud cover may keep it from feeling so, we might reach that mark again today and tomorrow before a cool down leading into the holiday weekend.

With such superb skies and unseasonably warm temps, yesterday presented an opportunity that just had to be taken. Scouting the Boulevard Trail of course! Especially when it’s above 70° at Newfound Gap. Trail conditions are in fairly decent shape, all things considered with coming out of the winter and all these windy days of late. The 2.7 mile portion of the Appalachian Trail is in good hands between the ATC and volunteers, so no obstructions there currently. The 5.4 mile section of the actual Boulevard has but a handful of downed trees, all easily navigable by stepping over or limbo-ing under. As it’s an upper elevation trail, the bulk of its spring time displays are a few weeks out yet, but spring beauties and trout lilies have begun to show within the first mile of Newfound Gap. Friendly reminder to anyone claiming this is the easiest trail to the lodge because of the starting elevation…because it isn’t. Imagine taking Alum Cave, hike halfway up, then turn around and go clear back to the trailhead, then reverse and make the entire ascent to the lodge after that. In terms of distance and elevation changes, that is comparable to the experience of the Boulevard. We’ve seen time and time again how that long haul around Myrtle Point absolutely drains the unprepared. So if you’re someone entertaining this as an alternative to Alum Cave because of the new GSMNP parking protocols, please do some serious planning before attempting. Thank you.

Have a great day.