Morning y'all, It's a gloomy morning atop Mt. LeConte. The high yesterday reached 39 degrees. The low temperature was 22 degrees. It was 38 degrees and cloudy at 7am observation. The mountain received .08 inches of liquid precipitation and there is now only patchy snow remaining up top. The trails are sure to be a mess today with a lot of melt and slick glace. Be careful. I haven't seen anyone up top since Sunday afternoon. It is a unique experience, as time fades in a different way when people are not around. I can not explain it. Despite the fact that the vast majority of folks who come up here are perfect strangers to me, there is still a vibe, something atmospheric that differs when nobody else is up here. I get lost in my head a bit easier. A chapter before lunchtime turns into an afternoon immersion interrupted only be the growling of my stomach and the realization that I am now half done with my new book. A short walk out to sunset turned into an hour wandering in the woods following fox tracks, wondering just where these wild animals sleep and how they survive the endless Smoky Mountain winter. I wonder if this is what hibernation feels like, an overpowering slowness so natural that it melts into happiness.
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. 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.
Morning y'all, It's a beautiful, clear morning up top. The high yesterday reached 18 degrees overnight. The low was negative 14 degrees. It was 16 degrees and clear at 7am observation. The mountain received no new rain or snow and still has about 3 inches of snow left up top. There are patches of black ice underneath the snow, so be careful. I would definitely recommend Microspikes if you intend to summit in the coming days. It appears as though the Polar Vortex (what a name!!) has passed and the mountain has survived. I am sure it has seen colder temperatures in it's days back when it was higher than the Himalayas, so I am not surprised. The mountain sets a fine example in stoicism. It has been enlightening to see just how uncomfortable the weather can get to a mortal like myself, because now 16 degrees feels positively tropical. Perspective is a beautiful thing. I'll always have this experience of the 'coldest I've ever been on Mt. LeConte' to tell old man stories to whoever will be listening when I'm too tired to climb mountains. Just making memories, as my friend JimmyJam would say. I have to soak in this snowy wonder while it's still here, so I'll be on my way. Enjoy the trails, folks.
Morning y'all, It's the coldest morning I've seen up top. The high yesterday reached 3 degrees. The overnight low dipped down to negative 17 degrees. The temperature at 7am observation was negative 13 degrees. It's a beautiful, clear morning and the mountain has received no new snow. The trails are in good shape, as the new snow has yet to thaw and refreeze into a slick mess. Please be careful and be prepared for arctic type conditions if you're out. Jeans and sneakers won't cut it. I had a gorgeous hike down Alum yesterday. It did not occur to me that the roads would be closed until I reached the cave and still had not seen anyone. I got further down the trail and realized how pleasantly quiet it was without the buzz of vehicles in the Park. Well, quiet isn't the right word - more like natural. If you stood there in the negative temperatures, you could even hear Mother Nature's stalwart trees creaking and groaning under the inhospitability of the winter's wrath. You know it is cold when the trees are complaining! The wind blown snow coming off the branches lit up like fairy dust across the deep blue sky and the rhodo tunnels crouching under the weight of fresh snow felt like hobbit holes to another (hopefully warmer) world. There is an ecstatic intensity to spending 5 hours in these virgin enchanted woods, unmatched in the altered world of man. Our ancestors spent their time in conditions like this. We reap the benefits of doing right in their eyes and justifying their legacy when we get out into the real world and move. We were made for this.
Morning y'all,
It's a stunning morning up top. It's a chilly day up top, be prepared for full on winter conditions if you intend to summit! The high yesterday reached 43 degrees. The low dipped down to 2 degrees. It is currently 3 degrees and lightly snowing up top. The mountain received 1.17 inches of liquid precipitation during the day, before it started snowing overnight. There's about an inch of fresh, gorgeous powder and 3 inches total. I would bet that the trails will be rather nasty. It was melting a lot yesterday, so it must have refrozen in all sorts of tricky, unpredictable ways. The mountain is coated in wintry newness and the silence beckons. I'll be out exploring, trying to capture images that will hint at the glory up top. It's a shadow of an imitation, but I hope it will help to convey some of the majesty. We are blessed vessels for beauty and opportunity. Morning y'all,
It is a gloomy morning up top. The high yesterday reached 38 degrees. The low reached 23 degrees. It is currently 33 degrees and cloudy up top. There are about 3 inches of snow left up top. The trails are in surprisingly good shape. With the low daytime temperatures, the mountain has experienced very little melt. The snow is packed and has pretty good traction. I hiked up yesterday without any Microspikes or gaiters. I would still recommend them depending on your comfort level on moderate ice, but they are not as necessary as expected. The mountain is supposed to get 3 inches of new snow and some brutal cold fronts will be moving in tomorrow evening. It is time to get after it if your New Year's resolution is to feel Mother Nature's rawness! Enjoy! Good morning.
JP should be up tomorrow or Sunday if he can get to the trailhead. The low this morning was -7 with 7.5 inches of snow, but with deeper drifts. It is still very windy at the higher elevations so wind chill will be a factor. If you are not prepared for subzero temps, do not attempt to make hike or stay at the shelter. Remember the Mt. LeConte shelter does not permit fires and it is currently closed. Shelter hikers are required to have a permit. Many of the roads in the Park are closed due to snow and ice. Check park twitter feed for updates https://twitter.com/smokiesroadsnps. Some photos from the Lodge. Good Morning. It started snowing about 10:00 this morning. Ground was covered within minutes. The caretaker tried to send a photo down, but were having trouble with the signal. They will try again later today or tomorrow. A winter storm warning has been issued for the mountains, plus with wind chill, temps will be sub zero. Check NPS twitter feed: http://twitter.com/smokiesroadsnps for updates on road closures.
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LeConte LodgeWelcome to the official blog of LeConte Lodge. We hope you find the information provided here both helpful and enjoyable. Thank you for visiting the site, and we hope to see you on the mountain! Archives
April 2024
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