Morning y'all, It's a beautiful, moody morning up top. The high yesterday reached 18 degrees. The overnight low was 7 degrees, recorded early yesterday morning. It was 13 degrees and clear at 7am observation. The mountain received no new precipitation and there is still an inch of snow remaining on the ground. I would definitely recommend Microspikes if you intend to reach the summit. There is black ice lurking beneath the snow, waiting to ruin your day. Be careful out there! I spent yesterday going out on whatever whimsical micro adventure captured my imagination in that moment. There are some days where it feels alright to curl up with a good book or do some writing, but yesterday was just too alluring. At times I worry that my attention span is dwindling, but then I rationalize it to myself - there is just so much to see. There is no harm in curiosity, only a quiet private joy. I don't feel quite as bad for leaving my books and notepad behind after I jump through these imaginary hoops. There is so much to learn and transmit, but at the core of all that is experience. We all live to live and I have tracked my stealthy bobcat friend and watched the pure golden sunset and strolled through the forest primeval. I always feel like a rich man afterwards.
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Morning y'all, It's a beautiful, cold, clear morning up top. The high yesterday reached 23 degrees, recorded early yesterday morning. The overnight low was 1 degree. It was 7 degrees and clear at 7am observation. The mountain received the liquid equivalent of .03 inches of snow with a trace on the ground. There is still about an inch up top. I'd wear traction for any hike today, as the cold temperatures will have formed plenty of black ice. There will also be a bit of snow covering those slick areas, which are some of the most dangerous conditions (just these type of conditions broke my ribs last season) on the mountain. Be careful out there today folks! It's amazing that I haven't had to use Microspikes yet this season (that will change with tomorrow's hike), but my season reached one of my favorite weather induced milestones recently. When it is particularly cold and snowy, the Park Service is likely to close the road until it is deemed safe. That typically makes winter hikes even more treacherous for the average park visitor, with icy conditions and an even smaller window to hike in daylight hours. All this typically means for me is that the mountain is cold (it almost always is, I get used to it), but it's also significantly quieter. This season has felt particularly active, with next to no ice and warm temperatures welcoming 'winter' hikers. Yesterday was one of the first weekend days I can recall where I was able to stroll around camp in the afternoon and all that filled my ears was the ebb and flow of the wind, the creak of tired cabins and the busy chatter of red squirrels. It is a different kind of peace without people. Morning y'all, It's a beautiful, snowy morning up top! The high yesterday reached 36 degrees. The overnight low was 23 degrees. The mountain received .52" of rain, mostly coming overnight. If the temperature had dropped earlier, we would've had ourselves quite the snow storm. The mountain received an inch of snow and there is an inch on the ground. As of this posting, the Park Service has closed 441 due to ice and snow. They are doing their best to open it up as soon as possible! I'd expect the trails to be a bit slick with a little bit of black ice, so be sure to pack traction if you intend to safely ascend and descend this most glorious of mountains. Get out and enjoy the day! Morning y'all, It's another beautiful, clear morning up top. The high yesterday reached 38 degrees. The overnight low was 30 degrees. The mountain received .03 inches of rain, mostly coming yesterday morning. It was 33 degrees and clear at 7am observation. There is very little ice remaining on the trails, though I would still recommend packing Microspikes if you feel uncomfortable on any ice. It looks as though it is shaping up to be a beautiful day, get out and enjoy it! Morning y'all, It's a gloomy, blustery morning up top. The high yesterday reached 39 degrees. The overnight low was 30 degrees. It was 30 degrees and mostly cloudy at 7am observation. The mountain received .04" of liquid precipitation last night and there is still a trace of snow hanging around up top. The trails have some slick spots, but I wouldn't consider Microspikes a necessity. I went down Bullhead and up Alum yesterday with relatively little trouble, I just needed to rock hop for a few short sections. The winds feel very alive right now, come on up and feel the mountain breathe! I had another memorable hike up Alum yesterday afternoon. I got to the trailhead at 4pm, which is my preferred time to start up. Yesterday's hike was further proof that human physiology is a total mystery to me. I had done a long run the day prior and had a heavy lunch in town, yet as I hit Alum Cave, I could tell I was moving well. It was one of those inexplicable gifts, a day where you just seem to have it - whatever it is. In one of those old Lance Armstrong books, his domestique George Hincapie refers to this feeling as having 'no chain'. No resistance. I had the mountain climber's version of that yesterday, where what typically feels like effort wasn't effort but unbridled pleasure. I hit the ridges just as the golden hour was in peak form, another perfect afternoon spent (although such days aren't spent, they are above such classifications) with my mountain. My answer is that it is thoroughly enjoyable... Dogs, birds, etc. seem to take a lot of exercise just for the joy there is in graceful motion. Why should not men and women get a thrill from using their strength just for the fun of it? There is an ecstasy in sustained motion among beautiful surroundings, in breezing over a mountain range seeing the whole gamut of views and lights and shadows in a single day, and coming in hungry and full of life at the end... There is an elemental joy in this struggle with the mountain, darkness and storm, spiced perhaps with just a dash of fear that weakens your pride in your strength just enough to make the battle interesting, a joy that lingers delightfully in your memory. Herbert Malcolm Morning y'all, It's another beautiful, wintry day up top. The high yesterday reached 42 degrees. The overnight low was 32 degrees. It was 36 degrees and partly cloudy at 7am observation. The mountain is in the fog right now, but it appears as though it will clear. The mountain received no new precipitation and there is still a trace of snow hanging around. There is still quite a bit of ice on the trails. I went down Alum and up Rainbow yesterday and there were some long, icy sections. I would definitely recommend Microspikes if you intend to reach the summit. It's looking like it'll be another beautiful day, get out and enjoy it! I had an awesome adventure yesterday. My friend Becca and I ran down Alum, then went up and down Chimney's and finally finished our day by cruising up Rainbow. The ice on Alum was sketchy for our first mile, but it was a beautiful, warm day and we had no business running around in shorts in January and complaining about a little bit of ice... We also noticed the new railing that the Park Service put on the Styx Branch bridge. Nice work! We then drove over to Chimney's and raced up there, earning our majestic view of LeConte. Finally, we stopped for snacks in town then came up Rainbow. I didn't see another person above the Falls, a welcome sight after how busy Alum and Chimney Tops felt. There's something about being left alone to struggle with your pain that makes it taste sweeter. After hours of movement, the flood of endorphins leaves an intoxicating residue. As I crossed the ridge towards Rocky Spur for my first view of LeConte, the sun was shining at a perfect angle, strong and firm, warming my bare arms for the final push. It's hard to single out moments in a day that full, but that was special. Morning y'all, It's a beautiful, clear morning up top. The high yesterday reached 37 degrees. The overnight low was 19 degrees. It was 27 degrees and clear at 7am observation. The mountain received no new precipitation and there is just a trace of snow remaining on the ground. I am sure there is still quite a bit of ice on the trails, so be sure to use caution if you head out today. I'd recommend packing Microspikes if you intend to reach the summit. Get out and enjoy the day! I took a nice little jaunt out to Myrtle Point and Cliff Tops yesterday during the golden hour. There was a sweet syrupy sunlight and the crisp air was refreshing as ever. There is a delicious finality in watching sun sets. I've seen my fair share and I do not think I will ever tire of them. It is a time for reverance and we could all use more of that. Morning y'all, It is a beautiful chilly morning up top! The high yesterday reached 21 degrees and the overnight low was 3 degrees! It is actually starting to feel a bit like winter. It was 20 degrees and clear at 7am observation and some gorgeous purple pink alpenglow was lighting up the northeastern sky. The mountain received a trace of snow, but there is also plenty of black ice on the trails. Be sure to use caution if you intend to hike up more than half way! I night hiked up yesterday and there is plenty to keep you from going your normal speed. I'd definitely recommend Microspikes if you hope to reach the summit. I had a wonderful, snowy hike down Bullhead yesterday afternoon. I am typically a morning person, but I was meeting a friend in the valley for a night hike up Alum. It allowed me to get a later start than usual and enjoy the late afternoon without the effort of having to go uphill. It was my first snowy outing of the season and it was well worth the wait. Although it was rather chilly, I was able to jog down, dodging sections of black ice and enjoying the relaxed pace that comes with caution. My friend Becca and I started up Alum at around 5:30 and it wasn't headlamp o'clock until we hit Inspiration Point. We caught the last rays of the sunset, then continued on our way. The stars were majestic and we saw the first bobcat tracks of the season (I might have squealed with joy). Nothing compares to the intensity of a cold, cold night hike in the snow. There was steam rolling off our thin baselayers by the time we felt the warm embrace of the lodge. If that day wasn't a fine kind of happiness, I'm not sure what is. Morning y'all, It's a beautiful, frosty morning up top. It's the first day of the season where my fingers are cold in the kitchen! The high yesterday reached 32 degrees. The overnight low was 9 degrees. It was 10 degrees and mostly cloudy at 7am observation. The mountain received no new precipitation and there is no snow up top. However, there is sure to be plenty of black ice on the trail with these recent cold temperatures. I intend to hike down with my Microspikes today, just in case I reach a tricky section or two. Be careful out there! One of my favorite things about life on the mountain is just how magnified everything is - it isn't an elevated place simply because of how high it is about sea level. Time alone in a primeval setting does something unique to your experience, like a looking glass of sorts. The most basic human emotions take on an a heightened sweetness or bitterness. It is a chain of highs and lows that only the mountain can teach you. For whatever reason, when I feel up here, I really feel. A seemingly average morning run stamps itself indelibly in your memory, while the loss and longing that occur up here serve as distinctive bookmarks for each season. I never know what the fun house mirror has to say. Morning y'all, It is another clear, gorgeous day up top. The high yesterday reached 32 degrees. The overnight low was 16 degrees. It was 23 degrees and clear at 7am observation. The mountain received no new precipitation and there is no snow up top. There is quite a bit of ice on Alum and the Boulevard. I made it up without traction, but it's worth having in case you aren't super comfortable walking across ice slicks. It is shaping up to be another phenomenal day, get out and have some fun! PS: A big thank you to all the kind folks who left me with treats over the past couple of days! They are much appreciated! |
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April 2024
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