Good Morning, If there was ever a day to get out and enjoy the outdoors, yesterday was it. Abundant sunshine! Winter may not be done with us yet, but spring is certainly coming. Current conditions are clear and calm with temps in the mid 30s. 24 hour temperature range | High: 51 Low: 33 NOAA 7-Day Forecast -- The lodge was part of the forest, part of the mountain. I marveled at the two pieces of wood staring at each other. Both were in a different phase of life. One was thriving with green needles spread wide; the other looked on with a refined demeanor. How similar they both were, sentinels of the mountain; and yet, they couldn't be more different. The random thought danced around in my head for a little while longer. A composition came into mind. I released the shutter - storing the thought forever. Onward, Seth "The greatest wonder is that we can see these trees and not wonder more."
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Good Morning, Yesterday’s constant rainfall produced an inch of liquid precipitation. Temps remained considerably mild to ensure the stuff didn’t transform into fluff. Conditions are currently clear and windy. 24 hour temperature range | High: 45 Low: 37 NOAA 7-Day Forecast -- Cool morning light filled the kitchen. The kettle hummed noisily under a hot blue flame. I cut off the fuel supply and poured the two-hundred degree water slowly over the black trampled grounds. On the other side lay a beautiful cup of black coffee. The aroma paired perfectly with the time of day, paired perfectly with the light. Taking a deep breath I took a seat and soaked in the scene. Out and about, the kitchen called me back for another round with brewed grounds. Resisting at first, the same scene from the morning hours lured me in, the coffee set the hook… I never stood a chance. Onward, Seth The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep. — Rumi Good Morning, Safe to say the brutal cold of days past is behind, with this morning's observation of 42 degrees also serving as the high for the period. Before things warmed up though, the mountain received a glazing 0.2" of snow in the early morning before transitioning to rain. A meager 0.8" of liquid precip fel, throughout the day Friday. There is no snow remaining up top, but the icy places can linger. Current conditions are cloudy with a light mist. 24 hour temperature range | High: 42 Low: 25 NOAA 7-Day Forecast -- Rugged green ridges below and a beautiful robin’s egg sky above forced a permanent smile onto my face. The moon stared down in broad daylight; even he knew that blue bird days were cherished and couldn’t be missed. I galloped around the mountain for longer than I planned. Perfect skies have a way of changing one’s plans. The simplicity of it all was soothing to my soul. Breathing heavily up the climb, I simplified my thinking further... one…step…at…a…time. Onward, Seth “I believe we would be happier to have a personal revolution in our individual lives and go back to simpler living and more direct thinking. It is the simple things of life that make living worthwhile, the sweet fundamental things such as love and duty, work and rest, and living close to nature.” Good Morning, You'd think we were coming into a heatwave. 25 degrees at observation this morning. Still plenty of ice up high. No new precipitation, although current conditions are cloudy, misty, and breezy. 24 hour temperature range | High: 35 Low: 16 NOAA 7-Day Forecast -- The forest stared down at me with a curiosity. I took a deep look into the tunnel going up the mountain. It was in that moment, I realized that I’d made it. Not certain as to what ‘it’ was, but something in my gut told me I’d arrived. Looking back up at the forest, Red Spruce waved in agreement… Disappearing up the trail, I knew I’d found a paradise on earth. Onward, Seth "But love of the wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an expression of loyalty to the earth which bore us and sustains us, the only home we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need - if only we had eyes to see." Good Morning, Another brisk mountain morning! Starting off at -1 today in cloudy and calm conditions. Patchy amounts of snow still cover the mountain, but the bigger story is the ice. These frigid temps have it caked on pretty thick, so use caution if you intend to visit the upper elevations. Traction devices will serve one well. 24 hour temperature range | High: 21 Low: -1 NOAA 7-Day Forecast -- I moved quietly and swiftly through the forest. Each footstep had been mesmerized from repeated use. Hot tea swished quietly inside my coffee mug. Pausing for a moment, I took a deep gulp of the flavorful Rooibos tea. Color began to paint the sky. I continued on toward Myrtle Point. Golden rays pressed gently against my cold cheeks. The walk shared a reassuring layer of warmth. The wind vied for my generated heat. Forgetting the contrast of hot and cold, I brought my focus back to the glowing beacon climbing up from the horizon. All I could do is smile…and wonder. Onward, Seth "This curious world we inhabit…is more wonderful than convenient; more beautiful than useful; it is more to be admired and enjoyed than used." Good Morning, The mountain is now an ice palace, as any melt that occurred yesterday quickly refroze in the night. There remains about 0.25" of snow on the ground. Winds picked up significantly Tuesday afternoon, countering any warmth one might feel in the sun. Average temperatures should steadily rise in the coming days to pull us back out of winter's cold grasp. 24 hour temperature range | High: 18 Low: -2 NOAA 7-Day Forecast -- The sky was simple. An Florida orange horizon meshed beautifully with the plum hues of the valley light. I zoomed in as far as I could in the morning haze. Mount Kephart stood stoically in the distance. The Jump Off protruded with a confidence only a mountain could sustain. Happy with every last bit of it, I wandered further up the trail…soon disappearing into the wilds of nature. Onward, Seth "It is one of the blessings of wilderness life that it shows us how few things we need in order to be perfectly happy." Good Morning, Chilliest it's been in a good while. Bottomed out at 8 degrees, with another 0.1" of powder falling, bringing our current accumulation to about a half inch. There's a decent amount of ice around the mountain. Conditions are clear and calm with a stunning inversion layer below. 24 hour temperature range | High: 23 Low: 8 NOAA 7-Day Forecast -- Looking deep into the belly of the beast, the scale of the Great Smoky Mountains reminded me of how small I was. The feeling was welcome and never failed to instill a deeper gratitude toward these wild lands we somehow had the foresight to protect from ourselves. Making my way back up the Alum Cave Trail, I rounded the bend and smiled as the trail flattened. Something about this particular section of trail melts away the stress of the day, the pressure of life. I’m tempted to turn around and walk it again, but I decide against it… I’ll save it for another day - It’ll save me another day. Onward, Seth "Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of the birds, the ebb and flow of the tides, the folded bud ready for the spring. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature - the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter." Good Morning, Winter is back after a long hiatus. In a stark contrast from recent weeks, our low temp plummeted to a frigid 13 degrees. In the process, 0.75" of rainfall came down before transitioning into snow overnight. 0.5" of the powdery stuff was on the ground at observation with flurries still filling the skies. Sure to be plenty of slick places on the trail. 24 hour temperature range | High: 41 Low: 13 NOAA 7-Day Forecast -- Howling at the stars, the city glowed from behind the main entrance of the kitchen. Wind gently shook the evergreen sentinels standing watch. Looking further up into the sky the light pollution began to fade, leaving bright diamonds scattered across a royal blue canvas. My eyes came back down to the well known sign. The name and elevation of this mountaintop home were easy enough to see. The date had disappeared. Unfettered by the constraints of time, the winter caretaker seemed more interested in moments than dates and time tables…. Diamonds continued to sparkle high in the sky. Onward, Seth "Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend." Good Morning, In between cloud layers to start off this Sunday. Another inversion layer below to report with slightly overcast skies above. Slightly milder temps at day break, 39 degrees, with no new precipitation. 24 hour temperature range | High: 49 Low: 35 NOAA 7-Day Forecast -- The sturdy wood bridge came into focus. Lush evergreens and glowing moss lured me further and further down the trail. Cold and damp, the image in my mind was of a warm humid rainforest. I continued on down the corridor. Back at the bridge, I knew I was close to home. The feeling of arriving overwhelmed me as it always does. What is it about that feeling of arriving to the LeConte Lodge? A magical feeling that couldn’t be compared with anything outside the wonderful realm of the imagination… It was real, it felt right. Onward, Seth “Keep close to Nature’s heart…and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” Good Morning, Soaring high above the clouds at daybreak, courtesy of an inversion layer. Temps at observation hovering around 36 degrees with light winds. Efforts to catch the early morning light at Myrtle Point did not go unrewarded...those pics coming tomorrow! 24 hour temperature range | High: 42 Low: 32 NOAA 7-Day Forecast -- My pen met the paper with ease. The white pages of my notebook stood out amidst the red tablecloth and kerosene. Pausing, I searched for words. Like wild animals the words never came when I chased them. It was only when I gave them little to no thought that they would come to graze. Mount Le Conte is rich elusive country. The thin air, the damp forest and the steep overlooks share experiences teeming with words, many of which I have no way of describing with our limited English vernacular. I’ve found that if I go explore the mountain often, nature rewards my stubborn passion with descriptions of a land I still struggle to describe. In the end, I guess it’s less about the words you find - more about how they make you feel. Onward, Seth “Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.” |
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
March 2024
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