The butterflies are out and about. I tried to tell this Spicebush Swallowtail that the monkshood was poisonous, but he wouldn't listen. He was trying to dodge the big storms we got yesterday. I saw a lot of folks that looked like they did not read High On LeConte. A lot of soaking wet and cold hikers were huddled around the heater during the storm. Today is starting out to be a repeat of yesterday. If you are hiking up today, do yourself a favor and splurge on that two dollar poncho. It will make for a much happier experience.
The sunset did not disappoint last night. I told some guests it was going to be a good one. The clouds that had been threatening us with rain were going to make for a great show. I was drawn to how the window captured the color.
Looking at the forecast, I see a lot of rain in our future. I keep hearing how the rest of the country is in need of rain. I sure wish I could send some to all of you. Chris and I are getting ready for much needed days off. We will be hiking down tomorrow. I am sure you will be entertained by Mr. Kirkham and his fabulous talent for story telling. The rain held off until noon. It then proceeded to rain on and off for about five hours. Chris and I decided we needed a walk away from camp, so we went exploring. I love to see the huge ferns on the mountain. All of this rain has made for a lush forest floor. The temperature topped out at 65 for the day. The low was 56. They are calling for more showers today.
Last week I posted advice about rain gear. I meant anything from a cheap poncho to full on rain gear. If you don't have a good jacket, a poncho will do. I see a lot of day hikers making it to the top and they are completely drenched with no dry clothes to put on. The temperatures on the mountain are much cooler, especially when you are soaking wet. Ponchos do not weigh much. Most of the time they can fit in your pocket. It is always good to be prepared when out in these mountains. You never know what kind of weather you are going to experience. The coneflowers are awaking on the mountain. Soon, the mountainside will painted a bright yellow. The sun is out and the color of the flowers helped to lift my spirits. I have not had enough solar power to charge any of the batteries to run my "Happy Light". I was beginning to get a little irritable. At least, that is what my husband is saying. The crew seems to be in the same good spirits. It is amazing what a little sun on your face can do to make it a better day.
It is nice to look out the window and see a splash of color on these rainy, grey days. The monkshood flowers are looking spectacular. It is interesting how nature works, this flower that is so delicate and beautiful is extremely poisonous. The grey mornings are an excellent backdrop for the rich purple bloom. Monkshood is also know as wolfsbane. It is noted that the Romans used monkshood to poison wells, in order to eradicate wolves. That is how the name wolfsbane came about.
It is still extremely wet up top. We received another half an inch of rain yesterday. The temperatures are hovering in the upper 50s to lower 60s. Please make sure to bring some sort of rain gear if you are hiking up the mountain. I have seen some wet and cold hikers over the past week. I have not been able to get a shot of this beautiful doe. What you can not see is the tiniest fawn I have ever seen. He is right below her. She took a stroll through camp yesterday so I went out in the rain to see if I could get a good photo. The little fawn hopped away before I could get one. It is my mission to capture his playfulness before I go on days off.
If this rain keeps up, Chris and I will be able to jump in a kayak and paddle down Rainbow into town. We received another .9" of rain yesterday. It is socked in and sprinkling this morning. I better look in the old library and see what books I have not read yet. It is going to be a great day get lost in a good story. With almost 4 inches of rain over the past three days, we have managed to have some of the most spectacular sunsets I have seen. The view from the lodge never gets old. Add some amazing color to it and it is breathtaking. I must admit, I am getting a bit soggy up here. I could use a good blue sky day. I just remember the hot temperatures we had a couple of weeks ago and I thank my lucky stars to have a nice cool mountain again.
The crew was excited to put the official mid-season countdown on our dry erase board. I tried to explain to someone about the excitement behind the countdown. It is kind of like being a school kid. You can not wait for summer to get here, except for us it is winter. Most of us have exciting plans to look forward to. It is fun planning for our winter vacation. We officially have 131 days left until winter vacation. We awoke to an amazing sunrise and finished our day to an amazing sunset. The clouds and rain took over the better part of the day. The high was 68 with a low of 55.
Amazing sunrise
Coffee Breakfast Bell Pancakes Tang Old and New Friends = Great Mornings on Mt. LeConte The mountain air was so crisp this morning. There was a slight chill in the air. The small amount of rain we received last night brought some cooler weather. The skies are azure blue this morning. Looks like the start of a beautiful July day. The temperatures were in the mid 70s yesterday with a low of 53 last night. We have returned to the pleasant mountain air that we all know and love.
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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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