With all of the excitement of the snow, I did not get to share a picture of the bear that wondered through camp last week. This little guy came through camp with a sibling. They hung out for a day and then went on their way. I am sure they were trying to find some place warmer. The snow moved in the next day. 
The days seem to be getting warmer. The high yesterday was 49 with a low of 32. I have had several questions in regards to the ice on the trail. There are certain sections on every trail leading to the lodge that do not get much sun light. With this being said, there will be icy patches on the trail for a while. I can not tell you what it will be like in the next couple of weeks. I always tell people if they are hiking during this time of the year, it is best to be prepared. You can by "Yaktrax" for around $20. They make other ice walkers that are pricier and last longer. If you will only be using for this trip, I would suggest the cheaper alternative. It is better to purchase them and not need them then to not purchase them and need them. If we get more rain in the next couple of weeks and the nights stay cold, there will be more ice on the trails. 

The days are warming up nicely. The high yesterday was 44. As you can imagine it was plenty warm to melt the snow. The nights are a different story. The low last night was 21. This makes for an icy mess. The trails are extremely slick. I highly recommend all hikers to purchase ice walkers for a hike in these conditions. All of the roads and trails are open. Just be careful and take your time. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water. I have seen a few cases of dehydration over the past week. Even in the colder temperatures, you need to make sure to re-hydrate. 

The ice has melted off the trees and the icicles are getting shorter. The high yesterday was 36. It was a beautiful day full of sunshine. The low last night was 14. The weather forecast is calling for a warming trend. This snow may be melted by the time we hike down in 16 days. 

Ahhhh, the sunshine is finally coming out. Hopefully the warm spell will help thaw things out around here. The mountain was full of activity yesterday. The 22 degrees did not keep day hikers from making the 5 mile trek up the mountain. Highway 441 opened just in time to give access to Alum Cave trail. The park service is currently working on getting Highway 441 opened this morning. You can call 865-436-1200 to find out road conditions. The road leading to Bullhead, Rainbow, and Trillium are all open. Due to the low of 12 last night, there will be plenty of ice on the trail. If you decide to hike up, please make sure you have ice walkers and good warm clothing. 

The snow seems to have tapered off. We awoke to 8.5" of snow this morning. It was so peaceful around camp. The low last night was 15. Guests stayed in bed under their warm blankets until we rang the breakfast bell. It is currently 16 degrees at 8:30 this morning. Today is going to be a great day for a good book in front of the heater. The high yesterday never rose above 22. 

The guests awoke to  1 1/2 " of fresh powder on the ground. The forecast is calling for more. The high yesterday never reached above freezing. 31 was the high with a low of 21. We are awaiting the big storm to hit. 

Winter is here. We awoke to freezing rain mixed with snow. The weather forecast is calling for up to 6" in higher elevation thru Saturday. The high yesterday was 49 with a low of 31. It is currently snowing. Time to put on our winter clothes and stay warm. 

The mountain is filled with bird songs this morning. They must know that cold temperatures are on their way and winter is just a few days away. The birds are busy eating every last seed they can find. It is interesting to see the transition with the different species. The squirrels seem to move to lower elevation when the acorn crops become abundant. The bears disappear. The birds fatten up. It is nice to live at a slower pace where we notice the small changes. 

It is the time of year when we are working before the sun comes up. I love the glow of the lanterns around camp. I find myself looking for reflections in every window and door. The nights are getting cold. The low last night was 37 with a high yesterday of 55. There seems to be a rumor that we may get snow this weekend. You never know what could happen with in a days time on Mt. LeConte. 

It was time once again for our Halloween pumpkin carving contest. Every year the crew each takes a pumpkin and gets creative. The guests vote on the best one and the winner gets to sleep in one morning. I thought I would share the pumpkins with you. 

In case you are wondering who his pumpkin is supposed to be, I will tell you. Frank Herbert, the author of Dune.

I would say it looks like Alex or Santa. You can use your imagination. Alex was up for the weekend. He is going to be the winter caretaker this winter. I told him he could sleep in this winter after he calls in the weather and writes his blog entry. 
Yesterday was a great day to be on the mountain. It was warm in some spots. The high was 55 with a low of 34.