December 9th, 2022Well, Folks,
Today has all of the appearances of another day much like yesterday. We’ll begin with an awesome view of the valley covered with fog with the tops of several peaks projecting through. But just like yesterday we have fog spilling over the top of the mountain above the lodge. It’s looking like another foggy morning on LeConte! The mountain received 1.15 inches of precipitation yesterday and high temperature of 48 degrees and a low of 40. Current temperature at 7:00 AM of 44 degrees. We’ll just have to wait and see what the afternoon has in store for us! I’m just guessing that it will be another good day for testing your rain gear. Or perhaps for reading. I’ve been getting better acquainted with Paul Fink. In his book BACKPACKING WAS THE ONLY WAY he describes his first trip to Mt LeConte in September, 1916. This was prior to the existence of roads, trails, and of course Mt LeConte Lodge. He took a train from Jonesboro, Tennessee to Knoxville and then another to Walland, and then the logging train to Elkmont. Then he started walking. He passed by the Chimneys, Alum Bluff, and finally arrived at Cliff Tops! Then he had to retrace his steps to Elkmont, And then take the trains back home. Quite an adventure! Compared to that it’s now fairly easy for us to get to Mt LeConte today! Have A Great Day! WILDCAT/Bert
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December 8, 2022A good Thursday morning to you!
We’ve certainly had our fair share of fog and rain on top of the mountain during the last few days. Thankfully the fog is gone this morning. LeConte received 1.55 inches of rain yesterday. It’s still quite warm up here—yesterday’s high was 50 degrees, and the temperature at 7:00 AM is 39 degrees. Now that the rain has stopped perhaps I’ll be able to get out and do a little walking today. I took a break from my writing to sit on the porch, drink my fresh hot coffee, listen to the radio, and watch the sun rise over the mountain. But wait—surprise! That’s fog rolling over the top of the mountain—not the bright sunshine that I was so eagerly anticipating. I guess that I needed a little reminder about who’s really in charge of things up here on Mt. LeConte! Have a blessed day! WILDCAT December 7, 2022Good Morning!
Wednesday dawned warm, wet, and foggy. It’s currently 49 degrees at the lodge, which was also yesterday’s high temperature. I’m sitting here in my “office” enjoying classic blue grass music—fifty years ago I believe that it was referred to as “hillbilly” music. I began reading a book from the lodge library yesterday—BACKPACKING WAS THE ONLY WAY, by Paul Fink, from Jonesboro, Tennessee. He began backpacking in East Tennessee about a hundred years ago. Back in those days there were very few trails and roads in the mountains. I can recognize many of the locations that he mentions from my experiences backpacking on the Appalachian Trail. Very interesting! This looks like another good day to continue reading! Have a great day! WILDCAT December 6, 2022Good Morning, Folks!
I’m up here alone on top of our favorite mountain, warm and dry, enjoying a cup of hot coffee and Blue Grass music—living the dream! Life is in deed very good! The weather this morning is warm and foggy. The lodge received slightly over an inch of rain in the last twenty-four hours. The temperature at 7:00 AM was 46 degrees. The trails will be wet, but should be free of ice. There weren’t many hikers yesterday and I don’t anticipate seeing many today. I’ll try to take some “foggy” pictures today so that you can better appreciate just how foggy it sometimes is on LeConte! There definitely are no awesome views from Cliff Top and Myrtle Point at the present moment. Today might be a good day for me to read a book! I hope that you have a Terrific Tuesday! WILDCAT December 5, 2022Good Monday Morning, Y’all!
I hope that you had a great weekend. I met quite a few day hikers on Sunday and they had a great day for a hike up Mt. LeConte. The weather up here is better than I had expected this morning—the temperature is currently 37 degrees and it’s not raining yet! Now that I am a winter caretaker I seem to have plenty of time alone to think about life. I was born and raised on a small farm in north central Kansas. As a boy I spent a lot of time out of doors and alone. Now that I’m “retired” I still do that. As a boy I carried a lot of water in five gallon buckets while caring for the livestock. Now that I’m all grown up I carry a lot of water in five gallon containers for the kitchen. I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to be doing something that I enjoy and know how to do! My friend the weasel is still keeping me company! (See picture below). From High On LeConte, WILDCAT December 4, 2022Good Morning!
The skies up here cleared off during the night. The lodge received about three-quarters of an inch of precipitation yesterday. The temperature got down to 27 degrees during the night. This is a good recipe for icy trails! Traction devices are recommended if you plan to hike the trails today. More rain is forecast for the next few days. Maybe I’ll try to do laundry today. It’s a little more complicated up here than at our house down in the valley. (1) Carry water up from the spring. (2) Heat water on the kitchen stove. (3) Wash clothes by hand in a big pot in the sink. (4) Hang clothes up on the clothes line to dry. I hope that you can enjoy the outdoors today with the rain forecast for the next few days. HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT December 3, 2022 Good Morning!
Fog, light rain, and wind to start the day. The temperature this morning is a mild 40 degrees. With this weather I don’t expect much traffic on the mountain today. Perhaps I’ll try baking bread again today. I hope that you can stay dry today! WILDCAT December 2, 2022Good Morning Y’all!!
Get ready for another great day on the mountain—I’ve never have a bad one. Yesterday the skies were clear all day and the temperatures got up to 49 degrees—not too bad for December. This morning’s temperature at 7:00 AM was a balmy 42 degrees. Yesterday’s low was 18 degrees so the trails may still have some icy spots so I would recommend that you at least carry traction devices just in case you encounter that occasional icy patch of trail. In my spare time yesterday I conducted fairly extensive research for the best sunny spot to sit outside and read a book. FYI—the best location that I found for mid to late morning was the deck outside the office. The front porch of Cabin No. 6 was my first choice later in the afternoon after the office deck gets too shady. Visitors often ask me about wildlife at the lodge. Yes, we have had bears, but I haven’t seen one yet. Yes, we have deer. No, I haven’t seen a mountain lion. We do have chipmunks. So—I saw my first wheasel yesterday—I think! (Please see picture below). He moved so quickly that I had a difficult time taking his picture with my cell phone. I suspect that he had been fed trail snacks sometime because he displayed very little fear of humans. I think that we are supposed to experience some precipitation this weekend so pack your rain gear. From High In The Smokies, WILDCAT/Bert December 1, 2022Good Morning Y’all!
It was pretty foggy on top of LeConte yesterday—no good views, but it’s getting pretty chilly now. The temperature at the lodge is now 18 degrees—it got down to 12 degrees last night. When I’m living in the front country (that’s what backpackers call down there where most of you live) I keep a wood fire burning in our fireplace most of the time in this cooler weather. I’m missing a good warm wood fire today! It is clear on the top of the mountain today. When I got up this morning I could see the stars shining in the sky above me and the lights in the valley below me. I hope that you have a great day! HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT |
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