 I want movement, not a calm course of existence. I want excitement and danger and the chance to sacrifice myself for my love. I feel in myself a superabundance of energy which finds no outlet in our quiet life. Tolstoy  Top photo & above: Sunrise at Apollo Overlook yesterday morning. Morning, It was a chilly day on the mountain yesterday. The high was 21, but with some cloud cover and wind gusts it felt colder for much of the day. The low was 6. It was 12 degrees and cloudy at observation. It looks like we'll have another clear day today, with warmer temperatures. I came up Alum yesterday without using my Microspikes. The crowds have broken up much of the most dangerous ice and the snow provided sufficient traction. Be sure to take your time on the way up and if you are not up top by 3pm, TURN AROUND! As I hiked up with my pal Jacob yesterday, I thought about how joyous it is to share this place with friends. Tolstoy said that happiness is only real when shared. I disagree, but it is undeniable others help put things into perspective. Like altitude, I let myself become acclimated to the beauty up here at times. It was like seeing the mountain through new eyes to stop and hesitate at Hesitation Point, watch the widowmakers crash down near unsuspecting tourists and marvel at the hardy vegetation that survives in the rock crevasses up top. PS: A special shout out to the MLK Masochists, who just stayed in the Mt. LeConte shelter on brutal January nights for the 20th straight year! That is both awesome and insane. Way to go, guys.  Watching widowmakers at Alum Cave.  The purest water on Earth! 1/15/2012 02:39:24 am
Brr!! Now come out the true hikers. I love your entertaining blog every day.
Marilyn
1/15/2012 02:50:19 am
JP, your pictures have been spectacular the last couple of days. You should compile all the pics and commentaries you have provided on this blog into a book. Maybe under the title of Reflections on LeConte. You have such a talent for picture taking and words. I log into this site several times a day just to read the comments you provoke with that talent from other LeConte fans.
Tony Ga
1/15/2012 08:48:05 am
As spectacular as these pictures are, they still don't compare to witnessing these events in person.
DLB
1/15/2012 09:19:54 am
Tony,I agree 100% nothing like seeing in person !!!
Roger
1/15/2012 01:46:22 pm
Love your photos. My 17 year old son and I are wanting to come up Rainbow Falls tomorrow morning to the Lodge and do Bullhead tomorrow. We've never done this route before and we heard it could be very windy tomorrow. Should we be concerned?
tomk in NW SC.
1/15/2012 02:22:01 pm
I made the hike two years ago. Rainbow UP, Bullhead DOWN works just fine. Work out the math and turnaround time such that you are expected at the parking lot an hour before sunset. You really don't want to be caught out. I spent too much time taking some spectacular pictures so I turned around at West Point, just a few short minutes from the lodge. I assume you are NOT staying at the shelter. If so you will have plenty of winter gear. If not, you will have to ensure you are prepared for an issue. If one of you twists/breaks an ankle it should be inconvenient, not fatal. LeConte in winter can be awesome. Get started early.
Randy "OPIE" Taylor
1/16/2012 07:14:15 am
We will be staying at the shelter February 4th. We'll try to find ya a NYTimes. Hoping the snow sticks around!!! Up Rainbow, down Trillium.
JP
1/16/2012 08:18:01 am
Opie,
Jennifer
1/20/2012 03:13:36 am
I can't tell you how peace and calm fill my being when I read your quotes and take in your photos. Comments are closed.
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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
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