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December 19, 2017

12/19/2017

3 Comments

 
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​Good morning,
 
It’s currently 40 degrees and clear up top. Yesterday’s high was 46 degrees, with an overnight low of 36. There is still a trace of last week’s snow on the ground. Much of the ice has melted, but expect the spots that haven’t melted to be particularly slick.
 
--
 
Yesterday…
 
I finished the blog and strapped JP’s backcountry skis onto my backpack. Word of good snow up north had made it my way. I was going to do my best to see that our former Caretaker would be in the powder by Christmas. I started down the mountain, quickly peeling layers as I went.
 
The first group I crossed didn’t seem to notice the skis towering over me. That would not be the trend. Group after group gave me confused looks that clearly showed suspicion. I hiked on, smiling. Someone yelled, “Nice Skis.” Not one for being keen on sarcasm, I agreed. They were nice skis. I soon made it to my van, unloaded the skis, and made for the post office.
 
I’ll spare you the post office venture.
 
I began my hike up by midafternoon. My pack was less conspicuous this time around. The wary looks I encountered during the descent gave way to laughter filled conversations with the same folks I had passed just hours before. I received an outstanding sunset as I traversed the south face of Le Conte. The glow faded just as the trail leveled off.
 
Happy and ready to eat, I made for the kitchen at a faster clip. The jar of Braswell’s pear preserves waited anxiously in my pack. Growing up in Statesboro, Georgia – I lived less than two miles from where these preserves were made. The kitchen in sight; it wasn’t long before the preserves were spread over a thick slice of honey oat bread…
 
…the past never tasted so sweet.
 
Onward,
Seth
 
P.S. – Thank you Ashley and Courtney for the kind letter you left me on the front porch of my cabin. I would have fixed my “number 1 fans” a cup of coffee and a slice of heavenly goodness. Maybe next time.

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Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less. -C. S. Lewis
3 Comments
Ashley and Courtney
12/19/2017 06:50:09 pm

Seth, thanks for mentioning us in your blog. It made our day to know our note reached you. We took our best guess at where you might reside. In retrospect, we think we might may have passed you twice on the trail as we remember seeing a fellow hiker "carrying down" skis for someone and seeing the same person hiking back up. How about a coffee and banana nut bread date Wednesday at sunrise? We'll be there, hope you are too!

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Sherleen
12/19/2017 07:54:32 pm

I was right there with you going down and back up,then wishing I had some homemade bread AND pear preserves. Right Onward Seth .Happy,safe trails. :-)

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Jeff Arnold
12/19/2017 10:05:15 pm

The photos are just great. Love C.S Lewis.

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