December 26th, 2016

Amazingly, we take for granted that instinct for survival, fear of death, must seperate us from the happiness of pure and uninterpreted experience, in which body, mind, and nature are the same. And this debasement of our vision, the retreat from wonder, the backing away like lobsters from free-swimming life into safe crannies, the desperate instinct that our life passes unlived, is reflected in proliferation without joy, corrosive money rot, the gross befouling of the earth and the air and water from which we came. Peter Matthiesen

Morning y'all,

It's a beautiful, foggy morning up top. The high yesterday reached 54 (!!!) degrees - which seems like it must be a Christmas record. The overnight low was 41 degrees. It was 42 degrees and foggy at 7am observation. The mountain received a little rain last night, totalling .02 inches. The trails are absurdly clear with all this warm weather. Get out and enjoy the day!
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Top photo & above: Light on the Boulevard.

I went out for a lovely trail run yesterday. I am grateful for the fact that I can spin so much living out of two healthy legs, a wandering mind and a curious will. Running up here appeals to me because it optimizes how much (and how intensely) I am able to see and feel in a few select hours. I don't regret any time spent where I get my legs and heart rate going. It's a feeling of freedom intermingled with pure joy. I went out the Boulevard at around 10, just as things were clearing up top. It was the perfect day to be out on the ridge. I came to a sudden stop like a cartoon character as I rounded some corners and saw the fusion of moisture and light. Only in the Smokies! It was a muggy day and as always, it was quiet out there. I only saw 10 folks in 3 hours. It is always worth getting out there.
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LeConte from the Bunion.