December 27, 2017

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Good morning,
 
It’s currently 25 degrees up top. Yesterday’s high was 29 degrees, with an overnight low of 16. We still have roughly 1” of snow on the ground.
 
Expect the Alum Cave Trail, along with other trails, to be very icy. Below is a photo from yesterday’s venture.

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I woke to a thick canopy of clouds above. Unfazed, I brewed tea and began the morning hike to Myrtle Point. Honestly, I expected an uneventful show, but experience has taught me that 80% of about anything is just showing up.
 
Atop the point, the Smoky Mountains looked cold - looked lethal. I checked my watch; sunrise would be any minute. The clouds above began to shift and glow. Soft mellow hues bled through the blanket above. It was a relaxing scene. Compared to sunrise’s past, that hit me like a shot of espresso; today’s scene was more akin to a cup of chamomile tea – calming. I appreciated the contrast. Feeling soothed, I slowly strolled back to the lodge…
 
Onward,
Seth

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"There are some days when I think I'm going to die from an overdose of satisfaction." - Salvador Dali