don't hold on to me when there's nothing to hold.

12/21/2011

The lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other; who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood. His intercourse with heaven and earth, becomes part of his daily food. In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows. Nature says,--he is my creature, and maugre all his impertinent griefs, he shall be glad with me. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Morning,

It was another mild day yesterday. The high was 42. The low was 37. It was 42 and drizzling at observation. There was .17" of rain yesterday, most coming in the evening.

It looks like there will be thunderstorms today, so be cautious on the upper slopes. I've heard reports that the ice at elevations higher than Alum Cave is particularly treacherous. It's also getting dark around 5:30 up here, so if you're not at the summit by 3 please turn back. Be sure to pack rain gear, layers, ice traction and a headlamp.

I went for a run yesterday, then spent the rest of the day reading. I'm really hoping this projected spell of grey days breaks and we get some snow.

James W

12/21/2011 12:43:18 am

I put one more on tat pile Halloween 2011 look forward to doing it again next month!! Have a great day JP! thanks for Emerson

Carol G

12/21/2011 01:22:37 am

Goodmorning JP,
We are with you on the "grey rainy days go away and snow come to us please"...it is Christmas after all. :) Last year was our first winter here in this wonderful place and we woke up to it snowing on Christmas morning. When our girls were little, they always begged us to drive somewhere and find the snow. So imagine how thrilled we all were with so much snow last winter here and especially on Christmas morning. Well, maybe since you are way up there it will come to you but the forecast is not showing it for us down here sadly enough. I am thinking that you may see a lot of people hiking up your way though in the next weeks. I continue to enjoy your pics and blog. So happy that things are going well for you u there. Take care and remember that we are available.
Sincerely, Carol G

Denise

12/21/2011 02:48:51 am

There's an iron ore rock from my beloved Hecla on that pile!

Jess and Andrew

12/21/2011 03:01:23 am

Yesterday.. After Rainbow Falls, there was a lot of ice and wet, slippery rocks. At higher elevations the ice on the ground was at least 3 inches thick, hard to break threw to ground.

Pearl link

12/21/2011 03:49:00 am

My rock is on that pile too. Are we higher than Clingmans yet?? LOL

Debi link

12/21/2011 08:50:08 am

How far is this from the lodge? What a pile!!!

tomk

12/21/2011 09:58:06 am

@Debi
That pile is at High Top, the highest point on Mount LeConte. At 6593' it is about 50 feet lower than Clingmans Dome, the highest peak in the GSMNP. Hikers place rocks and stones atop the pile in a totally desperate and never to be successful effort to one day increase the height of High Top to make High Top on Mount LeConte the highest peak in the park.
I am reasonably certain it will never happen, but I stack stones there myself as if to claim or wish it was the tallest peak in the park, because it is certainly the best. Ranger Rick has looked aside as we really aren't supposed to move things about. I am sure we will have to shut down this gallant effort when the rock shortage becomes apparent. :)
To get there, climb the Grand Staircase and make a left turn onto the Boulevard. About 0.3mi along the Boulevard, the pile will be visible about 15' off the right side of the trail. If you are going downhill, you have gone too far!

12/21/2011 10:19:45 am

Thanks!!! I knew it was close to the lodge, just wasn't certain where it was located.Thanks for the info. Next trip down I'll have to pile on a few myself.

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don't hold on to me when there's nothing to hold.

LeConte Lodge

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