February 04th, 2017

2/4/2017

I cannot see on the outside at all. We thought ourselves great philosophers in those wet days, when we used to go out and sit down by the wall sides. Thoreau

Morning y'all,
It's a beautiful, cold & clear day up top. The high yesterday reached 32 degrees. The overnight low was 5 degrees and it is currently 18 degrees and clear. The mountain received no new precipitation and there is still some patchy snow remaining up top. I was able to hike down Trillium and up Alum yesterday without spikes, but I would bring them today. We had a hard freeze last night and there are sure to be some slick sections. Get out and enjoy the mountains!

you got the whole wide world laid out in front of you.

13 Comments

Pat N

2/4/2017 07:55:22 am

Nice pics! Glad you enjoyed a hike. Stay warm, JP.

Albert B.

2/4/2017 09:29:30 am

Hello: I'm new on this site and this is my first visit here although I am no stranger to the Smokies. Recently a couple of my friends and I hiked up to the summit or peak of Mt. Leconte as a nice day hike. Good improvements on the Alum trail. I am very curious about something we saw up on High Point, or is that High Top ? Beside the trail on the right was a sizable pile of stones which is obviously made my human hands and I am asking if anyone that frequents this site and that trail can tell me why that pile of rocks is there, that is, what's its purpose ? Many thanks.

Knox Bill

2/4/2017 05:57:30 pm

It's an attempt to make the peak of Mt. LeConte higher than that of Clingmans Dome. The idea is that every time a hiker passes High Top, they should add a stone to the pile. However, I've been hiking to LeConte since 1998, and I don't think the rock pile ever gets any higher. :-)

Tom Layton link

2/4/2017 07:42:08 pm

Our feeble effort to pad the elevation 7 feet to make it an even 6,600.

tomk in SC

2/4/2017 08:26:46 pm

Mount LeConte is the third highest peak in the Smoky Mountains. The stones are added by hikers wishing to eclipse the height of Clingmans Dome via a pile of rocks. They have a good ways to go, but that's why it is there!

Tom H.

2/5/2017 05:16:57 am

Albert B; Years ago before accurate methods of measuring mountain elevations were available, supposedly LeConte was thought to be the highest mountain in the Smokies. When it was determined that Clingmans Dome was the highest (6643 ft), the rock pile was started in a vain attempt to make LeConte the highest in the Smokies. Goggle "LeConte rock pile" for this, and other theories on the origin of the rock pile, including the High-on-LeConte blog entry dated 5/24/2014.

Tom C

2/5/2017 07:28:40 am

I climbed to and stayed at the lodge a couple of years ago. I was told by someone there the idea behind the pile of rocks is to eventually "raise" Mt. LeConte, by adding individual stones over time, to an altitude higher than Clingman's Dome, the current highest peak in TN. I think its kind of a fun thing for the stone contributors. Maybe someone can verify this.

ROGER KARR

2/5/2017 10:28:58 am

Hello Albert it is said that this is the highest point of the trail, 50 ft. lower than clingmans dome and it is a costom to toss a rock on the pile in hopes to be higher than clingmans dome , i have heard other tales too but this one is my favorite

Alan

2/5/2017 02:17:24 pm

The story I have heard is that if enough folks place a rock there Mt. LeConte will eventually surpass Clingman's Dome in elevation.

Peppermint Pattie

2/4/2017 09:30:07 am

JP, thank you for posting the beautiful photo of Grotto Falls ! I love Trillium Gap Trail.

winston thomason

2/4/2017 10:07:55 am

J P are there any internet service for over nigh hikers in the summer up there?

2/6/2017 10:48:19 am

Winston,

No, there is no wi-fi or anything like that. If you have a smartphone, there is intermittent service with AT&T and Verizon. US Cellular is the best from the lodge.

Tom

2/4/2017 04:13:37 pm

Great pics JP! You sure have a great way to spend the winter. Will you be there until the Lodge opens for 2017, or until the helicopter resupply? BTW, when is the resupply this year?

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February 04th, 2017

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