February 06th, 2013

2/6/2013

sunset.

Morning y'all,

It's a beautiful morning up top. The high yesterday reached 31 degrees. The low was 22 degrees. It was 23 degrees and clear at 7am observation. The mountain received no new precipitation yesterday. With the abundant sunshine we received yesterday afternoon, there is now about 5 inches of snow remaining on the ground. It sounds as though we'll have some warm, clear days up here for the remainder of the week.

moon in early morning sky.

The trails are still in rough shape. I heard from two hikers that Alum is still in rough shape, with a gnarly blowdown between the Cave Bluffs and the first log staircase. The snow is still quite deep along the ledges - you'd be wise to pack some gaiters for the snow drifts near the top. I would still recommend Rainbow as the most manageable hike to the summit.

I am both stunned and forlorn when I look at the calendar and realize I'm down to the last 5 weeks of my stint up top. Perhaps it's the low snowfall totals, but it really doesn't 'feel' like winter has a mere 6 weeks remaining. On the plus side, this has jarred me into action, actION, ACTION. I'm less complacent, getting out for more hikes and making as many memories (Jimmy Jam K!) as possible. I took off last night to try to find my lunar lady. She was a marvelous crescent, a dangling earring of allure, a fitting benediction for another fine day up top. The stars littered the skyscape with pure magnificence; bright votive candles hanging in the invisible windowframes of distant worlds. Some experiences defy words... the way the night sky can dazzle, awe, invigorate, and wash one clean is far beyond my finite powers of description. I am mortal, they are not. Of course I can't do them justice.

Laura

2/6/2013 01:15:57 am

Poetic.

LauraE

2/6/2013 01:28:53 am

I love reading your post each morning.

doug y

2/6/2013 01:48:17 am

Yes, JP, poetic. Your words say exactly how I feel when I gaze longingly up into the night sky. Around here there's a lot of light pollution, even though I'm nine miles east of London,KY. But high above I can usually spot my favorite constellations, and when using my binoculars I can observe even more stars and clusters. When I saw the moon set in the west from the vantage point of Cliff Tops recently it made me long to reside somewhere with less street ights, etc. When, years ago, I worked for a while as a photographer I'd spend countless hours out at night taking time exposures. A truly magnificent sight for my eyes up there. Quiet, too. A person I know asked me the other day why I like to hike, camp, backpack, etc. I said I don't like to backpack, I LOVE to do so !! Why leave the conveniences of technology, the pleasures of urbanity ? What could be more absurd than packing thirty pounds or so through rugged country for days at a time. Isn't it in answer to a call from far back inside us ? Beneath our urbane sophistication, isn't there a strong memory of existing at basic survival levels in wilderness ? Can we believe that the savage within ourselves -- the one who belongs to the woods -- is dead ? It is our savage eye that sees behind the conveniences and pleasures of our world to the earth-spoiling that supports them. Backpacking in wilderness can be a beautiful and highly satisfying way to express the savage in modern times, for some at least. It's a deep recollection of what we once were. The backpacker wants wilderness. Anywhere that roads have not penetrated. Wilderness is pre-eminently the domain of the backpacker. As the pressures of industrial civilization and the rational madnesses of cities increase, the more need is there for the wilderness experience. Wilderness does not reflect insanity well as happens in cities. Stepping into wilderness and looking past ourselves, we see the vivid spaces of great forests, mountains, rivers and deserts. The wilderness experience gives us a standard by which to measure our sanity. I sometimes feel caged in by society and civilization. I hope to be hiking the day I leave this earth. I've in recent years substituted the "lodge" experience for some of my backcountry camping and backpack less frequently on the longer journeys, but I'm always planning one or two, with several shorter day hikes inserted in my plans. Leconte Lodge isn't backpacking to me, buit it's a heck of a good substitute ! Perhaps I've become a little more spoiled in my years ! I do love it so up there ! Can't wait for my next visit, even less so for my next day of hiking ! G'day !

Tony Ga

2/6/2013 02:50:33 am

I always tell my wife if I "go" while hiking, biking or running know that I went happy, doing something I love.
As always thanks for your words doug y.

Barbara

2/6/2013 07:42:14 am

Doug y- beautifully put. You've put words to my feelings once again.

Susan B

2/6/2013 08:50:24 am

Beautifully put Doug!

Me - my escape, peace and solitude. It's getting closer to nature and God's creation.

Steve (SC)

2/6/2013 02:17:01 am

JP...glad you're back. A group of us had planned a trip up last weekend, but we're turned back by the road closures. Oh well...we will try again soon. Take care and God bless.

Tony Ga

2/6/2013 02:52:44 am

http://www.mtleconte.com/acblocations.html

Drewbe, in case you missed it, try this map for Alum Cave trail.

Dewbe

2/6/2013 06:08:13 am

Thanks, Tony Ga. I wil do so. I know the trail fairly well just not up to speed on all the insider lingo and markings. Looks like the next few days set in motion stellar hiking for LeConte, hope I get to enjoy.

Debi

2/6/2013 03:15:51 am

JP, 5 weeks is a long time when it comes to winter. You could be up for a few more snow storms. I have noticed after dropping my son off at school this morning its now getting lighter earlier. Oh, to have the sunshine back longer. Loved the 1st picture of the sunshine and I put it on my screen saver for the day.

tnbs

2/6/2013 03:20:34 am

So beautiful

hrtn

2/6/2013 03:26:10 am

Absolutley gorgeous!!

Pat L.

2/6/2013 03:30:34 am

JP,
Saw this a few day ago and when you talked about making memories I thought I would share;
When the end of life has come to pass, a handful of memories is worth more than a truck load of wishes.

Matt

2/6/2013 04:28:52 am

I love reading your posts; they bring a joy to me that I forget about while driving around Nashville every day. A group of us is hiking up there on Sat and I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas to hurry and get here.

Harry - Louisville, KY

2/6/2013 04:43:39 am

I hiked up yesterday (Tuesday), via the Alum Cave route. Not much foot traffic past AlumCave; only 2 or 3 tracks. The trail was covered the entire way but not too slick going up. It was much worse (slicker) hiking back down, due to the sunshine melting the snow and ice. It took as long going down as it did hiking up. The most dangerous part was icicles falling from overhead, especially in the Alum Cave area. No warnings until you hear them hit the ground. Like you mentioned, two large trees down on the trail; only one that was difficult to get through. Once the early fog lifted, it was a beautiful day at the top. I had lunch on one of the picnic tables in the Lodge area. Your daily blog is what inspired me to go up there again. I drove down from Louisville, did the roundtrip hike and then drove back home. It was a GREAT day !

Kent

2/6/2013 05:37:02 am

Wow, that's quite a drive for a day outing. And I thought I was a little crazy for driving 500 miles for two days of hiking. Heh!

I love to hear stories like this, though. It show some serious passion. Good for you!

Steve D

2/6/2013 07:27:24 am

Hey Harry-I met you yesterday I think around 1 o'clock, I was leaving the top and you were arriving on top. It was a beautiful day out there wasn't it! Good for you for driving down! I am spoiled, we live in Pigeon Forge so I try to get out there at least once a week. Nothing much better than being on the Mountain, no stress out there...

doug y

2/6/2013 06:40:55 am

Harry: You sound a bit like me: I'll leave London, KY, drive to the Park, take a day hike anywhere from 5 mi to 12 mi, then drive back home. If I tackle Mt. Leconte or anything longer I'll camp at Elkmont (when it's open ! made me angry when they started closing it for winter !), Smokemont, or Cades cove, using my tent as a 'base camp', etc. Tony Ga: glad you enjoyed my remarks; I tell people that if I die out hiking, they'll find my bones and a great big smile on my face; they won't recover any hair for I have little of that left ! Yeah, going with one's boots on !! Pat L: so true ! Kent: 500 mi !? I give you my admiration; and I gripe because I have only about 150 mi to cover !! Now, after reading all these great ideas and comments, I think I must make preparations to get down to the Park asap !

David c.

2/6/2013 07:28:24 am

Hey JP do you know why some experience defy words? Because they are spiritual. Words can only describe the material world.

norman 'army airborne'

2/6/2013 11:15:48 am

David; I think you are right on!!

m ha

2/7/2013 03:09:49 am

It is All right.

Mary

2/6/2013 11:36:54 am

I like the pictures JP keep up the good work!

Mare F

2/6/2013 02:08:16 pm

JP, thanks again, what a fantastic storyteller you are. I can envision myself with you watching the beautiful mountain sky!! And Doug, thanks for you writings also, I envy both of you!! And of course, gorgeous photos!

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February 06th, 2013

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