Morning y'all,
It's another beautiful day up top. The high yesterday reached 34 degrees. The low was 14 degrees. It's currently 23 degrees and clear. The mountain received no new precipitation and our snow total is hovering around an inch. The trails are quite icy, please be sure to pack some sort of traction device if you intend to reach the summit (in one piece). It was a stunning day for a hike yesterday. St Valentine gave me a day so flawless from dawn to dusk that it made up for my mind being elsewhere, the grandeur of the day washing over the momentary lonesomeness of an ever hungry heart.I just had to open my eyes.It started with some clear blue skies, bright snowscapes, empty trails... the stuff of dreams. As I made my way out of camp and onto the Alum Cave junction, I started following some fox prints. She was my morning guide, a companion in spirit. I've heard from 2 seperate crew members that they've seen her around camp and I look forward to finally making her acquaintance. As I descended, the light was playing on the trees in an exceptionally resplendent way, it would kiss and caress the remaining ice, then glint and glimmer in a way finer than anything at Kay's... the show continues, for the living present. I lounged at Alum Cave for about an hour, watching the icicles hurl towards the Earth as the sun warmed them. I spotted my first Peregrine of the season, with his steely eyes glaring at us tourists in a dismissive way. Fox tracks, widowmakers and falcons make for a fine kind of sensory overload. 2/15/2013 12:44:45 am
I hope 1 day i will hike up to c this beautful place in person.
Debi
2/15/2013 12:46:06 am
One lucky man! Enjoy the rest of your time on the mountain. Who is that in the picture?
charlotte
2/15/2013 03:22:18 am
Ahh so jealous of the day you had yesterday :) Hope today is as good.
Kent
2/15/2013 03:55:01 am
In just 6.5 weeks I'll be loading up and driving down to recharge my sanity cells. (And believe, they are getting pretty drained, at this point.)
doug y
2/15/2013 04:59:30 am
Kent: You said it quite well and truly ! That's precisely what I feel when I'm in the Park camping, hiking, or backpacking. Not a sense of order and calm, an OVERWHELMING sense of order and calm ! Yes, indeed !! When I'm approaching the Park and can spot Mt. Leconte, usually from the main drag in Pigeon Forge, that exact feeling begins to take over my heart and mind. I can't explain that adequately to anyone but those who read this blog and share my passion for those activities. I honestly never really feel truly and completely alive until I'm in those glorious mountains, surrounded by natural wonders that reduce me to insignificance when compared to them. People talk about going to that "big golf course in the sky", or that "race track in the sky", or something when they die, but I won't get into a religious discussion here. I will say that I know where I'll be going !! With each passing day now I can feel or at least sense the coming of spring weather and temperatures, and although I'm an experienced and knowledgeable cold weather hiker and camper, I am looking forward to this season with great enthusiasm. I got to thinkng about all the nice, thoughtful, and lodge-loving people who are frequent on this site. I think it would be a logistical difficulty to organize and conduct, but I think that on a particular summer day when the daylight hours are near their longest wouldn't it be great to have a "lodge lovers hike" up the mountain with as many readers, lodgers, and simply hikers participating !? There may be no one who even agrees with me, and it would be difficult to arrange, but personally I think it'd be at least an interesting event. Perhaps that would be too much to ask or assemble, and if so, but I thought it was an interesting thought for a moment, with the best of intentions on my part. I was wondering the other day if there are many wildlife sightings on the mountain during the winter. When I'm on one of my cold-weather excursions, sometimes in a blowing snowfall and cold temperatures, I am guilty of not always looking for signs of wildlife, although it's always very pleasant to spot anythng that has ventured forth on such days. I have only seen those falcons three or four times in all the year I've hiked there, but they are magnificanet birds ! G'day all.
Deedee//Mich.
2/15/2013 08:05:24 am
Fun idea, Doug!
MaryF
2/15/2013 09:59:12 pm
Doug,I would love to meet other like minded people from this blog, and hike up to the Lodge. Although I am not a winter hiker, just spring, summer snd fall, because I live in Florida, but if you can arrange something for the spring/summer time, count me in!! I may have some room in a reservation I have for July, if it works out, I will post it here to see if there are any takers.
Steve D
2/15/2013 11:56:12 pm
Doug-my wildlife sightings this winter are very few. Other than birds and squirrels, I haven't seen anything else. I have seen some tracks, but need to learn more about them to identify what they are. I saw a deer on the top of Mt LeConte last spring, and a falcon near the bluffs last fall. As far as the Lodge Lovers Hike, I would come for sure if I can.
Kent
2/16/2013 02:59:38 am
I would definitely be up for such a gathering, as well. Great idea!
Fraley Family
2/15/2013 05:13:14 am
Love the action of the peregrines during the spring nesting season. We were lucky enough last February to get a photo of both the male and female sitting in a dead tree close to the trail on our way down in the same shot. Another bonus of the Alum Cave trail...the chance to see peregrines in a bluff nesting site. They can be pretty vocal during the spring when they are nesting...love hearing them. Here in Ohio they nest mostly on bridges and buildings.
Sherleen Cardwell
2/15/2013 06:27:55 am
Ahh-hh! Thank you JP for todays blog/thoughts.My husband and I are approaching 80 and can no longer camp/hike due to bad health. We depend on folks like you ,to enjoy the mountains along with our memories.God bless you in your adventures ,we will miss you when you are gone..
Kathy F
2/15/2013 07:54:57 am
Any suggestions on time to hike when the rhododendrum are in full bloom?
tomk in SC
2/15/2013 09:33:48 am
Early to mid May. The section between Trillium Gap and Brushy Mountain is absolutely covered/carpeted in blossoms
David C.
2/15/2013 09:27:51 am
Hey Doug y your experience at the park and on the mountians is spiritual which, in many cases, has nothing to do with religion. Many religions have their own agenda. That spiritual experience comes easier when you can get away from life's responsibilities for a while. I love the mountians and the park. That spiritual experience I get there fills me with peace and joy. Sometimes when I'm hiking and it's so quiet and beautiful I can be brought to tears. I try to take this experience with me outside the park with mixed success. Some days good other days not so good.
m ha
2/15/2013 03:46:53 pm
Here is sky full stars like Texas,New Mexico and Arizona.
m ha
2/15/2013 10:12:56 pm
I am not a machinery Ford or General motors.
m ha
2/15/2013 10:51:02 pm
I am not an Alaska man.
m ha
2/16/2013 03:37:00 pm
I am sorry that picture is not like me and glad that I am a various case.
Dan
2/16/2013 10:30:49 pm
The red tails have started to pair up in SW Ohio. Long may the raptors fly.
m ha
2/17/2013 03:11:56 pm
I am sorry this part is not right who try........ for flying but the bird can not fly the door is close the bird eats the fox or the wolf.
m ha
2/17/2013 04:53:01 pm
I am crying for a die bird.
deedee\mich.
2/17/2013 11:00:54 pm
his spirit can still fly.
doug y
2/17/2013 01:20:41 am
Organizng a day hike up to the lodge and back could be difficult, but I think it could be done; naturally, not everyone would be able to schedule to participate, and that bothers me as I would want everyone to be there that reads this blog and posts comments. of course, that's just reality and we'll have to see how this idea develops. MaryF: I definitely would be interested in a July spot. David C: yes, my many experiences in the Park are spiritual indeed; I was taking a break once on a trail that runs from the Laurel Falls trailhead {across the road from it actually} across Huskey Gap, and down to Elkmont campground [this is a good hike that requires only a trolley car ride ($1) from Elkmont to that trailhead] and as I sat there I', not afraid to admit that tears did come to my eyes ! Such a great sense of peace ! Have a good day all ! Comments are closed.
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LeConte LodgeWelcome to the official blog of LeConte Lodge. We hope you find the information provided here both helpful and enjoyable. Thank you for visiting the site, and we hope to see you on the mountain! Archives
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