It's an absurdly blustery morning up top. The mountain is a swirl of winds at the moment. The high yesterday reached 39 degrees. The low was 31 degrees. It was 36 degrees and raining at 7am observation. The mountain received 1.65" of rain (shoulda been SNOW!) last night. There's only patchy snow remaining up top. The trails are sure to be wet, wet, wet so be prepared for some discomfort.
I came up Alum yesterday afternoon and it was yet another blissful day for a hike. The dream lives on. The sun was kissing the rhododendron leaves, the streams were singing and the breezes were gentle. The atmosphere was full of warmth, the way the air enters your lungs just felt far too welcoming. It was like an intoxicating trap, I was a blissed out bee in a fine flower designed to relish such days. It was the kind of day that makes you feel most alive, at the peak of your powers, giving you delusions of grandeur and an inflated notion of just how special life on Earth can be. It's all there for the taking, depending on your ambitions.