for once i can touch what my heart used to dream of long before i knew.

When you have worn out your shoes, the strength of the shoe leather has passed into the fiber of your body. I measure your health by the number of shoes and hats and clothes you have worn out. He is the richest man who pays the largest debt to his shoemaker. Emerson

_Morning,

Yesterday was incredibly cold for the majority of the day! It was -4 as I woke up and stayed close to zero until nightfall. A warm front pushed in overnight, which made it seem like yesterdays' high was actually 23 when in fact that occurred overnight. The low was -4. It was 23 and clear at observation. We still have about an inch of snow on the ground. 

Top photo: Approaching sunset on the slopes of LeConte. Above: View up towards Cliff Tops.

_On my hike down to Alum, I was surprised to see much of the mountain was still coated in snow. This appears to be the first time that the entire mountain got blanketed, rather than the snow disappearing as you descend to lower elevations. Be prepared for the cold! We are CLOSED for the season, so make a reservation and  be prepared (0 or near 0 degree sleeping bags! & warm pads!) to sleep in the shelter if you plan on overnighting!

Misty Mountain Hop.

As I rested by the Cave Bluffs yesterday, the blissful combination of strenuous hiking, a respite from negative temperatures in the forgiving sun and a simple foam sleeping pad allowed me to slip in and out of consciousness. Looking towards the sun, I would close my eyes and let the transcendentally strange lightshow play out against my eyelids. Prehistoric TV. I have wondered what those floating specks of light are. Stardust? I entertain the thought for a few hours (As Abbey says, somebody's gotta do it) and hike back up to my -4 degree sanctuary.

There are worse places in the universe for a nap.

Pinching myself both to keep warm and to ensure that this isn't a beatific alternate reality.