i ain't sayin' you ain't pretty, i'm just sayin' i'm not ready for any person, place or thing to try and pull the reins in on me.

What is the part of wisdom? To dream with one eye open; to be detached from the world without being hostile to it; to welcome fugitive beauties and pity fugitive sufferings, without forgetting for a moment how fugitive they are. George Santayana

_Morning,

It was another great day on the mountain yesterday. The high was 45 degrees. The low was 36 degrees. It was 45 and cloudy at observation. It looks like it'll be a bit rainy today, but warm (for 'winter', anyway). Be prepared to get wet, as the trails are already draining a lot of water.

I had a great hike down & up Alum yesterday morning and afternoon. I was able to hike in both 'magic hours', when there is hardly anyone on the trail and the light has that unique, unpredictable quality at the beginning and end of the day. I was able to squeeze in another creek bath before I take off sometime this weekend. There was an unspoken anticipation in the air, as the flowers and birds all seemed to think warmth and abundance was on the horizon. I hope they are right!

Top photo: View from Inspiration Point. Above: Open view towards Clingman's.