If you want to get to the peak, you ought to climb without giving it too much thought. Nietzsche
Morning y'all, It's a beautiful day up top. The high yesterday reached 34 degrees. The overnight low hit 22 degrees. It was 25 degrees and mildly cloudy at 7am weather observation. The mountain received no new precipitation and there is still 2 inches of snow up top. The trails are in pretty rough shape. I would definitely recommend Microspikes for the final quarter of the climb. It's nearly impassable without some sort of traction devices. Be careful! 
It was a phenomenal day to be out yesterday. When my friend Adam and I awoke, we were treated to a morning above the clouds. I knew immediately that it would be an unforgettable descent. When we reached Alum Cave, we were swallowed by the humidity. We were among the very few who got to experience the raw beauty of the day, as those in the valley had chalked it up as another gray, Smokies day. When I came back up, my friend Daniel pointed out that it looked as if only you could build the right ship, nothing could stop you from sailing right across the aether... 
Rick Shepherd
1/3/2013 01:41:45 am
Def like the personalized pics!....Landscapes are always good but showing us hikers the hiking mode is better!....Bet I could use my canoe across those clouds!..... Thanks JP!..... :-)
Pat N.
1/3/2013 02:41:55 am
Just got back from Florida and needed to get my dose of LeConte. Nice to catch up on the blog, inspiring statements, and great pics. Happy New Year...hope the knee gets better, JP.
Debi
1/3/2013 03:30:40 am
Love the crocks on the backpack. I too took mine last time. There so light to carry. Just hook them on the outside with a hook and go.I put it on our list of what to take next time for my husband and son also. Tired feet, put on crocks and go stand in the cold water well off the beaten path. 1/3/2013 07:46:29 am
I was off-trail between the Bunion and the Jumpoff yesterday, enjoying the view from above the sea of clouds. At times, it seemed as if a waterfall of clouds was pouring over the main ridge along the AT, spiliing down the mountainside into the valley of Lester Prong. The Boulevard is a luge run now - nearly impassable without spikes. JP, I hope that the knee soon recovers - we'd like to have you join us again on one of our climbs before the season ends.
tomk in SC
1/4/2013 01:49:53 am
Dave, help me understand where you were. I have been to both Charlies Bunion and the Jumpoff (Best views in the park IMO) but I don't see how one can be above the clouds and off trail between these two points. To walk off trail between these two points would require an immediate descent of about 500 feet. From the Jumpoff, that 500 feet is in one step off a cliff. Almost as steep from Charlies Bunion. Perhaps you scrambled up Kephart, but that is barely off trail, and more on the way to the Jumpoff than between the two. I'm lost, please advise. I was following the edge of the dropoff between Kephart and the Bunion, skirting the abyss and down-climbing some of the razor-backed ridges that climb up from Lester Prong. My group does a lot of climbing out of Lester Prong and I was checking out some potential future routes. We like climbing the slides, creeks and ridges (off-trail) near LeConte and Kephart, including Anakeesta Knob, the two Bunions, the Jumpoff and the many slides out of Huggins Hell. The sport has little appeal for the average hiker...
HJ
1/3/2013 09:35:34 am
JP. Thanks again for your faithfulness this winter. I often post your pics on my twitter and FB accts. many respond w "where is that? It's beautiful!" I refer them to the site. Met a bxpxer on the AT last week near the Bunion and he does the same ! Anyway I was reading the old classic today and thought of your commitment to stay the Mtn: Comments are closed.
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