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i'm so in love with you gurl, it's like i'm on the moon. i can't really breathe but i feel lighter.

2/14/2014

 
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There is no remedy for love but to love more. Thoreau
Morning y'all,

It's a beautiful, clear, snowy morning up top. The stuff of dreams. The high yesterday reached 23 degrees. The overnight low was 14 degrees. It was 22 degrees and clear at 7am observation. The mountain received no new snow, so the total up top is still around 10 inches. The cold temps have kept the powder fluffy, so it is pretty easy walking. It is mostly around 5-6 inches deep on the trails up until the double stair on Alum, then it picks up a little. Gaiters, snow pants, waterproof shoes and wool socks make it WAY easier, I'd recommend them all for these conditions. This is not the time of year for jeans and cotton socks. I'll be out exploring, enjoy the day!
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I went for a run yesterday afternoon just as the clouds were starting to break. The mountain had been in the midst of about 3 days of mysterious, ever shifting shades of grey before this grand show. While I've taught myself to savor whatever weather the mountain delivers (though I will always wish for more SNOW), intentional thinking will only get you so far. There is something special about those first few minutes of sunshine, as the clouds are gently evaporating, creating a tapestry of cloudlight that is it's own artwork, unique as a snowflake. The sun gives all the fresh snow a transcendent glow. We crave the sunshine, this promise for brighter days. The landscape osmosis leaks into our brains and brightens our moods. Before I knew it, I was skipping up the mountain, laughing at how ridiculous it is to be feeling all this beauty, the sole human resident of a National Park.
SFH
2/14/2014 01:10:30 am

Happy Valentines Day JP! Hope U have a great day up top!!

Kim
2/14/2014 01:26:25 am

You are such I good writer. I love the pictures, but I return for your descriptions. Happy Valentine's Day!

Sherleen Cardwell
2/14/2014 02:14:24 am

Happy Valentine day J.P. Thank you for all the wonderful notes and pictures of the mountain for folks like me to enjoy .I feel like I am right there with you enjoying all it's splendor.May God bless you and keep you safe through all your adventures .

Peppermint Pattie
2/14/2014 03:21:57 am

Happy Valentine's Day JP !! I love the heart in the snow !! Enjoy.

Val
2/14/2014 11:00:18 am

I shared your heart pic with my facebook friends as my "Happy Valentine" greeting and everyone enjoyed it! Thanks JP!

Kent
2/14/2014 04:39:41 am

"The landscape osmosis leaks into our brains and brightens our moods."

I think if more people understood the therapeutic value of the great outdoors, pharmaceutical companies might just fall on hard times.

Shellah from London
2/14/2014 06:33:24 am

So beautiful! Thanks for sharing:)

doug y link
2/14/2014 06:47:03 am

Yes, Kent, that's exactly how I feel about the outdoors, particularly the Smokies ! Therapy. Solitude. Tranquility. Hiking is my "drug of choice" All that other stuff is crazy. Rain, snow, driving sleet, ice, fog, clouds, fresh air, sunshine, it doesn't matter which, for I hike in all of it and love it immensely ! Some people I'm occasionally around cannot begin to fathom my deep feelings on the subject, nor, I fear, can they ever comprehend it. Let it be.
Before long I might be in my little one-room cabin right at the edge of that Park, and you can bet your "bippy" I'll be very happy then !

Hello Shellah from London ! I'm from London (KY)........g'day

Kent
2/14/2014 09:58:08 am

I don't there is nay amount of explaining that help someone grasp the passion, Doug. You either get it or you don't. My ex-friend from Switzerland lives surrounded by some of the most amazing mountains you'd ever see, but has no interest in hiking or the outdoors at all. Now that baffles me.

doug y link
2/14/2014 10:07:55 am

Gee, Kent, that's almost hard to believe ! I've only ever flown over the Alps, never had the opportunity to spend time amongst them. Since I was a youngster I have been rather fascinated with that odd-looking peak they call "The Matterhorn"; I'd love to stand atop its summit, or at least somewhere at its base. The prevailing theory about the Matterhorn is that it's actually composed of two parts, one being a "slice" of the European tectonic plate, the other a "slice" of the African tectonic plate; Didn't know that until recently. Interesting to me anyway. good evening

Jenny B. link
2/14/2014 10:35:43 am

I would gently ask if you can imagine someone who lives in Paris and has no interest in the greatest paintings of the Louvre. We all have different interests, and the most important thing is that we be true to ourselves. Here I am being a contrarian, but... that is being true to myself! :)

Kent
2/15/2014 02:25:03 am

Very good point, Jenny B. Being true to ourselves is essential for a happy life. I've gotten better at it as I've gotten older.

Shellah
2/15/2014 01:48:26 am

Hey Doug so am I and so ready for spring!


Comments are closed.
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