in that dream, i could hardly contain it. all my life i will wait to attain it.

If we ever reach the point where we think we thoroughly understand who we are and where we came from, we will have failed. Carl Sagan

Morning y'all,

It's a beautiful, clear morning up top. The mountain is standing tall above the clouds and the past 24 hours have been spectacular. The high yesterday reached 31 degrees. The overnight low was 24 degrees. It was 29 degrees and clear at 7am observation. The mountain received no new precipitation and there is no snow remaining up top. There is still some tricky ice on sections of Alum and Boulevard. Traction devices are a sure thing if you'd prefer to not get hurt miles from help, but it is possible to dance around this much ice if you are very careful. Enjoy the adventures!

Top photo: Sunset. Above: Emily crushing.

I spent yesterday exploring with my friend Emily. We worked this past fall at Madison Springs Hut, a short hike (1,645 miles) from Newfound Gap. We hiked out the Boulevard to Charlie's Bunion and marveled at how fortunate we were to be above the clouds. She and I are no stranger to undercasts, but man oh man, this was one to cherish.

Hiking back from the Bunion.

My friend in town was telling me about how she and her daughter have been wondering if they should get checked out for Seasonal Affect Disorder, with all the long, grey days they've had lately in the valley. It feels like there have been a disproportionate number of days this season where the mountain and I have been above the clouds. I have no clues as to why this is. It hasn't been a snowy winter thus far, but inversion caps are the next most spectacular weather events up top and I am grateful to have them in abundance this season. It will form and coalesce into a pillowy bunch of memories to glide back to on hard, long days this spring and summer.

Sunset.