Interesting Rainfall Data

8/27/2013

Purple Gentian

Along with the Grass of Parnassus comes the Purple Gentian. This flower stays closed. The bees pry open the flower to pollinate. I tried to capture a bee in the flower, but they would not cooperate. They did not seem to be in the mood for a photo shoot.

The temperatures are staying on the cool side. It is not going to be long until the flowers have died off and autumn sticks around. This morning we are covered by a thick fog. No sunrise for us. I found some interesting information on the Hiking In The Smokys blog page. The author did a great job on compiling the rain totals for Mt. LeConte and the surrounding area. Our rainfall for the year, to date, is 76.7". Our average rainfall for the area is around 85" for the year. I am not sure of our record rainfall for one season. I will have to do some investigating.

Debi

8/27/2013 12:11:42 am

That's a lot of rain. At least it brings beautiful flowers. :)

hank

8/27/2013 01:42:53 am

Saw those same flowers on up and back yesterday. Very special spot along the trail.

tomk in SC

8/27/2013 01:50:16 am

Given that LeConte hasn't had rain in a few days, would it be possible for someone to snap a picture of the section of Rainbow Falls that gets impassible when it rains? A picture from the uptrail side would be best. Then, after the next heavy rain, send someone down from the top to snap the same photo when the water is higher. I still have no idea what Rainbow Falls hikers actually face when it rains. How could we get this done?

Jenny B. link

8/27/2013 09:15:12 am

Tom, I've been very curious about this myself. I am familiar with that place above the falls where LeConte Creek crosses the trail (at 4500'). It is the last crossing until much closer to the top (5800'), which has no water at all in the streamcourse unless it's just been raining. The crossing above the falls is quite a minor crossing under just about all conditions. I do understand that streams can swell dramatically for a short time after heavy rain, especially if the ground is saturated. So I could imagine that back in July, which was incredibly wet, a short-term problem might conceivably have occurred after a couple of days of heavy rain. To say that people should be concerned every time it rains seems, to be honest, kind of nuts. But I would appreciate feedback from someone who has good information.

tomk in SC

8/28/2013 01:37:31 am

One version I heard was that the excessive rain caused enough erosion to somehow change the course of a flow such that it is now worse than it was under all conditions, that at less than the monsoon weather we had around the 4th the water levels experienced by hikers is now higher somehow.
On another matter, our group spotted some folks hiking up a washout above Alum Cave. I was wondering about that route. An old timer in another group talked about two shortcuts on Alum Cave that are part of what enables the rumored 40 minute descents from the top. Still hard to believe. Apparently one shunt is to somehow cross the top and come out below Cliff Tops and the other involves a cut across The Saddle. You are the only serious bushwhacker I know. . .do you know those routes?

Jenny B. link

8/28/2013 02:03:16 am

I heard that about the "rechanneling" too, but it doesn't make too much sense to me. If it's been "rechanneled," either the stream is wider and shallower or it is narrower and deeper, but it is not both wider and deeper at the same time. The crossing is and always has been below the junction of two forks--it's not as if it formerly got the flow of just one and now gets both. Beats me. The people you saw were Hiram Roger's group going up the Scar from Trout Branch. Regarding the shortcuts, the upper one starts not far from the shelter and cuts down to the trail, saving maybe 10 or 15 minutes. I haven't done the lower one, but it has to involve going east from the saddle northeast of Peregrine Peak, and either hitting the trail (if bearing south) or hitting Styx Branch a little above the trail. Saving time would depend a lot on the amount of brush along the route.

Gina

8/27/2013 02:57:08 am

Looks like Im gonna miss the wildflower show, cant find anbody to do a weekday hike with me and hubby wont let me go alone. I will continue to enjoy your photos Allyson, thank you. People just don't know what there missing by not getting off there butts and enjoying nature. I live here and it amazes me the number of locals that don't get out and enjoy what we have in our backyard. Very frustrated.

Kent

8/27/2013 04:52:05 am

I've often wondered how many people in the communities surrounding GSMNP who don't even know of the existence of Mt. LeConte Lodge. I suspect it's a rather large number.

I can't get enough of the outdoors because it's the only time I feel entirely sane. I get the feeling that our normal daily lives just aren't “natural” and that we've become disconnected from something we desperately need. Whenever I come to the mountains, I get regenerated in some way.

I get what you're saying completely. Why wouldn't anyone want to take advantage of all this beauty?

Debi

8/27/2013 10:42:37 am

Probably because its just too close. The daily lives of making a living just gets in the way. I probably am just as bad here In Ludington, Michigan. We have so much beauty to discover here. I tend to hit the river a lot in a kayak. That's my fun, when I'm not there. I have sooo much to discover down there.

Gina

8/28/2013 01:39:53 am

Kent there a re a lot of people here that know about the Lodge, that is up until I told them, LOL

Mary F

8/27/2013 03:05:25 pm

Gina, I hike with a group out of Sylva. We try to hike every Wednesday and Friday, weather permitting. We enjoy the windflowers along the way, which means we don't set any land speed records. We hike many different places, including the park and along the Blue Ridge. If you would like to join us, let me know and I will add your email address to out list and you can decide if you would like to join us.

Wanda R.

8/28/2013 03:13:29 am

Mary, I will be retiring from my job of 46 years at the end of Sept. My husband and I have just purchased a cabin in the Gatlinburg area so I will be spending a lot of time there in the future. Like Gina, my husband doesn't like for me to hike alone either. So, I too would be interested in possibly joining your group on some of your Wednesday - Friday hikes. Please add my email address to your list and when I'm in the area I will try to join you on your hikes. Until the end of Sept. you can email me at wanda.rhudy@agla.com. After that, my email address will be drhudy1@bellsouth.net.

Thanks. I look forward to hiking with you all.

Mary F

8/27/2013 03:07:11 pm

Actually we are hiking in the morning up Kephart Prong. :-)

Gina

8/28/2013 01:38:09 am

Mary that would be awesome! Weekdays are when I have to go. ladytaz1@live.com is my email Thank you

Gina

8/28/2013 01:43:52 am

Also I like to take photographs to and enjoy the hike. I like hiking along the BRP, the Smokies and Pisgah Forest also

kat

8/28/2013 02:17:13 am

I live in Cullowhee and might also be interested in joining your group when I am not tied up with child care issues. I have done several trips by mayself which my family are having a fit about. Do you have a local number or address where I can make contact with someone?

Marilyn

8/27/2013 03:40:58 am

Stunning picture Allyson! Two more weeks and I'll be there!

Dian

8/27/2013 04:08:32 am

when you do predict the leaves will be turning in the smoky's this year

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Interesting Rainfall Data

LeConte Lodge

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