it's hard to remember it's hard to remember to live before you die.

Standing there, gaping at this monstrous and inhuman spectacle of rock and cloud and sky and space, I feel a ridiculous greed and possessiveness come over me. I want to know it all, possess it all, embrace the entire scene intimately, deeply, totally, as a man desires a beautiful woman. An insane wish? Perhaps not - at least there's nothing else, no one human, to dispute possession with me. Ed Abbey

I love raw simplicity of AT shelters.

Morning,

It was a bitterly cold, yet stunning day yesterday. The low was 1.5 degrees. The high was 13. It was 6 and clear at observation. There is still 4-6 inches on the ground. It's pretty fluffy, so the drifts are deep in spots. Bring gaiters if you want to keep your feet dry!

Breaking trail on the way out to Myrtle Point, out of breath with primal excitement, I've been moving past my normal pace to keep warm. I stop suddenly at Apollo Overlook, taking myself out of my walking mind, blood rushes as I am able to take a moment and absorb my surroundings. Take a moment or take a year, it doesn't matter on days like today - as long as you don't mind frozen nose hairs. Looking towards Newfound Gap, the familiar glint of cars in the distance is not present today. 441 is closed and I have the park to my wildlonesomeself. The sense of wonder has not worn off.

Top photo: The opening near Cliff Tops junction. Above: Smoky Mountain high.

Drifts in the snow.