January 19th, 2017

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. Emerson

Morning y'all,
It's a beautiful, clear morning up top. The high yesterday reached 43 degrees. The overnight low was 32 degrees. It was 41 degrees and clear at 7am observation. The mountain received no new precipitation and the trails are in fantastic shape. There is no ice and they are not particularly wet. Get out and enjoy these beautiful conditions!

I had a great run out the Boulevard trail yesterday. I really enjoyed the first views I've had in quite a few days. It's been rather gloomy up here lately and I was starting to get hints of the socked in blues. I had the Boulevard to myself and was surprised to only see a few folks on the AT near Newfound Gap. The solitude was an unexpected treat. It was so warm out yesterday that I took a dip in Styx Branch on the way up! The cold water is always a joy, providing a shock to the muscles and a jump start for your brain. Although you wouldn't think of Alum as a quiet trail, it somehow feels like I have it to myself when everyone is hiking down and I am on my way up. I only saw a few folks above Alum Cave and started to run out of gas, but was so full of enthusiasm that I could hardly feel how exhausted I was. It was pure elation coming up on what felt like a warm spring afternoon.