January 20th, 2019

Good Morning,

It’s currently 6 degrees and socked in up top. When I checked the weather gauge at 6:30AM the temperature was 14 degrees - it’s going to be a cold day up top. We received 2.6 inched of precipitation before the temperature dropped. We have 1.5 inches of new snow on the ground.

24 hour temperature range | High: 38 Low: 6

*US Hwy 441/Newfound Gap Rd from Gatlinburg TN to Cherokee NC is temporarily closed due to high winds

NOAA 7-Day Forecast 
Mountain - Forecast Weather
Smokies Road Info

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The silence told me the mountain had changed. Crawling out of bed I peered out of the window to see how the world had changed. It was too dark. My fingers found the flashlight, I descended the loft, grabbing my bibs on the way down. The floor was cold, giving me a hint of what outside might be like. A thin ridge of snow had formed inside next to the leaky door jam. If the snow was that light, it must be properly cold. I slid on a thicker pair of wool socks and made for the door.

The little torch came to life. I kissed the door handle with the blue flame - the mountain was flash frozen. Smiling at the circumstances, I melted the frozen precipitation and brewed a black cup of coffee. Life was good.
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Mirroring the arctic, the LeConte Lodge stood stoically in the single digit temperatures that continued to plummet. Taking a long sip of coffee, I made plans for the day. Something would be baked and fresh tracks would be made…

What more could I ask for.

Onward,
Seth

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“You’re searching, Joe, for things that don’t exist; I mean beginnings. Ends and beginnings - there are not such things. There are only middles.” -Robert Frost