Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. TS Eliot
Morning y'all,
It's a foggy, warm morning up top. The high yesterday reached 39 degrees. The overnight low was 10 degrees, recorded early yesterday morning. It is currently 35 degrees and raining lightly. The mountain received .02" of drizzle. The snow levels have dropped to about 18 inches, although the drifts are plenty deep in spots. I postholed on the way to the kitchen, so expect some frustrating conditions if you intend to reach the summit. It looks like it is shaping up to be an alluring Smoky Mountain day, get out and enjoy it!
Top photo: Snowshoeing down on Friday! Such perfect powpowpow. Above: Walking the closed Cherokee Orchard road when I got down...
Jumping the gate at mile 18, per tradition!
Some happy animals...
I've spent the past ten days all over the place. It has been a whirlwind in all the right ways. It has given me new eyes and allowed me to appreciate all the seemingly minute pleasures about getting to call the lodge home. I've been driven to exhaustion by travel and physical activity, but it is all worth it for those final, redemptive snowshoe steps down the main staircase. It is a wonderful sense of relief knowing that I can spend the week recovering from my efforts in my cabin with my forever fascinating book friends, some good dark coffee and a dead tired yet happy heart. I will keep my eyes sharp and my soul hearty with some little night hikes - this bright moon and new snow is just too much to pass up...
A big thank you to my incredible trail angels who made all this possible - the Jones', the Underwoods, TT, Dick & Al, Sherry and my Mom! I am so grateful.
The clouds welcomed me back to my favorite Porch.
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