 But down deep, at the molecular heart of life, the trees and we are essentially identical. Carl Sagan Morning y'all,
It's a beautiful, snowy day up top. The high yesterday reached 20 degrees. The overnight low was 6 degrees. It was 7 degrees and foggy at 7am observation. The mountain received 5 inches of new snow! There is 5 inches of total snow on the ground with deeper drifts in places. I would 100% recommend Microspikes, gaiters and warm waterproof footwear if you intend to hike today. There are slick sections along the trail and the snow is still very powdery. Get out and enjoy the winter wonderland! Grace and I had a perfect hike back up to the lodge yesterday. We hit the trail around ten, knowing that snow was coming in from Nashville and we had to make our way to the trailhead before the road closed. We ran into our backcountry ranger friend Nick at the trailhead and saw him later on near the Cave Bluffs - great chatting with you pal! The hike was both exhausting and exhilarating. Any slight uphill forced me to slow down and enjoy the increasing snow. It got more intense with each section we hiked. The cloud ceiling must have been rather high because we were still getting nice views of the Chimney's and were able to see Cliff Tops from Gracie's Pulpit. We put on our Microspikes (for the first time all season!) after the Cave Bluffs and saw only 4 other folks for the remainder of our hike. It was really special to hike up in our first serious snowfall of the season and truly take our time. I encourage everyone to get out and enjoy the snow while it lasts!
7 Comments
Tammy (Tx)
1/30/2017 10:21:56 am
Congratulations JP, on your very respectable finish in your 50K and improving your personal time. That's a "win" in itself. Always aim to do better. I bet ya'll's hike up yesterday was GORgeous!! I saw a video where big, heavy flakes were falling softly to the ground in the park. For Mcculley.....I posted a message for you on an earlier blog. Have a beautiful day!
Hamp kirkland
1/30/2017 11:10:54 am
JP so how did your 50mi run go? And then to be able to hike up to the lodge. Oh to be young and in that kind of shape!
norman (ga.)
1/30/2017 04:44:15 pm
Amen >< to be young
JP
1/31/2017 10:04:18 am
Hamp,
Paul Sanders
1/30/2017 12:07:57 pm
Snow!!! WooHoo!!! Good for you, JP! As a rabid lover of snow myself, I am overjoyed you finally got some up top. Sadly for me, (Indiana), we have gotten maybe an inch this "winter," where normally we would get a couple of feet or so. So, good for you!!
Jim
1/30/2017 08:32:24 pm
JP, my friend Ed and I saw you yesterday, you were on your way up as we were on our way down from the summit to the Bluffs. I was wearing a vivid blue Arcteryx Jacket, microspikes, etc. Good to bump into you. We came up via Rainbow Falls yesterday (only had to put on microspikes the last 2 miles to the summit), stopped briefly at the Lodge, down Alum cave to the Bluffs, also ran into Ranger Nick and saw the party of 3 ascending via Alum Cave "wrapped in blankets." We weren't sure exactly what they were up to but fortunately saw then descending when we reascended via Alum Cave. We tagged the true summit then headed back down via Rainbow Falls, 20.5 mile day in the winter conditions and we loved every minute of it! https://instagram.com/p/BP6QtqgAkMy4bGElDLVnCCoCmNaZfgbwo9kNWw0/
JP
1/31/2017 10:06:13 am
Jim, Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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