January 30th, 2019

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Good Morning,

Walking out to sunrise it was 4 degrees with high winds. I estimated the wind chill was -15 degrees. There is currently 4” inches of powdery snow on the ground that’s being blown all around the mountain. Clouds have rolled in with the winds.

Plan and prepare for winter conditions with snow and ice on the trails. I consider ice-traction mandatory for a safe ascent / descent in these conditions.

24 hour temperature range | High: 25 Low: -2

Cherokee Orchard Road is open. Watch for ice/snow.

— Smokies Road Info (@SmokiesRoadsNPS) January 30, 2019

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Blinded by the reflection of fresh snow, I stumbled around camp with my camera in hand. The snow storm went as quickly as it came - lightly covering the thick bed of ice below. I slipped, caught myself, and decided to put my traction on. The dusty like powder didn’t stick to the ice below, it only made it more slick. Pausing to take a photo, I smiled at how quickly Mt. LeConte reshapes itself. The mountain was always different, always changing…

There was a beauty in that.

Onward,
Seth

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“A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.” 

― Henry David Thoreau