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July 2, 2014

7/2/2014

 
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Here's a late May photo from LeConte a little closer to the parking lot (I don't post many of those). I'd like to say that I used a trendy photography trick to capture the flowing water near Arch Rock, but I think the camera was just shaking because I don't like to stop when I'm hiking up to work.
Hello again to all of you High on LeConte readers.  This is Nathan, filling in for Allyson, who will be celebrating Independence Day in the valley.

The sunny weather and high temperatures have been big news on top of LeConte.  We topped out at 74 degrees yesterday, the hottest day of 2014 by four degrees.  Additionally, Tuesday's mark of 74 degrees bests all of 2013 in the heat department.  Last year's high of 73 occurred on June 12.  We received no precipitation Monday or thus far Tuesday.  Yesterday saw a gauzy summer haze set over the mountain.  Visibility was terrible, but we did get quite a bit of sunshine.  It's still plenty sunny today, and the visibility is better.

The other big news of the day is that the Park Service has opened the Bullhead Trail to LeConte, which had been closed a couple of weeks because of bear activity.  There are signs posted warning hikers of recent bear activity, but the trail is open for use.

In other trail news, there is a big tree down on the Rainbow Falls/Bullhead Trail on the final grind up to the lodge.  Additionally, there's a large tree reported down about halfway up the Boulevard Trail to LeConte.  I hear both require a bit of scrambling around.  Both downed trees have been reported to the busy Park Service trail crew, which always does a good job of helping open things up as soon as possible.

I was on vacation last week, taking in some beach time with my family.  I was helping make sand castles with my nephews (which were promptly stomped down by highly skilled 3 and 7-year-old demolition engineers), when the thought occurred to me as I looked up high into the sky over the Atlantic Ocean: "Just how high is 6,593 feet from sea level?  After a week of laziness, I've got to strap on a 40-pound pack and hike that far up to get back to work."  I got back fine, but it wasn't always pretty on the hike back as I oozed plenty of sea salt on the trail.

We're getting excited about Independence Day on the mountain and hoping for clear night skies.  I hope all of you have great plans.  If not, come on up and see us.  The forecast sounds pretty good.  Happy trails.
doug y link
7/2/2014 09:08:58 am

Hello Nathan: Your photo near Arch Rock reminded me of just how long it's been since I trekked up that trail, these days preferring to take Trillium or Rainbow sometimes. On any of the trails leading up to the lodge you can meet a lot of people on the lower portions. I will have to take Alum again sometime, especially with a new knee and I think that during the winter months would be a better time for me to do that. Alum is not only a test of one's hiking ability and endurance but for me personally is the most scenic of those routes. I hope to perhaps run into the Virdens in Gatlinburg this weekend as I'll again be camping in the Park for a few days; I want to ask them for some suggestions regarding using their spices which a friend gave me a bottle of recently, provided I even get into town, etc. One of the trips I have planned for next season is at least a trip or two or three to the lodge and a few nights up there. I'm going to bring my new altimeter and get a reading up at High Point as a Park service employee informed me that they have a new figure for the elevation up at that peak, although the present accepted value is still in use. I'm just the curious type being a former civil engineer. Someone asked me about Elk in the Park and that's one subject I'm not very up on, being aware only that they were re-introduced to the Park and I think are mostly down around the North Carolina side near Cherokee. Looking forward to reading your blog while you're the person in charge. G'day

norman the Ga. airborne rebel
7/2/2014 03:06:58 pm

Elk are in Cataloochee Valley east end of the park, NE of Cherokee, N.C. per google.

Jenny B. link
7/2/2014 06:19:14 pm

Norman, you are right that they are in Cataloochee. They are also in the Oconaluftee meadows near the visitor center above Cherokee, and sometimes in a meadow area north of that. They have been seen in downtown Cherokee. They migrate between Cataloochee and Oconaluftee, and I have seen tracks on the Beech Gap trail, which could be one of the routes in between. They sometimes use the Blue Ridge Parkway corridor.

Kent
7/2/2014 10:24:38 am

Today's photograph looks strikingly similar to some watercolor landscapes I've seen. Interesting effect.

elktonbrant
7/2/2014 12:03:53 pm

Glad Bull Head's back open... Thanks for the info on that. Nathan, save some chocolate chip and no bake cookies for us this Friday and Saturday (yes, we plan on hiking back to back days if our legs will let us!)

norman "abr"
7/3/2014 02:24:16 am

Elktonbrat-hope you make it, i would have trouble with one trip! Jenny-thanks ,i did't know that about the elk.

Gulf Coast Doug
7/3/2014 03:06:55 am

Anyone gets the chance, Cataloochie in October is incredible. The road in is true mountain terrain from way back, bit of a thrill ride for flat landers like me, but well worth the trip. Valley is like Cade's Cove without people. Elk roam the pastures and woods morning and evening...

Sharon S
7/3/2014 08:05:48 am

Turkey's jousting too.


Comments are closed.
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