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June 06th, 2015

6/6/2015

 
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Misty trails this morning.
     Good afternoon, internet! Sorry about the late post, we are BUSY on the mountain today! Yesterday's high was a very balmy 64 and the low was 49. Today has been teetering between sunny and cloudy, but it is warm- already 61. Everyone enjoy their Saturday! 
norman
6/6/2015 07:19:30 am

Glad you got it in !!

Richard
6/7/2015 01:33:11 am

It's that time of year when we love to climb Mt. LeConte, but I was wondering about the Alum Cave Trail. I know that it is closed Monday morning through Thursday, but how passable is it for hikers on weekends? And is the parking lot open?

Steve D
6/7/2015 05:58:51 am

Richard-Alum is fine to hike-no issues. The parking lot is open on Friday, Sat, and Sunday. Enjoy!

Richard
6/8/2015 01:38:46 am

Thanks, Steve, for the good information!

Bilbo
6/7/2015 02:50:07 am

“It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

Kent
6/7/2015 09:35:12 am

Horrible news! I just returned from the Smokies and saw a comment on Jenny Bennett's blog from her bother that she is missing! She was leaving the area to return to New England ...apparently she went for one last hike on May 30 or May 31. The movers arrived at her place on June 1 but she wasn't there. Jenny drives a red 2012 Subaru Impreza. If anyone out there knows her, please help find her!!!

Paul B
6/7/2015 10:56:32 am

I just this on Facebook and wondered if it were the same person. I enjoyed reading her adventures. I pray she is safe by some miracle.

Kent
6/7/2015 11:32:20 am

I became acquainted with Jenny a little over a year ago, and we be came good friends in a short period of time, Her passion for the Smokies is so infectious! She's out there, hurt but alive! I know she is! She will be found!

ut-k
6/7/2015 03:48:57 pm

Kent, please let us know if you get any updates about Jenny B.
We'll be praying that all is well with her. I hope you'll get good news SOON.

Barbara
6/7/2015 11:31:02 pm

Kent, that is horrible news. I enjoy reading her blog. I hope you'll let us know when she is found. No matter how experienced a hiker you are, things happen. She and her rescuers are in my prayers.

Val
6/8/2015 04:07:53 am

"Hike the Smokies" just reported: A body has been found that matches Jenny's description in the area that they were looking for her. A team of investigators is being sent in to positively identify the body and determine what happened.

Nancy Lavies
6/7/2015 03:14:19 pm

I would like to see the blog updated better and earlier. Many of us hiking up would like to know the trail conditions and previous days rain total. It makes our devil s easier. The previous managers did a great job of updating the blog.

Jack A
6/8/2015 12:16:59 am

Nancy there are other sites where you can check the weather, as far as the condition of the trails, I can give you a general idea. If it is rainy they will be wet, if it is snowing there is a good chance they will be slick. Hope this helps.

Larry O
6/7/2015 03:50:00 pm

The blog is probably the least important task that the manager does. No denying that Allison did a great job with the blog, but to compare her job with Ruthie's is totally unfair. Allison could do the blog early because she didn't have to prepare breakfast for the guests like Ruthie does, not to mention all the other duties that she has.

Steve
6/7/2015 11:13:15 pm

Nancy, that is a terrible post, no class. Be real, you don't need a daily update this time of year to hike in the Smokies, c'mon now, be real!

Best of wishes to find the missing hiker, she boasts her experience on this site and now she is a lost hiker, Best wishes!

Tony GA
6/8/2015 12:52:30 am

Praying for Jenny B's safe return.

Kent
6/8/2015 01:45:59 am

Update:

After a search of the trailheads, one of her hiking friends found her car at the Porter's Creek trailhead. Another of her hiking companions posted on her blog that many who know Jenny well believe she was trying to get to the spot where her off-trail hiking mentor Charlie Klabunde's ashes were spread back in March. You can read the entire comment at the link below. Scroll to the bottom of of the page.

https://streamsandforests.wordpress.com/2015/05/24/huge-slide-on-balsam-corner-creek/#comments

A search has probably now begun by the Park Service. Everyone think positive thoughts!

ut-k
6/8/2015 02:41:23 am

Thank you Kent!

Elaine
6/8/2015 08:46:40 am

I cannot believe this and am still having difficulty accepting it. Why? What happened to Jenny B? I am full of sorrow at this loss. Makes no sense whatsoever.

Ron Adams
6/8/2015 03:33:13 am

Regarding the missing Jenny B: this is a cautionary tale about how one should not hike alone. Whenever possible, bring along a friend or two.
Funny post, Jack A., about if it is raining, the trails will be wet. And yes, there are other Smoky web sites you can visit to get trail updates. Ruthie does indeed have her hands full with running the Lodge. This website is just an extra service for us.

Kent
6/8/2015 03:49:11 am

Ron, most all serious hikers hike solo often -- we're an independent lot. Your advice only applies to novices. Jenny has over three decades of off-trail hiking to her credit. If anyone can survive a week injured out there, it's her!

Steve
6/8/2015 05:20:20 am

This is a very sad story and I have read so many comments of her advice to others. I hike by myself all the time. The key is just letting someone know your gone or where you are at. May not have helped but she didn't do that. So very sad

norman in ga. link
6/8/2015 03:46:00 am

General concern for Jenny B . Hope and prayer for her safety . P S It would be nice for timely updates to this post, BUT their first job is running the LODGE!! HAGD Y'all.

norman
6/8/2015 03:56:37 am

I did not put that arrow there!!

Ron Adams
6/8/2015 04:02:08 am

Good point you made, Kent. I agree. I guess I was talking about non-serious hikers, and not so much about the experienced Jenny B. On the other hand, even an experienced hiker can run into problems, and having a friend along can make a huge difference. Guess I see both sides of the coin on this issue.

Ron Adams
6/8/2015 04:05:03 am

And a comment for Nancy L: let me suggest that when you are thinking of hiking up LeConte, prepare for any type of weather, rain, shine, heat, fog, and sometimes even ice and snow. Dress & paclk accordingly. Trail updates only help us so much; weather on the trails up there can change in a heartbeat.

Ron Adams
6/8/2015 04:11:07 am

Tragic Update: they have found a body matching Jenny's description in the area where they thought she would be...........

Kent
6/8/2015 04:51:49 am

Just heard. I am in shock!

ut-k
6/8/2015 04:54:52 am

Kent, I am so sorry for your loss.

Norman in Ga.
6/8/2015 05:03:17 am

Kent, sorry about Jenny, death is part of life, we are all going there some day. Be prepared.!

Kent
6/8/2015 05:20:08 am

Thanks. I've only known Jenny for a little over a year, but we developed a close friendship in a very short period of time. Since I started hiking seriously four years ago, I'd hiked pretty much alone. She was the first hiking friend I'd made in the Smokies. Yesterday, I came back from a short trip to the Smokies and made some new friends via a hiking Meetup.com group. I credit Jenny for making me realize how valuable connecting with other people who share the same connection with nature is. She is one of a kind! (I will not speak of her in the past tense, right now!)

Larry O
6/8/2015 05:28:37 am

More bad news, local media is reporting that a lady and her 16 year old son are missing, they were hiking near Clingman's Dome. I hope this story has a happier ending.

doug y link
6/8/2015 06:11:20 am

Larry O: On one of the Knoxville, TN tv stations yesterday evening it was reported that a 16 yr old boy was attacked by a bear in the Hazel Creek area west of Clingmans Dome. He was camping with his father and was allegedly pulled out of his hammock by the bear. But don't take my word for fact; I googled it and read an account online where I'm sure there are other reports. If your statement is correct, then it is yet another unfortunate incident. I never met Jenny B, and I sometimes strongly disagreed with her, but she seemed to be quite experienced. I, as others do, hope for the best; one can never truly prepare for the worst.

Ron Adams
6/8/2015 06:29:50 am

Doug Y, I never met Jenny either, but kind of tangled with her on GoSmokies a few times. I disagreed with her on a lot of issues. Having said that, it is a tragedy, and I feel sorry for all the friends and relatives............

Steve D
6/8/2015 01:17:43 pm

My wife and I have discussed this possibility many times, but when something like this happens-it just makes it seem very real. I will not stop hiking because I love it and enjoy it so much. I will do my best to be as safe as I can- because as I tell my wife each and every time-I'll come back to you babe!
Very sorry for this loss to those who were her friends and family. It is also a loss for all of us in the hiking community as we are all in this great adventure called hiking together. Let's all think about what one thing we could do to be safer.


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