just a little bitta soulllllll, a little bittta soullllllllllll.

2/9/2012

Tell me what you will of the benefactions of city civilization, of the sweet security of streets. I know that our bodies were made to thrive only in pure air, and the scenes in which pure air is found. Muir

Top photo: View from my porch this morning. Above: My favorite and most elusive neighbor.

Morning,

It's finally beginning to look like winter up here. There was about half an inch of light snow, but the rime ice is nicely coating the trees and temperatures have dropped. The high was 25. The low was 13. It was 14 and clear at observation. It looks like we'll have another clear, cold day today. Highs are expected to be in the upper 20's. I'm hoping the forecast proves correct, as more snow looks to be on the way and temperatures aren't supposed to get above freezing until the 14th. C'MON WINTER!!!!

Only 3 more weeks of winter scenes like this!

Bruce E. link

2/9/2012 01:36:31 am

Very mild winter here in Mason, OH this year and I LOVE it!
Hoping spring is right around the corner too.

NO SNOW......I repeat......NO SNOW!

Rod

2/9/2012 01:57:07 am

Aww, don't be that way Bruce. Just wish your share of snow to be deposited on Mt LeConte instead!!!

tomk NW SC

2/9/2012 02:00:52 am

It might be too late to check this morning, but the wonderful coating on the top of the mountain on cold winter mornings is more than likely hoarfrost. Old english term conveying the notion of an old man. Examined closely, hoarfrost is comprised of individual crystals. Crystals have a construction almost like snowflakes, with a spiny sharpish look to them. Hoarfrost forms as water vapor comes in contact with cold surfaces chilled to well below the dew point of the water vapor. Most likely to happen on cold, clear winter nights often happening after humid/overcast/warmish day.
Rime ice is quite different, and the bane of aircraft and those that fly. When active moisture, rain, heavy fog just above 32F comes in contact with a surface at least a degree or two below 32F, the droplet freezes into something akin to grains surrounded by a frozen pool of that part of the water that almost escaped as a droplet, but was frozen in place. Often there is a directionality to rime ice, no rime ice forms on the lee side of objects.
Hoarfrost usually appears all the way around things, or if the underside is not coated, the topside of something just below it will be coated where that is not the case for rime ice.
Hoarfrost also makes for great photos in the early morning where the light, whether caught backlighting or direct, plays across the crystals.

Candy

2/9/2012 03:27:36 am

Tomk, i think you just dampened my snow spirit :)

Tony Ga

2/9/2012 09:31:51 am

What???

tomk

2/9/2012 10:48:31 am

Candy,
I hiked LeConte solo a few years back and caught LeConte trimmed with hoarfrost in the morning light, most notably on Rocky Spur. For a few hours our LeConte was encrusted with diamonds. Bedecked with jewels the mountain enriched her visitors in yet another way. Sunlight was held briefly as it passed from setting to setting changing color from the warm glow of the morning sun to the bluish cold of winter. I snapped all the frames I could and some shots turned out nicely, but even the best were a reminder that in order to experience LeConte one has to climb it, and in any climate LeConte has something else to give.

Pam

2/9/2012 03:39:19 am

I'm loving the Ohio winter!! Maybe the bobkitty is looking for you too and your paths haven't crossed!! When you least expect it you'll see it!

William

2/9/2012 04:21:50 am

Saturday looks like a good day for snow for you guys. I'm debating about hiking up to Mt. Leconte on Saturday morning just to see some brutally cold weather.

scott

2/9/2012 04:37:53 am

Boy JP, that elusive bobkitten makes me want to bring you up a good game cam so we can see what it looks like

Debi link

2/9/2012 08:26:49 am

I thought the same thing Scott. Stick a camera up in that tree and that will probably be going off all night.

Tom

2/9/2012 04:57:53 am

Early next week may be a big event for the mountain.

2/9/2012 05:47:22 am

As in more snow?

Jacob

2/9/2012 05:01:38 am

JP, what are your plans after the winter is over?

2/9/2012 05:50:28 am

I'm just hoping to be here when winter starts.

2/9/2012 07:23:33 am

JP - just curious as to what "oldies" radio are you listening to as the winter season winds down?

2/12/2012 02:42:29 am

Oldies 104.3 W E Y E!!!! So good.

Rose

2/9/2012 09:42:24 am

I think bobkitten might be taunting you! I sure hope you get to see him before he becomes bobCAT!!

Kat

2/9/2012 12:57:13 pm

As always, great pictures, great blog, and great self control. You are the one on the mountain and its certainly only you who can say what you are seeing while the rest of us sit down here and look up and only guess at what you are seeing, feeling and hearing. Thanks so much for sharing with all of us who so envy your life up on top

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just a little bitta soulllllll, a little bittta soullllllllllll.

LeConte Lodge

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