May 9, 2017

Good Afternoon,
     Rumor has it that the sun is shining...everywhere but here it seems.  Our mountain is holding firm to its cloud, and we're hoping it has a change of heart sooner rather than later.  Yesterday was a beautiful day to enjoy the outdoors, and the next few days look like they have that same potential.  We were surprised to get the quickest of rain showers last night, dripping a meager 0.05" of liquid precipitation on us.  On a positive note, that brief rain shower combined with the mild overnight temperatures has finished off most of the snow around camp.  The sun should be able to work its magic these next couple days in drying the trails out, although the upcoming weekend forecast appears to be a wet one.  Or high temperature for Monday came out to be 48 degrees, with a low of 34.

The headwaters of the Roaring Fork and LeConte Creek are happy today! We're quickly approaching 30" of rainfall for the year.

     We're getting to the point in May where this mountain really starts to come alive with life.  The Mountain Myrtle are in bloom at Inspiration Point, and are budding out along the crest's various overlooks.  Before long, Mountain Laurel and Catawba Rhododendron will be putting on their grand annual displays, ascending the mountain slopes at a pace not far behind the average hiker.
     A quick note on Drones.  They are illegal in ALL national parks, which also includes these lodge grounds.  Their use can result in serious fines.  We've seen a few folks bring them up here and put them into use, failing to familiarize themselves with park regulations on the matter. Sure they produce some great images, but if you have one, please respect the experiences of your fellow hikers. Drones can be a disruption to the sights and sounds that a great majority of our visitors come here for.  Their buzzing around buildings and vistas can raise a great deal of suspicion.  Please don't ruin a quite nap or a stellar sunset for the other visitors by turning a Drone loose.  If you see one in action while visiting the national park, please kindly remind the owner of the NPS' stance, and in conjunction, ours, on Drones.  If necessary, please alert the authorities.
     Thank you and have a great day.