Monday, February 3rd, 2020

Good morning all,

Woke up to fairly mild temperatures this morning! Currently, it is 43 degrees outside with delicate strands of clouds above. Silence is in full swing up here, as wind gusts come and go. The evergreens flutter ever so slightly in the wind, while the subtle clouds shape shift over time. Crow chatter disrupts the quiet, one of them even started pecking on my window! Maybe they're trying to tell me something, but I'm having trouble comprehending. Crows aside, it is a wonderful day to be on the trail! Pleasant temperatures, moody skies, and 8.0" of snow make for a stellar hike! If you are planning on climbing the gem of the Smokies today, you're in luck! All roads leading to the base of LeConte are open, which means all trails can be hiked! Snow depth is slowly decreasing with the rising temps, so be on the lookout for slush and dry spots along the trail. In my opinion, micro spikes are not necessary at this point. With rain on the forecast later this week, the snow could melt off almost completely. Temperatures could climb in the upper 40s, and possibly even the lower 50s! That is extremely uncharacteristic for this time of year. What happened to Old Man Winter? Has Jack Frost said his goodbyes? Looking ahead, weather predictions are reminiscent of Spring. However, this weekend is calling for bitter cold and snow showers, which means Jack Frost isn't far gone...

The high temperature yesterday was a scalding 44 degrees, with a low of 16. Clear skies to my surprise, not a cloud in sight all day! White coating paired with a crystal blue sky, a truly elegant scene up here! I was fortunate enough to catch the sunrise and sunset, which hasn't been possible in quite some time. In the early hours, frost engulfed my cabin as I set out for sunset. In a brief moment, all signs of inhospitable cold were nowhere to be found. Starting out in the high teens yesterday morning, temperatures rose quickly as the sun awoke from its extended slumber. High winds ripped though the forest yesterday, with gusts upwards of 50 mph in the evening. One particular gust almost knocked me off my feet at the cliffs! Warmer temps and direct sunlight penetrated the snow, eliminating it from the trees and some roofs. Around the lodge, around 8 inches of snow reside on the ground. A week ago today, a huge snow storm dumped copious amounts of snow on the mountain, and it is still ever present! Come catch a glimpse before it's too late! As always, happy trails and safe travels today...

-Kemp

"You can't get too much Winter in the Winter..."

-Robert Frost 

"The pine stays green in Winter; wisdom in hardship..."

-Norman Douglas