Nature's Canvas

5/7/2013

After a weekend of rain, rain, and more rain, the crew was treated to a spectacular display. Last night's sunset was one of the best ones of the season. It was one of the few times the whole crew was on the mountain. We had a bonding moment of oooos and ahhhhs. We are getting ready for a training day with the park service. A retired ranger is hiking up to train us in the ways of search and rescue. It will help us with our many rescues on the mountain. This should be an interesting class.

The weather was much better yesterday. The rain moved out and left us with a cool mountain top. The high was 44º with a low of 32º. We are still not quite spring temperatures. Hoping we get some of the warmer weather later this week.

Tony Ga

5/7/2013 12:15:11 am

Let me be the first here to say...Happy B'day Debi (Michigan Debi)!!!
I'm pretty sure she turns 29 today. Hope your day is good my friend.

Gina

5/7/2013 04:08:30 am

Happy Birthday Debi!

Debi

5/7/2013 04:54:13 am

And Gina. What awesome people I have met on this bolg. And WWF friends.

Debi

5/7/2013 04:52:45 am

Ahhh, thanks Tony. Yep, 29 sounds good and I'm sticking to it. lol.

Brian N bama

5/7/2013 05:05:31 am

UMMM, not quite 29 Debi, lets go with 32, LOL, Y'all still planning on the 4th of July? Shelter or Lodge?

Debi

5/7/2013 10:48:42 am

Nope Brian, still sticking with 29! lol

Mark

5/7/2013 12:16:07 am

It still boggles my mind at the number of people that venture out into the wilderness without one of the most useful and cheapest things you can have in case you get lost. A whistle. You will lose your voice quickly calling for help, but a whistle, blown in a sequence of three, with short spaces in between is a universally accepted signal of distress and will help the rescuers zero in on your location much quicker.

Mark

5/7/2013 12:21:16 am

In addition to the whistle, you MUST follow the advice of professionals, and as soon as you realize you are lost, stop, prepare for a night in the woods, and DO NOT LEAVE THAT SITE. They WILL find you eventually.

Steve D

5/7/2013 08:54:21 am

Mark-good advice on the whistle, I have mine always.

Mark

5/7/2013 12:26:15 am

In addition to the steps I outlined above, It is best if you leave a piece of your unwashed clothing available for the rescuers to give to the bloodhounds to help track you. It will cut down on the amount of time you are lost.

Vicki

5/7/2013 12:29:13 am

WOW we just missed it we were up for Saturday and Sunday nights,still Amazing as always. The Crew is Wonderful and the new friends met are special, can't wait for another trip! I do hope for you a little more Spring like weather, but the dusting of the snow Sunday night was a treat.Happy trails and many more sunsets to come.The picture was Gorgeous. Thaks again for all you do.

Vicki

5/7/2013 12:30:55 am

Oops Thanks

Shelley

5/7/2013 01:03:11 am

Good morning to all the mountain dwellers and lovers!! Just...WOW!!! Thank you for the BEAUTIFUL pictures to start the day!! My day started with drops of rain and the howls of coyotes. These pics look like you yanked them right from Heaven! Wishing everyone up there more of this and warmer temps! Steve D - I agree completely with yesterday...the mountains and their beauty are addictive. If it tells you anything, I feel their pull so deeply that this is the first social forum I've EVER commented on. Doug Y - I see we're neighbors! Well...a little long distance, but hello from Indiana! Happy trails and daydreams to everyone... Be safe!

Rob

5/7/2013 12:42:09 pm

What part of Indiana do you live in? Guilford here.

Shelley

5/7/2013 01:54:27 pm

Rush County... It's a little northeast of Shelbyville. :)

Debnfl

5/7/2013 01:40:21 am

Greetings from Florida! Another awesome photo! Thanks for posting. Hope you get some sunshine today. :)

Deedee/Mi.

5/7/2013 02:38:30 am

the luminescent chorus of corals, other colours takes my breath away; oh happy vision~! :)}
Yes; a happy birthday to debi- fellow michiganian

Tanya

5/7/2013 03:46:18 am

Wow...what a gorgeous pic to start out my morning!! Have yet to make it up to LeConte this year yet but will make it maybe this fall. Day hiking LeConte is on my "have to do at least once a year" list!!

Happy Birthday, Debi!

Debi

5/7/2013 05:01:11 am

Thanks Tanya!! Have to mention another person was born on this day. Happy Birthday to Chris Virden. Beautiful pictures today Allyson. I am now changing my screen saver of the llama's looking at the deer to the bottom pic you have on.
Very good advice to stay alive out there. You just never know. Doug, I think I'm going to have to check on that book next time I'm there. I love that visitors center. What a nightmare those parents went through.

doug y

5/7/2013 04:12:57 am

One of the ever consistent things about the Smokies is rain. Always prepare for it. It's good that the retired ranger will be giving some search and rescue training, something quite valuable for those working in and around the Park, and for the crew at the lodge, it will enhance their already great qualities. In my twenties and thirties I was a part of several searches and rescues, but that's been a while. One in particular was the search for the Martin boy who disappeared in the Spence Field area on the A.T. in 1969- - never a trace was found sadly. There's a book "Unsolved Disappearances in the Great Smoky Mountains" (Suglarlands visitor center gift shop is where I got my copy) which details several of these events. Good morning.

Brian N bama

5/7/2013 05:07:30 am

So true doug y, as we prepare for out trek up this weekend, the forecast is forever changing which brings me back to my standards, carry it all cause you never know what the ole Mt Leconte will dish out for you.

Kimme

5/8/2013 12:01:16 am

Did a dayhike yesterday and it was fun. Shame there were so many clouds and the view wasn't great but we did get some peeks of sun for a couple nice pics. Doug I keep trying to email you but I can't get you. What's up with your email? I have some pics to share.

Chris D

5/7/2013 05:31:56 am

Isn't today Allyson's Chris Birthday? If so Happy Birthday Chris.

Brian N bama

5/7/2013 05:58:09 am

OOP'S.. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!!!!

Steve D

5/7/2013 08:52:59 am

Happy Birthday Chris! Tony Ga and Brian N Bama-have great hikes this weekend, I was hoping to be out there but we are going out of town for a couple of days.

Tony Ga

5/8/2013 12:31:21 am

Looks like rain again. Looks like we'll have to wait a little longer. Dang it.

Steve D

5/7/2013 08:57:04 am

Ryan La-what the heck is a Bagnet? Is that a bagel or some such?

Jennifer

5/7/2013 09:26:49 am

YAY Michigan! Happy Birthday to all, and Thank you for the beautiful picture! It just makes me even more eager and excited for my and my fiance's trip up the end of June! I am so overwhelmed by the beauty and couldn't think of any other place we'd rather exchange our vows. Wedding day count down is less than 2 months and I've been dreaming of the hike every night!

Debi

5/7/2013 10:53:29 am

Awsome Jennifer, I wish you well. We will just be coming in for the week June 28th. Just arriving that day of a 12 hour drive. All I want to do that night is sit on my front deck and look at the mountains. The next day I hike. Don't know where but want to cover a lot of ground. Or a little, it don't matter.

Jennifer

5/7/2013 01:06:31 pm

We will be hiking down the 27th. Hope you have a great vacation Debi. I know that porch-sitting, hiking eager time. I've only been to the mountian once, but thats all it takes. I told my husband-to- be that we are going to have a heck of a time hiking kids up in the future, but I can see neither of us ever wanting to give up a year without going to the top. What part of MI are you from? I'm in Grand Rapids.

Leopard

5/7/2013 04:49:05 pm

I see you safe.

Ron Adams

5/7/2013 09:36:17 am

Search and rescue operations were mentioned above, and so I was wondering...........do you guys, i.e., the LeConte Crew do many rescue operations during the season? How many do you think you average? And what is the most frequent thing that befalls the LeConte hiker? Just curious. Thanks in advance.

Ryan--La

5/7/2013 10:04:44 am

Hey Steve D, it's a fried scone or a rectangular shaped donut with gobs of powered sugar on it. I've brought some mix to Allison one year and she made some for the crew. I will be sending her some more this year along with some for John and Bonnie at the Lama farm. I haven't forgot when I go back up I will give you a notice so we can head up to the top together.

Steve D

5/8/2013 01:48:11 am

Sounds yummy!

Chad

5/7/2013 02:52:59 pm

Dang, wouldn't you know it. We missed perfection by only a day. We came up Rainbow Sunday, made the swift water fords just to enjoy the hospitality atop Leconte. Then back down Alum in perfect weather. Too bad we missed the sunset Monday night. Great visit guys. I'd come back tomorrow if I could.

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Nature's Canvas

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