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Nov. 4, 2014

11/4/2014

17 Comments

 
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Good afternoon to you.  Things are beginning to feel more normal here at LeConte Lodge, though we still have about a foot of snow on the ground.  The white blanket is certainly deeper in places around the lodge, but another warm, full day of sunshine is accelerating our melting.

We ended up with a high-low of 54-27 Monday.  However, that 27-degree low actually came on Sunday morning.  We enjoyed an inversion, in which a pocket of warmer air enveloped LeConte's summit last night and never got close to freezing.  The temperature was about eight degrees warmer at the lodge than it was in Knoxville at 4 a.m.  I couldn't believe how warm the conditions were yesterday.  I'd have been comfortable shoveling snow with boots, gaiters, shorts and a t-shirt (though I wouldn't suggest you try to hike in that).  Today has been much the same, with plenty of sun and a 2:30 p.m. temperature of 52.  There is a good chance of precipitation and a temperature drop forecast by Thursday.

As far as trail news goes, conditions continue to improve.  I noticed people heeding our advice, beginning their hike earlier and reaching the lodge with plenty of daylight left today.  I would still recommend hiking the Rainbow Falls Trail for the next day or two because it has seen the most traffic and is well-packed, except for the growing puddles of slush.

I spoke with a couple of day hikers who ascended using Alum Cave Bluff Trail Tuesday.  They described their hike via Alum as "challenging, but doable."  There are still some knee-deep areas of barely broken snow, but those areas were described yesterday as thigh deep.  One hiker using Alum said the slush and water bothered him more than the snow depth.

I'm certain slush and cold, miserable feet will be an issue during the next couple of days until it all refreezes, which invites other problems.  Make sure you bring extra good, comfortable wool socks with you, along with gaiters, ice traction devices and plenty of warm gear plus lots of water (you can get dehydrated quicker than you realize tramping through snow and slush).

The llama train probably won't be attempting Trillium Gap Trail anytime soon.  We're looking at the possibility of a helicopter drop to resupply clean sheets and the like later this week.  That means we were tasked with stamping out and breaking a trail to our little helicopter pad this afternoon.  A quartet (Nathan, Ruthie, Lesley and Brad) shoveled off all the snow from the helicopter pad.  There's nothing quite so fulfilling as shoveling a few thousand pounds of snow using a snow shovel with a hole in it.  However, it's not like we could drop by our local home improvement store and pick up another one either.  Up here, you find a way to make do.

We had an interesting conversation as we were clearing our helipad.  It being Election Day and all, we talked about which U.S. president we would most like to have join us at LeConte Lodge as our crew guest.  I know we're not voting for president this year.  We'd welcome any of the living U.S. presidents, so long as they agreed to hike the mountain and didn't drop in our fancy, groomed helipad in Marine One.  You should have to earn LeConte.  You can drive to Clingman's Dome if you want to cheat.

Brad and Matt picked Bill Clinton because they figured he'd be fun company.  Pat and I chose Theodore Roosevelt.  I know if TR came up to see us he wouldn't be afraid of work; he'd be making beds, drying dishes and slinging snow with us.  Any person who can cowboy in North Dakota in the winter can take care of himself.  Lesley chose Thomas Jefferson and John Quincy Adams, but only if they could be up together and argue.  Ruthie chose John Adams because he was "obnoxious, disliked but got the most done."  Jeanie would invite Dwight Eisenhower because he was president when she was born.  Rachel would invite Abraham Lincoln because she has some pointed questions to ask him after watching the movie "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Slayer."

At any rate, we'll return to a more normal once daily High on LeConte schedule because of the improving conditions.  If conditions change, we'll try to keep you updated.  Happy trails.
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We cleared a makeshift helipad in this area to prepare for a possible resupply flight later this week.
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Three-fourths of the LeConte Helipad Construction Company (left to right: Lesley, Ruthie and Nathan). Brad took the photo. Note my delightful shovel with a hole in it.
17 Comments
chris
11/4/2014 08:03:33 am

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TracyG
11/4/2014 08:27:29 am

Absolutely delightful reading the blog and the daily trail conditions you post. Thanks to all that you do up there. Maybe they can re-supply you a shovel minus the hole. Have a great evening.

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Sam Guerry
11/4/2014 08:46:56 am

Fun post guys, our favorite mountain is always best with a blanket of snow.....my opinion, of course.......BTW: I have missed, if posted previously, but who will be the winter caretaker this year?

Thanks!

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Kent
11/4/2014 09:07:33 am

JP will be returning as winter caretaker.

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Woody
11/4/2014 09:04:45 am

GREAT photo of Lesley, Ruthie and Nathan working on their tan on a beautiful day in the blow down! The photo complete with wonderful smiles however belies the very hard work of shoveling what appears to be mashed potato snow.

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Cece
11/4/2014 09:53:34 am

Beautiful pictures! That pumpkin of Nathan's is amazing!

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ken taylor
11/4/2014 09:54:02 am

Nathan there's a song to be written about your shovel with a hole in...something for you to think about...seriously...you guys rock !

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Kent
11/4/2014 12:32:41 pm

Hole In My Shovel Blues

Got a hole in my shovel,
two more in my boots.
I got a hole my shovel,
two more in my boots.
If I didn't know no better
I'd say the devil and Mother Nature
were in cahoots.

Got another hour to shovel
and my back is breaking down.
Got another hour to shovel
and my back is breaking down.
When I finally get it cleared
they'll have to dig a hole
in the ground.

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Debi
11/4/2014 09:58:36 am

Duct tape might work on that shovel Nathan if you let it dry good first. Nothing worse than wet heavy snow. That's a work out. But at least its melting and bet the count down is really one. Enjoy the warmth while you can.

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Debi
11/5/2014 12:22:08 am

On, oops!

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elktonbrant
11/4/2014 10:56:32 am

This is reminding me of an old song/skit from Sesame Street.

To paraphrase...

"There's a hole in my shovel, dear Liza, dear Liza,
There's a hole in my shovel, dear Liza, a hole".

"With what should I fix it, dear Liza....."
and so forth.

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norman
11/5/2014 03:35:37 am

Do you think you might get more snow?!

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norman
11/5/2014 04:33:13 am

Just wandering how you got the hole in the snow shovel in the first place!??

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doug y link
11/5/2014 04:38:54 am

I would vote for having Theodore Roosevelt visit the lodge. A great man he was who was mostly responsible for getting our national park system going. I tell many people about the lodge and there are some who express surprise at not being able to drive to it. I have to mirror the statement that that would be cheating; I am definitely one who believes that Leconte, the mountain and the lodge, must be earned.

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Franklin
11/5/2014 06:21:51 am

Not to disagree with you Doug, Teddy would be an excellent choice. However I would pick FDR. He originally dedicated the GMNP many years ago. Would have to fly him in though.

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doug y link
11/5/2014 06:42:44 am

Yes, Franklin, FDR did dedicate the Park in what was it, 1934 ? He stood on that rock wall at Newfound Gap as depicted in old photographs. If you read more historical accounts about FDR many details not usually spoken of come to the forefront and to me he wasn't quite the man Teddy was. Yet, FDR brought this great country out from beneath deplorable and awful situations. Regardless, there remains several good choices of past Presidents to choose from. It's a fanciful thing to ponder.

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Franklin
11/5/2014 06:56:28 am

I surely don't want to get into a mudslinging situation here. Teddy's record is not exactly spotless. For example his conduct during his adventure with the Roughriders. And then the ego it takes to nominate himself for a Medal of Honor award. Wow. Just thought FDR would enjoy seeing how beautiful the Smokies are this many years later.

PS Hope your recovery is going well. Best regards

Reply



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