November 5, 2023

Good Morning,

Sunny skies grace the mighty mountains this first Sunday of November. Hopefully everyone is feeling refreshed and not caught off guard by the time change, bringing more daylight to the morning hours for those who prefer to hit the trails early. Temps will feel delightful up top once again scraping the lower 50s by this afternoon. Winds will be light over the crest with partial clouds giving way to plentiful sunshine. More of the same is expected in the coming days with temps gradually rising each day, bringing highs near 60° by midweek.

Now that the time change has taken place, it’s a good opportunity to remind folks about planning their excursions to the mountain accordingly. The sun will now set around 5:30 PM beginning today. That means anyone day hiking to the summit needs to keep that in mind for getting back down the mountain with adequate light. Based on the average hiking times and abilities for most visitors, one really needs to be considering departing the lodge by 2:30 PM. Otherwise, flashlights and warm layers will be a must for exiting the trails safely and comfortably. Even before sunset, it gets dark in the tight hollers of these mountains. During these last 2.5 weeks of the season, hypothermia becomes a legitimate threat to those venturing into the wilderness unprepared. Please don’t be that person who scoffs at safety by putting yourself or others at risk. Thank you.

Have a great day.