park that car, drop that phone, sleep on the floor, dream about me.

1/22/2014

O the joy of a manly self-hood! To be servile to none, to defer to none, not to any tyrant known or unknown, To walk with erect carriage, a step springy and elastic, To look with calm gaze or with a flashing eye, To speak with a full and sonorous voice out of a broad chest, To confront with your personality all the other personalities of earth. Whitman

Morning y'all,

It's a bitter cold morning up top, but there is glory on the horizon. The high yesterday reached 24 degrees. The overnight low dipped down to negative 10 degrees. It was negative 8 degrees and clear at 7am observation. The mountain received 6 inches of fresh snow, starting around 11am yesterday. The mountain now has a total of about 10 inches of snow, with deeper drifts up top. The trails are sure to be tough without much foot traffic, so be well prepared for a slog if you plan on coming to the mountains today. The Park Service is hard at work trying to get the roads safe, so please be patient. You can check on road conditions on their twitter feed.

Yesterday was one of the highlights of my season up top. Sadly, there are few days where the snow is really flying like that. I ran out to Myrtle Point and Cliff Tops and back a few times, just doing my best to make memories and soak in all this snowstormy wonder. The wind was threatening to blow me aside, I lost my footing a few times and fell in the snow, collapsing like a joyous, overmatched child. Some wonderful mix of ecstasy and exhaustion was overtaking me. There is no way to avoid this manic exhilaration when the mountain is in furious snow. It is addictive.

dee

1/22/2014 01:52:59 am

Love your posts. Thanks for the beautiful photos,

Jan

1/22/2014 02:01:27 am

Sounds heavenly JP!!!! We are so jealous! Enjoy!!!!

Connie

1/22/2014 02:09:08 am

I enjoy your posts so much! Thank you for sharing the beautiful pictures and the incredible descriptions so that those of us who will never get to experience this in person can get a tiny glimpse of what it is like.

Tanya

1/22/2014 02:11:43 am

Wonderful post!! I've been on Mt Leconte in about 6" of snow and on Mt. Cammerer in about a foot. As bad as I hate driving in it, there is nothing like hiking in it!!

Elisabeth

1/22/2014 02:21:22 am

Addictive indeed!!! Be safe up there! I was out on Old Sugarlands trail this AM briefly (because ALL roads are closed including roaring forks and greenbrier) and even with gloves, my hands nearly froze, taking a few special photos! Stay warm! I hope to make it to the top soon. I am thinking thurs may not be a good day...looks like it will be colder than today! yikes!

doug y link

1/22/2014 07:07:08 am

Elisabeth: I'm glad you mentioned the Old Sugarlands Trail today; I haven't hiked it for quite a long time; according to my best trail map it's 3.5 mi up to the junction with the Bullhead Trail. I'll have to add that one to my list. It'd make for a good long hike up to the lodge from Sugarlands, eh !? Would love to see the photos you took; my email address is listed on my own site. G'day

Melissa

1/22/2014 02:31:56 am

Almost makes me want to come up and play in the snow. Love your posts and the pictures never cease to amaze!

Kim

1/22/2014 02:37:05 am

You have the best job! I so envy your solitude and all that beauty. I would so love to take off at Thanksgiving and stay all winter. I would do it :)))

crazy craig

1/22/2014 02:40:12 am

Love the Ash Berry, with the hues of blueman Winter ! It's been way to long since I've drenched my spirit, soul, and flesh with the mystic magic of LeConte. My head whispers in silence to my heart, "soon" !<3

Susan B

1/22/2014 02:53:18 am

I love today's post JP. I can't imagine what it must be like being on the mountain with a snowstorm and actually enjoying the beauty.

Be safe my friend.

Opie

1/22/2014 03:20:39 am

JP, I could stare at these pics all day. I understand why you take refuge on this mountain. "On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate" - David the Psalmist

Ros

1/22/2014 04:56:02 am

JP...If everyone enjoyed life fully as you do the world would be a much happier place to live. Your posts start out my day with a smile....thanks

norman ABR

1/22/2014 05:02:31 am

the mt.looks covered with snow/ice from the Gatlinburg webcam!! wish i was there! enjoy

Pat N

1/22/2014 06:30:42 am

Wake, eat, hike, run, laugh, fall...ah, so much LeConte fun!

Brian N bama

1/22/2014 07:00:45 am

WOW!!! Now I really want to get up top. Wish we would have had time to summit last Wednesday when we hiked on Rainbow but got a late start. It was still fun hiking on Rainbow in the falling snow though. HAPPY TRAILS

jean d

1/22/2014 10:18:49 am

Many of the pictures posted on the High on LeConte blog are taken from the spot from which the second picture on today's blog was taken. What is that cabin? Is there any special significance to it or it just a great view and example of the essence of Mt LeConte Lodge? The pics from that vantage point are all interesting but just wondering.

tomk in SC

1/22/2014 12:09:40 pm

I believe that photo is taken by stepping from the Dining Room to the deck. Turn right and snap a picture of Ashberry, the name of the cabin shown in the picture. The guest cabins are numbered, the crew cabins are named. This one due to its proximity to an Ashberry tree. Or so I am told.

Ryan La

1/22/2014 11:37:58 am

Jean that is taken from the kitchen's back porch. That's where JP sleeps.

jean d

1/22/2014 12:05:43 pm

Thanks Ryan La. It's nice to be able to orient one's self to the Mountain and the views shown in the pictures.

Steve D

1/22/2014 04:44:03 pm

Hey Ryan La-how in the world are ya? Been hiking lately?

sher

1/22/2014 12:26:42 pm

I love: "The wind was threatening to blow me aside, I lost my footing a few times and fell in the snow, collapsing like a joyous, overmatched child.". It made me smile. That is why I live in northern Minnesota - that joy in the cold world - that I did dream of all my young Tennessean youth.

holtknoblady

1/22/2014 12:41:47 pm

The simple joys of our natural world ....... I am giddy with your pics and your post.

Dan O

1/22/2014 11:44:33 pm

I like the Broken Social Scene reference ... that song does seem appropriate for a quiet, picturesque winter morning.

Web Cam link

1/23/2014 12:15:32 am

Click the arrow beside "Web Cam" to see Mount LeConte.

another Web Cam link

1/23/2014 12:27:22 am

Click the arrow beside "another Web Cam" to see Mt LeConte from the Highland Condos

jack

1/23/2014 07:39:13 am

I'm curious: In that nice photo, which of the "main" peaks of the mountain that you see is closest to Leconte Lodge ? I was at Cliff Tops once and when I stood out near its edge I could look down and just barely see the top of the "Space Tower" in downtown Gatlinburg as I peered around one of those peaks; thanks

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park that car, drop that phone, sleep on the floor, dream about me.

Ryn
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park that car, drop that phone, sleep on the floor, dream about me.

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