September 12, 2022

Good Morning,

The building excitement and anticipation for the coming week is palpable. Spotty rain showers and lingering clouds from the weekend will eventually disappear as today progresses. After months of one dreary mountain forecast after another, the sunshine is coming back strong and with no sour weather in sight. The seasonal transition that takes place every September makes for some of the best hiking of the year as the often toasty temps relax along with the waning southern humidity. Throw uninterrupted sun into the mix, and outdoor exploration will be at its finest this next week and a half. Once we shake off the last of the gray veil, our high temps should continue to scrape the 60s, but we’re going to start seeing overnight lows dip into the 40s on the regular. So remember those extra layers for once the sun goes down while enjoying a day-ending solar spectacular at Cliff Tops. We’re also getting into the time of year where we lose daylight hours fast, already down to 12.5 hours as we speak. That means day hikers need to be aware of when the sun sets, how much time is needed for a safe descent of the mountain, and when to leave the top. It gets darker much faster in the deep hollers of these mountains, and especially cooler along creek-sharing trails.

Have a great start to the week.