Shine On, Harvest Moon

9/9/2014

Wow, what a night. The Harvest Moon to the east and lightning shows to the north. We had a great time sitting out on the porch watching the storms in the distance. The high yesterday was 64º with a low of 51º. We are currently under heavy cloud coverage.

Thanks to everyone who commented on the photo from yesterday. I am going to ask a friend of mine who is incredibly knowledgeable about fungi. I do think Norman hit the nail on the head with his comment, "bright yellow fungus". Thank, Norman. After our discussion about hoverflies, I had a guest ask me what they were and could answer with a good bit of confidence. I love learning and keeping the brain exercised. This mountain provides so many learning experiences. I guess I will be going from studying our favorite mountain top to learning everything there is know about chili peppers. It will be fun to watch the mountain through Ruthie's eyes and words.

Scott

9/9/2014 01:35:42 am

Allyson
Will you ever come back and run the lodge in Future?

norman in ga

9/9/2014 01:57:54 am

"bright yellow fungus" was the closest thing i could find on 'google'. let us know what your friend says. great picture last night! you are right about Ruthie.

tomk in SC

9/9/2014 02:35:08 am

Am I the only one that sees a face in the cloud/moon?
Mark Twain maybe?

norman

9/9/2014 03:11:26 am

while listening to Adrian Rogers, looking at this picture as wall paper, i could not see a face!! sorry.

norman

9/10/2014 04:19:34 am

i finaly see. i think i have no imagination!

norman

9/10/2014 04:56:48 am

looks like a "smurf".

Lori

9/9/2014 03:49:44 am

I see the face also. It's looking up and to it's right.

TwistyP

9/9/2014 03:59:03 am

Immediately saw the face. Reminded of the cartoonish characters on Monty Python.

tomk in SC

9/9/2014 04:54:47 am

The moon is the face's right eye.

elaine

9/9/2014 06:06:54 am

That is one freaky face. Watched it driving back last night to WNC from Atlanta - until the rains took over.

Stephen

9/9/2014 03:22:35 am

Totally off topic, but I will be making my 5th trip up to the lodge next month, and the previous 4 trips have been alum cave round trip...this time I wanted to mix it up with bullhead/rainbow....any thoughts on which to come up vs down and are those trails doable for a day hike? Thanks in advance

Kent

9/9/2014 04:16:38 am

I've gone up Rainbow and down Bullhead three times. You'll get differing opinions, but I prefer going down Bullhead because I think the last third of that trail is more forgiving than Rainbow on tired legs (less rocky, in my opinion).

Also I prefer Bullhead for the descent because unlike Rainbow, you don't have to deal with all the hikers in the last 2.6 miles who are making the short trek to see the falls.

I'd say if you are capable of making it up to the summit via Alum Cave in 3.5 hours or under, a day hike to the lodge utilizing Rainbow/Bullhead shouldn't be a problem in October.

Stephen

9/9/2014 07:57:24 am

Thanks for the info!

elktonbrant

9/9/2014 08:55:07 am

I'll agree with Kent. My wife and I went up and down Rainbow Falls July 4th. We normally would go Bullhead down, but bears were still very active at that time and we felt safer on the more populated Rainbow Falls trail. The descent down Bullhead isn't as punishing on the ankles or heels, and it gives you different views than you got going up.
We typically do Alum up 3 hours/down 2 hours 15 minutes. Rainbow takes us about 4 to 4.5 hours up and about 3 hours coming down (we take fewer breaks coming down).
Just be sure to get to the trailhead shortly after sunrise and you'll have plenty of time.

JamesD

9/11/2014 02:43:33 am

Hey Stephen, My wife and I hike Tuesday and came up Rainbow Falls and down Bullhead. Rainbow is beautiful with all falls and is tuff in places. Bullhead has good views of Gatlinburg, fairly easy going down. Hope this helps.

Jarrett Morgan link

9/9/2014 08:10:27 am

The moon looks nice and I wanted to get out for a full moon hike. I just didn't have the time. I bet its easier to see the moon/stars at the higher elevation and with less light pollution.

Dan Edmunds

9/9/2014 08:47:37 pm

The yellow fungus looks like Tremella mesenterica, or Witch's butter. More common at lower elv., though.

Glenn OH

9/10/2014 04:32:40 am

Hi Leconte fans, has any one read anything about Robert Redford playing Bill Bryson(A Walk In The Woods) due Dec. 2014, should be good I hope, I read about it in a hiker's AT journal !!!

Tony Ga

9/10/2014 04:41:24 am

Yea, they were here at Amicalola Falls filming a while back. Nick Nolte is in too.

Tony Ga

9/10/2014 04:42:28 am

I bet after the movie comes out the AT will be full of hikers next spring.

Steve D

9/10/2014 05:08:32 am

Hey Tony Ga-did you get to hike Leconte when you planned?

Tony Ga

9/10/2014 06:19:39 am

Steve D sent you an email.

Glenn OH

9/10/2014 06:21:16 am

Tony Ga,my wife and I did the approach trail to Springer a few years back,stayed in the first shelter on top of Springer then stayed at Linn Foote(not sure of spelling) Amicalola is a neat place,I bet the number of thru-hikers goes up also !!!

Tony Ga

9/10/2014 06:41:19 am

Glen OH, we've hiked to Len Foote Inn a couple of times. The last time we hiked to the Inn and then over to the Approach trail then back to the falls. Nice hike. Where are you in Ohio, I'm originally a Buckeye. Lived near Piqua.

nnorman

9/10/2014 05:28:16 am

Glenn, i did'n know till you said so. Found out they did some shouting at Lousie's restaurant at the base of Kennesaw Mtn. back in Apr.this year. Drove right by there and did't have any idear. Shold be good. Estimated release date Dec. 2014.

norman in ga

9/10/2014 05:43:11 am

should> Tony Ga, how close to Amicalola Falls do you live? I have a niece that lives out side Jasper out toward Amicalola Falls.

Tony Ga

9/10/2014 06:10:15 am

Live about 10 minutes away from the falls.

elaine

9/10/2014 06:27:59 am

Louise's Restaurant? Cannot believe that place is still in existence. I lived and worked in Cobb County for 32 years till I escaped to WNC in 2004. Louise's has been quite a fixture.

Glenn Oh

9/10/2014 08:01:37 am

Tony Ga, Ilive about 30 minutes north of Cincinnati, your lucky to live so close to Springer, we'll do Spinger and Len Foote Inn again someday, we met some nice people there, it was neat reading in the journal they keep in that big rock, maybe thru hike someday ???

Tony Ga

9/10/2014 08:08:48 am

Was in Cincinnati about a month ago and on up to Toledo. Hiking the AT is a dream of mine, but I'm afraid it will never happen. You? If you hike back to Springer take the Benton MacKaye Trail. There's an amazing overlook a mile or so down the trail.

norman "Airborne 'all the way' "

9/10/2014 08:33:53 am

Elaine, i take it, WNC is weatern N.C.! You are right. Louise's is quite place. Use to eat lunch a lot there when it was Bill & Louise's when i worked for the phone co.(Ma Bell) Where in WNC are you? Would love to escape there or eastern Tn.

elaine

9/10/2014 11:47:19 am

You are right, Norman. Forgot that Louise used to have a Bill attatched to her. I worked at DFCS on Fairground Street many years and ate there with co-workers. I retired to Highlands, NC, but could live happily anywhere in WNC or Eastern Tn. I have found my place! What happened to the blog today??

norman

9/10/2014 03:04:43 pm

I wondered that too!

norman

9/11/2014 01:50:07 am

WHERE ARE YOU '' HIGHT ON LECONTE''??

Kim w

9/11/2014 02:16:28 am

We miss you. Hard to start our day without you!

tomk in SC

9/11/2014 02:22:14 am

I think us "High On LeConte" fans support the metaphor. We are junkies (Anyone remember that term) looking for our next Allyson/Ruthie fix.

norman

9/11/2014 03:48:35 am

Just worried! hope you can get tech. fixed. tomk, yes, we are junkies.

tomk in SC

9/11/2014 04:21:34 am

I wonder if the problem has anything to do with the sunstorm. It is supposed to be a significant event and it should start impacting communications and electronics today.

norman

9/11/2014 04:49:11 am

quite possible, my son said something about it last night, can't remember what he said.... we may all be lost in the 'www' be4 it's all over!

Kent

9/11/2014 05:02:51 am

I don't think the geomagnetic storm is to blame. I just read an article that the effects won't be felt until Friday from the first event. The second event will impact Earth on Saturday.

Major geomagnetic storms always make me a little nervous since I began reading about the devastating effects a major electromagnetic pulse would have on our power grid and technology, last year. I now wish I hadn't -- better to be blissfully ignorant.

Lori

9/11/2014 06:58:07 am

I worked in radio in the late '80's and one year they predicted a bad April sunstorm. We got all kinds of warnings from our satellite providers, but it was still a pain to deal with. I can imagine the electric grid would be as bad or worse.

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Shine On, Harvest Moon

LeConte Lodge

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