High On LeConte
  • Home
  • Daily Posts
  • FAQ's
  • Trail Guide
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer

some say with age, that our purpose comes clear. i see the opposite happening here.

1/14/2014

 
Picture
For many years I was self-appointed inspector of snowstorms and rainstorms, and did my duty faithfully, through I never received one cent for it. Thoreau
Morning y'all,

It's a beautiful, snow covered day up top. The high yesterday reached 42 degrees. The low was 27 degrees. It was 28 degrees and snowing lightly at 7am observation. The mountain received .54 inches of liquid precipitation. Once the temperatures dropped in the evening, the mountain then received 2 inches of fresh powder. It looks like we may have 3-4 inches before this storm passes. The trails should be ok with the fresh stuff, but once it gets packed down I am sure they'll become treacherous once again. It is probably best to pack the Microspikes just in case...
Picture
Top photo: Fresh pow. Above: Good moss.
I have a hypothesis that I am investigating: If there is snow, then JP is happy. Other corollaries include: if there is snow, then no reading gets done. If there is snow, then there are no existential crises. If there is snow, then there is no need for society. If there is movement, then there is hope. In order to test these hypotheses, I have to leave this world confining screen. I must go play in the life affirming fluffiness. Enjoy the joy!
Pat N
1/14/2014 01:17:42 am

Ah...the beauty of your words and the mountains. Enjoy your snowy day!

doug y link
1/14/2014 01:22:04 am

Although there wasn't ever much snow around here, I now find that I'm missing it. I'll have to be content with seeing in the photos here.

Brian N bama
1/14/2014 01:26:16 am

JP, looks like some decent snow coming in late tuesday night into wednesday. Hoping the road to rainbow trailhead stays open till I get there, not sure I can make it to the top and back if I have to hike in from the gate. Any one know the distance from where they close the road to the rainbow falls trailhead? I am thinking it is about 3.5 miles, that would add 7 miles to the hike to Leconte. Fingers crossed road stays open to the trailhead!!!! Hopefully I'll be up top tomorrow. HAPPY TRAILS

The Real JP
1/14/2014 01:38:14 am

Hey Brian,
I think you are close to correct. It is around 2.5 miles from the Twin Creeks Gate to the Rainbow Falls trailhead. I've done it plenty, it's a surprisingly pretty walk when the road is closed and snowed over! Enjoy!

Brian N bama
1/14/2014 02:57:45 am

Thanks JP, we are going to start out before day break just in case we have to hike from the gate. We take about 4- 4 1/2 hrs to hike roudtrip using Alum, do you think we have time to summit and and return if we have to start at the gate up rainbow? Have never hiked rainbow at my own pace, always hiked it with people that take 3 1/2-4 hrs to get to the toP using alum. Hopefully we will see you tomorrow. HAPPY TRAILS.

dan waits
1/14/2014 01:40:08 am

"life affirming fluffiness"

one of the best descriptions of fresh power I've ever heard

Chuck K
1/14/2014 02:13:17 am

just love getting in here every day and reading what JP puts down....let it soak in and then off to my day chores...looking up at the mountain when I get a chance and wishing I was there....enjoy the snow...

Elisabeth
1/14/2014 02:23:56 am

LOVING THIS! GO PLAY and test your theories! Wish I had time to hike to the top and back today, sadly...no. Perhaps next week. I enjoy your daily updates, thank you!

greatgibbs
1/14/2014 06:58:11 am

YES!!! Finally! A blog post that starts with The Avett Brothers! And one of my favorite songs too!

You have my respect, kind sir.

Kent
1/14/2014 10:42:47 am

Cool, glad you got some snow. I got back from the 500 mile drive back home after my two days of winter hiking in the Smokies (which seemed more like spring to me). Sunday was a beautiful day up top with all the trees coating my head with snow particles. Sat for awhile and talked with a couple of guys from Knoxville while I refueled for the descent. I don't whether you were around at noon on Sunday, JP, but I didn't see anyone else. Met a handful of others as I headed back down the trail.

The trek up to Cliff Tops was a bit harrowing because of the ice. I don't know how I did it, but I only managed to pack one of my traction devices in my backpack. One was better than none, though. I met a couple of young guys up there who hiked up Alum in sneakers. I bet they had fun sliding back down the .2 mile trail.

Got in an 8-miler to Cove Mountain on Monday from the Laurel Falls trailhead. Nice little hike. It was a nice mini-trip, and my first time to the Lodge during the off-season.

Jenny B. link
1/14/2014 12:09:27 pm

Kent, your experience of having a traction device on just one foot reminds me of something that happened a year ago. A friend and I were hiking up Newton Bald trail, normally a very tame trail, but conditions were slick and the trail does have sections where it is quite narrow and sidehills above a steep slope. She owns microspikes but had forgotten to bring them. So I gave her one of mine and we each wore one, on the outside foot. It worked.
Glad you had a good visit to the Smokies.

Kent
1/15/2014 02:25:05 am

Heh! And that story reminds me of the time last April when I inadvertently loaned one of my traction devices to a guy behind me on the way up the Alum Cave Trail. The one my left foot slipped off. At the Lodge office, the man came in with his son, and we began talking about the icy conditions, and I mentioned what had happened. He knew immediately as he pulled it off his boot that the one he came upon belonged to me.

doug y link
1/14/2014 11:12:36 pm

Hey Kent: I, too, have been waiting to hear from you after your hike. Glad you had a good journey (I can relate to your driving distance, although mine is a bit shorter. I have hiked up to Cove Mountain a few times, and twice I've gone down the ridge, skirting all those 'chalets' on the mountain above Gatlinburg, ending at the Sugarlands visitor center; took a trolley from there to the Laurel Falls trailhead; nice hike of around 11 mi; Across from the Laurel Falls trailhead is another trail that goes back to intersect with the Huskey Gap trail and a couple of others, and I have followed the trail on down into the valley above Elkmont campground. about 8 mi thereabouts; I really like this hike for its ease and medium distance; You can take the trolley from the campground to the trailhead. G'day

Connie K
1/15/2014 01:49:34 am

Doug,
Here's a helpful hint for reading your bear story. Just bring up WordPad on your computer, copy and paste the article you want to read, then highlight the article and click on the font size to enlarge it to what ever size is comfortable for you to read. Can also change to any Font that is easy to read. Can save it as a document or print it. A lot of optionsare avaible.

Kent
1/15/2014 02:38:44 am

Doug,I did see a few of those chalets down in the valley from the ridge. Actually, the views along the trail are better in the winter for the lack of foliage.

A good "medium distance" hike was what I was looking for Monday morning. I figured I spend a more leisurely afternoon and check out the winery up the road from my motel. My legs were a bit stiff and sore that day, anyway. I haven't been as active over the past couple of months as I should have been.

Take care!


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    LeConte Lodge

    Welcome to the official blog of LeConte Lodge. We hope you find the information provided here both helpful and enjoyable.  Thank you for visiting the site, and we hope to see you on the mountain!

    For information regarding GSMNP's paid parking tag requirements, please visit their website.

    For information regarding shuttle services, as well as overnight parking options in Gatlinburg, please visit our reservations website.

    Lodge Gift Shop Hours:
    9:00 - 10:00 AM
    ​12:00 - 4:30 PM

    Online Store

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010

    RSS Feed

For current GSMNP road and trail information, visit the Park's Twitter page, official website, or call 865-436-1200 and follow the prompts.
  • Home
  • Daily Posts
  • FAQ's
  • Trail Guide
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer

Picture

Picture

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture