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

1/14/2014

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...

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.

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

LeConte Lodge

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