Now, human beings want reality. That's, I think, part of human nature. And television and drinking beer is what the working man laid off does for the first two weeks. But then in the third week he begins to get bored, and in the fourth week he wants to do something with his body and his mind and his senses. Gary Snyder
Morning y'all, It is a foreboding morning up top. The world is bright with fresh snow and mysterious clouds are lingering on the horizon. The high yesterday reached 28 degrees. The overnight low reached 17 degrees. It was 26 degrees and cloudy at 7am observation. There is still about an inch of snow on the mountain. There is supposed to be some sort of snow coming today. YAWN. Southern winters have been a sad joke the past few years. I doubt we get more than 6 inches, but I hope I'm wrong. I am tired of the hype. Let me know when there are FEET on the ground. Stay informed on the latest road conditions on the Park Service's twitter feed. 
In other news, sunset transcended words last night. Just another mind-blowing display. Language is an inadequate tool. I was shuffling back down to camp, lightly shaking my head, letting my tree neighbors know about how much I love them all, thinking about why I even entertain the idea of living more than a 10 minute walk from such wonders. The longer I do this, the more settled it seems - I was made to live in the woods. The fresh air just feels so right sometimes. You can taste the strength in the spring water. The iridescent skycolours after the sun sets defy your petty attempts to label them. The pure woods never let you down, they only astound and astound.
ps: happy birthday to my favorite little bhikkhuni!! i hope your day is as bright and wonderful as you are.
Sarah
2/12/2014 01:18:51 am
I am hoping to make it to LeConte on Friday. Do you think it is even possible given the rumored snow? If so, which trail do you recommend using to reach the top?
The Real JP
2/12/2014 01:24:16 am
Sarah,
Chris D
2/12/2014 03:24:28 am
how about entering the old sugarlands trail just north of the sugarlands visitors center past the bridge then hiking over to Bullhead on up. Nice hike done it once to get 5000ft. vertical climb .
Sarah
2/13/2014 01:32:55 am
Thanks. Hoping to head up on Friday. Yes, JP, you could well receive more snow, and ice perhaps, up there at the lodge. It looked rather bad on the early morning news radar loops. I talked with a friend (via my "ham" radio) from the west part of Georgia and they were already getting a coating of ice there. I believe one of the readers and frequent posters here, good 'ol Norman, lives just above Atlanta, so, maybe he'll report in o the storm's progress ! I really liked and appreciated your commentary and thoughts on this morning's post. Sometimes I feel that, as you stated, that my own language comes up a bit short of good descriptions. Regarding some of the buildings / businesses that have disappeared in Gatlinburg, a few of my old favorites are gone: Burning Bush restaurant, the Happy Hiker outdoor store, Lineberger's seafood restaurant, the Mountain View motel as has been mentioned, even Ruby Tuesday's on the lower end of town, and probably others I'm not now recalling. "Fanny Farkle's" corn dogs, for me, can't be beat, and I remember paying only $1.25 to ride the chairlift ! Progress ? Have a good day all.
Val
2/12/2014 01:33:42 am
How about the Pioneer Inn Restaurant? Log cabin on the river just before the old "Ruby Tuesday"....they had critter pot pies! Everything was made from scratch, I sure miss that place!
JT
2/12/2014 03:26:22 am
Val, I ate at the Pioneer Inn every time my family and I came to Gburg . Wonderful potato soup also .
vol
2/12/2014 01:56:42 am
yep, "progress" ain't so good sometimes
Paulrom
2/12/2014 10:29:14 am
Doug y I to remember all the places you mentioned. Also there was a small mom and pop diner on the parkway that disappeared back in 1993 or 1994 replaced by a Hardee's now it's gone. And what happened to ogles buffet ?
Val
2/12/2014 02:18:19 am
Happy Birthday to your Valentine JP! Time to find a heart shaped rock up there!
Lynn
2/12/2014 02:27:41 am
I miss the Open Hearth restaurant being in the big building with the wonderful fireplace close to the entrance of the park.
Val
2/12/2014 02:50:39 am
That's where the NOC (Nantahala Outdoor Center) is now! Still has the mountain stone face on the front. You should really like it now!.ha ha
Gina
2/12/2014 02:49:06 am
Were sure getting it down here in Maggie Valley now. Still 3 inches left from Monday so this will go on top of that
Gina
2/12/2014 04:04:51 am
I hiked up to Purchase Knob the other day!
Kent
2/12/2014 03:17:10 am
Talk of old restaurants and lodging establishments got me reminiscing about coming down to Gatlinburg when I was a kid back in the 70s. We'd always do lunch at Lums, which I believe was near the Space Needle.
Lynn
2/12/2014 03:29:18 am
Kent,
Kent
2/12/2014 04:39:49 am
Ah, thanks. To this day I have a fondness for cheesy souvenir shops like that. :)
JT
2/12/2014 03:29:41 am
I remember eating at the Burning Bush restaurant , it was great !!!
Marilyn
2/12/2014 03:32:01 am
Yes I remember all those wonderful places ya'll have mentioned. Remember the first place I stayed in after summiting LeConte and staying in the shelter back in 76 was the Buckeye Motel on airport road. Never had a nice luxurious bath felt so good after the trek down! That was my first time at The Peddler....been eating there ever since especially when I come down from LeConte in September trips as an added spice to my trip to LeConte. Just glad progress has not put them out of business.. most excellent salad bar and steak I've ever eaten!
Gina
2/12/2014 04:06:28 am
We love the Peddler, its our splurge place!!!
Steve
2/12/2014 04:50:08 am
Their is also a Peddler in Boone. Best salad bar ever!
T-Wayne
2/12/2014 10:01:55 am
The Park Grill is owned by the same people who own the Peddler.Big salad bar like Peddler & similar menu.
Elaine
2/12/2014 03:45:07 am
Don't like southern winters? You have a choice...
The Real JP
2/12/2014 05:47:53 am
Elaine,
Elaine
2/12/2014 06:03:12 am
As a native southerner of some credible age, I can testify those are isolated storms, not winters. And, they're the exception, not the southern norm. The stories you've heard may also be dappled with exaggeration-- Fish tale style. Sorry for your disappointment... You're not up north anymore.
: (
2/12/2014 06:28:37 am
Somebody get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?
The Real JP
2/12/2014 06:57:05 am
Elaine,
Ben K
2/12/2014 08:45:08 am
I tend to agree with Elaine, JP. Here in western NC we typically get a few good snows each year, but this is not a winter wonderland. As for you 100 inches, how any separate snowfalls account for that total?
The Real JP
2/12/2014 01:18:10 pm
Ben,
Ben
2/12/2014 11:57:28 pm
The park website states only 1-5 snowfalls annually that measure more than 1". One source I found states average 71" for LeConte, less than 100" average during the past 15 yrs. One or two good yrs can really throw off that average.
norman 'airborne rebel'
2/12/2014 07:24:17 am
go get em Elaine...
Micahel Brown
2/13/2014 02:52:38 pm
Max Patch which is on the TN border, had 170 inches 4 yrs ago so it can happen in the south. As a 55 yr old Native in Haywood county NC, I can attest to some pretty awesome winters. My grand parents can attest to many huge winters. Its not what it used to be but can still happen, so lets all hope for snow!!!
norman 'abr'
2/12/2014 04:14:04 am
another mounth older today,sipping 'russian tea' (American) , sleet, snow, & frezzing rain has stoped for now , but may start later today and night? have some where around 1/2 to 1 in. on the ground! enjoy!!
month
2/12/2014 04:55:57 am
month!! p s .. i never had the chance to frequenc smnp that much; but wheni did, Townsend was for me!! I had forgotten about "LUMS" Kent; I loved that restaurant, especially for their "beer-soaked" hot dogs ! Yes on the Rebel Corner, too. I think I also dined at the Pioneer Inn restaurant maybe once, and at the Open Hearth a few times. I like Bennett's Bar-b-q, the Peddler occasionally. Just down from Calhoun's is a little, sort of pricy, restaurant called "Howard's" which I always enjoy, and I believe it's still there. And Lynn, I'll join you in a long crying session over the Pancake Pantry, my overall favorite place there to eat. I first ate there in 1985 and the nice woman who waited on me was still there a few months ago when I went in. She and two other gracious ladies always remembered me when I sat down which was very nice. I'm overdue for a return trip. I haven't, for me personally, found any better pancakes than there, although I know there are other good ones, etc. And motels in Gatlinburg, I truly believe I've stayed at least once in every one ! Zoder's on the "lower" end was always a treat, but since the 1980's I've stayed almost exclusively at the old (1937) Gatlinburg Inn; lots of history there and I always ask for, and usually get, the same second floor back corner room where I like to sit out on its little veranda and talk to tourists as they ride by on the chairlift, sipping my wine and munching on fudge ! About a year or so ago Mrs, Wilma Maples passed and the new management has made a lot of changes, particularly opening year-round rather than closing from Nov to Apr; I'm overdue a bit to stay there as well, and I hope their "improvements" {including, naturally, a price increase- - guess I was spoiled with their rates all those years} haven't altered the experience there. If you haven't stayed there, I believe once would greatly satisfy you because the nostalgic atmosphere alone would give you a fine experience. One more thing, that Space Needle, which, by the way, you can barely see the top of from Cliff Tops up on the mountain, is an attraction I've been up in only one singletme in all my many years of visiting that town, and I probably will not ever again go up to its top; you see, as a former civil engineering specializing in structures, when I went up ii it several years ago I was visibly concerned when I saw all the rust on its structural beams and frame !! Great Day in the Morning it was rusty ! Looked awfully "shaky" to my trained eyes ! Oh, the "Park Vista" hotel up above the main street has long been one I've wanted to return to (stayed there only once) and get a backside room, top floor, where I could gaze longingly up at Mt. Leconte ! Sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch of the Gatlinburg Inn one can also gaze up at our mountain ! Whew ! g'day all !
Sharon Hasting
2/12/2014 08:13:22 am
JP, I hope you get a really big one tonight. And we'll look forward to all the pictures tomorrow! K?!
NICK
2/12/2014 01:12:04 pm
What?!?! Oh, you mean a BIG snow.
The Real JP
2/13/2014 01:24:42 am
Haha well played, Nick.
LeeAnn
2/12/2014 08:17:34 am
I'm so sick of WV winter, we've had frozen snow on the ground for over a month. But I really want to be in TN while it snows. I've only been going to the Smokies for 10 years but The Mountain Lodge Restaurant is the best in Gburg :)
tomk in SC
2/12/2014 08:25:45 am
Log Cabin Pancake House up Airport Road for breakfast, day of.
Val
2/12/2014 08:53:20 am
The Best Italian has 2 locations now! One on Parkway, center of town, (where The Brass Lantern was) and the other is in Elks Plaza near NOC. Both are on the same side of the street. Excellent! Been around for years.
tomk in SC
2/12/2014 08:57:05 am
Elks Plaza. That's the one! tomk: Last fall when in Gatlinburg I tried the Log Cabin Pancake House after someone on here had mentioned it. The Pancake Pantry is far better, for me at least; of course, everyone has different tastes, etc. I'll give the Log Cabin place another try with a different menu item. To each his own they say ! I am often amused when I see the opinions of various critics proclaiming the positives and/or negatives of this restaurant or that one and so forth and so on. You have to admit, I believe, that the critics' opinions are nonetheless subjective at best, perhaps based on years of experience, often not. It's arguments that have no winner, no solution, no final opinion. I also remember a little place in Gatlinburg called the "Brass Lantern", unless I'm getting it mixed up with somewhere else. I always enjoy your posts. tomk, they're informative and appreciated. I wonder which restaurant would be favored by the readers on this site for bar-b-q ribs, "baby backs" specifically ! Gee, ribs are how I maintain my physique ! good evening
T-Wayne
2/12/2014 09:35:05 am
The Mountain Lodge rest. is where the locals go. Jennifer & Ron are the best! Try the Clam Chowder on Friday!
c boone
2/12/2014 09:00:52 am
Do they still have a restaurant at the Ski Lodge?That use to be a good place to eat and in Oct.and the Tennessee football in town it was almost impossible to get without a reservation.You can't go up to the lodge anymore with out paying.You use to drive up or ride the Tram but now they have a toll booth right in the middle of the road.(Sad) People and progress has ruined Gatlinburg nothing like it use to be.When we first started going to the Mts.Pigeon Forge was a cow pasture and now it goes to Interstate40.Places close and new ones built ever yr.
Val: Before I posted my comments mentioning the Brass Lantern your comment wasn't shown, but the minute after I saw it; I didn't now the name, etc., had changed; will have to try it;
Marilyn
2/12/2014 09:15:35 am
Doug - the Brass Lantern was where the "new"Best Italian Pizza in town restaurant is on the parkway. Anybody ever eat at Ma's Kitchen in the arts/craft community? Now she had really good pancakes and homemade meals. They are only open certain times of the day now...used to be only lunch but may have changed. Haven't been there last couple of times I was in G-burg.
The Trout House...if you enjoy smoked trout this is the place. Have no idea how long they have been, but my wife and I ate there for the first time almost thirty years ago. The waitress, Mary, waited on us then and was still there our on last hiking trip back in the fall. Jerry: I knew I had forgotten a good restaurant. I should have remembered the Trout House when I mentioned Zoder's Inn as it's right next door ! Yes, now I have another restaurant I must return to; I may have to schedule a vacation soon and do nothing but eat for a week in Gatlinburg !!! thanks
T-Wayne
2/12/2014 11:44:53 am
Lynn Zoder who was the owner of Zoder's Best Western,passed last month.Motel is still in the family. Golfed with Lynn at Gatlinburg Golf Course with the other members over the past 25 yrs. R.I.P. Lynn.
Larry O
2/12/2014 12:36:47 pm
If you are talking trout, the best place is English Mountain Trout Farm, located near Forbidden Caverns. It is an out of the way-hole in the wall place, but their trout is fresh. You can catch it or they will catch it for you. Well worth the trouble.
David G.
2/13/2014 04:28:46 am
The Smokey Mtn. Trout House was established in 1975-I think it still shows that on their menu. My wife and I ate there for the first time in September 1975 ..I remember that because our first child was also "established" in 1975. We have been spending a few days in Gatlinburg almost every year since then--for day hiking and always for a meal at the Trout House. Mary is usually there-she is like an old good friend to us. We also spent one night at the LeConte Lodge in June of 2008..and had perfect weather then.
Larry O
2/12/2014 01:46:44 pm
The Mountain Lodge Restaurant is defiantly a good place to eat breakfast or lunch. Great home cooking at a reasonable price. The only drawback is they close I believe around 3 p.m.
Val
2/12/2014 03:33:48 pm
Snow is up to 6" at 11:30 pm in Gatlinburg and counting! I'm sure JP is doing the happy dance!
Debi
2/12/2014 09:41:05 pm
JP, if you want over a 100 inches of snow you will have to move to the west side of Michigan or the U.P. Ludington, Mi. has had over 100 inches of snow this season. Haven't seen the grass in months. We don't have the beautiful mountains up here, but we do have Lake Michigan. Nice summers here. Not so nice winters.
Marilyn
2/13/2014 12:28:29 am
Mountain Lodge Restaurant is an excellent place to eat. Have had breakfast there several times. My daughter who crewed at LeConte was introduced to it by other crew members and they called it the "local place". Cinnamon rolls so yummy!
David looney
2/13/2014 07:32:28 am
Bear cafe in Townsend. Best hamburger ever. Comments are closed.
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