Takes a ten dollar shoe to fit my feet

2/10/2011

High 26, Low 6.
5" of New Snow

Yes,yes. Always Hike with Food, Water, Flashlight, and Extra Clothes. Something light like a whistle is a good idea as well. You won't ever find me hiking without these Bare essentials. During the winter I always carry a NPS radio too. Bee stings are definitely known to happen while hiking Leconte.

There are A Lot of trees downed on the mountain right now, Some of these require taking your backpack and snow shoes off to climb through.

I had to look up Manchurian Tea, As far as I can tell it's the same as Kombucha, It's the same mushroom culture. Maybe the difference is the use of White Tea instead of Green or Black Tea as in the Kombucha instructions I have? These different names might just be from different parts of the world. I've heard it called Kargasok Tea as well. A cup of this tea in the morning before any food will make your stomach feel very happy.

Dave

2/10/2011 12:21:53 am

Nice ice formations...Alum?

James

2/10/2011 12:31:28 am

Hey Alex and others,

My friend Matt and I are planning on coming up the Porters Creek Manway then across the Boulevard and down Trillium/Brushy Mountain for the weekend.

I was wondering about the ice conditions since some of the snow base melted last week and the recent addition of new snow from this week and the forecast for tonight. How icy is the Boulevard and how much total snow is there? Has Brushy Mountain been broken yet?

If it is too icy, we would just come up the AT from NFG and do the same trail route. What's your all's thoughts? (we have crampons/snowshoes/gaiters and all other cold weather and climbing gear)

Timothy

2/10/2011 01:39:52 am

I was following the pack all swallowed in their coats, the scarves of red tied round their throats to keep their little heads from fallin' in the snow, and I turned 'round and there you go, and Michael you would fall and turned the white snow red as strawberries in the summertime

Melissa

2/10/2011 01:52:47 am

Alex, is that first pic from Alum trail? Wowsers! We were up on Jan 22, but there wasn't THAT much ice! I've started drinking Yogi Kombucha tea since you've been talking about it (from tea bags)...probably not as fab as your homemade, but it's pretty darn good and I love it!

Lisa Blair link

2/10/2011 02:05:20 am

Haha, Timothy... singing that post the whole time.

These ice photos are amazing. We got 5 inches in North Mississippi yesterday. So pretty.

tomk

2/10/2011 02:30:13 am

James,
I think you are either the most experienced hiker in the GSMNP or you are so inexperienced and naive that this sounds like a good idea.

My first bit of advice is to stop at Sugarlands and leave a $5000 deposit for getting helicoptered out.

In the summer, I would tell you it will be a long hard day. Be careful. In the winter it's a lot worse. Steep, snow covered and icy are three terms that are a recipe for disaster.

http://www.mtleconte.com/RHCB.htm

Links to wayfinding and steepness issues in the summer. In the winter it is worse.

Last winter, perhaps the one before, a NPS volunteer got helicoptered out of there on a similar plan.

I understand the sense of accomplishment in doing something like that, but the risk premium is huge. In addition, part of the payoff of that route is sitting on Charlies Bunion and hanging out for awhile. If CB is icy you are again paying a risk premium to sit on a cold rock. Save the route and CB experience for summer.

If you are bored with the usual routes, take the trail up from below NG that connects to the AT between Icewater and CB. Not many folks do that route.

Even if the Boulevard is bad, there is only one place where you are exposed, and there is a cable there.

The manway? Looks a lot better on a white sheet of paper than on a white sheet of ice.

sandee link

2/10/2011 02:54:22 am

Goin' Down The Road...An' I ain't a-gonna be treated this way....

cheche

2/10/2011 02:59:07 am

Manchurian = Kombucha :)

There is, however, a very, very rare and exclusive tea called Jun. I saw the finished product sold in very $mall quantities at a little shop in Eugene, Oregon, but that's the only time I've come across it. All I know (strictly through word of mouth) is that it is fed honey and that it's extremely effervescent - and that is doesn't grow scobys like Kombucha does. I read online somewhere that this may be because it's a single-celled organism. If anyone happens to have any inside info, please share!

James

2/10/2011 03:04:28 am

tomk,

Thanks for the info. I am very experienced but not stupid, haha. I read about every trail story on the web I could find about the manway and even found a GPS overlay on google earth to fly up it and take a look.

My biggest issue was the ice and I guess its much, much worse than I had anticipated. I guess even multi-pitch climbing with harnesses and rope will not be safe enough. We already have plans to do the manway on my summer trek in the July 4 week, guess I'll save it till then.

Another motivation was to avoid using a hiker shuttle if possible, but I guess that's not the case. You said, "take the trail up from below NG that connects to the AT between Icewater and CB. Not many folks do that route." Were you talking about starting the AT at NG to the Boulevard or some other trail like Kephart Prong-Grassy Branch-Dry Sluice Gap up to CB?

Your second opinion has been valuable, thank you.

tyler

2/10/2011 10:29:35 am

I came up last weekend starting at Alum Cave and ending at Icewater Springs shelter. I took Boulevard connector from LeConte over to the AT. I was alone and started a bit late, but it wasn't too bad. I had yaktrax and would have been better off with snowshoes. It got pretty rough on the way up; very icy and wouldn't recommend without some cleats or crampons. Also, once on top, going was real slow due to snow (some places up to the hip). Keep in mind that there is abut another foot of snow since I went up and it's a bit colder now. That may be for better or for worse. Unless you want to get worn out then I would stick to some shorter stuff. However, it's not Mt. Everest. Allow for plenty of extra time.

To the guy that's staying in the lodge: I walked around a bit looking for you but you must have been out hiking or something.

Cheers!

tomk

2/10/2011 11:06:00 am

I was referring to Kephart Prong-Grassy Branch-Dry Sluice Gap up to CB. The AT is THE route used to get to Boulevard from NG. I'm glad you found the remarks useful.

I think it will be a great hike in the summer, but don't start late.

Aside from the snow/ice and temps, there is also the length of day issue. It will be slow going, and ending in the dark, cold and dark, is no fun either.

RonnieH

2/10/2011 01:19:15 pm

James, that is my trip report that Tomk sent you. He is correct. Do not attempt this hike during winter months.There maybe deep snow drifts on AT where the manway joins it. Its a great hike in the spring. I hiked it 3 times.

S. Adams

2/10/2011 02:48:37 pm

Stay home by the fire. Drink some hot tea or coffee in the morning and then plenty of hops and barley at night. Repeat daily until Spring.

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Takes a ten dollar shoe to fit my feet

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