the hardest thing in the world to do is to find somebody who believes in you.

1/17/2012

I feel an indescribable ecstasy and delirium in melting, as it were, into the system of beings, in identifying myself with the whole of nature. Jean-Jacques Rousseau

BOBKITTEN!!!!!!!!!

Morning,

It was a windy, yet mild day up top. The high was 36 degrees. The low was 30 degrees. It was 35 and windy at observation. There is still quite a bit of ice on Alum. It is at it's worst about a mile from the top. Be sure to bring traction devices or extreme caution! Special thanks to Dick K. for hiking me up some fresh produce and reading material!

On my hike down Alum yesterday, Jacob and I saw more Bobkitten tracks scattered around the trail than I'd seen yet. Bobkitten is my favorite and most elusive neighbor. I can't wait until we finally meet. George Sheehan says that first, we must be good animals. I've often thought about how much I could learn from Bobkitten by being able to watch him/her for a day. Bobkitten has to be ever present in each moment of his/her life as a matter of survival. There are no distractions, just an eternal fight to stay ahead of the elements. It is a noble and simple life lived according to the dictates of nature. I wish I could be more like Bobkitten.

Sunset 1/15.

Sunrise yesterday morning.

Gina

1/17/2012 01:17:31 am

I hope you get to meet Kitty Kat soon!

henry link

1/17/2012 01:26:58 am

J P, you and bobkitten are counted among my spiritual guides.

norman medford link

1/17/2012 01:38:31 am

Why don't you call bobkitten BOBCAT?? Norman M in Acworth,Ga.

1/17/2012 01:46:38 am

Norman,
The tracks are much smaller than they look. Each paw print is hardly larger than a quarter.

Jacque J

1/17/2012 01:47:08 am

That sunrise picture is breathtaking! Can't wait for pics of the bobkitten! Severe storms here in Indiana this morning. Hope your weather on top is nice today. Happy hiking to you.

1/17/2012 03:13:24 am

Are you sure those aren't canine tracks?

Tony Ga

1/17/2012 03:17:11 am

No pets allowed on the trail!

Chris D

1/17/2012 04:24:40 am

How about foxes? They are canines and are not pets.

Chris D

1/17/2012 04:58:24 am

A house cat most likely wouldn't be so elusive and most likely would have migrated down to town and not up to a hostile unfamiliar mountain top

1/17/2012 06:01:27 am

ed,canines leave claw marks,felines dont.bobcat/bobkitten? jp,keep searching.GREAT JOB !

1/18/2012 12:25:43 am

lg, I know about the claw marks. Sometimes hard to see in the snow. I was just looking at the shape of the overall track. Either type of animal is not out of the question. I hope JP spots it.

Tai

1/17/2012 03:18:27 am

Bobcat tracks in the snow. Tell me, mister bobcat, where is it that you go? Down among the town lights, in that valley below? Tell me, mister bobcat, where is it that you go?

Debi link

1/17/2012 04:25:56 am

Looks just like someone dumped a house cat off in the mountains. How can you tell the difference? Of course a house cat would probably be eaten by the coyotes already. Just curious. That'd be something to get pic of. Have to be patient.

Josh C

1/17/2012 05:46:37 am

Of all God's creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the lash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat.

Jacob

1/17/2012 06:14:36 am

The third picture of the sunrise is awesome. The colors are really cool. Thanks again.

Tony Ga

1/17/2012 07:24:01 am

Has anyone ever seen a "stray" dog or cat up on Leconte?

FlAndy

1/17/2012 12:34:02 pm

Saw a lost hunting dog on Boulevard Trail couple years ago in August... Was maybe 2-4 miles from the AT end of trail.

Chris D

1/17/2012 01:32:56 pm

Seen a bear dog on AT out Tri Corner years back

Rob

1/17/2012 07:57:40 am

What a great visual escape it is to see the photos you post and read the words you write.
Ran across this scripture today in Psalm 19 which relates to the beauty shown in your photos:

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.

Thank you for your posts and keep safe.

Carol in TN

1/17/2012 08:05:51 am

Rob, this is one of my favorite psalms. JP's pics do definitely declare the glory of God! Can't wait to see all that glory myself and in person! My husband, brother, and I will be staying at the Lodge in Sept.

Juanita

1/17/2012 08:51:19 am

I had a hunting cat when I was a young girl. He was an orange tabby and his name was Rusty. He could point, flush and retrieve quail as good as any dog. My father was always embarassed when we would go hunting with all of his friends and their dogs, and there I'd be with my cat, Rusty. LOL! Oh what memories.

My sister loves cats... always has. She lives alone and probably has 7 or 8 cats in her house.

Easter Bunny

1/17/2012 09:18:00 am

I remember that. Have you talked to Santa Clause lately?

Lol.

1/17/2012 10:18:23 am

LOL.

Matty

1/17/2012 09:53:06 am

I want to go on a overnighter at the shelter on Saturday night. Who is down to hike Alum with me? All my friends don't want to be my hike partner!

Mike

1/17/2012 11:49:08 am

JP: Sounds like you were born 200 years too late. Wouldn't it have been great to see this country before the whiteman overran it?

Josh C

1/17/2012 12:36:31 pm

Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers where I can walk undisturbed.
Walt Whiteman

1/18/2012 08:23:56 am

Mike,
Couldn't agree more. Sigh.

Jim Kirkham

1/17/2012 01:32:01 pm

Missing you JP. Keep searching for questions!

1/18/2012 08:24:51 am

Jim,
Missing you guys too. I wouldn't be here without you!
So much love!

Comments are closed.

the hardest thing in the world to do is to find somebody who believes in you.

LeConte Lodge

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