Thursday, February 13th, 2020

Good morning folks, 

What a wild ride that was! Winds howled throughout camp for most of the afternoon and into the twilight hours. With every surge of wind I braced for impact. I retreated to my cabin to seek shelter where winds rocked my cabin throughout the night. Wind gusts reached upwards of 40-70 mph around camp. The high yesterday was 46 degrees. The overnight low came in at 39 degrees. It was 40 degrees at 7 am observation. We received a whopping 2.5 inches of precipitation. A "High Wind Warning" is in effect and there are sure to be downed trees on trails and throughout the park. Highway 441 (NewFound Gap Road) is closed due to high winds. Cherokee Orchard Road above Twin Creeks is open to all vehicles. A " Flash Flood Watch" is effect today. Creeks within the park are sure to rise and roar through the mountains. It is currently 38 and cloudy and a light drizzle on the mountain. 

I have successfully remained dry and have pampered myself to curry eggs and sausage patties along with some strong black drip coffee. Looking ahead at the forecast, colder temperatures move in with sunshine which should be prime for sunrise/sunset. Trails leading to the top are free of ice/snow. Water will be an issue on trails today so be safe if you plan trekking to the top. I am looking forward to exploring some of the trails around LeConte when the weather breaks. All is well at 6593'. See you at the top! 

 PNUT