Where did spring go??

4/24/2012

When you wake up to 18 degrees outside, you really learn to appreciate indoor plumbing. The views have been phenomenal as long as you are wrapped up and staying warm. It is bone chillingly cold up here. There is still ice around camp and on the trails. If you are hiking up, take it slow and come prepared.

Mary Smith

4/23/2012 11:52:44 pm

Beautiful pictures!!!

Candy

4/23/2012 11:57:41 pm

I wished i was there......

Tony Ga

4/24/2012 12:18:02 am

Me too!

Debi link

4/24/2012 12:10:49 am

Ohhh Brr!! Beautiful pictures. I think you are now getting your March weather. Weird how I hiked up in March in shorts and now you need a little more than that. Ohhhhhh Brrrr! Looks like winter wonderland. Hopefully its back to flipflops for you next week.

tomk

4/24/2012 12:30:41 am

@Brian N I don't know if the top of the Alum Cave Trail will be melted by WED. If you are a first timer with small children, I'd suggest Rainbow Falls or Trillium. The hike is longer, but there are no slip/fall-a-distance opportunities on those trails. Rainbow Falls offers a great lunch stop at the falls. If it were me, I'd move the hike to Rainbow. If I lived close I might take two cars and drop one at Grotto Falls parking lot for the downhike. If I were young and in great shape I might consider leaving my wife and kids at the GFPL after the hike, dropping my pack and jogging back to the RFPL (via the road) to get the car.

Brian N

4/24/2012 01:07:46 am

Thanks Tom, myself and my oldest are very familier with Alum as we have hiked on several times. I guess my biggest concern was if I needed to buy the other 2 kids and wife some yax trax.

High On LeConte

4/24/2012 01:13:03 am

Brian,
I would buy them a pair just to be on the safe side. There is still a lot of ice on the trail in the upper elevations. Be safe and see you tomorrow.

doug y

4/24/2012 12:54:06 am

tomk's advice is very good, Brian; it would be your best alternative to Alum; great photos; really looks frigid there in them, as I know it is, yet, I long to be there;

Carolyn Hostetler

4/24/2012 12:57:42 am

Beautiful pictures. Carolyn Hostetler

Linda H

4/24/2012 01:12:33 pm

Carolyn are you of the Edmonton bunch?

Ken T

4/24/2012 01:00:44 am

Great shots of "Mother Nature". Love the care and concern our bloggers have for othe hikers, especially the young ones.

Bob Benzinger

4/24/2012 01:16:48 am

Love the pictures. Very pretty. However, we are hiking up on Friday, please bring spring back :)

Joyce Coleman

4/24/2012 03:19:08 am

Wow! This makes me wish I were back up there!

Terri

4/24/2012 03:42:02 am

Great Pics....Looks like you may have more snow than JP saw most of the winter.

Brant

4/24/2012 03:44:29 am

I agree with the need for yaktrax or other similar devices. My wife and I have hiked up Alum in the winter without them (and she nearly slid off the side of the mountain) and with them (more weight on the feet, but MUCH safer through the ice).
If Allyson says you need them, GET THEM.

Brian N

4/24/2012 05:09:40 am

I agree 100%, if we had not had yaktrax last november, we could not have made it down. may just head up rainbow and down trillium to grotto falls.

Tony Ga

4/24/2012 05:43:59 am

Speaking of JP....has anyone heard anything from him lately?

John B

4/24/2012 06:06:54 am

Thank you for sharing the wonderful pictures. I came to your site because Mt. Leconte is featured in a NatGeo feature "20 best hikes in the National Parks." Your lodge is very favorably mentioned! Would love to make it up there some day.

Brian N

4/24/2012 06:42:48 am

@highonleconte, do you believe ice will be an issue on rainbow tomorrow?

High On LeConte

4/24/2012 06:45:18 am

If I had to guess, I would say yes. We are getting sleet and snow as I type. The temps are hovering in the mid twenties. I don't think anything is going to melt today. They are calling for more rain tonight. It is not looking good for any melting to take place.

Brian N

4/24/2012 08:29:25 am

Thanks so much. have the hot chocolate ready tomorrow in case im drenched.

Gina

4/24/2012 07:36:05 am

Gorgeous Photos

Rick

4/24/2012 07:48:47 am

Just beautiful. I love your pics. I would love to be up there to see it in person.

Sherry

4/24/2012 08:41:11 am

At Tony Ga. Heard from JP yesterday & he is having a blast. He is really looking forward to being back on LeConte. He has a really busy summer & fall coming up though. Sounds like a blast. ALLYSON, thank for sharing. These pics are great. Stay warm.

Tony Ga

4/24/2012 12:06:27 pm

Thanks Sherry.

Debi link

4/24/2012 09:32:11 am

Brian, stay safe and have a good hike.If only the outdoors had a temperature gage we could turn up and down. We plan for months for these hikes and arghhh! the weather doesn't cooperate. Hopefully the worst is over and onto sunshine and flowers.

Toni

4/24/2012 10:44:29 am

We're headed to the lodge Monday on a day hike (first time), - wonder what it will be like then? Can't wait - SO EXCITED!!!

Karen

4/24/2012 01:58:08 pm

Allyson, as always, I LOVE the pictures! They are amazing! However, I, for one, am glad that I am not up there. I can not bear such cold, especially in April. Give me the heat & humidity. We are coming in late August & it will be plenty cool for me then! Keep up the good work up there & best wishes to all hikers for safety on the trails.

Sonya

4/24/2012 02:13:43 pm

What is this Yak Track of which you speak & where may it be procured? Think we may need for the Alum Cave trail Thurs. morning?

In Gatlinburg now.

Debi link

4/24/2012 08:51:05 pm

Sonya, Its a name brand of rubber things you put on the bottom of your boot. There real strechy so becareful. The first time you put them on you'll be scared there going to come back and wack you.They also have springs over the rubber for traction. They work great!! I'd wear your hiking boots into the store and make sure they fit. They come in all different sizes.I paid $20 dollars for mine. I wear mine in the winter walking and up the mountain once or twice a year when we go. Haven't had to wear them in Aug. yet, but you just never know. The hiking store on the left at the end of the road in Gatlinburg probably has all different kinds to choose from. I got mine from Dunhams in Michigan.

Ben

4/24/2012 10:51:04 pm

Sonya,
JP posted a link for a traction device (how to put on video) on his Dec 31, 2011 entry. Just go the December 2011 Archives and it will be at the very top. He also posted a link to the store Debi mentioned.

Debi,
Nice picture of you and some of yours a while back on the Guest Sightings. Nice to put a face with our daily commenter.

Cory

4/25/2012 01:47:41 pm

I've had bad experiences with YakTraks. I have a pair of Kahtoolas that are awesome!! Much tougher which is important. I wouldn't want my ice traction devices failing, especially on the ice!! My wife wore them down Alum Cave Tuesday and she was very confident the whole time!

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Where did spring go??

LeConte Lodge

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