while i'm alone and blue as can be, dream a little dream of me.

1/12/2014

The efflux of the soul is happiness, here is happiness, I think it pervades the open air, waiting at all times, now it flows unto us, we are rightly charged. Whitman

Morning y'all,

It's a gorgeous morning up top. The mountain received some unexpected traces of snow last night and everything is new, magically glazed over. It's amazing how fast the character of the mountain has changed in just 24 hours. The high yesterday reached 41 degrees. The low dropped down to 19 degrees. It was 21 degrees and clearing at 7am observation. The mountain received .75 inches of rain yesterday morning and a trace of snow overnight. I would bet that the trails will still be tricky, so pack all the gear necessary and hope for the best. Enjoy!

GOOBER

1/12/2014 02:28:13 am

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Kathy Nash

1/12/2014 02:46:55 am

If we hike up there during the winter--can we still sign the book? Are the bathrooms available or the lodge to eat our bag lunches?

Steve D

1/12/2014 03:36:34 am

Kathy Nash-Sorry, all buildings are closed so you can't sign the book or get into the dining room area, there are no staff on duty. I can't remember if the one outside bathroom is open but I don't think so. JP is there as the winter caretaker to watch over the Lodge and in case of any emergencies a hiker might have, the Park can call him if necessary.

Kathy

1/13/2014 05:57:11 am

Thank you!

doug y link

1/12/2014 05:09:15 am

I've commented before that I wish that the lodge was open all year round, but taking care of guests during the cold months would pose unique logistical problems, although I see them as minor, and just getting up there would be more problematic. And, the "profit margin" would probably be narrower for the lodge operators. One has to be content with simply hiking up there and back down.

jean d

1/12/2014 06:02:18 am

For a while I have had the following on my laptop waiting til there were comments from someone about children climbing to the top. Since there haven't been any since I received this from my best friend and fellow girl scout adult member (we have both been registered Girl Scouts since we were 10 years old. She since 1942 and I since 1945). I decided to go ahead and send it. It rather expresses the love we all have for our favorite mountain and what it has meant to our lives through the years. I was a teenager when I reached the top the first time but knew about Mt LeConte from 5 years of age because my father and grandfather had been part of those early Knoxvillians who frequented the mountains even before it became the National Park.

Here are her words about her's and her father's experience together.

"I was 5 years old. We were still living in Louisville, Ky where I was born March 6, 1932. It was the summer of 1937. My father was absolutely in love with our Smokey Mountains and had been here on several other hiking trips with his Boy Scouts. He was leader for several years in Kentucky and in Knoxville.
My father wanted my mother and me to experience our beautiful mountains as he had. My mother stayed in the car that day and read and sewed, as she did not feel strong enough to make the hike.
Daddy chose the Alum Cave Bluff Trail. I did pretty well keeping up until we got to Alum Cave Bluffs. I told Daddy that I was really tired at that point. He said, "well, young lady, I do not want you to miss reaching the top, and seeing the beautiful view and the lodge and all the cabins." So, he knelt down and told me to climb on his back which I, of course, did. He carried me all the way to the top of the mountain. It was a beautiful and a precious memory I carry in my heart!
Since that first hike many years ago, I have hiked that same trail several times as well as the Rainbow Falls Trail and the Boulevard Trail, spent the night in the cabins and enjoyed a wonderful meal in the lodge and watched the sun rise and set at the Point, a short walk from the lodge.
This was a precious experience I will never forget. "

Hope many more young ones are able to have such a "precious experience.

Today is a beautiful clear day and I can see the mountains out my back windows. Am so thankful to be living with such a view and so near to such extraordinary beauty.

norman the airborne rebel

1/12/2014 06:22:17 am

what a story!!! nice experience!!!! would love to live so close to SMNP..

doug y link

1/12/2014 06:39:33 am

jean d: Your absolutely marvelous story has warmed my day ! thank you. I envy you for having such a father. Since my first hike in 1957 I have been in love with the Smokies, and perhaps this spring I'll acquire a "second residence" nearby; I'll then be in the Park almost every day ! By the way, if you're interested in adopting a little boy, I know of one ! He's house-broken, cooks, cleans, does yard work, even windows and laundry; and, he's only 64 yrs old !

JPD

1/12/2014 07:50:43 am

Doug Y
Would you mind posting your 2 email addresses again on your web site? I let them get away. Thanks.

jean d

1/12/2014 08:05:32 am

doug y He sounds like an ideal son. Maybe he will soon find a forever home --near Gatlinburg of course LOL :-) And Good Luck on your 2nd home search.

Fisharch

1/13/2014 03:36:06 pm

Jean, My wife and I set out on Alum Cave trail six years ago with our three sons; Andrew 11, Matthew 7 and David 1 1/2 to spend the night on the summit of LeConte. Andrew seasoned with 6 trips since he was 5 and David his inaugural riding first class in a Kelty. Three years later David would summit on his own on Alum. I have a treasured picture of him sunning like a snake on Myrtles Point eating a twizzler.The trips to LeConte are listed by our kids as being one of the top places or things we have done as a family. This family tradition has provided timeless life lessons in perseverance and delayed gratification as well as an appreciation for majestic beauty and spiritual power of nature.

Tony Ga

1/12/2014 06:09:40 am

jean d, thank you for sharing that.

Brian N bama

1/12/2014 06:13:09 am

JP, planning a day hike this Wednesday with my son. Planned on coming up rainbow. any issues on the trail you or anyone else knows of? My last look at the website will be Tuesday nite, if you need anything, let me know..plan on heading up about daybreak and just enjoy the snow that is predicted. HAPPY TRAILS.

Debi

1/12/2014 09:12:09 am

Love that view today JP. Brian, I hope the weather is good for you and have fun hiking with your son.

Marilyn

1/12/2014 09:12:18 am

Jean, beautiful story! I first became acquainted with the Smokies in 1953 with my parents and siblings. I have hiked up with my son and my daughter (my daughter crewed there) and all of my grandkids. The youngest this past September, Antonio 9 and Carmen 8. They absolutely loved it and did not complain one bit about the hike except to say that Grandma walked too slowly for them! They ran around the top like they belonged there. I just hope I can last long enough to do the same with my 2 great grandsons!

Doug, good luck on your quest for a Smoky Mountain home. I wish I'd bought the one I saw for sale in the 70's for $20,000. Be careful about posting your address if and when you do find one...you might just find a lot of us on your doorstep!

Lucky Luke

1/12/2014 03:38:28 pm

beckie (can see part of LeConte from my yard:)

1/12/2014 10:53:50 pm

Brian n bama, though you may want to know weather is calling for snow here today thru wed, showers, but none the less, snow, with a real chance on wed....could mean that it snows on LeConte the entire time??? This may help you decide on wed or @ least how to prepare for it. If you go, ENJOY!! Should be pretty & white.

Brian N bama

1/13/2014 01:24:41 am

beckie, thanks for the info. The only reason I am hiking up is for the snow..LOL.. I am from bama as you can see so I like to see the white stuff when I can. From what I have seen on various forecast, it should perfect...clear, cold and snowy. HAPPY TRAILS

doug y link

1/12/2014 11:47:14 pm

I hope a wee bit of humor wasn't out of line, jean d; I hope it brought a smile to you; I'll be in and around the Cosby area a couple of days this week or next looking at two or three nice places; it's going to be a decision that will be easy to make once I narrow down my selection; the only thing I sort of dread is moving a lot of my "stuff" to a new place' It'll probably wind up looking like a branch of the NOC store !!
Yes, Marilyn; What would that $20K be worth today !?
JPD: d o n e

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while i'm alone and blue as can be, dream a little dream of me.

LeConte Lodge

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