you fit me better than my favorite sweater.

2/10/2014

There was nothing to do and we did it. Arthur Conan Doyle

Morning y'all,

It is a beautiful, blustery morning up top. The high yesterday reached 30 degrees. The overnight low was 23 degrees. It was 27 degrees and lightly snowing at 7am observation. It looks like the mountain is due to receive a little bit of snow today. There is still a trace left up top. The trails are rather icy, hopefully the new snow provides some much needed traction. It should be a great day to get out, enjoy!

I had a great hike up Rainbow yesterday. I love late afternoon jaunts up the mountain, there is always so much to see. The grey evening light settled as I got towards Rocky Spur, allowing me to watch the stars come up as I made the ridgewalk from the Bullhead junction. There is so much astonishment to be had in this environment, you just need to stay alert and let the inspiration flow into you. Many come to the woods for their sparseness, that 'other' quality in comparison to their overstimulated lives. There is so much to engage the mind once your focus narrows and the clutter drops to the wayside. Break out of your man made chrysallis.

Jenny B. link

2/10/2014 01:35:31 am

"There is so much astonishment to be found in this environment," you say. That is a wonderful observation. What does astonishment really mean? A receptiveness to things that don't fit our preconceived notions. For most people, somewhere along the lines as we grow up, a subtle and insidious shift takes place in which we start preferring the familiar instead of the unknown, so we reject the distant galaxies because we can't place them in familiar categories.

tomk in SC

2/10/2014 02:17:59 am

We start preferring the familiar. That's deep! Children are all about something new because they have figured out that the world is full of new and wonderful things. At some point fear and (something else) replaces joyous curiousity and we abandon trails for ruts. We prefer the familiar until bored, but by then alternatives are invisible. Unless we seize the opportunity to try the unfamiliar and take a chance on wonder.
A few years ago a couple of friends were preparing for a hike up Kilimanjaro and wanted to cold test their winter gear. It was a great hike and sometime later I repeated the hike alone in the winter starting at 17F at the bottom of Rainbow Falls. The hoarfrost visible at Rocky Spur was like nothing I have ever seen before. Everything was covered, bejeweled, in hoarfrost and it was awesome.
It is amazing to me the peer fraction that dismisses a hike to LeConte with a "Whatever for?" or "My idea of roughing it is a four star." Oh well. More for me!

Kent

2/10/2014 02:32:00 am

Very well stated, Jenny B.

Humans have a propensity to find comfort in the familiar, unfortunately – even if it's not particularity good for us. We continue to embrace institutions and mindsets that only perpetuate the worst in our nature.

Exploring nature is such a liberating ex experience. It not only opens your eyes to untold natural wonders, but it can can have a profound effect on our spirit that can lead to questioning all our values with a more “unprejudiced eye.”

Barbara

2/10/2014 01:04:00 pm

Jenny: I really like reading about your adventures; especially the pictures that accompany. I like seeing what you saw on your hike. Keep it up it's fun to "go along" with you.

Wanda R.

2/10/2014 02:56:41 am

Doug Y.

I remember Russian Tea from the 80's. A co-worker always kept a batch of it at her desk and would share with others. I haven't had any since then. Would you mind posting the recipe again on your website ? Thanks.

doug y link

2/10/2014 04:16:02 am

Wanda R: It's there......enjoy

tomk in SC: your mention of hoarfrost brought back to my memory that I've seen this unusual winter display in the Smokies, but at the moment I cannot recall exactly where; it could well have been in or near the same location and trail you stated; that north side of the mountain can produce a lot of beautiful natural displays ! I grinned broadly at your mention of someone saying that some say their idea of "roughing it is a four-star" In the early 1990's I borrowed my parents' Winnebago "LeSharo" RV; it was one of those smaller ones and indeed was very nice; I used it for two or three months before I returned it. Thank goodness I did because it nearly spoiled me from backpacking !! Great Galloping Gertie !! That was a bloody close call !! G'day

2/10/2014 04:36:18 am

Thanks Doug, I retrieved the recipe from your website.
I'll be going today to purchase the ingredients. Can't wait to taste it again.

shiridy

2/10/2014 04:30:43 am

I agree with all of the above statements, we live while we live, if that makes any sense. I don't have the education to deliver the words of wisdom as most do but I dream big. I so enjoyed my trip to Mt. LeConte (twice) as I get older I find that my (young mind, I'm now 62) races way ahead of me while my body tries to catch up. Sometimes it seems that the thought of the trip is more exciting and the descriptions are more enjoyable than the actual event because your so caught up in the rugged terrain and being out of breath that you forget to enjoy the moment and it's not until much later when all is quiet and your mind slips back into the hike. I love the post from JP and all he has to offer to all of us while we sit and sip our coffee, we're able to relive our footsteps on the mountain once again. Thanks for being our link to the mountains.

2/10/2014 04:55:00 am

shiridy: Your words were just fine !! I give you an "A" ! I think my body gave up recently ! Like I've said before, my body was blessed by Mother Nature, then cursed by Father Time ! g'day

jean d

2/10/2014 05:44:52 am

As Kent said many people - (teenagers as well as adults) prefer the familiar even when its not good for us. Indeed it may be bad for us but somehow the familiar actions seem to be the ones chosen. Maybe the outcomes are not the ones wished for but folks just keep doing it over again hoping it will be different "this time". nfortunately, I've heard it said, "If you keep doing the same things you will keep getting the same results."

I, too, enjoy JP's posts and those of others who describe their trips because it brings back pictures to my mind as well as the feelings experienced during my various hikes and camping trips in the park and surrounding areas such as Townsend.

And yes the memory of the quiet and wonder of things not seen on a regular basis keep me feeling like I really may not have as many years under my belt as I do. How can I not be the same as those times years ago.?

norman

2/10/2014 06:25:03 am

last sentence!, it's called father time... you can't be the same yeras later... TIME

2/10/2014 06:46:19 am

Norman,
Rhetorical question! LOL --- Boo! Hiss! on Father Time! Good times and fresh "doins" help one feel as young as one can. That's why I think trying new activities and thoughts are so useful.

2/10/2014 06:53:44 am

Norman: ?

jean d: right; to add to your comments: personally, I think that people stick to the "familiar" because it's EASY; that's just one opinion among many such.

2/10/2014 07:51:49 am

Does anyone remember the Mountain View hotel in Gatlinburg ?

norman "the airborne rebel"

2/10/2014 11:05:14 am

JT-to young (at 72.5) to remember! But googled history of the mountain view hotel, Gatlinburg..has 2 pictures 1926 I think it was, from William Britten Photograph.. jean d-you can Boo! Hiss! all you want. I agree, fresh "doins", new acts. & thoughts are helpfull, but you can't stop time (the clock keeps ticking).. Doug y.. you are all the time refering to 'father time' etc. & and you are correct, it is EASY to stay the same... God bless!

Val

2/10/2014 01:47:13 pm

The Mountain View was at traffic light #3, the big Y intersection @ Hwy 321. Where a City Parking Garage is now. "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot"

2/11/2014 03:38:00 am

Val, Did you ever have the pleasure of staying or eating in the Mountain View Hotel ? I ate several delicious meals there , they served your food in courses . Thanks for answering

RJnLA

2/10/2014 11:59:06 am

Great comments by all today.So true. Jenny B, I enjoy reading and looking at pics on your site almost as much as this site. Only wish my health allowed me to do a small part of what most of you do. I still enjoy when I can.

norman abr

2/10/2014 02:05:36 pm

Me too!!

Scott B

2/10/2014 02:50:13 pm

wondering if anyone has stayed at the Lodge by themselves in one of the cabins? Will they allow you to stay by yourself or stick in another single with you? Just curious.

2/10/2014 11:33:16 pm

Scott B: When the lodge is open, I've always stayed in one of the cabins by myself, enjoying that very much; I've never stayed in one of the "group" buildings where I know they have individual rooms; will have to try that sometime;

2/11/2014 12:48:58 am

The lodge does NOT throw someone else in the same room, but they will throw someone else in the same cabin if your room happens to be in the 2BR or 3BR cabins.

2/11/2014 04:42:35 am

Thanks Doug Y and Tom for the info on the cabins

Donnie R

2/10/2014 09:32:10 pm

Big snow on the way JP..Enjoy !!

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you fit me better than my favorite sweater.

LeConte Lodge

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