High On LeConte
  • Home
  • Daily Posts
  • LeConte Team
  • FAQ's
  • Trail Guide
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer

you thrill me so much i can hardly speak.

12/16/2013

 
Picture
There are only three sports - mountain climbing, bullfighting and motor racing - all the rest are games. Hemingway
Picture
Top photo: View near Cliff Tops. Above: Sean making some memories.
Morning y'all,

It's another pretty morning up top. The high yesterday reached a brisk 23 degrees. The low was 16 degrees. It was 22 degrees and clear at 7am observation. The mountain received the snowfall equivalent of .04 inches of liquid precipitation. There is still about an inch of snow on the ground up top. The trails should be in pretty good shape. The new snow usually has decent traction until it gets packed down, thaws and refreezes. I would still recommend taking along Microspikes in case you run into some slick areas. I would expect 441 to open at some point today, once the Park Service declares it is safe to drive.
Picture
Inversion!
I caught a magical hour last evening. I headed out towards sunset around 5pm with my friend Sean. As we approached Cliff Tops, you could see through the barren winter trees this showing was to be filled with promise. The clouds churned slowly down in the valley, moving in a hypnotic motion above the Chimneys. The rest of the cloud cover hung heavy over Knoxville, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge forming a gorgeous inversion cap. The sunset's colours were unreal, meant to be seen, not described. The nearly full moon illuminated the snow covered trails on my way back to my cabin, a dim path making my headlamp superfluous. The snow sparkled in the moonlight. It was that kind of night.
Picture
The walk home.
Terry in Wears Valley
12/16/2013 01:07:42 am

I have no words that can add to your photos today and commentary....Perfect! Enjoy.

Jan
12/16/2013 01:37:05 am

Wow!!! And thanks SO MUCH for sharing this JP! Truly magical!

haley
12/16/2013 01:38:11 am

My news feed is filled with unrest from all over the world. When I scroll down and find this blog shared, I smile, and know it's all good man, all good.

Wanda
12/16/2013 05:12:07 am

SO AGREE!!

Sharon
12/16/2013 07:18:23 am

AGREE!!!

Melissa
12/16/2013 01:59:45 am

I so enjoy all the photos that you post! Thanks for sharing!

Missy
12/16/2013 02:10:27 am

Lucky man enjoying the best job I can imagine.

Lillian
12/16/2013 02:40:41 am

Truly America thr Beautiful

Sher
12/16/2013 03:13:13 am

Inversion - that photo is wonderful!

Jennifer
12/16/2013 04:40:45 am

That is a perfect description of my favorite sunset to date!

Craig
12/16/2013 05:02:45 am

Winter on LeConte is a special blessing. Thanks for sharing the splendor and magic.

Mamaw B
12/16/2013 06:36:55 am

JP the photos are gorgeous. Thanks a lot. Driving from White Pine at one point I could see the tops of the mountains above the inversion for just a few seconds and I knew it had to be gorgeous up top. Wishing you a very Happy Holiday Season! Hope to get up to see you when you return. Be safe.

Steve
12/16/2013 10:30:49 am

WOW... What a great pic and great blogs. Daughter and I will be hiking up to stay in Nov next year.. Can't wait...

Debi
12/16/2013 10:27:54 pm

I hear beautiful warm weather is coming your way. Enjoy it for me will ya. :)

Karen Jimerson
12/17/2013 09:00:49 am

Wow, thanks Sean for posting.. Will be coming up in May and at 53, I've got some training to do! Your pics just wet my appetite for the adventure


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    LeConte Lodge

    Welcome to the official blog of LeConte Lodge. We hope you find the information provided here both helpful and enjoyable.  Thank you for visiting the site, and we hope to see you on the mountain!

    Online Store

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010

    RSS Feed

For current GSMNP road and trail information, visit the Park's Twitter page, official website, or call 865-436-1200 and follow the prompts.

Picture

Picture

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture