Something... About the Sunrise

Something about the ocean, makes me rise up and praise
Something about the heavens, makes me stand in awe again
Something about the sunrise,
reminds me of Your faithfulness
Something about the ocean, and I'm lost in love again
Ocean, Ten Shekel Shirt 

Friday, as I was leaving Georgia to drive to the Smokies, I could not believe the amount of snow that was falling.  Really?  In Georgia?  Like 3 inches?!  I couldn't believe it... Regardless, I was eager to hike LeConte again, so I said goodbye to Georgia's snowy weather as I drove to Tennessee.  When I got into Knoxville there was no snow on the ground whatsoever.  That all changed on Saturday when we got into Gatlinburg, turned at the oh-so-familiar Traffic Light 8 and headed for the Rainbow Falls trailhead.  Normally I hike the Alum Cave Bluffs trail... It is about 5 miles, the shortest and arguably the most popular trail up the mountain.  However, we were warned on Friday that it was probably a little too dangerous for us to take that trail and advised we take Rainbow Falls, which is about 6.5 miles.  So, our 10 mile hike changed to a 13 mile hike... not too big of a deal.  Safety first, right?  Well, about 2.5 miles from the trailhead we saw the ever-dreaded "Road Closed" sign.  So, we did what anyone else would have done... hiked the extra 2.5 miles in.  (I mean, that's what you would have done, right? Ha.)  New Estimated Round-Trip Distance: 18 miles.  

Keeping in mind that I usually hike the Alum trail in < 3 hours...or let's say even 4 hours on a bad day...  It took us 8 hours to get up the mountain.  Eight Hours.  During the last mile it was all I could do to even put one foot in front of the other!  I was exhausted--thoroughly and utterly exhausted.  Luckily there had been some hikers before us, helping pack down the trail, but still... hiking through a foot or so of snow is hard work.  I didn't even get my camera out until we made it to the top.  Yeah, I was that tired... 

I don't think I've ever been so happy to reach the top of the mountain!  I was a very happy girl to say the least!  It was absolutely beautiful up there. Katie and Ryan had their camera out on the hike up, so I didn't even bother (hence why I have no pics of the trip up!).    

We were ready to turn in pretty early, around 9, and I was out until about 3am when I woke up sick.  Like really sick.  Most of you know how Nausea and I do not get along.  I was terrified.  Ryan wasn't sleeping very well and I asked him to grab my shoes for me.  I sat down and next thing I knew I was wondering where I was (oh, LeConte, duh) and why I was laying on my back?  I had passed out for a couple seconds... but the good news was that I realized I was no longer nauseous.  I'm not sure I convinced Ryan and Katie that I was fine, but I really felt completely normal!  Crazy.  I think I was just so exhausted and my body didn't know how to react.  

About 6:30 I woke up and and I saw all the lights in Pigeon Forge, so I knew there would be a pretty sunrise.  I started gearing up, and headed out about 7am. 

From the top of the "steps" ... First Light

I stopped on the way out (did not feel up to hiking to Myrtle Point) and watched sunrise from the trail.

Just before the sun showed itself

Taking in all the beauty

The sun peeking over the horizon

I loved the light on the snow!

It was so breathtakingly beautiful that I decided I would regret not hiking the rest of the way out to Myrtle... so I put my camera away and started hiking.  Then, thought better of it.  I hadn't eaten anything yet, and I truly was not feeling very well.  So, after 10 yards I turned around and saw...

...clouds starting to sock us in!

I just stood there watching the clouds rolling in... they went straight for the sun and fell over the mountains like river water.  I was absolutely captivated. 

Fire in the sky

Sunlight on the Snow

-something about the sunrise-

Snow on the Trail

This picture is from last February ('09)...see where the railing is the height of my hip?

This picture is from this February ('10)... see where the railing is only a foot and 1/2 or so above the snow?

February '09

February '10 ... Please note the 12"+ snow on the picnic table!

Ready to hike down the mountain

On the trail down the mountain I kept stepping in the wrong places and falling through the snow... at one point I got myself stuck up to my waist and Ryan had to help pull me out!

Ryan, Katie and I at Rainbow Falls

We were unbelievably happy to make it down the mountain in less than 4 hours...and seriously upset that the roads had been closed giving us 2.5 miles to go. The last couple miles went by fairly well though... especially when we were bursting out in songs from the 80's... :-) We were all in pain at this point.  9 miles of straight uphill on Saturday and 9 miles of straight downhill on Sunday makes your unconditioned legs, back, shoulders and feet... HURT SO BAD.  I mean... hurt so good...

Come on baby, make it hurt so good
Sometimes love don't feel like it should
You make it hurt so good
Hurt So Good, John Mellencamp

There's no day like a snow day!

The snow at our home... its not much, but enough to document :)

Let me just clear the air and let everyone know a little snow or ice doesn't scare me one bit... I don't mind driving in cold weather, I think I'm a pretty safe driver even under such circumstances... But I know that most southerners, especially in the city, are terrible at driving in bad weather! I am more than happy to stay off the roads, and that meant a crazy trip to the grocery store this afternoon, just so I could avoid the crazies later tonight and tomorrow!

I made a horribly butchered version of my grandpa's yummy chili. It started out the same, but ended up nothing like it! It all started when Jen asked me to leave out the beans... ha! Well, a little of this instead of that, and a lot of this instead of a little of that... We had a pretty decent meal tonight!! Furthermore, we have all our errands done so over the next few days we can stay home with the baby and help her get better!

You know what those paw prints mean?

Yep, Montana is HOME! Finally.

It has been awful not having her here!

Since we don't get real snow here in Georgia, I thought I'd share with you a friend's pics from LeConte. I hope to hike it in February and still get to see some snow!

Check out his blog to see more pics!

I hope everyone has enjoyed their snow day :-) Here's to hoping for more snow overnight!

LeConte Weekend

My momma always told me (at least from the time that I started driving) that even if I did everything right, even if I always paid attention, always wore my seat belt, always kept an eye on what was in front of, behind, and across the road from me, even if I did everything right... doesn't mean that it would always be enough.... doesn't mean that other drivers would do everything right, and in this case, doesn't mean a stupid raccoon would stay off the road... Yep, I'm the one who would (unintentionally, though) risk her own life to save a wild animal's. It is just my natural reaction to swerve to keep from hitting something. There was a very, very narrow shoulder and then very, very soft/wet/muddy grass ditch. When I swerved, I went into the grass a little bit and my car jerked out of control. It has been a long time since I have been that scared. I tried to regain control of the car (thought it would be a bad idea to slam on my brakes) and slowly pushed the brake. I remember thinking I can't believe this is happening. One second later, I felt like the car was under control and put a bit more pressure on the brake, and then it started spinning, out of control again. I was leaning against the door, thinking I was for sure going to flip my car, and then all of a sudden I stopped. I took the picture (above) only after the towing truck was there and I had quit shaking... and took it only then because I was amazed nothing worse had happened. The sheriffs that arrived there said I was lucky to not have flipped it. I'm not sure why they felt the need to tell me that (only shook me up a bit more)... but I assured them it was not luck that kept me safe!! It only cost me $1 to "fix" my car. There wasn't a scratch on it, but I needed to pressure wash the mud out of the tires to make it safe to drive.

Now, on to happier things... I couldn't have asked for a better weekend to go up the mountain... The weather was delightful, even chilly at times, and the fall foliage was beautiful. Emily & Caitlin  were going up this weekend as well. Because of my delay getting to the trailhead...I just met them at the top. I had a great solo hike up. I bought some hiking poles and completely love them. It made the trip up so much more enjoyable, and easier, truth be told. As always, I met several hikers on the trail and hiked with some for a bit. I really enjoyed going my own pace/enjoying the views and made it up in about 3 hours.

Around dinner, four guys who were hiking all the LeConte trails in 1 day stopped in the dining hall to warm up. One of them looked really familiar, but I couldn't place him. Being the not-so-shy person that I am, I just stopped him and asked him his name... Bo. Hmm... that didn't really trigger any recollection, but I thought of Katie and Ryan... and asked if he knew them--he did! I must have met him at their wedding or something. Anyway, as we were chatting, one of the guys (who had had his back to me the whole time) turned around and I knew who he was right away-- Philip, a guy I worked a summer camp with in college. RANDOM. Good to meet/see them...

The rest of the weekend was pretty normal as far as the weekends go up there. Sunset at Cliff Tops was gorgeous, sunrise at Myrtle Point was amazing, and lunch on Sunday was so yummy.  It was kind of hard to leave, knowing this was my last trip this season, but I was happy to have the company of Caitlin, Emily & Phillippe on the way down. I'm guessing most of you won't be hiking LeConte anytime soon, so enjoy these pictures :-)

Any doubt in your mind why they are called the Smokies?

Beautiful moonrise.

Incredible sunset!

Glorious sunrise...

ASHAN ... Hebrew for God's presence in smoke

Caitlin, me & Emily

Gorgeous view of foliage from Gracie's

Quick stop on the way out of the park to enjoy this overlook...

Life at 6,593'

Happy to be at the top

Sunset... overlooking Pigeon Forge

Moonrise

Sunrise at Myrtle Point

God's Love is Extravagant 

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name;
you are mine."

Isaiah 43:1-3

ASHAN ... Hebrew for God's presence in smoke

The Dining Hall

Inside the Dining Hall

A crew cabin

On our way down

6,593'

My Beloved Smokies this morning... Courtesy of NPS.

That's right... I am heading to The Mountain this weekend. I cannot wait :-)

My Mountain...

For anyone who doesn't know...

One of my favorite hobbies is hiking. There is something about getting out into the woods that excites and refreshes my heart... Hiking is definitely my re-creation. This past weekend I had the privilege to hike Mt. LeConte again. If you're not familiar with the lodge, check out their website. It is an amazing experience just being up there... and very spiritual, too. The city lights are Pigeon Forge. As usual, the pictures hardly do it justice, but it's the best I can offer!


This time on the mountain, a dear friend of mine surprised me by coming up. The funny thing is... I surprised her, too! We didn't know each other was going to be up this weekend, but what a great surprise!

Caitlin and I hung out on the porch, and then once it got cold we went to her cabin and did some catching up. (The last time I saw her was in February when we hiked LeConte with Emily.) She said a specific passage was on her heart... She shared with me what it was... The verses are from Psalms 37 and 46.

Do not fret...
Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe
pasture
Delight yourself in the Lord
and he will give you the desires of
your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the Lord and wait
patiently for him.

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the
earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart
of the sea.

There is a river whose streams make
glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High
dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.

Be still and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.

There is nothing quite like my mountain that so compels be to be still. Each time I hike it... it's a new experience-- and always a memorable one.