After I reported the low temperature as 9 this morning the temperature promptly dropped to 5!  So far the high has reached 12.  It's been a crisp day to say the least.  I have been out for a walk and the mountain is beautiful today.  This image made me realize that the beauty of Mt. Leconte is reflected in absolutely everything here.

    I revisited the Old Fence Post today.  There's about two feet less snow around it.  Everything looks so clean when it's frozen.

    I went over to check on Millie's Place (The Honeymoon Suite).  It's lonely without you Millie!

    It's been quiet and cold here today.  The mountain has been very serene.  I got out for a nice trek around the grounds of the Lodge.  This is a photo of the cabin called "The Laundry".  This cabin was built when Herrick Brown ran the Lodge in the late 60's and early 70"s.  This cabin had a wood fired hot water heater and a gas powered washing machine where the crew did laundry .  Hence the name of the cabin.  Today the cabin houses crew members and has a small shower with an on demand propane water heater.  The water system is drained in the winter so it won't freeze up so I don't get to enjoy the shower in the winter.  I carry my water from the spring and heat it on the stove.  I bathe with a pan and bucket.  Not luxurious but effective!

    Here's Millie's Cabin!  Last season it was "Pat's Place."  Next season Millie will be living there so now it's "Millie's Cabin."  The original structure was built by Jack Huff and is one of the oldest cabins on LeConte.  It was remodeled two years ago.  Jack Huff built two Lodges and then this cabin, hence the name "#3."  The Huffs would put Honeymooning couples in this cabin so they would have some space from the rest of the guests so  "#3" became "The Honeymoon Shack."  You may notice some tape on the window on the right.  A bear tried to break in this last September.  Pat woke up and scared the bear off before he got in.  I think Millie will be very cozy here.

    Below is my place, "The Tack House."  The Lodge used  horses to bring supplies to the Lodge and take things down.  They had a horse for logging and allowed guests to ride their horses to the Lodge and keep them up overnight.  There was a barn located below the spring to the east of the Trillium Gap Trail.  In the mid 70's the Park Service decided that the horses had too great an environmental impact.  After they stopped using horses they tore down the old barn.  They took the pieces of the tack house from the barn and used the materials to build this cabin.  So I live in "The Tack House."  You may notice the solar panels on the roof and the movable panel to the left on the ground.  That's how I get the power to keep in touch with you!