It's been a great winter and a wonderful experience sharing  it with you.  I appreciate your support and the kind and supportive comments you all have given me.  I would like once again to thank the management of LeConte Lodge for giving me the opportunity to be on Mt. LeConte all through the winter.  It's been a time that I will never forget.  I am grateful that I have been able to give all of you a glimpse into the beauty and serenity of LifeOnLeConte.

    If you would like to follow the Lodge they have a new blog that you can follow from their website, www.LeConteLodge.com . 

    If you would like to continue following my Reflections Of The Smokies, you can find me at www.ReflectionsOfTheSmokies.com .

    Thank You,

    Doug McFalls

    We were supposed to have a significant amount of rain already but we haven't seen it yet.  Hopefully the rain will come in this afternoon and stay through tomorrow.  If we get rain and warm temps the snow will wash out.  The temperatures have reached the 40's but have dipped down to freezing at night.  We're down below three feet of snow in many spots but there's still a lot of snow left.

    I'm going to miss these snow painted scenes.  As much as I look forward to the new growth and beauty of spring I am reluctant to let go of Winter.  But it's a cycle we can't stop.  We have to let it go and accept change. 

   

    Spring is only 10 days away and I think everyone is ready for it!  Rain is in the forecast and we need plenty of  it on the mountain to wash out all this snow.  The sun has melted out some of the snow but there's still a little more than three feet on top. 

    LifeOnLeConte will only be live for two more days.  But you don't have to miss out on views like this.  You can continue to follow LeConte at the Lodge's new blog at www.LeConteLodge.com .  You can also follow my new blog about the Smokies at www.ReflectionsOfTheSmokies.com .

    I would like to thank Curtis Hixon for sharing this gem from the past with us.  If you where fortunate enough to climb Mt. LeConte 40 years ago you could receive a Certificate Of Achievement form Herrick brown who owned and operated the Lodge at that time.  What a fantastic memory for Curtis and his Family.  Thanks for letting us enjoy this memory with you Curtis.

    It looks like the weather is definitely changing.  There's a 50% chance of rain today and a 70% chance tomorrow.  If that holds true the rain will wash out a significant amount of snow.  It really hasn't been warm enough for much snow to melt.  The high reached 40 but it didn't last long.  The low was 29 and it's currently in the low 30's.

    Just another reminder that the LifeOnLeConte will only be with you for a few more days.  After the 12th you can follow me at my new site www.ReflectionsOfTheSmokies.com.  If you would like to follow LeConte Lodge they will have a new blog at their website, www.LeConteLodge.com .  It's been a great winter.  Thanks again LeConte Lodge Management for giving me the chance to be here.  I wouldn't trade the deep snow for anything!

    The sunshine brought a high temperature of 40 degrees to Mt. LeConte!  The low was only 25.  Not much more snow loss was recorded.  The weather forecast gives a hope of rain to was away the deep snow on the mountain.

    The sunshine brings with it the hope of spring.  We all love spring.  It's a time for new things and change.  For me spring is a time for forgiveness and new beginnings.  I hope that as the snow melts and the new growth comes on in the woods, old resentments and bad feelings and old resentments will melt and there will be new beginnings.

    Clear and sunny skies take a couple more inches of snow away.  There is a total of 46" of snow left on the ground.  Things melted down some yesterday but froze back up again last night.  The low reached 14 with a high of 25.  It's currently 25 degrees with beautiful clear skies.

    This is a view of the Alum Cave Trail not far from the top.  The snow is receding but is still deep.  The trail is passable but is very tricky in places.  The deep snow moves a lot under your feet.  Be careful!

    Clear and fair skies brought a beautiful sunrise this morning.  What a peaceful and serene feeling to enjoy the sunrise on LeConte.  The wind was calm so there was almost no sound.  I knew that there was a few hikers staying up at the back country shelter.  But I couldn't hear or see them from where I was taking in the sunrise.  The solitude was very serene.

    I share a lot of images of English Mountain.  But that's not the real subject of this picture.  Notice how the light plays off the frozen, snow covered trees along the top of the ridge.  How fantastic!
    The sun is finally here to stay for a few days.  It's still been cold on LeConte though.  It's currently 14 degrees.  The high was 17 with a low of 6 degrees.  The sun claimed 2 inches of snow leaving a total of 48 inches of snow on the ground.  It should warm up more today.  I hope you have the opportunity to get out and enjoy this sunny day.
    Keep in mind that I will be blogging here only until the 12th.  After that you can follow LeConte Lodge's new blog at www.LeConteLodge.com.  You can follow my new blog about the Smokies at www.ReflectionsOfTheSmokies.com .

    After a few dark and snowy days the sun is shining again on LeConte.  Right at sunset the skies cleared and I could see the lights in the valley for the first time in a few days.  The sunrise this morning was beautiful.  With the clear skies I got to watch the moon set behind me as the sun rose ahead.  It was cold this morning but should be warming up for the next few days.  The low was 7 with a high of 20 degrees.  It's currently 7 degrees and warming.

    I want to thank the Management of LeConte Lodge again for allowing me to experience this.  What a fantastic view.  The experience of last nights sunset and this morning's sunrise was worth all the sub zero truges through deep snow I've made this winter.  Remember, I'll be here at LifeOnLeConte for another week.  After that you can follow my blog about the Smokies at www.ReflectionsOfTheSmokies.com .  You can continue to follow LeConte Lodge on their new blog at www.LeConteLodge.com .

    I need to take a moment and express my gratitude.  I want you all to know how much I appreciate the Management of LeConte Lodge giving me the opportunity to be here.  Without the opportunity to be here at the Lodge on Mt LeConte this website would have never happened.  It's been a great experience for me and from your comments I think it has been for you as well.  
    In announcing the end of LifeOnLeConte it was not my intention to make anyone  out as a good guy or a bad guy.  No one is gaining or losing anything here.  The winter is coming to a close and it's time for me to go back to work as a crew member and cook at LeConte Lodge (which if you've been here you know it's a job that I love.)  LeConte Lodge is going to carry on with a blog on their website to keep you all informed.  I am going on to work on other projects in my free time.  So come March 12th you fans of Life On LeConte will now have two outlets to enjoy.  You can enjoy my photography and reflections on the Great Smoky Mountains at my new site.  You can also keep up with LeConte Lodge at their new blog on www.LeConteLodge.com .
    The management of LeConte Lodge have been very gracious to me in giving me the opportunity to experience life here on Mt. LeConte.  It has been a rewarding experience sharing it all with you.  I appreciate your support as much as I appreciate  LeConte Lodge Management's support in giving me this awesome  opportunity.
    I will still be here until the 12th so I hope you enjoy the last few days of the winter season with me.

    Thank You,

    Doug 

    Not surprisingly another inch of snow fell overnight bringing us to a total of 51 inches of snow on the ground.  It looks like this will be our deepest snow for the year.  Sunshine and warmer temperatures should start melting the snow down this weekend.  It's hard to tell that warmer temps are on the way!  It's 11 degrees right now.  the high reached 26 with a low of 9.  I'll miss the quiet beauty of the snow and the dramatic sculpting of the ice.

    I hope that you will continue to stay with me here for the next few days.  After that you can follow me at my new site, www.ReflectionsOfTheSmokies.com . 
    LeConte Lodge plans to host a blog as well that you can follow at their website, www.LeConteLodge.com