Rains, More Melt, & Tracks

Overnight rains have further uncovered the landscape. The degree to which there is snow that remains seems to be tied to solar exposure. The landscapes with snow patches are usually among trees and on areas with a slope.

On the topic of snow, earlier this week Jackie photographed some tracks in the snow out on Tetasset Ridge, and we have been trying to pin down a specific animal ID on that. We have our guesses here, but we were curious what others thought as well.

Today will be warmish, as will tomorrow, so this weekend will be a decent one to go for a hike. Have good traction, bring treking poles, and watch your step on the remaining snow/ice mix.

Also, Ted finished up the Smoky Mountain National Park, got to cell service, and reported in at tedatgwlt.blogspot.com


7:30 am Trailhead Conditions at Cascading Waters (elev. 630'):

Temperature is 42.8 degrees F and steady;
Humidity is 95% and steady;
Pressure is 29.32" of Hg and rising;
Wind is variable from 1-3.5 mph;
The sky is overcast;
The Cascades are flowing;
The Cascades Brook is running in both channels;
The USFS Fire Danger Class is NONE.

Wind Advisory:

...STRONG NORTHWEST WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH WILL DEVELOP LATER THIS MORNING AND CONTINUE INTO EARLY THIS EVENING BEFORE DIMINISHING...
...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO
8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

• WINDS...NORTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.
• TIMING...LATER THIS MORNING INTO EARLY THIS EVENING. STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE THIS AFTERNOON.
• IMPACTS...WINDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE MAY LEAD TO DOWNED TREE BRANCHES OR EVEN A FEW TREES. UNSECURED OUTDOOR ITEMS MAY BE BLOWN AROUND AND ISOLATED POWER OUTAGES ARE POSSIBLE.

National Weather Service Forecast:

Partly sunny, with a high near 48.
Breezy, with a northwest wind 14 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 44 mph.