Weather and trail update

01/22/2013

Good morning, The high yesterday was 28, and a low of -5. It was 2 at observation. It is very windy and gusty at the top. Trails are still very icy. As hiker yesterday reported there are two sections where root balls are in the trail and make it difficult to navigate around. Coming down from the Lodge one is located at the start of the saddle and the other one is just above Alum. The one at Alum is the most difficult. There are about 5 trees between these two areas but they are not bad to get around.

Photo above looking out of kitchen toward Pigeon Forge with solar panel, weather station (white box) and crew quarters in the background.

Comments

tomk in SC

01/22/2013 10:52am

I've missed a few times on guessing the photo, but it would appear the photo can't be FROM the kitchen as it is looking AT the back deck of the dining room.. Photo likely from just outside the Ashberry cabin.

2F! That is plenty cold!

What was the coldest night anyone has spent at the LeConte Shelter? How did it go? I can't imagine crawling in to my sleeping bag at that shelter and discovering, about an hour later, that my sleeping bag was not rated for the impending cold.

Have there been any LeConte hypothermia emergencies?

Tony Ga

01/22/2013 11:00am

Looks like the photo was taken right outside the kitchen where the Lamas are usually tied?

Tony Ga

01/22/2013 11:10am

Go back and look at the photo posted 4/17/12.

Brian N bama

01/22/2013 11:57am

I've been away long enough, time to get back on the blog..I am hopefully going up late february to stay in the shelter. Suppose I will find out if my bag is suitable.

Aaron O in NC

01/22/2013 11:23am

I've stayed in the shelter when supposedly the reported low was -11 F. Not sure if that was accurate. I think it was Dec 30...maybe 2000 or 2001. When I made the reservation, they said I got the last spot in the shelter and it would be a full house. I was the only one that ever showed up that night! My bag was a zero degree but my feet got to where I couldn't feel them so I melted snow and boiled the water, put it in a Nalgene and in between my feet.

Kent

01/22/2013 11:25am

*Shiver* It's cold all over the lower 48, right now. That Arctic air mass has us by the root balls.

In just about 2-1/2 months I'll hopefully be making the trek back up to LeConte Lodge. I wonder what the weather will be like on April 3.

tomk in SC

01/22/2013 11:54am

Kent, as it turns out, I checked an almanac and the weather on April 3rd and the next calls for rain, cold and storms something fierce! The wind will be a blowing with trees breaking off and rootballs a rollin' up hill. Trails will surely be impossibly impassible! The smart play is to stay off the mountain in weather like that.

Now as it turns out, I have this nasty skin condition that can only be treated by cold rain and blowing wind in thin air. I really MUST be out in that kind of weather for my health. If I just barely avoid pneumonia, then the treatment went about right. The next opportunity for me is OCT 7th, but I just can't wait that long!

So, for your safety and my general health, I am willing to relieve you of the financial burden of prudently abandoning your slots, by offering you 75 cents on the dollar for your slots.

It's not for me, you understand, but for my children. Imagine, after my April treatment, there smiley faces as I squat down and give them hugs without having to wear long sleeves.

Wonder no more about wandering out in weather hardly fit for man nor beast.

Brian N bama

01/22/2013 12:13pm

tomk in SC, I made the mistake of booking a boys only trip in May, the weekend of mothers day!!!! Could wind up being my most expensive trip to Leconte ever after the girls are done with me.

Kent

01/22/2013 12:23pm

Root balls rolling up hill, you say? Now that would be an amazing sight!

Sorry, Tom, I should have explained that I don't have a reservation at the lodge (going up and down the same day). But if I did, I'd give it to you for free for that very eloquently worded attempt to scare me off. ;)

tomk

01/22/2013 12:53pm

@Kent. . .that's mighty sporting of you. :)

Steve D

01/22/2013 2:54pm

HaHa! That was a good one!

Pat N.

01/22/2013 1:33pm

Nice to see the sun shining for ya...oh, how I fondly remember who resided in the crew quarters pictured.

Wayne

01/22/2013 1:35pm

I believe one of the readers/posters here is going to be at that shelter one night this week in order to watch the "moonset" very early in the morning around 2-3 am or so. Perhaps he'll give an accounting of his stay when he returns. I hope his sleeping bag is rated for extremely low temperatures !

MattR

01/22/2013 4:21pm

Heading to the top this week for the first time. Looking fwd to the moon and snow. Will make for some nice well lit packless excursions at night. I am counting on the 0 degree Banshee to keep me warm at night. I just hope my fuel doesnt freeze so I can have a warm dinner and coffee in the morning.

Mike

01/22/2013 5:33pm

This just posted by the NPS. The new reservation system will take effect Feb 13, 2013. For all you folks going to stay the night at the shelter, it will cost you around 4 bucks. Just FYI.

Debi

01/23/2013 4:54am

First time I went up in March 2009 I think it was 16 and lightly snowing.

Tony Ga

01/23/2013 6:15am

I guess that was like early spring to you from where you live? LOL

Wayne

01/23/2013 8:37am

I haven't seen him on here today, but I do believe the fellow is going to be at the shelter above the lodge tonight, I hope he has clear skies for his efforts. Is anyone else planning to go !? According to astronomy sources Jupiter can be seen below and to the right of the nearly full moon and in fact Mars is to the left of Jupiter almost directly below the moon. An interesting combination. It'll be cold to say the least. Hopefully he'll post his observations and comments in another day or two after he returns.

Ralph

02/02/2013 9:25am

Happy Groundhog Day!

Isaac link

02/25/2013 5:33am

I’m still learning from you, but I’m trying to achieve my goals. I certainly love reading everything that is written on your blog.Keep the posts coming. I liked it!

Allyson Virden

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