Good morning folks,

​The early morning light pushes into the dark areas around camp with a chill and light breeze. The morning light is welcomed. The temperatures yesterday only made it up to 23 degrees. The overnight low was 13 degrees which felt much colder with winds around camp. We gradually warmed overnight with our current temperature hovering around 22 degrees. We should warm up much more than yesterday but all those layers and down jackets will be needed. Areas around camp are extremely slick even I have to wear them just to go do things around camp. Trails are sure to be the same so pack those micro-spikes (Kahtoola) are the best!
With the weekend upon us the mountain is sure to be busy with hikers wanting to see the peaks from LeConte. Remember all guests services are closed!


Another fantastic day on the mountain. I’m settled in for a long winters nap. Yesterday was spent doing chores around camp and organizing things in the kitchen. Supper menu last night consisted of Pork loin with Brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes. Something about the food on LeConte seems to always taste better. Anyways, have a great weekend folks. SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

Good morning folks,

Its a cold, blistering morning on the mountain. The high yesterday reached 47 degree with an overnight low of 14 degrees. Its currently 15 degrees with light winds making it feel much colder than that. We received 0.67” of precipitation. There are trace amounts of snow/ice mixture on the ground. Very slick around camp this morning. Today is shaping up to be a crisp winter day with abundant sunshine just in time for the weekend. It will remain cold on the mountain so pack those extra layers and puffy jackets. Micro-spikes are a must to reach the summit. Ice is heavy in and around camp so prepare for a slick trail. All roads are open so get out and shed some of that Turkey and dressing. Have a good day folks!

Welp folks I’m back! P-Nut here for my 3rd season on top of everyone’s favorite mountain top. The cold has set in with a heavy icing forming overnight. The mountain must know that I’m back for the winter. Prepare for cooking adventures, tubing runs, and pictures of this magical place. I look forward to sharing my experience through this blog. Let’s get the winter season started! See you at the top!

Cliff tops last season

Good Morning,

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! After serving our final overnight guests of the season on Wednesday, and a great deal of cleaning up, locking down, and winterizing, the lodge is officially closed for the winter season. All on-site visitor services will resume March 21, 2022. A couple reminders about what visitors can expect over these next few months:

*Anyone day hiking to Mt. LeConte will only have access to our pit privies.
*The only available water source will be the natural spring located northeast of lodge grounds where Trillium Gap Trail exits. If you don’t have means of treating the water you draw from the spring, then it is recommended you pack enough hydration for the entirety of your trip up and down the mountain.
*Since our buildings are closed to the public from entry, you will also need to come prepared for spending 100% of your trip outdoors in the raw elements, as there will be no shelter from the cold or potential storms.
*More so now than ever, all visitors are responsible for being good and caring stewards of our national park, and that certainly starts with packing out all trash. Although the NPS may have the restrooms closed at any/all of our mountain’s trailheads, the bear-proof trash bins remain in place to use upon completing one’s hike.
*Our on-site gift shop might be closed until next spring, but lodge enthusiasts can still purchase unique souvenirs and apparel 24/7 through our online store. Be sure and visit www.lecontelodge.com/store to scope out our latest online offerings ahead of the holidays.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, it’s important to go through and express our sincere gratitude to everyone that helped to make this season possible. There simply isn’t enough time or text to adequately cover everyone and everything as is deserved, but we’ll do our best!

Since we are located on top of a mountain inside the most visited national park in America, we’ll start with thanking our local park partners here at GSMNP who allow us to operate in such a beautiful place. There are so many people under the employ of the NPS who do incredible work to help provide a safe and enjoyable visitor experience here in the Smokies and on Mt. LeConte. From the trail crews keeping our paths passable, to the medics responding to visitors in distress, the folks managing resources and wildlife to keep our mountains wild and beautiful, to the staff and volunteers stationed at trailheads and visitor centers keeping travelers educated and informed, and so many more. To those donning the green and gray, your services are greatly appreciated!

To be able to provide the array of goods and services that we do at the lodge requires the involvement of numerous outside business partners. We’re talking food distributors, shirt designers, artists, craftsmen, construction contractors, mechanics, electricians, plumbers, and so on. We have the fortune of working with so many businesses, big and small, local and nationwide, all of whom have been committed to providing contributions to our unique operation, even during these unusual times. Thank you all!

Countless visitors and guests throughout the year have commented on how awesome our hard working staff is, and we couldn’t agree more! Our team of folks at the lodge and Stokely Hospitality is full of caring, dedicated people working tirelessly to provide a safe and memorable once-in-a-lifetime experience. Whether working behind the scenes at our administrative offices, answering phones and emails assisting reservations, leading or caring for our lovable pack llamas, or crewing as the face of the lodge while serving up delicious meals, selling stylish shirts, and welcoming guests to cozy cabins, we just can’t brag enough about our team. In the 97 year existence of LeConte Lodge, no team has ever had to overcome and adapt to the changes and challenges of the times like this one, and to continue to do so while remaining committed to serving our guests and each other, these folks deserve the utmost thanks and appreciation.

Last and certainly not least, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who took the time and effort to visit us this season, either as overnight guests or on a day hike. It is our pleasure to be able to share our passion for this mountain and the outdoors with so many people. First timers and long time returnees, your patronage is greatly appreciated and we truly hope to welcome you back to our special mountain getaway sometime soon. The kind words of encouragement, support, and appreciation you doled upon our team throughout the year in many ways was the fuel that kept us going.

Have a safe and prosperous holiday season. We hope you enjoy the sights and musings of Mt. LeConte via this blog over the coming winter months. Until next March, thank you again and happy trails!

Good Morning,

We’re kicking off the final weekend of the season with abundant sunshine and open skies. It’s definitely chilly up top, as was predicted, so be sure and load up on the layers before deciding to make the climb. Be sure and have the traction devices ready in case you run into icy patches close to the top. We should rise out of the 20s and reach the upper 30s this afternoon. We’re getting a break from the blustery winds today so the summit conditions should be calm and pleasant, but by tomorrow the gusts return blowing up to 35mph. Saturday will be slightly warmer than today and begin in sunshine as well, but as the day progresses clouds are expected to roll into town. By Sunday we are looking at the strong possibility of rain eventually mixing with snow showers along the upper elevations. With less than a week remaining, let’s all take these weather reports to heart so that everyone has a safe and enjoyable trek up and down the mountain.

​Have a great day.

Good Morning,

It’s another mild morning high above East Tennessee, although it won’t last but a few hours. The cold front preceded by rain is slowly making its way west to east across the state. Shortly after lunchtime, the precip should start and hang around through supper. After that the skies will begin clearing in time for a sunnier Friday. The upper elevations will be mostly packed in with clouds today with occasional breaks of sunshine before the rain arrives. Also going to be windy again, with gusts as high as 30mph now through the entire weekend. There is a slight chance that as the precip peters out tonight and the temps drop, that some snow showers could form, but the summit isn’t expecting much if any accumulation of the fluffy stuff. This morning might also be the warmest part of the entire day as we begin in the 40s, but by tonight we’ll have to welcome a return to sub-freezing conditions. Remember plenty of layers for keeping oneself dry and warm, and don’t forget traction devices because all that rain runoff will most certainly ice over the trails. All roads accessing the mountain are currently open, but be sure and have a backup plan in place just in case the sour weather and winds cause a temporary road closure somewhere.

Have a great day.

Good Morning,

We’re down to the last week of the season, which means a number of lasts to experience for guests before we shut our doors for the winter. One last week of meals, one last week for getting “I hiked it” merchandise, and one last week to soak up some stunning sunsets before snuggling into a cozy cabin. The mountain spent much of yesterday in the clouds, and today’s conditions could have us inside, above, or below varying cloud layers intermixed with splashes of sun. Temps are going to be incredibly mild up top today and we should have no problem tapping the mid 50s this afternoon. This unusual warm spell won’t last long though given what’s on deck for Thursday. Rain is expected to arrive tomorrow afternoon and with it a steady descent in temps. In fact we could see a 35-40° drop from Wednesday’s high to Friday morning’s low. So if you’re staying with us these next couple days, come prepared for the major swing. As recently discussed, the winds will also continue to play a factor, gusting as much as 30mph today and up to 40mph tomorrow. Best to enjoy the warmth and sunshine today as it might be the last of its kind until next spring! There isn’t much left in the way of fall color in the mountains these days. What little remains has been relegated to the lowest reaches of the foothills and gateway communities. With the leaves turning so much later this year though, it’d be no surprise if some of our neighboring states to the south get to enjoy a more colorful Thanksgiving weekend than one is used to.

Have a great day.

Good Morning,

Already more than halfway through November and closing in on turkey day fast. We’re also on the favorable side of the freezing mark again, as temps took a plunge around supper time but have slowly been marching upward since dusk. We’re already in the upper 30s for daybreak and should easily spend most of our time in the 40s the next 48 hours. The top is socked in thick with clouds at the moment, but we’re hoping for some gaps of sunshine later on today. The winds will continue to be around with occasional gusts of 25mph. Should be a wonderful day to ramble in the woods. What colors are absent from the trees are being made up for by the ever-changing skies. These cold temps of late have really cleared the air providing detailed definition of the distant landscapes.

​Have a great day.

Good Morning,

There are numerous reasons the lodge doesn’t operate during the winter months, and it’s days like these so close to the end of the season that remind us why. The mountain top is a frigid place to be at the moment. Just as the oven was cranking out the heat as best it could to perk the morning coffee, the thermometer kept tumbling downward. The dial bottomed out at 14° this morning, and with gusts cutting through cabins and trees, the wind chill factor had us experiencing temps at or just below 0. Our coldest conditions at the lodge since April and the most bone-chilling the air has been all autumn by far. To make up for it, thankfully, the skies continue to be clear and mostly sunny, offering up limitless views and vivid colors at dusk and dawn. We’re creeping back up near the freezing mark and could tap the mid 30s later this afternoon, but with this persistent wind it won’t much matter. In fact, the next several days the gusts forecasted are expected to maintain their speed at 25mph. So load up on the layers and protective shells to retain warmth and keep the cutting winds at bay. We have a few more days of sun on the docket before wet conditions return by Thursday.

Reminder that beginning tonight guests staying overnight will be served supper at 6:00. Ever since the time change, visitors have the opportunity to catch a sunrise from either Myrtle Point or the closer Apollo Overlook before breakfast is served at 8:00. And for these remaining nine days (yes, single digits now) of the season our gift shop hours will be 8:30-9:15 and 12:00-5:00.

Stay warm, hike smart, and have a great rest of the day.