Good Afternoon,
     The wind is howling up here today, more so than yesterday.  We're enjoying a sunny break in the action, but it sounds like more atmospheric disturbances are on deck for tonight.  We tallied 0.5" of rainfall yesterday, and temperatures remained fairly stable.  Our recorded high was 57 degrees, with only a low of 53.  With the sunshine beating down on the mountain, it's surpassed 60 degrees at the moment.
     Everyone who isn't working is trying to soak up some quick rays before they disappear again.  We're currently waiting on the llamas to arrive with the last of this week's supplies.  If you choose to get out in these conditions, be mindful that trees, particularly those in the burned areas or hemlock forests, are more susceptible to falling.  Dress for wind and rain as well.
     Have a great rest of the day!

Good Afternoon,
     The rain has moved in and looks like it is here to stay. With Tropical Storm Cindy making landfall, expect that moisture to keep things wet along these mountains for the next few days.  Yesterday's brief but heavy soaker dropped 0.45" of rain on us, with clouds breaking up just enough to offer guests a picturesque sunset.  Our high temperature for Wednesday came in at 66 degrees, with an overnight low of 50.  We're hovering in the mid 50's currently with periods of light rain.  Be sure and pack those appropriate layers if you intend to summit the mountain.

     Coming up Alum Cave Trail, one can still see Mountain Laurel and Dwarf Rhododendron in peak bloom.  The purple Catawba Rhododendron are well on their way out and much of the white Rosebay Rhododendron is still in its budding phase.  A couple more weeks and they ought to be opening up nicely.  Around camp, things continue to green up at an alarming rate.  Sadly, it appears the deer have nipped the heads off of all of the Turks Cap Lilies by the Dining Hall.  Oh well, guess they have to eat too.
     Stay dry out there and have a great day.

We are lucking out with gorgeous sunsets!

Most of our evenings get foggy pretty quickly and then all of a sudden it clears up for a wonderful display of purple and oranges. Dollywoods fireworks make the evenings especially special.

63/49 are our temp, prepare yourselves for a very, very wet weekend! Rain is in the forecast the next days , umbrellas and raincoats are a must.

Do we have any readers who are birders?
There is some adorable bird I cannot see, but it's small, if not smaller, than a junko and makes a “mew-WHEET” sort of call. It is high up in the trees and I would love to know what it is!

There are also 3 deer and a tiny, barely as tall as your knee, fawn that hang out around the outskirts of camp. It is fun to watch them because the fawn will stand out of the mothers sight. She'll start running around, making snorting noises until they are reunited.

It’s quite fascinating.

And the fawn is so cute.

Also, keep an eye out for salamanders, they are somehow getting inside buildings lately.

Happy hiking!

Weather gets weirder everyday here!

It's humid up here, and chilly at night. 65/52 have been the general temps the past few days and no rain yet rain even though we've been hanging out in the clouds for a bit now.

The next few days sound like frog stranglers with Wednesday as our only sunny day this week!

For real guys, bring your rain stuff! Also, lots of water. It's so humid on the trail dehydration is getting to be an issue for hikers so please make sure to drink plenty of water. Bring up something to mix with your water, like electrolytes, to help your body recover.

People hiking up Alum early in the morning have spotted a mama bear and cubs walking about, so please keep your distance until they pass through. Make some sort of noise to alert them to your presence!

Llamas Wednesday and Friday!

We are getting hot and humid up here!

​70/48 were our temps complete with 1.21" of rain, a gorgeous sunset, sunrise, and then glimpses of inversions through the fog....bring your camera, you never know what you'll see up here!

So Alum Cave is open 24/7 this year so hike up to Arch Rock, Inspiration Point, the Bluffs, and the lodge whenever you'd like!

Rainbow Falls is undergoing construction thanks to the awesome ACE crew and will be closed Mon-Friday.

Bullhead is closed indefinitely due to the fires we had last year, please respect the closed trail signs!

Randon rainstorms are still in the forecast so be prepaired!

Also, don't forget to pack water and snacks for your hike up. It's getting hot and humid so please keep hydrated and nourished.

Breakfast was a bust weather wise. Right before we rang the bell the skies let lose with a magnificent cloudburst that turned our front steps into a waterfall.

Then it cleared off.

Whatever floats your boat, Mother Nature.

We are most likely going to hang out in the clouds today (again). We received no rain yesterday. This morning certainly made up for it!

66/52 were the temps with a chilly bit of humidity. The forecast was pretty consistent regarding random (bad joke) rain and thunderstorms so please pack accordingly!

It's getting a bit bit chilly up here! After a 67/48 day, complete with nighttime rain showers amounting to 1.68”, we are spending most of the day in a fog waiting for more rain to hit.

With so much cloud cover the snails are quite busy around camp, watch your step!

There has been an ongoing struggle with the squirrels this year, PLEASE DO NOT FEED THEM. They are starting to take more liberties. From biting through unattended packs to jumping on people trying to get their food, the squirrels should not be rewarded for their bad behavior. Us at the lodge and our awesome overnight guests have to live with them, and boy, you have to be careful.

Pack for rain most of this week! Umbrellas and raincoats are a must!

Greetings,
     It would seem the dry streak we've been experiencing is over for a while.  The clouds have been more dominant today, socking us in from time to time with the occasional sprinkle.  The extended forecast is calling for stronger percentages of rain and storms in the coming days, so come prepared if you have aspirations of climbing the mountain.
     It was another comfortable day around camp on Sunday.  We topped out at 63 degrees, with last night's low bottoming out at 47.  We're hovering around 60 at the moment.

     It's been interesting to see and hear about what's going with rhododendron displays around the park.  In some places they seem a little lackluster, both Catawba and Rosebay, most likely a result from having to endure last year's drought.  Many of the Catawba variety along the mountain crest went straight to leaves this month.  On the other hand, Alan tells me that the stands along Trillium Gap, though now past peak, have been most impressive. So I guess it just varies from place to place this year.
     Alum Cave Trail, Clingmans Dome, and specifically Andrews Bald have some of the most notable stands of Rhododendron blooms in the Smokies.  Elsewhere in the region, the drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway extending from the Smokies to Grandfather Mountain boasts some of the best displays, with must-see stops at Craggy Gardens and Mt. Mitchell State Park along the way.  Separate from the BRP but straddling the TN/NC state line is Roan Mountain, whose rolling balds and densely forested peaks are world renowned for their Rhododendron and Azalea populations.
     So much to see and do this time of year in the outdoors.  We hope all of you are able to muster up some time to play outside soon.  There's plenty of beauty to enjoy on this mountain, so come check it out!
     Have a great rest of the day.

Good Day,
     We're fortunate enough to be basking in another beautiful day overlooking East Tennessee.  The skies are partly cloudy, but there's enough blue and sunshine to go around to keep things bright and pleasant.  Temps are comfortable at the moment, hanging out in the lower 60's. Our high mark yesterday came out to be 63 degrees, and our overnight low dropped to 46.  We haven't seen much precipitation lately, but the extended forecast shows a chance of thunderstorms  just about everyday for the region.  We'd expect nothing else for the month of June. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it doesn't, but better to be safe and pack for rain anyways!

     It's enjoyable to see the mountain bursting with life at a frenetic pace now.  More plants are blooming, or growing in tall and thick.  Surely a testament to the rainfall and moderate temperatures we've been experiencing so far this year.  The deer that call this basin home have put on their reddish coats, and who knows if we'll see any new fawns in the near future.  And those red squirrels...they seem to be everywhere this season, chattering away at one another as well as human visitors.  Yesterday one decided to crash into the side of my foot while walking along at a casual pace.  Another "Boomer" this morning was so startled by my opening of the Office door that instead of running down the stairs or to the opposite end of the porch, it thought it better to leap straight out from the highest part of the handrail, eventually landing about ten feet out.  Crazy little buggers.
     If you're an upcoming guest, please don't entice these little guys with food, as there is no unlearning such bad habits from them.  Keep windows and doors closed at all times when your cabin is unoccupied, and store your belongings inside safely.  That will also detract the potential for unwanted bears ambling into camp.  Thanks!
     Have a great end of the week and happy trails.

Good Afternoon,
     Happy second weekend of June to you all!  It's a beautiful day on the mountain, and it's good to see so many folks motivated to get outside and explore.  We're enjoying temps in the low 60's currently with sun and clouds sharing the attention up above.  Our high temp yesterday was 58 degrees, followed by a low of 43.

     The scenery around camp continues to green up.  Some Dwarf Rhododendron above the Dining Hall are starting to bloom.  Elsewhere around lodge ground, the Coneflower, Purple Monkshood, Filmy Angelica, and White Snakeroot continue their ascent toward the sun, but won't start blooming for several more weeks yet.  It appears one of the natives, a deer, munched on one of the Turks Cap Lilies outside the kitchen, but I was delighted to find three more growing in a different location.  Fingers crossed the big critters don't sniff them out!
     Have a great weekend.