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Although the weather this week is going to be gloomy, there is still beauty to behold among the wet and gray of the mountains. In fact, sometimes gaps in the clouds or pauses in the precip can produce some of the most awe inspiring scenery one could ever see. So don’t let this week’s forecast bog you down. Keep a chin up and be thankful we have the opportunity to explore these woods of wonder. The percentages for rain and storms is going to be high all week. Looks like by Sunday the atmospheric turbulence will begin to calm down a bit. As dry as this region has been since the winter, there’s no denying we could benefit from a steady balanced soaking. Especially when it comes to helping out those dedicated folks responding to recent wildfires. Earth Week might be over, but it’s rolled right into this year’s National Park Week! And we’re proud to heap praise on the dedicated people donning the green and gray uniform here in the Smokies. There are so many knowledgeable people providing an array of services at the nation’s most visited national park who we have the pleasure of working alongside as a concessioner. From biological to medical, interpretive, law enforcement, maintenance, and air quality just to name a few, we are grateful to be able to enjoy such a magical place because so many caring and hard working people make it possible. So if you see a uniformed representative of the NPS anywhere during your visit to the Smokies this week (or anytime really), be sure and give them a big thank you! 
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 Howdy and Happy Earth Day! It was a good run of sun, but the rain finally moved in during the night and appears it will be hanging around all this week. There’s a chance for scattered storms and precip everyday, so except gloomy skies and wet trails if you have a visit to the summit planned anytime soon. Looks like temps will consistently range from 40s to 50s, that sort of middle ground where it’s not too cold but not warm either at our elevation. Be sure and include adequate layers for staying dry and warm though should the winds or rain catch you while venturing outside. Since it’s Day 7 of Earth Week, culminating with Earth Day itself, it’s another great opportunity to share what’s being done to care for this beloved mountaintop and surrounding area. In 2022, the Dept. of Interior mandated that the National Park Service phase out single use plastics across their managed lands, the goal being complete elimination of SUP’s by 2032. Never one to shy away from a challenge, LeConte Lodge embraced the opportunity to evaluate and revamp its environmental impacts to meet the changing NPS standards. And as leaders in an increasingly rare rustic backcountry experience, we’re proud to say that the steps we’ve already taken have us well ahead of schedule to meet the new requirements. When a business takes a closer look at the items it procures, uses, or sells - across any industry - it can come as a shock to some just the vast volume of SUP’s companies go through in a given day, month, or year. Fortunately, there are a growing number of effective alternatives available that are made from recycled, compostable, biodegradable, and/or reusable materials. Already the Lodge has converted the entirety of its paper goods, cleaning supplies, waste disposal means, food and beverage necessities, protective work gear, and provisioning methods away from SUP’s and toward an impressive assortment of eco-friendly alternatives. It is our hope that all visitors to Mt. LeConte and the Smokies embrace such an important mission, as fewer and fewer SUP’s coming into our nation’s fragile wilderness spaces means less going out and fewer negative impacts on the various important natural resources here. And who knows, maybe we’ll see such practices get put into action in other places we humans frequent outside our priceless national parks.   We’ve made it through the holiday weekend. Easter Sunday turned out to be calm and mostly quiet for us…to be expected as most folks would prefer to be home and attending relevant festivities to mark the occasion. It was another toasty day up top as we scraped the upper 60s. Mostly sunny skies at similar temps should grace us once again today before rain chances move in tonight. The week ahead is looking like a wet one. Choose your gear and trails accordingly for hiking in storms and precip after today. It’s Day 6 of Earth Week, and it’s a great time to talk about connecting visitors with nature and history. A major draw to the average Lodge guest is the rustic and simplistic nature of this venue and its accommodations…a way to step back in time and escape the bustling lifestyle and technological saturation of off-mountain civilization. Advancements are often slow to take root near 6,593’ because it’s important not to lose sight of what made this magical place so special these past 100 years. The Lodge predates the National park in its founding because it was an integral piece in securing the future and continued preservation of its precious resources for all to enjoy. A rustic lodge without all the bells and whistles allows one to relate and reminisce as to what life was like at such a time. All these years later - up here - it’s all about balance, ensuring our impacts don’t stretch farther than is absolutely necessary beyond this humble mountaintop oasis. At its core, the Lodge has never been about what’s new, flashy, or complex, nor does it need to be. Granted, such a laid back and off-grid experience isn’t for everyone…and that’s okay…but an overnight stay at this Lodge could provide someone with the purest, rawest, and closest interaction with the natural world in their entire life. And while that may not be the case for this blog’s average reader, given the record and diverse visitation this summit continues to host, for some that can and will hold true. The cabins are muted and humble, not towering and offensive. Trees are aged and close, not blitzed and forgotten. Wildlife are frolicking and free, not abused and endangered. And it’s all so readily available and intimate the moment you get here! The back-breaking work and careful execution by the stewards of the last 100 years have made and continue to make such an opportunity possible. It’s one that requires boots on the ground, hands in the dirt, loads on the back, and sweat on the brow…just ask any of our longest serving hosts and their families by the names of Huff, Brown, Line, or Northrup, who know better than most the efforts and sacrifice necessary to lead such an endeavor. The next time you’re up top relaxing in that rocker with a cup of hot cocoa in hand, take a moment to appreciate and respect all that you see and hear.   Good tidings and Happy Easter! The holiday weekend has been stunning atop the mountain. The sunshine and warmth does well to lift spirits and inspire folks to be active and explore the outdoors. We might not scrape 70° again today, but the thermometer is expected to creep close to it. Skies are incredibly hazy today due to both the unseasonable heat wave striking the region, but also the presence of several wildfires in neighboring counties. Be aware if you are someone with respiratory issues, as the air quality could affect your hiking enjoyment until the precip returns. We have one more dry and sunny day ahead of us before rain chances roll in sometime Monday evening. It’s Day 5 of Earth Week, so let’s bring up the topic of sustainability. Up here, conditions are tough, and outfitting a rustic lodge in a remote location requires resourcefulness and durability. Throw in record visitation year-after-year and you can understand that just about everything here receives an exceptional amount of wear and tear. And while things up here need to last, they also have to possess and display the appropriate fit and feel. There are reasons the buildings look the way they do, why the products we sell are what they are, or why the meals our guests consume are what they are. It’s also about evaluating our impacts both near and far by what we use and offer. The Polywood outdoor furniture we began incorporating in 2024 is produced in neighboring North Carolina from entirely recycled materials, are long lasting, easy to maintain, and complement the existing decor. The various LEED certified cleaning supplies we use in our kitchen, dining hall, cabins, or restroom facilities are safe, effective, and ensure no harm is done to our natural surroundings after their use. Several souvenirs like our balsam scented pillows, wooden coasters, or plush llamas are constructed from recycled materials preventing them from just becoming more waste in a landfill or burn pile. Our newest mattresses are PFAS-free to help protect our precious water sources, and new vegan pillows mean no animals were harmed in order to provide guests with a comfortable night’s sleep. These are but a few examples of the ways LeConte Lodge is leading the charge in providing a sustainable experience that still holds true to its rustic and timeless charm. Enjoy the holiday wherever paths lead you today!   Good Afternoon,
Wooooo it’s been a hot one. It’ll take some record digging to figure out what the hottest temp has been on this particular April day, but we managed to quickly tag 70° this afternoon and it certainly felt out of place for the time of year. Seems the unusual heat and dry conditions have the air extra hazy today, with a few noticeable active wildfires visible from our nearby peaks, likely contributing to the poor air quality. Even more concerning was an abandoned and active camp fire illegally constructed on Cliff Tops earlier today. Thanks to the quick thinking and efforts of hikers and lodge crew, the doings of some foolish and reckless individual(s) were extinguished. Such carelessness and ignorance could have had drastic consequences for both the precious natural resources and obviously the large concentration of people atop this mountain. Easter Sunday is calling for more sunshine and high temps that should come close to where they crested today. The national park is sure to be bustling once again tomorrow. Well it’s Day 4 of Earth Week, and seeing all these visitors today taking advantage of the Lodge’s numerous services got one thinking. It’s a question we get asked quite a bit from guests and day hikers, particularly first timers. “How does all this stuff get up here?” Everything we do is thoroughly critiqued in regard to any potential impacts on the park’s natural resources, as well as the visitor experience, while certainly turning an astute eye towards all things health and safety. Let’s start with arguably the cutest and most famous load luggers around…our lovable pack llamas! While their weight-limited loads are very specific to meeting operational needs, the llamas make multiple trips weekly bringing valuable cargo in the way of linens and fresh foods. Not only are they absolutely adorable and hard-working, but their impacts on the landscape are basically unrecognizable compared to their horse and mule predecessors. Obviously there are many items that appear atop the mountain every season that are clearly beyond the capabilities of even our mighty llamas. That’s where a hefty helicopter comes in to play. Visitors flock to the Smokies to enjoy the sights and sounds they can’t find anywhere else. And a place as popular as Mt. LeConte welcomes crowds steadily from early spring to late autumn. So in order not to impede upon those desired experiences of our record visitation, the Lodge is permitted a single annual airlift to outfit the operation with all its needs. Lastly, when push comes to shove, certain situations require expediency and simple brute strength to keep the supply chain moving. And although an individual backpacker’s boots and quiet presence will be the least impactful on the environment of all the provisioning methods described, it takes a special kind of person to be willing and able to sacrifice their back and knees to keep our countless backcountry guests happy. Some years these situations can be a rarity. Then you have outliers like the Lodge’s 100th season in 2024, where visitors’ insatiable appetite for the most popular shirt in any national park anywhere in the history of ever saw Herculean super-human efforts to keep the souvenirs and lunches coming. If you or someone you know happened to make a retail purchase during the latter part of 2024, you have the backs of several dedicated Lodge employees to thank for making that on-site in-the-moment satisfaction possible. Leave it to our GM to lead the charge, setting the Mt. LeConte record books ablaze once again in the process. For example, ever wonder what the most summits of Mt. LeConte are in a week? In a month? Well, as of last October they are now 15 and 30 summits respectively, but more on that mind-blowing-ness later. When you don’t have a service road or cable cars to cheat with, resourcefulness and creativity are key when it comes to provisioning a remote and multi-faceted rustic operation like LeConte Lodge. And when you’re located inside a national park, there are far more environmental impacts to consider than say in your typical municipalities. It’s a responsibility we’ve embraced for decades and look forward to fine-tuning every season.  It’s a Good Friday for great hiking in grand weather! As expected, we’re welcoming a surge in eager visitors today to kickoff the holiday weekend. And with these bountiful blue skies and stellar temps, it all makes sense that an escapade to the mountain is on the to-do list. We should see the mercury near the mid 60d this afternoon, although the winds have ramped up and could gust as much as 40mph tonight. Right now Saturday is forecasting a high close to 70° for our elevation with slightly weaker winds. One would think this dreamy destination will be absolutely hopping tomorrow. So pack the patience for those parking lots, popular trails, and gift shop lines along with the hat, shades, and sunscreen. Our reservations office is closed today in observance of the holiday and will resume normal business hours on Monday. It’s now Day 3 of Earth Week, and it’s only fitting that we look to the skies on such a day full of sunshine. That’s right, today we’re talking about the unique qualities of solar power here at the Lodge! From various rooftops and masts, visitors to the summit have likely noticed a number of systems pop up gradually over the past 25 years. Each is uniquely designed to harness the power of the sun to provide operational efficiency while reducing carbon emissions and a dependence on noisy, fossil fuel-burning machines and instruments. Said systems also allow us to take it the next level, from using rechargeable battery powered equipment to allowing our on-site staff to maintain their sanity while living off grid for months out of the year. And new this season, we’ve gone another step further by offering our overnight guests the opportunity to utilize rechargeable lanterns as an alternative to the traditional rustic kerosene lanterns that have graced our cabins for a century. They’re a great eco-conscious option for those guests (especially those folks traveling with kids) who aren’t as familiar with our old-school means of illumination. Just inquire with our knowledgeable crew when checking in to your cabin. That’s just one example of solar-related sweetness that’s been rolled out this season, but more innovative yet tasteful implementations are on the way and we’re beyond excited to bring them to you!   Sun ascending, coffee perking, biscuits baking, robins running and juncos jumping. We have the makings of a sensational spring day ahead of us! Despite the thermometer hovering around the freezing mark this morning, the clear skies and inspiring sunrise are greeting guests with a sense of optimism this morning. Warmer temps are on the way beginning this afternoon, and pleasant skies should be the norm now on through the holiday weekend. One expects that the mighty Mt. LeConte will be high on everyone’s travel plans priority list over the coming days. As winds shift from the south, the summit could see temps in the mid 50s today, mid 60s tomorrow, and who knows maybe even scrape 70° on Saturday. Such a forecast will surely draw out the weekend warriors and vast crowds of vacationers. Winds will be calm today over the crest, making for prime sun bathing at places like Myrtle Point or Cliff Tops, but breezier conditions are on the way by tonight. It’s Day 2 of Earth Week, so let’s pick right up with recognizing more of the natural wonders around us here atop Mt. LeConte! Have you heard of unique locations like ours referred to as “islands in the sky?” If not, that in large part references the incredible biodiversity that exists at this elevation and remote mountain peak, specifically the unique vegetation types still prevalent here. The various trees and wildflowers that occur here and not many other places this far south of Canada make what we have extra special. And although some far-reaching human-caused or non-native insects have impacted the area in recent decades, there is careful work actively being done to preserve and rehabilitate the natural resources that make this highly-sought summit so attractive. Our team and the hard-working NPS trail crews work in unison to manicure trails and the lodge grounds in a way that still look natural. Other steps being taken include shaping of paths and transplanting of native plant species to control water erosion, promote pollination and proper foraging for local wildlife, and to beautify this small mountaintop village. It’s with that attention to detail that some species in and around these rustic cabins are as old if not older than the buildings themselves! So the next time you visit this Smokies gem, take a moment to admire and appreciate the ancient scenery around you and the work done by those honorable stewards of the last 100 years.   Greetings to you on this glorious afternoon, It’s been a chilly day in our neighborhood, but the sun has been shining bright since the first pancakes were getting flipped. The ground is finally getting a chance to dry out as well now that the recent snow has had adequate time to melt away and soak in. That means the trails should be in decent shape and not require traction devices or waterproof-ness. We have one more evening below freezing ahead of us, and then Thursday should kickstart our next warming trend. Expect mostly sunny skies tomorrow with temps in the 50s. Apparently there is a slight chance for an afternoon or evening rain shower, but not enough to dampen what should be a great day to spend outdoors as we approach the holiday weekend. In case you didn’t know, today officially commences Earth Week! As dedicated stewards operating within a beloved national park, taking careful consideration of the natural environment around us is very much entwined with our every decision as a lodge that provides a multitude of services. And given the exponential rise in this destination’s popularity especially within the past few years, it’s that much more important that not only we as hosts constantly assess our impacts on this small corner of the planet, but that our growing number of visitors are aware of their impacts as well. For years now, we have required our staff to achieve Leave No Trace certification so that we can put to good use that knowledge both in how we operate and to educate those visitors who are maybe less informed about how to engage this majestic and raw wilderness. The Smokies are home to an impressive amount of natural and historical resources, and it’s everyone’s responsibility - not just the NPS - to be mindful, care for, and preserve said resources so that others may appreciate and enjoy them in their purest form for generations to come!   And the pendulum swings… After a warm, bright, and sun-filled Monday, lodge occupants this morning are waking up to cold, cloudy skies, and intermittent rain showers. Yesterday’s afternoon high near 63° is already a distant memory, as the summit will be lucky to spend time in the 40s today. Hikers will be spending the front half of their day under gloomy conditions and trodding wet trails. But by this evening, the views will return and the air will clear, hopefully in plenty of time to promote a satisfying sunset. Our elevation will be cool the next couple days before another gradual warm-up takes us into the holiday weekend. Once we get past this morning, we shouldn’t have to contend with any precip for a while. That will make all the incoming travelers happy as they map out their plans for exploring the park.   Rise and shine on this fine Monday!
Conditions at the top of Tennessee are warm yet windy to kickoff this next week in April. Temps hovered in the 40s overnight, continuing the melting process of the weekend’s snow. Trails should still be slushy in numerous places today. This afternoon we are expected to see the mercury leap into the 60s with mostly sunny skies overhead. The only factor that might prevent it from feeling superbly comfortable up here would be the day’s increasing wind speeds. By tonight, the crest could be listening to whipping gusts of 50mph. Some rain showers are projected to roll through late tonight and early Tuesday before clearing off for what should be a rather glorious week for hiking. All the recent precip and mild temps will surely have the plant life bursting open with a fresh round of blooms and leaves. Also pollen…lots of pollen here in the South. |
LeConte LodgeWelcome to the official blog of LeConte Lodge. We hope you find the information provided here both helpful and enjoyable. Thank you for visiting the site, and we hope to see you on the mountain! Archives
March 2025
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