Good Morning,

Waking up to partly cloudy skies, streaky clouds, and a soft sunrise. Temps are in the low 50s with light breezes. Most of yesterday was spent in the clouds and only an occasional mist was felt by mid afternoon. Today and tomorrow look very similar in terms of weather, with higher chances for storm formation from lunchtime onward. So best to start and descend the mountain earlier in the day. Conditions improve for the weekend although temps will get hotter down below.

There were a lot of people hiking the mountain yesterday. Remember that are several great trails traversing the peak suitable for social distancing if Alum Cave isn’t your cup of tea, some offering up convenient loop options. Trillium Gap Trail is still closed during the week as the rehabilitation work is ongoing. We’re probably 1-2 weeks out from seeing the first of the Grass of Parnassus in bloom along Mt. LeConte’s slopes. Same can be said for the Purple Gentian. The rare Mountain Krigia and Pink Turtleheads have started though. Always something to see this time of year.

Good Afternoon,

We’ve been in and out of the clouds the last 24 hours, producing some impressive mountain scenes whenever we aren’t staring at a wall of gray. Last night’s sunset was stunning despite the actual event of the glowing orb hitting the horizon was obstructed. The diverse cloud formations this time of year really help bring out the rays and colors. Even without sunny skies, the coneflower are really opening up, enough yellow around the lodge to brighten anyone’s day.

Temps remain mild to cool, a pleasant break from the heat and humidity down below. 50s and 60s with a light breeze might require a jacket or long sleeve for some. Slight chance of a passing shower today, with rain percentages increasing for tomorrow. Have the rain shells and ponchos with you just in case. Seeing increased bear activity in recent days. Both big and small. Please continue to inform NPS rangers or lodge employees of your sightings.

Good Morning,

Skies are rumbling and raining to start the week as storms sliding in from the west meet the warm and moist air pushing up from Isaias. It appears as though these rains will be going on much of the day. Depending on how heavy the downpours, expect mountain streams to start swelling as the day goes on. Use caution on any and all unbridged stream crossings on the trails, and avoid lingering atop the mountain during thunderstorms if you aren’t a guest with reservations and guaranteed shelter. Temps should bounce around in the 50s and 60s. Tuesday looks better for hiking conditions until more rain showers return mid week. Be safe out there!

Good Afternoon,

​Saturday turned out to be a better day than how Friday finished, with strong rainstorms and winds clobbering the region. The weekend has been a solid mix of sun and clouds from our vantage point. Cloud cover has helped keep the temps from boiling at times, so we remain in the 50s and 60s. Chances for pop-up showers will continue through this evening, and then increase for all of Monday.

Even though the busiest months of summer are behind us, it’s still advisable to get an early start and get out in front of the heat, if not to secure a decent parking spot. The Smokies will still receive significant visitation until the last of the northern states resume their school calendars by the end of this month. We’ll slowly see a decrease in daylight hours as well now that we’re nearly a month and a half past the solstice.

Good Morning,

​Already shaping up to be a cloudy and rainy Friday on the mountain. July isn’t going to go out easy. We and the higher peaks are socked in going back to yesterday evening, spoiling our first sunset in a while. Showers are expected to be rolling in and out of the region all day, so jackets are a must on the trail and at the lodge. Temps will hold steady in the 50s and 60s yet again. This weekend is the Tennessee Sales Tax Free Weekend, and the lodge is participating. From July 31st through August 2nd, select apparel pieces and back-to-school related items will be sold tax free. So all students wanting to get ready for the coming academic year wanting to sport some sweet LeConte Lodge swag, what better way to take advantage? Weather conditions improve for the remainder of the weekend, but come ready for passing afternoon rain showers just in case.

Good Morning,

Rinse and Repeat. Sun and clouds play a game of leapfrog over the mountain much of the day before giving way to late afternoon showers. But like the evenings prior, the skies break open in plenty of time for a sunset spectacular. Rain chances and cloud expected throughout much of the day today. Temps will remain in the 50s and 60s.

The mountain is bustling with life. Things in bloom and creatures both big and small scurrying all around. The diversity of it all is captivating. Around the lodge, some newborn fawns are getting their legs under them. Occasionally some of the peregrine falcons nesting a couple miles down will ride the wind and play a game of tag between the summit and Cliff Tops. Salamanders wiggle among rocks in the shallow creeks. Butterflies softly levitate from flower to flower. The soft cadence of llamas toting supplies up and down Trillium Gap. And Timber Rattlesnakes on Bull Head sounding the alarm when passersby wander a little too close for their comfort on what is technically their turf. Best to keep your eyes and ears open, not only for enjoying the beauty of nature, but for maintaining a safe distance from bears, elk, and even the slithering serpents as they all carry on with life.

Good Morning,

Tuesday and Monday were very much one in the same. The mountaintop tiptoeing between puffy clouds and bursts of sunshine all day, finally giving way to a brief downpour and thunderstorm during supper time. The streak of stunning sunsets and sunrises continues, each one unique and as impressive as the last, always an appreciated treat for our guests. Temps remain in the 50s and 60s. Conditions are partly cloudy for the time being, with rainfall possibilities ramping up around lunch time.

With these last few days of July, the wildflowers all around the lodge continue to open up. These next few weeks should really see the floral display take off. Swallowtail butterflies and even a couple Ruby Throated Hummingbirds have taken note. The local deer population tend to see it as more of an endless buffet, but this is their home too.

​Have a great day.

Good Morning,

Waking up to another stunning sunrise as streaks of color line the sky. Winds are calm, birds are chirping, deer are grazing, and breakfast is cooking. Monday was a great day to say pend in the outdoors, even as the lodge was in and out of the clouds. It wasn’t until supper time that a brief rain shower and some close lightning strikes finally found the mountain. Temps fluctuated between the 50s and 60s much of the day. Despite the mostly clear skies currently, by late morning the rain chances increase and should persist most of today. The next few days are calling for much higher precip percentages and even lower temps down below. It’ll be wise to come prepared not only with layers to keep you dry, but warm as well.

Good Morning,

Kicking off the new week with a colorful sunrise, peering north toward the horizon between cloud layers. We managed to dodge all the rain showers yesterday, but we may not be so lucky today with stronger percentages firing up around lunchtime. Temps should once again reach the mid 60s, and there’s a slight breeze currently adding a slight upper elevation chill to the air.

These cloud formations this time of year just make for some of the most spectacular sunsets. Even the crew has been taking note of late, jumping at the opportunity to grab their cameras and race up to Cliff Tops for some memorable moments. It was interesting to watch a small storm cell sweep over central Sevier County before sunset last night from our dry vantage point. Even from a relatively short distance as the crow flies, at the lodge one could see the entire cloud from base to anvil top, as well as where the rain started and ended with light on all sides. Not a bad way to let the mind unwind after a solid day’s work.

Good Morning,

Saturday’s weather pattern stacked together like a sandwich, stormy interior with sunny skies up against either end. These turbulent summer conditions produce some of the most stunning sunrises and sunsets of the year. Such variety throughout the atmosphere with all of the contrasting cloud formations. The afternoon pop-up thunderstorm is to be expected, almost on a daily basis, and we got a doozy yesterday mid-day. A decent down pour with some particularly close-sounding lightning strikes. But as the hours approached supper time, the air calmed and put on an awe-inspiring show at dusk, eventually giving way to the stars.

Temps should maintain their hold in the 50s and 60s on the mountain today. The day calls for a slight chance of showers by mid-afternoon. Hopefully we can get the llamas loaded up and on their way before the skies get noisy. Trails are sure to be soggy and slick in places with this resurgence in rain. Have those jackets!