April 25, 2017

Good Afternoon,
     We had to wait a little bit longer to get that prolonged sunshine we were hoping for.  Yesterday afternoon the rain returned and was a light mist through the night and up til late this morning.  We recorded an additional 0.25" of rain before breakfast, plenty to keep surfaces slick if you don't watch your step.  Our high yesterday reached 50 degrees, and our low managed to hit 39.  The sun is taking control once again and the clouds are breaking up, which has temperatures steadily rising.  We are currently in the mid 40s.  Tomorrow looks to be shaping up to be a gorgeous day.  If you're in the area, consider a trip up Mt. LeConte to make the most of your time here!

     As I mentioned yesterday, we're anticipating the llamas to maintain a schedule of M/W/F in the coming weeks. Some of you have asked for specifics in regards to their packing schedule.  The wranglers typically try to have them start up the trail around 7:00 AM, and average conditions see them arrive to the lodge between 11:00 and 11:30 AM. When they depart the lodge to return home can depend on several factors, so we can't necessarily provide an accurate time for that.  Once they do leave, descending takes approximately 3.5 hours.  Again, if you happen to see our wranglers loading up in the morning or hiking with the team, they are always happy to answer questions and allow pictures, but please respect their routine and desire to get the llamas and our supplies up and down the mountain in a timely fashion.  Thank you!
    Some of you may be wondering why there's a picture of a cake below.  Well, you'd be hard pressed to find something that Tim Line has never accomplished up here in his 41+ years leading the lodge.  We are all proud to announce that he can include baking a birthday cake to his already impressive resume.  Thanks for all your help, Tim! Remember, guests staying with us can request cakes for special occasions by either contacting our office or notifying our cooks before 4:00 PM on the night of your stay.
     Take care and happy trails!