Good Morning,
It’s another cozy start with the clouds this Friday. The Wind Advisory will expire shortly, but gusts could persist throughout today roaring as much as 45mph. The bulk of the rain is about to move out too, but not before having dumped a substantial 2.3” on us. Trails are sure to be a slog today with creeks riding high. We’re still sitting above the freezing mark, with a high temp yesterday of 48° and a low of 36°. US 441 (Newfound Gap Rd) remains open to traffic. The fun weather isn’t done with us yet, though, as temps will begin to plummet in the coming hours. The thermometer will drop into the teens by tonight and wind chills could have it feeling subzero around the lodge. Even some flurries could fly as the last of the clouds and precip linger. Don’t be surprised if some of the park roads get temporary closed later for safety reasons, at least until the skies clear for what should be a gloriously sunny weekend. So today will probably be spent indoors baking, reading, and observing from the sheltered and comfy confines. Then we can plan for some tantalizing outdoor exploration to happen tomorrow. Have a great day.
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Good Morning,
It’s been another solid 24 hours spent above freezing; thus, what little snow remained yesterday around the lodge has now completely melted away. Wednesday’s high temp came in at 46° and our low was 36°. The mountain received another 0.1” of rainfall and continues to be socked in with thick clouds, which is pretty much the theme for this winter. Nonetheless, there is beauty to be had in all of it. Turbulent weather will continue today and tomorrow, as we’re back under a High Wind Advisory until Friday morning. The forecast is predicting several inches of rain and gusts upwards of 65mph at times. US 441 (Newfound Gap Rd) is open, but it’s possible the hazardous conditions force another temporary closure, especially if we see a transition over to snow once temperatures drop tomorrow. The unpredictability of nature in the weeks leading up to the spring equinox certainly makes thing interesting up here. In a matter of hours we can go from sunny and warm, to cool and rainy, to snowy and frigid, then promptly go in reverse. A fierce tug-of-war between some of the year’s most dramatic looking landscapes and most treacherous conditions. So use caution if looking to explore the backcountry. Have a great day. Good Morning,
The snow continues to disappear after another warm day on the mountain. Yesterday’s sunny skies, high temp of 48°, and 0.2” of rainfall during the night brought the ground accumulation down to 2”. Our low reading was only 35°, and it’s expected to be warm up top again today back up around 50°. The clouds have set up shop on the summit and could be sticking to us the next few days as intermittent rain showers pass through. The high winds will also be persisting, with gusts of 45mph today and 55mph tomorrow. US 441 (Newfound Gap Rd) is back to being closed again after a brief reopening yesterday. Anyone attempting the trails today should be cautious of the wind, and definitely pack the traction devices and waterproof layers. One neat thing about the presence of snow around camp is the assortment of animal tracks found between cabins and trees. Squirrels and juncos are common, but yesterday was highlighted by finds of fox prints and the leaping of our local weasel. 100 years ago Paul Adams wrote about a timber wolf that stalked the perimeter of his initial camp. Imagine stumbling across those foot prints in the snow! Though such a sighting has not happened for quite some time, it just goes to show that one is always in the company of nature atop Mt. LeConte, day or night, summer or winter. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Wishing a happy Valentines Day to all! It’s a beautiful and breathtaking scene up here getting to enjoy to clear and sunny skies after our most recent snowfall. The unabated sunshine yesterday and gradually rising temps shaved a couple inches off our total accumulation, but there’s still a solid 6” of snow and soon-to-be slush. Monday witnessed a high temp of 39° followed by a low of 24°. We’re already above freezing this morning at sunrise and could achieve a high reading near 50° later today. US 441 (Newfound Gap Rd) is still closed due to the lingering hazardous driving conditions, but Cherokee Orchard Rd appears to be open. The sun on skin will feel delightful to anyone rambling through the woods today, but trail conditions will continue to be slick and slippery as warming temps liquify the snowpack underfoot. Have those traction devices handy if looking to make an ascent into the higher elevations today. If the main road does not reopen today, it could be due to the rough weather expected to roll in this evening. Beginning at 5:00 PM our region will be under a High Wind Warning calling for gusts of 65mph in the mountains. There will also be a chance for some rain showers these next few days. All that combined will make playtime in the woods a bit sloppy, so best we get out of the cabin and bask in the sunshine this morning while we have it! Have a great day celebrating love! MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13th, 2023Good Morning, Everyone!
It looks like this is going to be another beautiful sunny day on our favorite mountain! When I left my cabin I was greeted by clear skies, 26 degree temperatures, 8 inches of snow and no wind! What more could you want on Mt LeConte in February? The roads are not open yet, but Cherokee Orchard is expected to reopen today. With the near perfect weather conditions, I decided to hike to Myrtle Point for sunrise. The sunrise was awesome—the best that I have ever seen! HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12th, 2023Good Morning, Folks!
It’s snowing again on Mount LeConte! And the roads are closed. When I woke up this morning the temperature was 34 degrees and the sky was clear enough to see the moon. Two hours later the temperature has dropped into the 20’s and it’s snowing hard enough that everything has turned white! One of my friends who was a LeConte Lodge winter caretaker in the early 1970’s likes to quote a Cherokee proverb about snow in the mountains,”Big flakes—little snow; Small flakes—big snow!” We’ll just have to wait and see what develops! From High On LeConte! WILDCAT/Bert SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2023Good Morning, Everyone!
The roads are all still open, but snow is forecast for tonight. The temperature this morning was 30 degrees, which is a little cooler than it has been for the past few days. Hikers are reporting that the trails are now fairly clear of snow and ice. Yesterday was a busy day on Mt LeConte. I spent several hours sitting out in the sunshine visiting with the day hikers. I decided last night that this morning would be a great time to try baking biscuits again. They didn’t turn out quite as well as the last batch. I think that perhaps I used too much milk. I’ll just have to practice some more! (See picture below.) I hope that you have a great day! WILDCAT/Bert FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10th, 2023Good Morning, Everybody!
First of all—the news that everyone wants to hear: the roads to the Mt LeConte trailheads are open! And now the weather report: much nicer than yesterday! The picture above is what I saw this morning—clear skies, no fog, and no high winds, with a morning temperature of 34 degrees. Most of the snow at the lodge has melted. So—I guess that it’s time that we got more snow! It’s predicted for Saturday night and Sunday morning. Best get ready! HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT THURSDAY, FEB. 9th, 2023Howdy, Folks!
You may have noticed that I didn’t say “Good “ in the greeting above. That would not properly describe this morning. Words such as “very foggy “, “extremely high winds”, “roads closed “ are more appropriate today! The morning temperature was 39 degrees, with 0.23 inches of precipitation during the night—so most of the snow has melted. High winds blowing about 60 mph here on top, so Highway 441 to Newfound Gap is now closed. This seems like a good morning to just stay inside where it’s warm and drink hot coffee and listen to classic Bluegrass music! Wait—that’s my normal morning routine anyway. Looking ahead to this weekend—they are predicting snow for Saturday night and Sunday morning. If you should choose to venture out, be sure to dress accordingly and be prepared for anything and everything! Stay warm and dry. (And well hydrated!) From High On LeConte, WILDCAT/Bert WEDNESDAY, FEB. 8th, 2023Good Morning, Everybody!
Well, we’ve returned to the ‘ol fog on the mountain routine! The morning temperature was 39 degrees with a heavy fog and misty rain. We still have an inch or two of snow remaining on the ground. Rain gear and traction devices are highly recommended for travel at the top of the mountain! Snow is forecast for later this week. This could be heavy enough to close the road on Saturday. I enjoyed a visit from my wife yesterday. For those of you who have been wondering and/or asking—she actually does hike up to the lodge to visit me occasionally as the weather and the roads permit. The weather for the past couple of days was nearly perfect and the roads were open. Yesterday we hiked out to Myrtle Point together and enjoyed the sunshine. The trail was snow packed and icy enough to make us appreciate our micro spikes! I hope that you have a wonderful Wednesday. HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert |
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 2024
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