Good Morning,
We're flying today, hopefully ALL day, so busy little bees we will be! Lodge grounds will be off limits for the majority, with limited access to bathrooms and water spigots. Our high was 36, low 15, conditions currently clear and beautiful. Pictures to come later. Have a great day!
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Good Morning, A day that started sour ended pretty sweet. The clouds and muck of the morning eventually broke open to clear and sunny skies later in the day. Winds reminded us of their presence throughout the day, especially during sunset at Cliff Tops, but were never overbearing. Our high temp turned out to be 38 degrees, with a low of 15. Ice and snow remain spotty, and we woke up to everything being coated in frost today, so continue to pack those traction devices should you choose to make the ascent. There is a distinct possibility that we will commence our annual resupply Airlift today. We'll see if all of the contributing factors in that decision align for us. With that said, we will be posting signs and caution tape around the perimeter of camp with staff to inform and direct visitors about the closure of lodge grounds. Accessing water spigots and restrooms will be limited to when it is deemed safe for visitors to enter camp. While the helicopter is in the air, keeping hikers away from the action at a certain distance is the best way to ensure their safety. Please respect these closures and the dedicated folks staffing the entrances. Thank you. Have a great day.
Good Morning and Hello Weekend, The warming trend has begun and things are thawing rapidly on top of the mountain. We dropped from 5" of snow yesterday to trace amounts today. Where foot traffic has packed down snow and ice remains hazardous, so keep those traction devices close. Just about everything else is slushy or muddy. Our high yesterday reached 40 degrees, and we never fell under our low of 30 reported at observation. The rainstorm that plowed through last night dumped 2.35" of rain. That combined with the snow melt is seeing a lot of water drain off this mountain, so careful attention may be required on a few of those unbridged stream crossings. We're cloaked in a thick fog currently and the temps are hovering in the mid 30s. We're optimistic about our chances to fly in the coming days. Again, thank you for your patience and understanding regarding the delayed opening. We'll be closing off lodge grounds once we fly, with signs and staff at each of the lodge entrances. Have a great weekend and enjoy the return of Spring!
Good Morning, The weather continues to be a curious thing up here. Our temperature apex yesterday afternoon was 20 degrees, eventually dipping down into the teens overnight. Our low was the 0 degrees at observation yesterday, as it never got any colder. About the time we stopped seeing the stars last night is when the temps jumped up rapidly, as our recorded high for the period was 30 degrees at observation. Currently it is 32 and we've been socked in by clouds. With the park opening US 441 yesterday morning, we saw increased day hiker traffic on Alum Cave. Expect that trail to be very slick with the snow pack and exposed ice. As the temps continue to rise and rain moves, this mountain will turn slushy in a hurry. Please prepare for these conditions if you choose to climb the mountain. Traction devices, waterproof boots and shells are your friends. Blue jeans, tennis shoes, and cotton are not. Thursday turned out to be about as gorgeous of a day you could ever ask for. Despite our delay in flying, the crew and volunteers have been stellar in finding projects to occupy themselves and get the lodge as prepared as possible. Once the supplies land, we will eagerly perform the final checks and touch up the fine details to open for guests. Thank you all for your continued patience. You'll be among the first to know when we can officially open for the season, and once the 2017 "I Hiked It" shirts land, we'll excitedly share this year's design.
Stay dry and have a good weekend! Good Frosty Morning to You, It turned out to be one of those magical mountain days yesterday. Even the chilly temperatures couldn't dampen everyone's glee and appreciation of nature's wintry beauty. Our high temp struggled to reach 8 degrees, and our low this morning at observation was 0. We received no new precipitation, but our snow total remains at 7". It's still quite breezy at times which can cut right through you without the proper layering. The crew took care of its chores quickly and efficiently in the first half of the day, the majority of which was spent outside shoveling one last time (hopefully). Aside from redoing the paths between all buildings, this included clearing the helicopter landing pad and propane fields. Other tasks required laying sideways in the snow next to buildings, which contrary to what one might think, didn't feel too bad in the sun, even at 2 degrees! The second half of the day was spent as it should've been, soaking up the beauty that blanketed the mountain around us. The clouds continued to lift and thin throughout the day, affording views down into the Tennessee Valley. Several of the crew members took afternoon jaunts to Myrtle Point and/or Cliff Tops, and from the conversations I heard, no one came back disappointed. It's days like this that tend to stand out when you look back on a lodge season...the snow, the solitude, and the scenery combine to form one mesmerizing masterpiece of mountain majesty. Looking at densely caked trees in white with a backdrop of the purest blue you've ever seen just never gets old. We're still waiting on US 441 to reopen, so your best option for ascending the mountain remains Cherokee Orchard. It appears as though the weather will turn in our favor for the long haul starting today. You will want traction devices once you cross the snowline, but expect things to turn slushy in a hurry as all of this snow melts in the coming days. Have a great day!
Good Morning All, We're hoping this is winter's last hoorah. Yesterday afternoon's high reached a meager 20 degrees, but the topic of the day was our overnight low of -3.2 (!!!) and windy. At the moment, we're waiting to eclipse 0 degrees again, but there is promise in the brightening skies. Throughout the last 24 hours we received some additional snow, bringing our current total to 7". Our team tackled the drifts throughout the day and are already back at it this morning. Between the numerous paths and drop zones for supplies, that's quite a bit of snow to move, but our ferocious force of shovel-ers were never deterred. It appears as though spring will return on Monday. The snow is pretty, but we're all ready to see it melt away for a while. Cherokee Orchard Road opened yesterday, but US 441 through the park remains closed. Please use caution if you choose to climb the mountain anytime soon. It's expected to be frigid again this evening. Know when to turn around and keep others informed of your intentions. Thanks for checking in on us and have a great day!
Dear Guests:
We regret to inform you that LeConte Lodge will not open for the season as planned on Monday, March 20, 2017. All guests currently scheduled to arrive between Monday, March 20 and Thursday, March 23 reservations have been canceled. Circumstances beyond our control have prevented us from getting supplies to the Lodge that are necessary to safely and comfortably host overnight guests. If you have a reservation during this time period, please contact our reservation office as soon as possible. All guests holding overnight reservations during the time the Lodge is closed will have the opportunity to have a credit issued for the 2018 season (must be used in 2018), receive a full refund within 30 days of their reservation date, or reschedule during the 2017 season as space allows. If you have a flexible schedule or will be in the area, you are welcome to check on a daily basis starting on Tuesday next week to see if we are able to get the Lodge supplied earlier than projected. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding, as this matter is out of our control. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at your earliest convenience or contact us by email at reservations@lecontelodge.com. LeConte Lodge Reservations 250 Apple Valley Road Sevierville, TN 37862 865-429-5704 8-5 EDT, Monday-Friday Good morning, We woke up to a scene of powdery perfection this morning, with 3" of snow falling during the night on top of a thin ice layer. As our team works to clear paths between buildings, we approach the 4" mark with flurries still coming down. Yesterday's high was 33 degrees with a low of 18 last night. Temps are currently falling, though, as we sit at 16 degrees in the clouds. Our team has been doing some admirable work preparing both the lodge AND the staging area in these conditions. We're still waiting for things to break our way, that way we can fly, receive our supplies, and put the finishing touches on the lodge before opening. US 441 and Cherokee Orchard (past Twin Creeks) remain closed, so attempts to ascend the mountain in these conditions are not for the faint of heart. The lodge of course is still closed for the winter season. If you feel inspired to play in the snowy woods today, please be safe and let others know of your intentions. Have a great day!
Happy Monday everyone,
We were treated to a gorgeous day on the mountain yesterday. The flurries subsided at about the same time biscuits for the crew went into the oven, and sunny skies dominated the rest of the day. Our high temp was 34, with an overnight low of 15. Everything certainly felt warmer in the sun, and a good portion of our recent snowfall melted away in places. It didn't take long for the slushy paths to harden up once the sun faded into the west. If US 441 opens and you entertain hiking up the mountain, please come prepared with traction devices. As of this morning, we're down to about an inch of crunchy snow, with winds between 5-10 mph, gusts of 15-20 mph. The crew and our team of volunteers did a masterful job cleaning and prepping a few of our building interiors yesterday. We'll look to ride that momentum through the remaining tasks at hand, even as we wait to fly. Please remember that once we do, vast portions of the lodge grounds will be off-limits to folks visiting the mountain. Have a wonderful start to the week! Oh...and Happy Birthday, Mother! Greetings and Happy Post-Time Change!
There may be snow on the ground, but that hasn't slowed the pep in this crew's step, as there is no shortage of spring cleaning to be done! Saturday's high reached 27 degrees, and last night's low came in at 16. The flurries that flew at different parts of the day amassed to 2" on the ground. It sure is pretty, but there are plenty of hidden slick spots. Traction devices are your best friend in these conditions. In between the snow squalls, our team has been reorganizing storage, washing dishes and utensils, cooking up some tasty meals, and making those symbolic kerosene lanterns sparkle! Today marks a pre-season tradition, regardless of weather, and that's scrubbing down every nook and cranny of a backcountry kitchen that sees some intense use. It's an all-hands-on-deck sort of task, so that's where we'll be! Stay tuned to the updates coming from the NPS in regards to road and trail closures, as there will likely be several over the next few days. Safe travels! |
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April 2024
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