Our nuisance bear Sly Peaches (group effort on naming), who was working quite admirably on his hospitality skills, was trapped last night. The NPS bear team composed of Joe, Ryan, and Jessica came up early this morning to check him out, document, and collar him before turning him back out into the wild ( thank you guys again!)

The bears in the park should NOT be fed by people, this includes any trash you leave behind. For your (and the bear’s) own safety please remain a good distance away from bears and talk loudly, make noises, and slowly walk away from them.

We have had on/off showers today and no sun whatsoever. Even though we only received .36” of rain yesterday it's definitely chillier due to the cloud cover and the chance of precipitation is increasing during the week.

Pack accordingly!

Monday, Monday!

A sleepy 59 Easter Sunday didn't last long!

What a busy day so far.

A temperate 42 night gave way to our bear acquaintance making the rounds around camp, knocking on doors and even proposing to help us cook breakfast!

Such help we prefer to do without.

A very happy Easter everyone!

The mysterious bagpiper found his way up again making this the 3rd year in a row with bagpipes on Easter. Thank you very much for playing Mr. Hatfield!

Things are getting a bit milder and cloudier up here, our high being 59 with 43 as the low.

Rainstorms are the theme of the upcoming week so please bring your jackets and gators! We'll be up here with hot cocoa for you.

Dont forget to wrap your spare clothes and socks in plastic bags.

Happy hiking!

Afternoon!

Although it's been getting up there during the day (61) it's still quite chilly at night! 39 was our low, pack up layers for sure if you are staying overnight.

We've had a mostly cloudy day with occasional sun bursts and lots of day hikers out enjoying the Easter weekend.

Hello!

After another clear and beautiful 39 night we are enjoying the warm temps. 59 was the high yesterday, who knows what today will hold. So far it's partially cloudy and delightful, a lot of day hikers hit the trail quite early this morning and are hanging out a bit before heading back down.

The weekend looks to be exceptional and sunny, get out there and enjoy it!

Happy Good Friday!

Good morning everyone,

We had a pleasant and clear night illuminated by the moon, the low being 36 after a partially cloudy warm and sunny 57 .

Numerous deer have been spotted around camp along with hoards of bold boomers (red squirrels) attempting to wreck havoc on picnics- be vigilant!

Good Morning,
     We're starting today off with partly cloudy skies, but views north toward the Cumberlands remain unobstructed.  Our high temperature yesterday was 62 with a low only of 40.  There isn't much snow left around camp, and it's possible the very last of it goes away by this afternoon.  There's been rumors of rain chances, but we'll wait to see it come to fruition and continue to enjoy these clear days we've managed to string together.

     We have a very active crew to start the year, constantly exploring the mountain when any available moment presents itself.  I wanted to share our very own Matt Manfredi's find a few days ago during the snow event.  He was out on The Boulevard where it circles around Myrtle Point and paused to appreciate the ice forming off of the Dwarf Rhododendron leaves.  They take on the appearance of blown glass because of their clarity and spiral effect.  Likely a result of the changeover from rain to snow that occurred before we tallied 8" of snow.  Enjoy!

Good Afternoon,
     It's a tad hazier today, but for the most part we have been spoiled with another splendid sunny day.  Yesterday we were able to experience 60 degrees, with a low of 36.  We're hovering in the 50s at the moment but we've already hit 62 this afternoon.  As far as the snow levels go, it's dwindling down to the shadiest of patches.  The ground is still a little bit soggy, but areas are starting to dry out and show green again.

     We just had some midday excitement, as our friends from the National Guard were doing some trial runs with their helicopter and our landing pad.  We appreciate all that they do!
     We continue to catch a glimpse of a bear on the outskirts of camp.  Please remember to keep your belongings inside and doors closed while you're staying with us.  And be sure to take advantage of our metal food storage bins located in the office.  Everything we can do as guests and crew to discourage this bear from finding excuses to enter camp is essential for said bear's future well being. 
     Have a great rest of the day!

Good Morning,
     We continue to have stellar sunrises and sunsets, with abundant sunshine beating down from the big yellow orb above.  Today should be a scorcher by LeConte standards, and the remaining snow will get patchier by the minute.  We topped out at 55 yesterday, and our period's low was 28.  It's already 54 degrees and superbly clear.  It's an odd feeling to be standing in snow drifts, wearing a t-shirt, while looking down and seeing green spread in the Tennessee Valley.  I anticipate a bit of a shock when I finally return to the lower elevations after a month away.

     I want to compliment the guests we've enjoyed hosting these last few weeks.  Every day, we request that our overnight guests pack out their non-burnable trash - namely glass, metals, and dense plastics - and I am thoroughly satisfied with the response.  We operate an incinerator at the lodge as means of disposing our combustible waste.  Recyclables must either be flown off once a year or packed out on the llamas.  The less we have to burn is better for the environment, and means less time spent burning while people visit the mountain.  The less we have to store away is better space management for us, and the less we have to pack out is better for our favorite furry four-legged friends who would much rather haul linens and those popular "lugged by llama" postcards.  We highly encourage all future guests AND day hikers to embrace this cause of "Pack it in, pack it out" as well Leave No Trace ethics.  Again, thank you for joining us in this environmentally friendly mission, and let's see if we can keep improving every day!
     Have a great start to the week and happy hiking.

Good Afternoon,
     We're enjoying another full day of glorious sunshine.  The snow continues to disappear rapidly, leaving a soggy mess in its wake.  Our lowest temperature during the 24-hour period was yesterday morning's 16 degrees.  From there we shot up to 42.  Today we're mounting the charge back into spring, having already tapped 55 degrees.  Trails are still slick in several places, and will continue to be for a couple more days, particularly in those shadiest of places.

     It just so happens to be another llama Sunday!  On this fine April day, we will feature...CHUCK! (aka Chuck Merriweather, Charles Kordell Merriweather, or Sir Charles).  You may recall meeting his father, Denny, last week, in which the family duo came to the LeConte team together from Roanoke, VA in 2013.  The two share their similarities and differences.  Chuck, like his dad, is very sweet around people, though he can take exception to wranglers adjusting his saddlebags.  He also has a feisty side toward his neighbor llamas, though not like the dominating force that Denny can be.  You hear guests mention every so often that when you see the llama train approaching head-on, a few of them appear to be smiling.  Chuck, and others like Clifford, fit that bill.  Do not be deceived, especially if the ears are cocked back!  Though never directed towards people, Chuck isn't afraid to let the green stuff fly when discontent.  Did I mention he is feisty towards his neighbors?  We love him anyways, and appreciate what he does for the lodge.  So let's raise a cup of our famous hot chocolate and toast to Chuck!
     Have a great finish to the week.