Good Afternoon, It's shaping up to be a beautiful day in East Tennessee! The cloud cover is spotty, and the sun is fighting hard to to break through and begin the melting process. We saw a little powder loss yesterday, and we started with 7" remaining on the ground this morning. Our high ended up reaching 28 degrees, and our low point this morning hit 17. The warming trend is on its way, but in the meantime, traction devices are still ideal for visiting the mountain. Once the sun shines unabated, the remnants of winter should start to run off this peak in a hurry. Anticipate waterfalls to be gushingly glorious and creek crossings to be a tad higher once it does.
Have a great weekend!
3 Comments
2:30 PM Update: Good Afternoon, Skies are beginning to clear off and quickly. US 441 reopened at noon, but that could certainly change over night depending on the thawing and refreezing of so much snow. Our current temperature is 24 and the snow stopped falling around daybreak. The winds are still hanging around. We were excited about seeing the llamas make the climb today unscathed and undeterred. All those hoof prints beating down the snow should make the ascent up Trillium Gap easier for folks. It's still a bit chilly on the mountain, so please continue to pack warm layers until spring returns. Once this snow begins to melt, count on trails being soggier than they usually are. Enjoy the winter blast if you choose to get out in the woods. We can only hope it's our last until the fall, but snow can make appearances well into May on this rock. 6:30 AM Update:
Greetings, What a fine morning to be inside a warm kitchen making breakfast! Our high yesterday was only 28 and we dipped to 19 around 6:00 AM. It's currently 20 degrees. Winds have remained strong and the drifting is constant. Based on the law of averages, we're pegging our measurable snowfall at 8", with drifts putting that figure much less or up to a foot+ in places around camp. We'll see how much longer these conditions persist. US 441 remains closed, but Cherokee Orchard is still open to vehicles and hikers. We don't know if the weather conditions will delay the reopening of Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Again, we are encouraging folks to use Rainbow Falls today as means of travel to and from the mountain. It is extremely helpful to know which guests have made it to the lodge and those who are still out on the trail. We will continue to provide regular updates throughout the day. Take care! 4:30 PM Update: Good Afternoon, We're approaching 3" of snow now as it's finally decided to stick in places. There are still strong wind gusts blowing the powder around into drifts. We've been at 22 degrees for the last few hours, but things remain a bit slushy underneath the freshly fallen snow. Temps are expected to drop some more this evening which may be enough to finally harden things up. Traction devices are your friend! US 441 was finally closed to traffic at 4:00 PM. Cherokee Orchard remains open, so Rainbow Falls is everyone's best option for visiting the mountain at the moment. If you're an overnight guest slated to stay tomorrow night, please communicate any questions to our dedicated office staff, available from 8-5 on weekdays. We'll try and provide regular updates through social media as well. Thanks for checking in on us and take care! 11:30 AM Update: Hello Again! It is currently 24 degrees, but despite the light snow that continues to fall, the accumulation is having a hard time exceeding one inch. The winds are still quite gusty, and small drifts are forming in places. The ground itself is still quite warm comparatively and the precipitation is having a hard time freezing on the ground. Even though trail conditions remain slushy, still step carefully, particularly around the log water bars, as they tend to freeze first. A reputable source who hiked up Alum Cave this morning said that below Cliff Tops conditions were still satisfactory, and the most wintry action was occurring on top of the mountain. We'll see how those details change over the day. US 441 remains open, but we're encouraging guests to use Rainbow Falls as the commute. This way, we can keep better tabs on those of you coming and going from the mountain, and typically US 441 closes due to weather before Cherokee Orchard Road. Whatever you decide, please keep others informed and hike safe. 6:30 AM Update:
Good Morning, Rain showers converted to snow showers at the lodge around 4:00 AM, and there is about a half inch of snow on the ground. We received 0.7" of rain yesterday, with a a high of 46. It is currently 27 as temps continue to fall, with snow expected to continue throughout the day. Currently Clingmans Dome Road is the only park highway closed. We will try to provide updates later in the day. Be safe if you choose to ascend the mountain today. Good Morning, We witnessed a soft yet splendid sunrise this morning, with temps hovering in the mid 40s, but the increasing winds and approaching clouds give one the impression that some interesting weather is headed our way. Our high yesterday reached a comfy 56 degrees, with last night's low coming in at 38. If the forecast holds, we're looking at some rain today and tomorrow with the possibility of snow falling along the higher elevations. Please pay close attention to the weather forecast and any updates coming from the NPS pertaining to trail and road conditions over the next few days. We have every intention of staying open and serving guests, so please plan accordingly if your looking to ascend the mountain. You'll want dry and warm layers for your hike and once you reach the mountain. If we do happen to receive some snow, consider traction devices to assist your footing. Fortunately, the cold snap appears to be short lived, with wonderful spring temps returning by week's end. We've also had a black bear make the occasional appearance around the perimeter of camp, so this is an opportune time to remind everyone of the importance about being responsible outdoors folk while visiting the mountain. Please don't feed the wildlife, pack out all trash, and don't leave your packs and other personal belongings unattended. If you're staying with us for a night, please keep your cabin doors closed while not in use, and store your food and other scented items in our office storage bins. If you happen to see a bear in camp, please make noise, move to higher ground, gather in groups, and alert a crew member so appropriate steps can be taken to assure the safety of you and the bear.
Thank you and have a great day. Good Afternoon, Yesterday was one of those cooler, damp days where temps hung around in the 40s. We ended up receiving 1.45" of rain that eventually faded off on the backside of the day. As the moon and stars began to break through, you could see the remaining clouds rocket over the mountain as the winds sent the system out of sight. Today has been another glorious spring day, with the sun shining and temperatures feeling comfortable in the upper 50s. The llamas made another trek today, with trainees Max and Reuben getting re-acclimated to Trillium Gap Trail after an introduction last season. Just a friendly reminder that if you are fortunate enough to encounter any of the llamas, particularly the trainees, please heed the advice of the wranglers. Sometimes the new ones can be a bit skiddish. Their next visits will be Friday and Sunday this week.
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail will reopen for the year after April 7th, so that will provide guests and day hikers the option of taking the 6.7 mile version of Trillium Gap as opposed to the 8.9 mile journey up from Cherokee Orchard. Rainbow Falls isn't slated for trail rehabilitation until early May, so it is accessible. Alum Cave, The Boulevard, and Brushy Mountain are still viable options as well. Bull Head remains closed for the foreseeable future because of the fire damage, downed trees, and slides. Have a great day! Good Afternoon, After one of the best weekend's of weather we've seen this year, we've swung to the opposite end of the spectrum. The winds and pouring rain have intensified since last night's guests snarfed down the last of their biscuits. We'll know how much liquid precipitation fell after observation tomorrow. Currently we're sitting at 45 degrees. Yesterday's high was the warmest we've experienced yet this season, tapping a toasty 66 for LeConte. We fully expect those numbers in the summer, not necessarily the first days of April. Our low turned in at 43. The last few days have been well spent enjoying the magnificence of the outdoors. Crew and guest have been basking in the sun from every porch and overlook to be found around the mountain. The sunrises and sunsets have satisfied the senses as well. With the strong presence of rain, we don't anticipate much extracurricular outdoor activity on behalf of the crew today. These are good times to get caught up on either laundry or naps...or both if you're me! It's been another week, and so it's time to feature another one of our fine load-lugging Llamas! Today's star is none other than...DENNY! (fka Buckeye). Denny - father of another LeConte Llama, Chuck - has been one of our strongest and most reliable packers since joining the operation in 2013. As one of our more vocal alpha males, he isn't shy about asserting himself as top dog in the herd. Back at the farm, Denny enjoys distinguishing himself by doing a circular head roll, as if to say, "I'm the man!" One wonders how he feels about being the "caboose" of his team; hence the orange bags, when they ascend the mountain. When it's time to clock-in, though, this dude is all business, and we're grateful for his service to the lodge. Whereas most of our llamas have a coarser wool, Denny has been blessed with a softer, almost velvet like wool in places. When feeding him treats, one can feel the softness around his nose. And depending on the lighting, he can look either dark brown or black. Some of his closest buds would include veterans Buck and Ellis, who work on the same team. Sounds like the wildflowers are really putting on a show now in places. Get out and enjoy it if you can! Have a great start to the week and stay dry.
Good Day,
It's a beautiful day on the mountain! We've been above the clouds since the sun broke the horizon and soaking up rays. Our high temperature yesterday reached 40 degrees, and our overnight low was a little chillier than it has been lately, dipping to 31. We received an additional 0.22" of rain after observation yesterday morning. We're sliding up through the 40s right now and people are starting to arrive in droves. It's another busy spring weekend, so back to tending to the needs of our guests and the numerous day hikers. Come on up and say hello! |
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
April 2024
|