Good Morning,
Storms have the cabins rocking and rolling early this morning. A strong system producing wind, lightning, rain, and even some small hail gave us a good wake-up whallop around sunrise. It’s supposed to fizzle out by mid-morning and then we should have ourselves a more pleasant rest of the day. Trails will be a bit sloppy and slick at first after the freshly fallen precip. Temps could tap the lower 60s this afternoon, especially if the cloud cover breaks and the sunshine finds us. There is a small chance for some rainy weather again tonight, but Wednesday looks decent for hikers coming and going from the mountain. Have a great day.
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Good Morning,
Aside from a mostly clouded-over mountain top, yesterday turned out to be a decent day on the mountain. At one point there was the lightest of mists that wasn’t even worth shaking a stick at. As the sun rises this Sunday, some low hanging clouds are tap dancing across the peaks, providing glimpses into the valley below in between bouts of getting socked in. It’s one of the warmest mornings we’ve had so far this season, already at 50° and rising. Temps should jump into the lower 60s this afternoon which will feel delightful for rambles or lounging. Right now storms are expected to fire up around supper time today. Then they’ll be a nagging presence for the next few days. But at least weekend warriors will have had a nice opportunity to explore the woods without getting wet. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Overcast skies mute the early morning colors in the sky to start this Saturday, but the ceiling is high enough in the atmosphere that views in all directions remain visible. Albeit slightly muddled from the haze and pollen. The forecast for today has become more favorable. Except for an occasional rain shower that could appear, today should see be partly cloudy over the mountain. Hikers should still throw in that rain gear just to be safe, but the odds have improved that it may not be used. Temps will continue to warm and we ought to enjoy highs in the upper 50s this afternoon. We’ll see if the trails are as busy as they were last Saturday! Right now Sunday morning looks clear before rain and storms make their return in the afternoon. The landscapes are getting good and green now. Even around lodge grounds, the grass is starting to gain some height in places with dandelion intermixed. Spring is finally springing at our elevation! Have a great day. Good Morning,
A thin haze veils the atmosphere above the mountain this morning, but the sunrise is visible and another pleasant day forges ahead. Temps this afternoon should reach the mid 50s and skies will be a mix of clouds and sun until late this evening, when the rain and storms roll in. The precip chances are to remain strong through Saturday morning before clearing off. Still plenty of pollen filling the air as trees, flowers, and grasses continue to flourish and ascend the slopes. Anyone with seasonal allergies take heed if out exploring these woods. Have a great day. Good Afternoon,
Sunshine makes for some great medicine! Bright and blue skies bless the mountains, valleys, and distant horizons this Thursday. And maybe, just maybe, we’ve entered into a warming trend that could finally spell winter’s end atop Mt. LeConte. We’ll creep close to 50° today and should see high temps steadily rise each day now through the weekend. That means overnight lows ought to stay above freezing for a change. If that’s the case all the way until autumn, no complaints here! As far as superbly sunny skies go, today is the day. Colors all around seem to be a bit more vibrant than usual. Clouds will gradually thicken overnight and tomorrow morning, then rain showers return sometime Friday afternoon. The rest of the weekend and beyond is calling for scattered precip and storms, so expect sloppy conditions on and off in the coming days. Have a great rest of the day… and May the Fourth be with you! Good Morning,
It’s another brisk May morning starting things off in the mid 20s. Skies are supposed to be mostly sunny again today, with high temps crossing into the 40s. Conditions will continue to feel quite cool up top because the strong winds aren’t going away just yet. Gusts of 50mph are possible today and tonight. Thursday looks just as sunny, but warmer and calmer. Continue to watch for slick spots on trail, particularly in the upper elevations, when out and about early on these unseasonably chilly mornings. The green blanket covering the lowlands is getting thick and dark from our vantage point atop East Tennessee. At mid elevations, there is a thin transition zone where the reds, oranges, and yellows of leaf buds are bursting with color, very much like a reverse autumn. Trees this high up will remain bare a few more weeks yet, but there’s plenty of action at ground level taking place. Several species of trillium continue to appear higher up the slopes, and late spring bloomers like yellow bead lily are beginning to form. Have a great day. Good Afternoon,
It’s a sunnier second day of May over the mountains. A winter’s chill still clings to the upper reaches of the park, but there are far fewer clouds in the sky today than this time Monday. That will encourage what little remaining patches of ice pellets to melt away. We expect to surpass the freezing mark this afternoon, but winds will continue to hound us, gusting as much as 50mph today and tonight. Clouds should thicken later today and there are even chances for rain showers mixing with flurries overnight. We’ll anxiously wait to see what we wake up to on the ground Wednesday. A couple more days of cool conditions are ahead, then hopefully we can finally kick winter to the curb. The NPS recently reopened Greenbrier all the way to Porters Creek. This means ambitious hikers can now utilize the Brushy Mountain Trail that provides access from Greenbrier to Trillium Gap. It’s a tad over nine miles in length from the lodge to that road’s end, so don’t pursue it without understanding what one’s getting into over such a climb and distance. Trail crews have also cleared the nearly 2.5 miles of Trillium Gap Trail that connects Cherokee Orchard to the upper parking lot for Grotto Falls along the one-way Roaring Fork. This, too, makes for a long trek when taken to or from the lodge, but is much safer than walking the road now that it’s clear of hazards. Have a great day. Good Afternoon,
Happy May Day to all on this invigorating wintry start we’re having to the new month. Since late last night, a dusting of little white pellets has blanketed the ground with regularity above 5,500 feet. Last night’s low temp dipped to an icy 24°, which given the blustery conditions up top felt more like 0° at times. In recent days, any wildflowers above the current snow line that thought it was a good time to open up and flourish are surely seconding guessing themselves today. The lodge is below the clouds, and occasional rays of sun have poked through. Anywhere the glowing orb’s warmth has been able to last, what little snow there was has quickly dissipated. What powder resides in the shade and crevices is holding strong for the time being. Trails are safely passable, but give it a solid 24 hours at these temps and wet places will likely turn slick underfoot. We’re going to be feeling winter’s chill up here at least through midweek. So layer up for the cold and wind if you have reservations these next few days. Gusts could tap 60mph tonight and linger into Wednesday night before finally subsiding. Hopefully this is the last cold blast until autumn. It’s deceiving to see so much green overtaking the valley below while the environment high above East Tennessee more closely resembles a snow globe. Have a great rest of the day. |
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
May 2024
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