Breakfast was a bust weather wise. Right before we rang the bell the skies let lose with a magnificent cloudburst that turned our front steps into a waterfall. Then it cleared off. Whatever floats your boat, Mother Nature. We are most likely going to hang out in the clouds today (again). We received no rain yesterday. This morning certainly made up for it!
66/52 were the temps with a chilly bit of humidity. The forecast was pretty consistent regarding random (bad joke) rain and thunderstorms so please pack accordingly!
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It's getting a bit bit chilly up here! After a 67/48 day, complete with nighttime rain showers amounting to 1.68”, we are spending most of the day in a fog waiting for more rain to hit. With so much cloud cover the snails are quite busy around camp, watch your step!
There has been an ongoing struggle with the squirrels this year, PLEASE DO NOT FEED THEM. They are starting to take more liberties. From biting through unattended packs to jumping on people trying to get their food, the squirrels should not be rewarded for their bad behavior. Us at the lodge and our awesome overnight guests have to live with them, and boy, you have to be careful. Pack for rain most of this week! Umbrellas and raincoats are a must! Greetings, It would seem the dry streak we've been experiencing is over for a while. The clouds have been more dominant today, socking us in from time to time with the occasional sprinkle. The extended forecast is calling for stronger percentages of rain and storms in the coming days, so come prepared if you have aspirations of climbing the mountain. It was another comfortable day around camp on Sunday. We topped out at 63 degrees, with last night's low bottoming out at 47. We're hovering around 60 at the moment. It's been interesting to see and hear about what's going with rhododendron displays around the park. In some places they seem a little lackluster, both Catawba and Rosebay, most likely a result from having to endure last year's drought. Many of the Catawba variety along the mountain crest went straight to leaves this month. On the other hand, Alan tells me that the stands along Trillium Gap, though now past peak, have been most impressive. So I guess it just varies from place to place this year.
Alum Cave Trail, Clingmans Dome, and specifically Andrews Bald have some of the most notable stands of Rhododendron blooms in the Smokies. Elsewhere in the region, the drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway extending from the Smokies to Grandfather Mountain boasts some of the best displays, with must-see stops at Craggy Gardens and Mt. Mitchell State Park along the way. Separate from the BRP but straddling the TN/NC state line is Roan Mountain, whose rolling balds and densely forested peaks are world renowned for their Rhododendron and Azalea populations. So much to see and do this time of year in the outdoors. We hope all of you are able to muster up some time to play outside soon. There's plenty of beauty to enjoy on this mountain, so come check it out! Have a great rest of the day. Good Day, We're fortunate enough to be basking in another beautiful day overlooking East Tennessee. The skies are partly cloudy, but there's enough blue and sunshine to go around to keep things bright and pleasant. Temps are comfortable at the moment, hanging out in the lower 60's. Our high mark yesterday came out to be 63 degrees, and our overnight low dropped to 46. We haven't seen much precipitation lately, but the extended forecast shows a chance of thunderstorms just about everyday for the region. We'd expect nothing else for the month of June. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it doesn't, but better to be safe and pack for rain anyways! It's enjoyable to see the mountain bursting with life at a frenetic pace now. More plants are blooming, or growing in tall and thick. Surely a testament to the rainfall and moderate temperatures we've been experiencing so far this year. The deer that call this basin home have put on their reddish coats, and who knows if we'll see any new fawns in the near future. And those red squirrels...they seem to be everywhere this season, chattering away at one another as well as human visitors. Yesterday one decided to crash into the side of my foot while walking along at a casual pace. Another "Boomer" this morning was so startled by my opening of the Office door that instead of running down the stairs or to the opposite end of the porch, it thought it better to leap straight out from the highest part of the handrail, eventually landing about ten feet out. Crazy little buggers.
If you're an upcoming guest, please don't entice these little guys with food, as there is no unlearning such bad habits from them. Keep windows and doors closed at all times when your cabin is unoccupied, and store your belongings inside safely. That will also detract the potential for unwanted bears ambling into camp. Thanks! Have a great end of the week and happy trails. Good Afternoon, Happy second weekend of June to you all! It's a beautiful day on the mountain, and it's good to see so many folks motivated to get outside and explore. We're enjoying temps in the low 60's currently with sun and clouds sharing the attention up above. Our high temp yesterday was 58 degrees, followed by a low of 43. The scenery around camp continues to green up. Some Dwarf Rhododendron above the Dining Hall are starting to bloom. Elsewhere around lodge ground, the Coneflower, Purple Monkshood, Filmy Angelica, and White Snakeroot continue their ascent toward the sun, but won't start blooming for several more weeks yet. It appears one of the natives, a deer, munched on one of the Turks Cap Lilies outside the kitchen, but I was delighted to find three more growing in a different location. Fingers crossed the big critters don't sniff them out!
Have a great weekend. Good Afternoon, We've witnessed brief moments of sunshine and blue sky today, but the giant clouds refuse to let go of the mountain. There was even a brief rain shower after lunch time. The thermometer has barely scraped 50 degrees today, so expect slightly cooler than normal temps up top, especially during the evening. It should return to warmer and sunny conditions over the weekend. Yesterday's high temp managed to reach 60, and for the second day in a row we recorded a low of 38. Crew 93 would like to thank everyone who has kindly brought us goodies throughout the season. We appreciate your thoughtfulness, as we certainly enjoy those particular sweets that are a little harder to come by on our own while on the mountain. From peanut butter cups to hard candies, and carbonated beverages to newspapers, it's always well received by this group.
It looks to be a gorgeous late spring weekend ahead of us, so try and fit a climb up your favorite mountain into your schedule. With these warmer days, perhaps our lemonade will better suit your tastes versus the famous hot chocolate or some coffee. Either way, we'll have them all ready for you! Take care and have a great rest of the day. Good Afternoon Readers, We didn't get washed away, and it appears the sun is taking control of the situation. We received 1.55" of rainfall yesterday, the kind that would come in brief but heavy downpours. The weather for the majority of this week looks pleasant now, but as we all know, conditions can change on a dime in these mountains during the summer months. For your own benefit, be sure and pack for rain anytime you head into these woods. Our high temperature for the period came in at 58 degrees, and our low hit 47. The sun and clouds are jockeying for position over the peaks, and there are the occasional wind gusts today. It's going to be cooler these next few days, so remember warm layers if you're staying with us! Have a great afternoon!
Greetings Everyone, We're listening to the sound of rain pelting windows and roof tops, and it is glorious! After several dry days, this liquid precipitation business is greatly appreciated. We tallied 0.43" of rain during the last measurement, and it's been coming down steadily much of today. We've now eclipsed 40" of rain on the mountain for the year! All of the vegetation around camp is happy about this fact, as they're all coming in green, tall, and full. I've been admiring all of the new growth on the Frasier Firs and Red Spruces. Yesterday's temperatures saw little fluctuation, with our high rolling in at 58 degrees, and our low just down to 51. We're sitting in the mid 50's at the moment. It's time to call on another great LeConte pack llama, one that many people have laid eyes on before, though not necessarily in person. The one and only...BUCK! (aka Bucky, Buck of a Buck <--Ask Chrissy). This legendary packer has logged a ton of miles on this mountain, up there with the likes of Cliff and Chester. In the past, he was known for hauling those fresh eggs our overnight guests enjoy for breakfast. This year, you'll be able to pick him out from the team by his distinctive navy blue saddle bags. You may be wondering as to how you've seen this famous llama before, if not in person. Well, those of you who purchased a certain ornament sporting a proud pack llama in years past are looking at none other than our favorite Buck pictured below! This llama has gone well beyond earning his keep. He's in our hearts, and he's in a great number of people's homes. The wranglers look after him, and he looks after us, and we couldn't be more proud of what this llama has achieved in his career. May your next glass of famous LeConte orange tang be a toast to the likes of Buck! If you're out and about today, enjoy yourself and stay dry. The temperatures in the coming days are expected to moderate, so hooray for that! Take care.
Previously highlighted llamas: Kramer, Denny, Chuck, Huey, Pete, Clifford, Rainbow Reuben. Good Afternoon, It's great to welcome back the rain. After several days of sunny and dry conditions, it's healthy to change it up a little. We've experienced a handful of drizzles this morning, but it sounds like there are more significant rain chances later today. The views into the valley below have vanished, and we're enveloped in clouds. Our high temperature yesterday turned out to be 68 degrees, and our overnight low fell to 49. Currently we're in the 50's and the rumbles of thunder are drawing nearer. We welcomed a great deal of people to the mountain yesterday, several returnees and a lot of new faces. The warmth and the sunshine certainly played into making it a magical day on the mountain for all, capped off by a stellar sunset. Camp expects to be less busy today, and this dreary afternoon weather is calling for some nap time.
Have a great end of the week. We'll catch up later! Howdy Friends,
It's a sunny Saturday on the mountain, and this time of year, that equates to busy. We even threw in a bonus llama trip today, so tending to the outstanding visitors and restocking some supplies has us smothered and covered. Our high temperature yesterday was 62 degrees, and our low hit 45. We've been up, down and all around with temps today, but right now we're soaking up 66 degrees. It looks as though rain is slated to return as soon as tomorrow, so please dress appropriately if you intend to summit. Thanks and have a great 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
April 2024
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