 Good Morning,
Wow, it’s already the last day of June 2023! Time sure does fly, even up here 6,593’ closer to the sun. It looks like we’re going to receive some assistance today from Mother Nature with clearing out this sickly smoke. Unfortunately, the trade off is happening in the way of thunderstorms, rain, and wind. The rumbling echoes of which are already being heard this morning as dark clouds roll in from the north. The Air Pollution Advisory that the NPS had in place yesterday has been lifted. The winds and rain are doing enough across the midwest United States to cutoff the southerly flow of smoke from Canada. The code orange Air Quality Alert for Ozone has been extended though, especially since the heat bubble that has been plaguing numerous southern states is slowly sliding over us this weekend. So folks with respiratory sensitivity should continue to take caution when spending time outdoors. And everyone should be mindful about the heat and humidity, taking all the necessary steps to stay hydrated and well nourished before entertaining a strenuous activity. Temps on the mountain could tap 70° everyday this weekend, and skies will continue to tap dance between sunshine and pop-up storms. Come prepared with the proper gear and clothing for it all! Have a great day.
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 Good Morning, The heat, humidity, and haze are here to stay. It appears that our unusually cool start to summer is finally over. These next few days the mountaintop could consistently hit high temps in the 70s, which doesn’t happen all that often in a given year. Skies will be mostly sunny today, but the soupy conditions will mute the visibility and brightness significantly. The wildfire smoke billowing down from Canada is also fueling the extra dense haze with particulate matter. A code orange Air Quality Alert for Ozone has been issued for our area. Anyone with respiratory illnesses or persons spending prolonged periods of time in the outdoors are subject to feeling the effects of potentially unhealthy air quality. Visitors to Mt. LeConte are encouraged to take frequent rest stops to moderate their physical exertion while out in these conditions. If any of the above applies to you, please use caution today and over the coming weekend while visiting GSMNP. Have a great day.   Good Afternoon, After receiving nearly 7” of total rainfall this past week alone, the creeks are flowing and little critters like snails and salamanders are thriving. But we’re about to transition from what has been a cool June to a hot start for July. Skies will be mostly sunny today, but the summer haze and smoky conditions spreading down from Canada will have visibility at a minimum. With temps expected to escalate at all elevations over the coming days, it is likely that the air quality will affect those people with respiratory sensitivities. The mountain should tap the upper 60s today then start creeping into the 70s each day leading into the weekend. With future highs in the 90s in places like Gatlinburg, the mountain streams and shade of the trees will provide some nice reprieve to those hoping to escape the heat ahead of the national holiday. There will be slight chances of pop up thunderstorms in the coming days as well, so visitors will need to pack plenty of water, sunscreen, hats, and rain gear to have a safe and enjoyable trek in the wilderness. Have a great day.   Good Morning, What a difference a day full of sunshine makes on the mountain. One almost had to wear sunglasses indoors because of not being use to seeing such bright natural light after so long. Even with the steady breeze throughout the day, it felt truly delightful to be outside and in the wilderness on Monday. A small passing shower tagged the summit during the night and we’re starting this Tuesday off in the clouds. Skies are expected to clear up though and give us another afternoon with plenty of sunshine. Temps will top out in the lower 60s. Tomorrow looks superb as well for spending extended time in the woods. US 441 (Newfound Gap Rd) reopened about midday yesterday, so visitors can access the heart of the Smokies once again. Kudos to NPS road maintenance crews for tackling that unplanned mess of a rockslide after early yesterday morning’s beast of a storm. Trail crews will also be working on rehabbing various trails on Mt. LeConte this week. Be sure and thank them for their efforts in keeping trails in good working order on this heavily trafficked mountain. Have a great day.   Good Morning,
After a late afternoon rain shower soaked the mountain yesterday, the mountain top was finally treated to views of the valley as clouds parted. Guests could even enjoy a sunset spectacular for the first time in a week. As the sun rises this Monday, lodge residents are waking up to beautiful blue skies and what is now expected to be a crystal clear day. That was not the case during the night though… In what was easily one of the fiercest storms the lodge has endured all year, over 2.5” of rainfall lambasted the summit in an hour, accompanied by hail, roaring winds, and unrelenting lightning. Numerous waterfalls quickly formed and raged around camp, displacing rocks and churning footpaths into rivers. All that water will be making its way down the mountain this morning and creek levels will take a couple hours to subside down below. Despite the sunshine, expect wet and sloppy trails en route to the top today, and use caution at any unbridged crossings. This week it appears temps will start to warm up to readings more seasonably appropriate. Highs for us will be in the upper 60s by this afternoon, and we could experience time in the 70s later this week. US 441 (Newfound Gap Rd) is temporarily closed due to a rockslide near the Chimney Tops trailhead. Guests with reservations today will need to utilize trails out of Cherokee Orchard this morning to reach to the lodge. There is no timetable when US 441 will reopen, but road crews are actively working to clear the obstruction. Have a great day.  Good Afternoon, We’ve gotten to enjoy what one might call a break in the wet weather this morning, with intermittent glimpses of blue sky and sunshine. But the dominant storyline of the week being clouds and rain continues. Even now, the next round of severe storms are about to strike the mountains. Temps are certainly comfortable in the upper 50s at the lodge. We have a couple more days ahead of us calling for occasional storm chances, but by Wednesday we might finally get to bask in some bountiful uninterrupted sunshine. Despite the dreary consistency of the past week, the crew’s spirit is high and their appetites limitless. Guests staying with us are treated to a feast every night and again before departing each morning. And our talented cooks keep the hard working staff fueled with delectables as well to keep them going day after day. A common question we hear is if the crew eats the same meal as the guests. As delicious as our family style guest offering may be, thankfully that answer is a no. Chowing down on the same menu would get tiresome after a couple consecutive days of it, let alone eight straight months… Have a great rest of the day.   Good Afternoon,
Life on the misty mountain top continues to pass by in a fog. Light rains and mists have been the norm these last few days and are to expected to continue into Saturday. Trails are wet from top to bottom, and temps are even a bit chilly for those unprepared. We’ve been hovering around the upper 40s this morning while the rain and occasional wind gust only enhances the chill. Last June was the driest on record for Mt. LeConte, but that certainly won’t be the case this time, as this week has seen certain of that. If anything, it might go down as one of the coolest. We’ll see after another week. The dampness hasn’t thwarted the local deer from grazing around the grounds though. A doe and her freshest fawn continue to prance around eating an endless buffet of plants while melting visitors’ hearts. Have a great day.  Good Afternoon,
The mountain experienced some real boomers during the night, and we’re not talking about the chattery red squirrels. Lightning and heavy rains hit their mark over Mt. LeConte, with some zappers making one’s hair stand on end and cabin walls shake. We had a lingering cloud this morning that continued to mist on the upper elevations, but has since eased off. The reprieve from the wet will be short lived, as storms will resume flaring up this afternoon. Trails are damp with a few drainages flushing out the runoff, but nothing is near flood stages yet as we head deeper into a week long forecast calling for routine precip. Temps feel delightful all things considered as we hover in the upper 50s. This grand influx of moisture certainly has the mountains feeling humid, heavy, and sticky too. Pack those belongings accordingly if venturing into the woods this week! Have a great day.  Good Morning, Rain, rain, here to stay. Might not see sun again for several more days! After a decent stretch of open skies and warm sunshine, the forecast for this coming week is going to be quite sour. Everyday is calling for storms and rain, potentially heavy at times, and occasional strong winds. Early starts, proper gear for staying dry, and layers for staying warm are all going to benefit hikers this week. The thermometer won’t stray much from the 50s today, and gusts could crank as high as 40mph. After what has been a relatively dry spring, this initial rainfall will get soaked right up, but enough days of it and we could slowly start to see creeks swell. So use caution in the coming days as this wet weather lingers, particularly along trails to the top without footbridges. The onus is on day hikers to be doubly responsible if insistent on being out in these conditions this week, since they will spend twice the time over twice the distance out in it. Only overnight guests with reservations to stay in our cabins are have the opportunity to dry out, warm up, and rest indoors after reaching the top. So please be smart out there! Have a great day.   Good Morning, It’s already the third Saturday of June and it ought to be a busy one. Skies should bring abundant sunshine today and warmer temps in the mid 60s, but the brightness is expected to be quite a bit muted. The haze typical of summers in these mountains is going to be amplified even more today on account of the smoke still wafting down from Canada. So much so that an Air Pollution Advisory has been issued for the national park these next 24 hours. The NPS is recommending that sensitive groups (those folks with respiratory or pulmonary issues) refrain from prolonged or strenuous activity in the outdoors today due to the heightened risks of particulate matter in the air. So please use caution if considering spending time in the mountains this weekend. 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
November 2023
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