 Good Morning, Another hot day is on deck for this Tuesday. Already near 60° but currently looking at cloudy conditions. The possibility of isolated rain showers increases as the day goes on. Temps down below continue to feel oven-like. Until this weather pattern shakes, it is advisable to start early up the trail and load up on that water. One can never be too cautious in these hot summer conditions. The reward for a safe ascent is a cool and relaxing summit, hopefully with a view if skies cooperate. Have a great day. 
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 Good Morning, We’re deep into summer now, and the extended forecast looks like there’s no end in sight to these hot and humid days. The mountain has had the benefit of clouds clinging to the summit to help keep things slightly cooler. As long as that continues, Mt. LeConte will be a great place to escape the 90-100° temps lingering below. There is a chance for pop-up showers around dinner time today, but the rest of the day ought to be a mix of clouds and sun. We’ll continue to see lodge high temps in the upper 60s.  In a normal year, yesterday would have marked the halfway point of the lodge season, spanning from when the crew hikes up in mid March til closing day right before Thanksgiving. Since we were able reopen our doors two months ago, the time has just flown by. We’re incredibly thankful for everyone who has taken the time and energy to visit the lodge or stay with us, even in such unusual times. Our crew continues to work hard for our guests, even with the various changes, and looks forward to serving you to the best of their abilities these remaining four months of the 2020 season.
Have a great start to the week. Stay safe and stay cool!  Good Morning, Starting this Saturday off with a sweet sunrise. Already plenty warm and humid and will definitely continue the trend of the past week. We should easily tap 70° while the lowlands continue to squeeze out triple digit temps in places. The rain chances for today and tomorrow have both decreased, but still a slight possibility for some wet action during the PM daytime hours. Seeing some increased bear activity on the trails. Nothing scary or urgent to report. Please respect any wildlife you stumble across, do not feed them, and be sure to pass along any suspicious or aggressive behavior you witness to the local park authorities. Have a great start to the weekend, and stay cool!   Good Morning, Anticipating a mostly pleasant day atop the mountain once again. Despite a few lingering clouds, the sunshine should dominate the skies. Only a slight chance for an afternoon rain shower. Temps should easily get back into the upper 60s. The weekend forecast looks promising, with Saturday expected to be the slightly better day. Tomorrow should be slightly warmer with little chance of an afternoon rain, while Sunday slips back a couple degrees and ups the possibility of rainfall. Come ready for the elements either way!   Good Afternoon, We appear to be marching in lockstep with what’s happening down below during this heat wave. In consecutive days we surpassed 70° and have a new high of 73° for the year so far. With rain percentages increasing in the coming days, the return of clouds and slightly cooler temps should prevail, above 6,000’ anyways. Still nice to be 20-30° cooler than what’s being felt in the lower elevations this time of year.  There is endless beauty all across the mountain. Rosebay Rhododendron are in peak form along the lower reaches of Mt. LeConte, and the drive around Roaring Fork is tremendous. The Dwarf Rhododendron are still hanging around up top. In the coming weeks, we should start to see the summer explosion of color around the lodge. Purple Monkshood, Yellow Coneflower, Crimson Red Bee Balm, Green Bush Honeysuckle, White Snakeroot, and even a few orange American Turk’s Cap Lilies. Great time to be on the mountain!
 Good Morning,
What a beautiful Tuesday we got to enjoy atop the mountain. Sunniest skies without interference for the first time in quite a while it seems like. Today is already picking up where yesterday left off as the stunning sunrise lights up the horizon. Temps are going to be hot down below in what could mark the warmest day of the year so far. Thankfully we should just keeping rolling with the 60s. The air quality alert for ozone has also been extended through midnight, so take note of that if you have outdoor physical activity planned for today. Halfway through July already! Summer is flying by. Enjoy the day.  Good Morning,
Hikers abound on the trails yesterday, and who can blame them under such splendid skies. Today should see abundant sunshine and toasty temps across the region. If the clouds stay away up top then, the lodge should get well into the 60s this afternoon. East TN is under a code orange air quality alert for ozone these next 24 hours, so folks with respiratory issues as well as active children and adults should be mindful of that when outside today and tomorrow. This time of year, especially when we get into long stretches without rain, the Smokies take on that hazy look. Not unusual during these hot and humid summers. A stark contrast to the crystal clear skies of winter or after a cooling rain has pushed through. Visibility can be reduced by tens of miles, even when peering out through unabated sunshine. If your outward view is diminished, not a bad idea to look down and marvel at what is around your feet. Could be an intricate flower or a delicate snail crossing the dirt highway. Always something to enjoy on Mt. LeConte!  Good Afternoon,
It’s shaping to be a sunny week. It’s remained surprisingly cool up top in recent days, but temps in the coming days down below could see us hit some warmer than normal day time highs. We can’t stress enough, start early on the trail to get out in front of the heat, and stay hydrated throughout your excursion. We continue see a lot of people on the trails this summer, specifically Alum Cave. Please be mindful of the narrow places on the trail when passing other hikers, especially where practicing safe social distancing is made difficult. Mt. LeConte is home to several great trails accessing the summit, each of which host fewer people on any given day. Maybe this is the year you’ve been waiting for to check out the other areas of the mountain! And on these hot and humid days, if you are heading down the mountain please be courteous to the people making the ascent. Some people might appreciate the break, but others benefit from not losing their rhythm or momentum during the climb depending on the weight of their pack or the heat. It’s much easier for the average person to pick up their pace again when descending. Have a great start to the week.  Good Morning, Starting the day off in the clouds again. Yesterday stayed surprisingly but welcomingly cool up top, and today could be heading that same direction. Current temps are in the 50s. There are stronger possibilities for rain showers throughout the day, with the greatest chance occurring later this evening. Rain jackets and umbrellas will be smart to have on hand if traversing the mountain is in one’s plans. In the coming days, temps across the East Tennessee Valley could reach their highest of the year thus far. Even on Mount LeConte where temps can be as much as 20° cooler, it is still crucial hikers take all necessary precautions to have a safe and enjoyable trek. These conditions can lead to heat exhaustion and extreme dehydration more quickly than other times of the year if you aren’t careful. Staying hydrated and well nourished, wearing clothes geared toward’s sun protection, and hiking during the coolest parts of the day will all benefit you in having a great hike.   Good Morning, The weekend is starting off like a true, July summer day. Expected to be hot and humid with abundant sunshine across all the elevations. If those 90+ degree temps have you feeling beat and sluggish down below, come on up to 6,593’ and cool off. Not a bad view either! We’ll spend some time in the 60s today for sure. Sunday should start off pleasant, but it’s still looking like pop-up showers throughout the afternoon. Sometimes a cool down in the form of late day rain can feel mighty good, even up here.  Sending major kudos out to our friends with the NPS Trails Forever crews. They’ve been working hard in these muggy conditions while making great strides at rehabilitating Trillium Gap Trail. In recent weeks the crews have been tackling various sections where old log steps and fortifications have been in need of repair, replacement, or removal. So far the changes not only look great, but their long term functionality will serve hikers (and our llamas) quite well. If you ever catch NPS trail crew personnel out working, not just the fine folks on Trillium, be sure and give them a hearty “thanks” for performing the often back breaking work to keep our beloved Park’s trails in safe and usable condition.
Have a great weekend! |
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
January 2025
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