Good Morning,
Going to be rolling in and out of the clouds today. Already some spotty showers in the vicinity, with chances of rainfall possible throughout the day. Temps already in the upper 50s, and we should tap into the 60s by the afternoon. Still going to be plenty of heat and humidity felt down in the lowlands in the coming days. Saturday should be mostly pleasant with an afternoon thunderstorm possible. Sunday the precip chances increase, so if you are hoping to enjoy the mountains this weekend with the least chance of getting wet, the front part looks like your best bet. We’ve got llamas toting up supplies this weekend. Thank you to everyone who heeds the advice of our wranglers while our fuzzy friends stroll up and down the mountain with their weighty loads. The llamas are certainly cute and fun to look at, but they’re also large animals with great strength. The safety of our llamas as well as that of hikers on the trail are both important, so paying attention to what our experienced wranglers have to say is crucial when narrow paths cross. Have a great day.
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Good Morning, Despite being clouded in much of the day, it was still an enjoyable time to be on the mountain on Wednesday. Another great day with a lot of visitors spending time in the outdoors. The threat of rain never amounted to anything, all bark and no bite with those clouds. Today there is a slight chance for showers around supper time, with a stronger possibility of rain for Friday. We’re currently scraping the clouds and temps should once again move back and forth between the 50s and 60s. The fragrant Dwarf Rhododendron are still blooming strong across the high reaches of the mountain. Large stands of the plant are located at popular vistas like Cliff Tops and Myrtle Point. They really add some flare to those grand views, whether you’re enjoying a short afternoon break before making your descent, or sitting contently watching the sun make its arrival or departure. On the sunny and windless days, both of these places can get a little bit buggy. Friendly reminder that an all-natural insect repellent is available for purchase at our lodge gift shop in case you find yourself in need!
Have a great day. Good Morning, We’re waking up to decent skies this morning, but the threat of rainfall and thunder is bubbling up from the southeast. Once it rolls in, it is expected to last most of the day, so come prepared for wet conditions on the trail and at the lodge. Temps are currently in the 50s. Remember, do not feed the critters around the mountain. Not just here at the lodge, but popular visitor hangouts like Alum Cave, Inspiration Point, Grotto Falls, Rainbow Falls, or any of the parking lots. We’re into the part of the year where squirrels, bears, skunks, deer, etc. are most active. Throwing them that chip from your picnic table may seem cute and provide temporary entertainment, but that only contributes to bad habits later and putting a subsequent visitor at risk. These creatures belong in the woods, up in trees, foraging for native nuts and berries...not grabbing a cookie from your hand, breaking into cars, or tearing through unattended backpacks. So let’s all do our part to protect and preserve the wildlife around us by making as little of an impact as possible on their lives. Thank you.
Good Afternoon, It’s been a mostly pleasant day above 6,000’ with the mountaintop receiving mostly sunny skies. Some clouds and possible showers are billowing well to the south and aren’t expected to become substantial until much later this evening. We’re currently in the 60s. Yesterday we got up to 66° and had a low of 49°, and the afternoon bouts of rain produced nearly a third of an inch. Tomorrow will be plenty warm and humid again, with a strong chance of afternoon thunderstorms. If you happen to be in the vicinity and plan on doing a hike to the lodge out of Cherokee Orchard, consider driving the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail back to Gatlinburg. The white Rosebay Rhododendron are in peak bloom making for an enjoyable post-hike drive back into town. The winding road is narrow and can see a lot of people this time of year, so be patient and keep your eyes sharp until you exit the park.
Good Afternoon, We hope you had as pleasant a 4th of July as we did. The mountain wasn’t nearly as busy as it was Friday, but still a great deal of friendly folks excited about spending time outdoors and visiting the lodge. The holiday was a beautiful one for playing in the woods, and it never got too hot, barely reaching the mid 60s. A pop-up shower did manage to roll through and grace us with a half inch of rainfall. For a mountain that typically averages 85” of liquid precip per year, we’ve already surpassed 70”...halfway through the calendar year. Yeah. We’re in the lower 60s currently experiencing sporadic light showers. The greatest chance was for this afternoon, and then things should calm down by tonight. Tomorrow looks like it’ll be a hot one again, but rather nice up top.
The crew made good on their annual Independemce Day tradition of eating a grand feast done on the charcoal grill after serving our guests. The evening skies cooperated so that all the firework displays dotting the East Tennessee Valley below could be seen, albeit very small and the sound arriving nearly 30 seconds later. All in all a great day to be on the mountain. Good Morning, Yesterday ended up being a beautiful day on the mountain, and Friday is picking up right where Thursday left off. Shouldn’t take long for temps to jump up into the 60s with such pleasant skies. Today and tomorrow are looking the best days of the weekend, with temps expected to be quiet toasty down below. Rain chances increase substantially sometime Sunday, so get your outdoors fix before then if you want to avoid the potential slog! July 4th Eve is typically one of the busiest traffic influx days of the entire year in Sevier County. If you’re arriving today before a planned trip to the mountain tomorrow, patience will serve you well. With the holiday falling on what should be a sunny Saturday, expect a great deal of people to be hitting the trails early, then zipping down early in the afternoon to make it back in time for evening gatherings, BBQ’s, and fireworks. Add bear traffic jams into the mix and you could have a really slow exit out of the Park.
Our gift shop hours are 12:00-5:00, so if you are coming up early on a day hike, it’s advisable to hit the various vistas around the mountain first. You can always checkout the shirts and souvenirs when we open at noon and before you start your descent. Before noon, our team is working diligently and expeditiously to prepare the entire lodge for upcoming overnight guests, cleaning, organizing, and sanitizing. Thank you for your patience as we fulfill our commitment to providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all lodge visitors. Have a great day! Good Morning,
Starting off the day with prettier skies than we’ve seen in a while. Current temps in the lower 50s, and with more sunshine expected today we should easily get into the mid 60s. It’s going to be substantially hotter and more humid across the South this weekend than last, so it’s important one starts their hike early to get out in front of the rising temps and stays adequately hydrated throughout the day. This time of year, hikers in distress are typically struggling with dehydration or heat exhaustion because they poorly prepared their bodies for the climb. The process of getting properly hydrated starts before the day of your hike. And it’s important to maintain a balanced diet leading up to and on the day of your ascent. Too many times have we seen hikers struggle because their breakfast consisted of a cup of coffee and some energy chews. That might cut it for kicking off your 9 to 5 job in the morning, not so much when it comes to the physical exertion and calorie burn of a several thousand foot ascent. Listen to your body, know when to take breaks, and know when to turn around. Medical rescues in the backcountry are not easy, hardly ever happen quickly, and have the potential to place a number of people at risk. All worth considering, so please take all the necessary steps to prepare your body for a safe and enjoyable visit to the mountain, especially if it’s a brand new experience. Good Morning,
Hello July and the halfway point of 2020! The summer season is on! Today is one more day with a high chance for rain developing in the afternoon. The next few days leading into the holiday weekend are looking much more pleasant. Plenty of heat and humidity down below, but the mountain only tapped the lower 60s yesterday. Should continue to feel quite comfortable around the lodge. The Park and its popular trails have been very busy in recent weeks, and that isn’t expected to change anytime soon. With Independence Day falling on a Saturday, traffic in the region is likely to spike, if not achieve record visitation with so many folks clamoring to get outside. Mt. LeConte is lucky to have so many great trails accessing the summit. So if you are looking to reach the peak while also avoiding the crowds and practice safe social distancing, consider exploring the lesser used paths. These trails are longer, so be sure and start plenty early and bring adequate food and beverage rations. 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
March 2024
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