Good Morning,
It’s a boxing match between the sun and clouds this Sunday, each jockeying for position over the mountain. With the increasing possibility of storms popping up this afternoon, it is likely that the clouds will win out. Temps are in the mid 50s currently with an occasional light breeze. We expect to reach the mid 60s this afternoon. We’re looking at possible rain chances of varying percentages throughout the coming week, so continue to bring those rain shells should you get caught out in some wet conditions hiking up or down. And with a constant state of dampness under foot, pay close attention to slick surfaces on the trail, namely smooth rock faces and wooden water bars. Have a great end to the week.
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Good Morning,
It’s a pleasant start to this second weekend of July. Calm air and fairly clear skies combined with the smells of the firs and chirping birds is a delightful to wake up to the world. Doesn’t appear as though it will stay that way today. The sun and rain are set to square off in a tug-of-war as the hours press on. By this afternoon, thunderstorms should start flaring up and dotting the region with intermittent rain showers. So don’t get fooled by the temporary calm, there could be some wet and turbulent weather lurking just around the next turn of the trail. Temps are hanging out in the mid 50s currently and we should ascend into the mid 60s this afternoon. Sunday is very much looking like a duplicate of today, a mix of sun and scattered storms. Summer in the Smokies for sure. If visitation this week in the park and gateway communities is any indication, expect a lot of travelers and weekend warriors to be actively about today and tomorrow. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Shaping up to be a wet and cloudy weekend, polar opposite to the stellar forecast we were spoiled with over the recent holiday. We could witness some intermittent patches of sun in the coming days, but looking like stormy conditions will persist. We’re already fogged in this morning with temps in the mid 50s. We could reach the lower 60s by this afternoon. Going to be a bit breezier today as well, with gusts up to 25mph possible throughout the day. It’s a roll of the dice to see where these isolated showers will strike over the weekend, but come prepared for wet conditions anyways, even if your hike starts out in sunshine. We’ve slowly but surely been restocking some of our most popular merchandise items on the mountain. And some of those pieces are also available via our online store like this year’s drinkware. Be sure and check out the glow-in-the-dark Nalgene as well as the newest colors to our Camelbak Rocks Tumbler lineup. And remember, if an items says “I Hiked It,” well then there’s only one place and one way to get it! Go here to browse our online offering. Have a great day. Good Morning,
It was a game of hide-and-seek with the intermittent rain showers yesterday, but that didn’t keep the park’s visitors away. Impression that it’s actually been busier in the park and on our trails the last 48 hours than it was over the holiday weekend! So, as the theme has been for many of our country’s most popular and beloved national parks, expect above average congestion. Forecast looking pretty cut-and-paste for today, with mostly cloudy conditions and passing showers likely for the afternoon and evening. If percentages hold, Friday could be even more of a wash from start to finish. Surely the moisture being driven up from the Gulf by Elsa is feeding the weather pattern, but the storm itself is too far east to have any kind of flooding or downed trees impact on our mountains. The air will be calm again today and temps on the slightly cooler side. We’ll range from the lower 50s to lower 60s today. When conditions are consistently wet like they are, pay extra close attention to your foot placement heading up and down the trail. For safety reasons of course, but also to look out for the little dudes slowly slithering from one side to the other. If you haven’t guessed it, we’re talking about the numerous snails and salamanders who call these mountains home. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Just like that, we’re a week into July. Skies are a bit grey and dreary today with the overcast conditions. Light rain appears to be bubbling up from the southwest and could reach us this afternoon. Rain showers are expected to last through the evening and then continue to be on and off over the coming days. Definitely going to want those rain jackets ready. Temps will be mild today, as we start in the lower 50s and should climb into the mid 60s this afternoon. Winds to remain light. Elsa doesn’t appear to be any kind of threat to our mountain in terms of gusty winds or heavy rain. It’s expected to lose steam over land and pass well to the east of us in the coming days. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Tee up another sunny day for the mountains. It’s going to be a toasty one down below yet again, so places like Mt. LeConte are going to offer that nice cool relief. Temps up top are kicking off in the lower 50s and we’ll get into the mid 60s easily this afternoon. The air will be calm, although it’s gotten significantly hazier in recent days. Seems the fires burning out west and in Canada have had their particles blown this way. Worth paying attention to if you are someone with air quality sensitivity when doing outdoor activities. Starting tomorrow afternoon and lasting the next few days, the rain and thunderstorm opportunities reappear. That should bring the temps down slightly, although it will still feel plenty like summer. Looking like Elsa will be passing well to the east of us in the coming days. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Hopefully everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday yesterday. It was a gorgeous day and night on the mountain once again which made for great firework viewing from high above the Tennessee Valley. Of course what one can enjoy from the lodge appears just a wee bit smaller and of course it can take close to 30 seconds for the sound to reach ears that far and high. Enjoyable sights and sounds nonetheless. We have another beautiful on tap, although the forecasters have slipped in a slight chance for a late afternoon rain shower. Typical for this time of year, and anything that does come to fruition should clear out by sunset. Winds will remain calm and temps should range from lower 50s to mid 60s today. Tuesday looks to be pleasant across the region. We’re keeping our eyes on Tropical Storm Elsa as it moves toward the States. Too soon to say what and if we’ll feel the effects from it later on this week. In the meantime, got to enjoy the great weather we have here and now! Have a great day. Good Morning,
Happy Birthday #245, America! We are fortunate to be able to celebrate this momentous holiday with such stellar weather conditions. Skies are going to be sunny and clear, which will make for great hiking during the day and grand firework displays (all outside of the park boundaries of course) later this evening. The air will be calm, and temps will get a bit warmer today than yesterday. We’re already in the lower 50s and should easily surpass the mid 60s this afternoon. Monday is slated to be another superb day for gallivanting in the woods as well. Should be another busy day on the mountain and all around the park today. Expect long lines and delays in traffic during normal peak hours, but also this evening as some of the gateway communities prep for their annual firework displays. Leave yourself plenty of time for whenever you need to go today, especially if a day trip to Mt. LeConte is in your plans. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday. Good Morning,
Waking up to a cool and crisp mountain top this eve of America’s grand birthday. Aside from some spotty clouds and haze, we’re about to embark on what should be a fine holiday weekend for enjoying the outdoors. We’re currently in the lower 40s for breakfast and should get close to 60° this afternoon. Winds should remain calm all weekend. The 4th will see slightly warmer temps across the region. Expect the park and its gateway communities to be welcoming huge crowds these next several days, especially with such a solid forecast and the holiday falling on the weekend. Roadways will be congested, parking lots full, and trails bustling with bodies. Could be a great opportunity to try one of the mountains less popular trails if such a prospect has been on your bucket list. Extra important with so many people anticipated, many of them first time visitors, that everyone remembers to pack out their trash, not to feed wildlife, and to park vehicles in designated spaces only. If we want to continue to enjoy the national parks, often referred to as “America’s best idea,” then it’s on us to recreate responsibly. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Well it seemed to take a while for the skies to open up, watching the clouds build and build all day, but finally they let loose during the night. The rain has just about cleared out of the area, but the clouds will linger well into the afternoon. It’s possible we get enough of a clearing later today to catch some sun and hopefully enjoy a soothing sunset. Winds will remain light and temps will be on the cooler side. The lodge will be lucky to scrape 60° today, and overnight temps are expected to drop into the mid 40s. That means it’ll be an unseasonably cool start for folks on Saturday morning. Good news is that the holiday weekend looks to be quite pleasant, bookended by abundant sunshine. These are some of the busier travel days of the year in our region, so come ready to deal with congested roads, parking lots, and trails. Especially with such nice weather. It may be too cool to get out on the lakes, but it’ll sure feel perfect above 6,000 feet! Friendly reminder that our reservations office will be closed on Monday, July 5th for observance of the national holiday. Guests with any last minute questions regarding their stay this weekend should contact our office during normal business hours today, otherwise it’s Tuesday until we pick up the phones again. 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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