Good Afternoon,

​We might not be breaking heat records atop the mountain this week, but what our climate lacks on the thermometer is being made up for with the humidity. There are chances for scattered rain showers throughout today, and glimpses of sunshine will be few and far between. Count on the clouds holding tight at various elevations contributing to wet and sticky air. Temps will be in the 60s and winds will be light at the lodge. Any type of breeze will feel delightful in these conditions. The possibility for scattered showers lingers into tomorrow. This weekend so far is looking stunningly sunny. So weekend warriors hoping to beat the heat are likely to flock to the mountains, especially as the summer breaks for those folks about to resume school near an end.

​Have a great rest of the day.

Good Morning,

Already some passing rain showers in the vicinity to start this Tuesday. Looks like we’re in for a cloudy day up too with intermittent showers throughout. We sure got a decent downpour late yesterday afternoon. So July continues to be a relentlessly wet month. Come prepared for soggy trails once again. Temps will be in the 60s today with light winds. There are chances for more scattered rain showers tomorrow as well.

We may not be setting record high temps like elsewhere in the world right now, but we’re still in the deep of summer. Here in the South that means plenty warm temps coupled with what can be a crippling humidity for those unaccustomed. Whether the sun is shining or not, one’s body is going to perspire significantly more this time of year. It is necessary to load up on nutrients and hydrate in the days leading up to an activity like climbing Mt. LeConte. Those energy stores are crucial for a successful and enjoyable hike. It’s also important to stay nourished and hydrated during your activity so that your energy sustains and you don’t crash upon completion…or sooner. Starting early to beat the heat and taking several breaks can also be beneficial. Walking five miles in the flats of Florida is not the same as ascending five miles and rising into thinner air over a mile high. So do everything you can before and during your outdoor activity to have as enjoyable and comfortable a time in the Smokies as possible.

​Have a great day.

Good Morning,

Clouds dominate the sky rolling into this Monday. We have a wet week ahead of us if the forecast holds true. Yesterday, one passing storm after another clipped the mountains bringing plenty of rain and thoroughly resoaking the trails after a couple dry and sunny days. Today should witness more of the same with scattered storm chances flaring up this afternoon. Temps will hover in the 60s and winds will be light.

Hopefully hikers do far better than what was seen on trail yesterday once the skies turned sour…more than 95% of folks without any type of protective rain gear. Way too many children in tears from being soaking wet, cold, and in a foreign place miles from shelter. Just a little research and planning could go a long way in improving one’s Smokies experience, especially for those dependent on adults to be the shining example when exploring the backcountry. Smart planning reduces risk and increases enjoyment when choosing to visit the Smokies in summer.

​Have a great day.

Good Morning,

Hiking enthusiasts were granted satisfactory skies and sunshine yesterday. Traffic in the park, on trail, and in the various gateway communities has been more like the summertime congestion the Smokies is used to. One would expect that continue some more today. The mountains are looking at another batch of sun and clouds mixed in the forecast, but this afternoon we should witness the return of scattered pop up showers and thunderstorms. Temps will be in the 60s much of today with light winds. The next several days are calling for precip chances as well, so remember the rain gear.

​Have a great day.

Good Morning,

The mountains were basking in bountiful sunshine yesterday. Clearer and calmer skies these past couple days have been greatly appreciated by many after starting out July with around 12” of rain. We’ll see what the second half of this summer month has in store. Today and tonight will present only a slight chance of pop up thunderstorms, otherwise conditions at the lodge should be generally sunny. Temps will be superb in the upper 60s this afternoon with only light winds. Sunday is slated to start out similarly, but by tomorrow evening skies look to turn a tad more turbulent. Higher possibility for storms, stronger wind gusts, and a return to squishy trails. Don’t forget those rainproof layers this weekend. As we’ve seen time and time again, rough weather can sneak up on us unannounced wherever and whenever.

Have a great weekend.

Good Morning,

Oh, what a glorious Thursday to enjoy some sunshine! The forecast shows a beautiful day in store for the mountains. Temps will be quite comfortable ranging from the 50s to 60s, and winds will be light throughout. Trails should have a chance to dry out some today, and creeks will be back down closer to more normal levels. Due to the epic floods that washed through the Greenbrier section of the park Tuesday night, that entrance road east of Gatlinburg will be temporarily closed until the NPS can perform the necessary repairs to make it passable and safe again for visitors. That means visitors to Mt. LeConte won’t have access to the Brushy Mountain trailhead for a while, not that this should really derail anyone’s plans. Continue to use caution on all the other trails, especially after so much rain to start this month. Trees in these mountains are big, yet have shallow roots systems. With enough persuasion by the wind and rain, sometimes the oversaturated soils struggle to hold everything together on the surface in the way of trees and boulders.

​Have a great day.

Good Morning,

At this rate, this month could be going down as the wettest July on record. Last night’s whalloping was certainly one of the more significant rain events this mountain has ever seen. Just ask the folks down in the gateway community of Pittman Center as they work to cleanup after some intense flooding. After receiving several inches of rain in a short span, the trails will be showing numerous signs of freshly fallen trees, loosened rocks, and gouged out paths. Due to the storm’s timing late last night, gathering of intel is in its infancy, so use caution navigating the trails today and pass along any and all info about obvious new hazards or changes. There is a mixed chance for more storms throughout today. Temps will be in the 50s and 60s and winds will be gusty. Thankfully, tomorrow looks like it will be bringing us sunnier skies and drier conditions for once.

​Be safe and have a great day.

Good Morning,

It was a much appreciated treat to finally catch some moments of sunshine yesterday on the mountain. Sure has been a wet month atop East Tennessee. There are plenty of lingering clouds at varying elevations to start the day, but we should get to enjoy more sunny skies without any threat of precip until much later this evening. Temps will start out cool in the 50s and could climb into the upper 60s this afternoon. Winds will be somewhat breezy at times, so an extra layer would be good to include in your pack. Stormy action is back on for Wednesday afternoon, so let’s enjoy this brief sunny and dry reprieve while we have it. There appears to be a minor tropical disturbance that will hang out over the Gulf this week. Nothing crazy is expected to come it from other than a continued presence of moisture and wet weather cycling up from the south. All this cloud cover at the lodge seems to have slowed the arrival of the coneflower. The annual grand floral display around camp will likely kick into gear a week or two later than normal this year.

Have a great day.

Good Morning,

The storms sure slammed the mountains last night, bringing plenty more precip and echoing rumbles. The clouds are holding tight now as we navigate a break in the action, but more storms are set to fire up and roll through this afternoon. Should be enough of a time window there for guests to traverse the mountain, either incoming or departing, without having to deal with torrential downpours. Temps are feel a little cool with all this cloud cover and mist, and a thermometer that reads in the 50s and lower 60s. Winds will continue to be light and variable. Skies could begin to clear late this evening, giving way to what might be a sunny start to Monday and the new week. Some steady sunshine would be a welcome change to what has been a relentlessly wet week prior.

​Have a great day.

Good Morning,

Rinse and repeat. The rain clouds have gotten quite familiar with the summit this past week, and we still have a few more days of that atmospheric intimacy in store. Some good old fashioned gully washers unloaded on the mountain yesterday, so trails are going to be a saturated slog in a number of places. These are also prime conditions for wet weather drainages to form and unbridged creek crossings to run high, so plan your routes and gear accordingly to navigate trails safely and comfortably. Temps will spend much of the time in the 50s and 60s this weekend, courtesy of a nice cool down. Winds will be light and variable unless a pop up storm rolls through following a mighty gust front.

Overnight guests have the luxury (rustic style!) of knowing a warm dry cabin awaits them during such turbulent weather. It’s an experience they’ve invested in, so proper planning comes inherently. Unfortunately, the matter of guaranteeing pristine skies and vivid sunsets on a daily basis for all 247 nights of a season is well beyond our control. Which is why day hikers need to be especially diligent about planning an adventure into the backcountry in such conditions. Day hikers are 100% responsible for doing the research about what to expect when visiting the Smokies, and they are 100% responsible for executing any kind of plan. This most certainly includes weather, traffic tendencies, operating hours, and services provided when and where. There is no investment handcuffing a day hiker to climb the mountain the exact moment when weather conditions can be at their worst, it is entirely that individual’s choice. The same as it is their choice to neglect knowing when it will rain or snow, understanding temperature variances between differing elevations, and denying that it is more honorable to turn around early and try again another day than to keep climbing under duress. Too many times do we see individuals and groups (parents with kids!) forging on in wretched conditions without rain gear or warm layers, then arriving at times too early or late in the day when services aren’t being provided. Odds are these types of folks don’t read this blog. But if any of you that do happen to catch an example of the aforementioned during one of your treks, whether on Mt. LeConte or elsewhere, please share some common sense and infinite wisdom. You might just be sparing someone from an unfavorable Smokies experience or worse. Thank you.

Stay dry and have a great weekend.