 Good Morning, Mountaintop dwellers are waking up to the best views we’ve had in several days, and we have last night’s wind and rain to thank for that. Atmospheric conditions are going to remain rather choppy today, which should keep the smoky particulate junk blowing down from Canada out of our neighborhood. Intermittent storms are expected to roll in and out as the day goes along, with some cells producing strong winds and heavy rainfall at times. Hikers are advised to hit the trails early today to beat as much of the bad weather as possible, especially if sudden downpours cause some creeks to swell. Temps will also ease off a bit this afternoon with highs only in the mid 60s being forecast. Thursday is setting up to be a sloppy day for time in the outdoors as well. Having the rain gear packed and ready is a must. All those beautiful white blooms of the Rosebay Rhododendron peaking down below could be left in tatters after these next couple days, so enjoy them while you can! Have a great day. 
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 Good Morning, The Air Pollution Advisory has been extended by GSMNP another 24 hours. And it makes sense, as even the air quality up here was noticeably mucky looking on Monday. We had ourselves to plenty of sunshine yesterday, but views of the valley below just never came to fruition because of the super hazy conditions. More of the same is expected today across East Tennessee. We’re starting out in cloud cover again which should lift as the sun arcs across the sky. Temps will reach close to 70° again this afternoon. By tonight, thunderstorms are forecast to roll through and persist into Wednesday. That should help diminish the effects of the wildfire smoke and clear the air a bit. Continue to take caution in the poor air quality if out and about today. Have a great day.   Good Morning, It’s difficult to distinguish between cloud cover and smoke-inspired haze atop the mountain this morning. GSMNP has placed the park under another 24-hour Air Pollution Advisory due to the high levels of particulate matter blowing down from the lingering Canadian wildfires. Anyone with pulmonary or respiratory illnesses is at risk, and those doing outdoor activities today should limit prolonged exposure. Combined with the fact that recent temps have been at their hottest of the year, extra caution and preparation should be taken. Hydration and balanced nutrition are crucial as the heat and humidity can quickly sap one of their energy. The lodge should get close to 70° this afternoon and tomorrow without a whole lot of help from the wind. Starting hikes early and taking frequent rests will go a long way in making the ascent more enjoyable in these conditions. Have a great day.   Good Morning, We’re starting out socked in by clouds this Sunday. Several storms clipped the mountain top during the night, dumping a decent amount of rain. Expect trails to be wet and sloppy in various places until conditions dry out. We’ll be in the clouds much of the morning, but skies are expected to clear beginning this afternoon and bring us more sunshine. Hopefully that all goes down in time for guests to enjoy a colorful sunset tonight. It continues to be hot and humid all across the Smokies. We’ve tapped 70° a few days in a row now, and even the overnight lows have been rather warm. We have a breeze today, so that will help fight off the stickiness of the air. Looking ahead to the next week, Monday looks pleasant for time in the woods. Have a great day.  Good Morning, We’re all waking up to a clear and cloudless sky this Wednesday morning. Having difficulty remembering the last time such an event took place atop the mountain! Visitors to the Smokies can expect beautiful conditions both high and low today. Temps at our elevation will reach the upper 60e easily this afternoon. Starting tomorrow, the chances for cloud building and pop-up rain showers will return, so if you’re in town for the week and want to avoid any wet weather, today is the day to get outside and play! Have a great day.  Good Morning, It’s shaping up to be a beautiful day in the mountains. Abundant sunshine will fill the sky today instead of pesky clouds and rain for once. Wednesday should be gorgeous for spending time outside as well. It’s going to be getting hotter though across all elevations in the coming days. The lodge should easily reach the mid 60s this afternoon and could tag 70° tomorrow. Combined with that typical southern Appalachian humidity, travelers can count on the hike being a sticky one. The trails should gradually begin to dry out some after a break in the long streak of rain we’ve had to start this month. In terms of appropriate hiking gear today and tomorrow, you’ll want to swap those rain jackets for lightweight wicking materials, wide brim hats, and sunscreen. That goes double if you decide to take a trail like Bull Head where it’s oven-hot and canopy-less for several miles. Have a great day.   Good Morning, The clouds have settled atop the mountain keeping it cool, calm, and mysterious. We were clipped by a substantial storm band in the middle of the night that dropped one inch of rain and flashed plenty of lightning. There are tiny remnants scattered across the region this morning but the big wave has long since pushed through. Skies are expected to clear as the day progresses and hopefully we witness the return of sunshine. Temps will be mild for a mid-July day up top, only hanging around in the 50s and lower 60s. Having an extra layer to fight back the chill wouldn’t be a bad idea today. Tomorrow and Wednesday shouldn’t be too bad either in terms of their forecasts. The white blooms of the Rosebay Rhododendron have really started to come out in force down below, while the scented blooms of the Dwarf Rhododendron have finally reached the higher elevations. Both adding a delightful splash of color against the lush green forests of summer. Soon the vegetation around the lodge will open up and really brighten the place up. Have a great day.   Good Morning, We have ourselves what should be a pleasant Saturday in the Smokies. Expect the crowds to be flocking to the mountains today to find some reprieve from the heat and humidity of the lowlands. Skies will be offering plenty of sunshine throughout the day with a mix of clouds and only a slight chance of a passing rain shower much later. High temps should peak in the upper 60s. Weekend warriors would be wise to get outside and enjoy the wilderness this afternoon if possible, as Sunday appears as though the script will flip. Starting late tonight and persisting into Monday morning, conditions are expected to become a bit more turbulent with steady rain, thunderstorms, and wind. Anyone planning to traverse the mountain tomorrow should pack the appropriate gear and plan your route up or down the mountain accordingly. The mountains have received ample rain in recent weeks, so if a cloud burst lets loose it doesn’t long for creeks to swell or wet-weather drainages to appear and fill. Trails with adequate foot bridges over every crossing become your best friend at that point. Have a great day.  Good Afternoon,
It’s been a pleasant Friday thus far under a mix of sun and clouds, but little speckles are popping up on the radar across the region. There is the potential for brief rain showers this afternoon and evening. Hopefully none produce the heavy rain and lightning like was witnessed yesterday afternoon. Several lightning strikes zapped the Boulevard ridge and liquid precip fell hard and fast causing some creeks down below to swell rapidly. The forecast for Saturday looks similar to what’s on tap for today. Temps will reach the mid 60s this afternoon and could be a little warmer for Saturday in the upper 60s. The major holiday might be behind us, but it’s still early in summer 2023, so expect the Smokies to be bustling with visitors this weekend and get to those trailheads early. Have a great rest of the day.  Good Morning, The last 24 hours have seen a mix of nature’s fireworks and America’s fireworks. A tango of sorts between the booming echoes of thunder reverberating across mountain tops and distant pops bouncing up from the valley below. Thankfully yesterday’s late afternoon squall cleared out in plenty of time to offer clear skies at the lodge for everyone to enjoy the colorful 4th of July nighttime displays below. It also meant our crew could enjoy one of their great annual traditions to the fullest, a hearty and delicious feast on the back porch in the waning summer sunshine. This morning, the rain showers and thunder have returned and look to be hanging around much of the day. So bank on wet trails whether traversing the mountain up or down today. Temps won’t be as toasty up top this afternoon barely scraping the mid 60s. Thursday is calling for morning fog and a slight chance of storms in the afternoon, otherwise mostly sunny. 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
June 2024
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