Good Morning,
Our stretch of sensational sunshine seems to be coming to an end. Cloud cover is fighting to take hold and spotty rain showers are slowly but surely moving into the region. The best opportunity for rainfall today will occur between lunch time and dusk before easing up overnight. Temps are starting off in the lower 50s and we’ll be lucky to get into the 60s today. Have the rain jackets handy in case a pop up storm sneaks up on the mountain this afternoon. Travelers coming to the Smokies from the north should anticipate some delays this week and next for a handful of reasons. There are currently single lane closures on the Spur between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg for maintenance, happening Monday through Thursday. County schools are now back in session, so be mindful of reduced speeds and traffic backups in those school zones. Lastly, this weekend Pigeon Forge hosts its annual Jeep Invasion. Always smart to have alternate routes planned for reaching the mountain’s trailheads if you foresee any of these events lengthening your drive time.
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Good Morning,
Waking up to sensational summer skies high above East Tennessee this Tuesday. Today is expected to be a repeat of yesterday’s conditions, if not better. Temps are starting in the low 50s and should easily ascend into the 60s. Once the rain chances kick up a notch come mid week, high temps in the lowlands are expected to drop a bit as well. Maybe that 90-100% humidity we’ve all been dripping through will ease up too! So consider lots of water and sun protection today, and make a switch to rain shells and perhaps a warm layer for the top beginning tomorrow. The mountain top has exploded with life. Vibrant colors that might clash in some places seem to compliment each other magnificently up here. There’s literally no bad view to be had with all of the yellows, greens, purples, and whites filling in the forest floor and open fields. Fortunately the show lasts a couple weeks, so plenty of time for us to enjoy it before the winds of autumn change. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Yesterday was a stunning day to cap off the past week, and today looks like it’ll be a fabulous start to the new one. A few thin clouds in places at elevations high and low should clear out by lunch time and leave us all soaking up some sun the rest of the day. Temps should have no problem getting up into the 60s. Tomorrow looks promising as well for rambling in the woods before higher precip chances return mid week. Today marks 100 days remaining in the 2020 season which has been rocketing by at blazing speed. Don’t miss your opportunity to get those popular “I hiked it” shirts, or get in on a last minute opening for an overnight reservation. Just call our office at 865-429-5704 on weekdays from 8:00-5:00, or follow us on Twitter to see if a date becomes available that works into your schedule. In an unusual year, try a mountain getaway to disconnect from daily life and get in tune with nature. Good Morning,
As expected, we danced a good bit doing the Cliff Tops Tango with showers and thunderstorms yesterday. But no bother, as today is shaping up to be a gorgeous day for spending time in the forest. Some patchy fog in the lowlands and cap clouds along the higher peaks are expected to clear out of the region by lunch time. Temps should remain comfortably in the 60s up top once the shiny orb in the sky gains some height. So get outside and seize this beautiful East TN day and come say hi to the crew! Have a great end to the week. Good Morning,
We’re up close and personal with the clouds to begin this Saturday and halfway point of August. Did that come quickly or what? The region is rolling in and out of rain showers already, so trail conditions will be wet and muddy as hikers step away from their cars and into the woods. Temps will remain consistent again today as most of our time should be spent in the 50s with continual cloud cover and intermittent rain. Still appears as though conditions for gallivanting in the outdoors will improve for tomorrow, so hopefully that holds true for folks hoping to tackle the mountain this weekend and those overnight guests making the climb today. Still receiving reports of the occasional bear sighting on area trails, the backcountry shelter, and sometimes around the lodge perimeter. Please remember to keep lodge or NPS staff in the know, as this helps in protecting both visitors and wildlife. It’s absolutely important you don’t leave your personal belongings or items that hold scents unattended. That goes for both day hikers and overnight guests. Thank you. Have a safe and enjoyable weekend. Good Morning,
The weekend is here and the clouds and rain along with it. The weather did a bit of a script flip yesterday when the skies decided to rumble and rain in the early afternoon hours instead of supper time. Caught a number of folks by surprise, but the showers never lasted long. Conditions should sour around lunchtime today and persist clear through Saturday. So weekend warriors should count on getting wet if Mt. LeConte is in your plans. The precip chances decrease for Sunday. Temps will also remain mild, with highs lucky to tap the 60s and overnight lows possibly dipping into the 40s. For some traveling from toasty states with long summers, that might sound fantastic. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Starting the day off under sunny skies. Temps once again should roll back and forth between the 50s and 60s. It won’t be until this evening when the precip chances flare up, so if you get an early start on the trail today the hike should be enjoyable. Friday and Saturday are looking pretty soggy in terms of rainfall. By Sunday the chances decrease but trails will likely be wet and muddy. Evaluate all of your hiking gear and come ready for the elements. The mountaintop and its approach trails continue to impress with their beauty. The first Grass of Parnassus is in bloom, with the grand display likely to kick off in the coming days. Even noticed the first Purple Gentian further up the same grassy slope. Around camp, well it’s just magical. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Today is shaping up to be the last decent hiking day of the week if the current forecast holds. Trail travelers should enjoy warm temps and fair skies much of the day across all elevations. The lodge continues to enjoy a temperature range of 50s-60s. By the weekend, temps are expected to cool and the storm chances ramp up significantly. If you are a guest with reservations in the coming days, be sure and have a Plan B ascent in case hiking in prolonged heavy rain, or using a trail with wet creek crossings sounds undesirable. Bull Head is one trail where one is now exposed to the brunt of the elements for miles on end, and the crossings of LeConte Creek along Rainbow Falls can swell without a moment’s notice. It’s always a good idea to utilize all of the information available to you plan as safe and enjoyable a trip in the backcountry as possible. Have a great day. Good Morning,
What a marvelous weekend it was to ramble atop the mountains. Some of the nicest skies we’ve been able to experience in consecutive days since who knows when. And despite the scorching temps down below, it never got too toasty around the lodge as we barely scraped the lower 70s on occasion. Expecting a bit of a cool down today as clouds are already filling the air above. Rain showers are moving in from the northwest and should strike the region before too long. So with the decent rain chances this Monday, come ready for wet conditions. Forecasts are calling for another summery temperature spike by mid week, but the precip possibilities look as though they will persist. Have a great start to the new week! Good Morning,
The weekend is here and it’s going to be sunny, bright, and hot. Feels like forever since we could muster those words together and not have rain chances to think about. Expect the Smokies to be busy with people on the roads and trails taking advantage of the wonderful weather situation. Any morning fog should clear out quickly as the sun gains some height in the sky. Temps will easily soar into the 60s today and tomorrow. Be sure and start your ascents early to beat the heat and humidity, bring that water, and consider gear and clothing well suited for sun protection. And thank you for following the very important Leave No Trace practices such as packing out your trash (dumpsters located at every trailhead!), not picking the wildflowers (leave for all to enjoy!), and not feeding the wildlife (regardless of cuteness!). 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
April 2024
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