Good Morning,
And just like that we’re already a week into August. Dealing with some intermittent cloud cover to start the day, but rain showers in the vicinity appear to be staying to the south. Percentages increase during the afternoon hours much like yesterday. Temps currently reside in the mid 50s but should have no problem ascending to the 60s today. The dog days of summer are here this weekend, with toasty temps being forecast in the valley. Skies should be stunningly clear and enjoyable for extended hikes in the upper elevations. Ought to be a great final weekend to visit Mt. LeConte for those visitors and communities who are about to return to school and conclude their summer vacations. We’ve been getting a fresh supply of our incredibly popular trucker hats. If you missed your chance to get one on a recent visit to the lodge, remember that we also sell them through our online store. A wonderful variety of LeConte swag to be had! Have a great day.
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Good Morning, Life above 6,000’ is a bit cloudy to begin this first Thursday of August. It doesn’t appear the situation will change much today, especially since the potential for showers and thunderstorms increases by lunchtime. Today marks the greatest potential for precip of any day remaining this week, with the weekend looking more conducive for great hiking and escaping the warmer temps. Our day time highs should once again tap the 60s today. Guests should come ready with layers for staying dry and warm in the evenings. Many of the fruit bearing plants are beginning to ripen along the trails, the most common among them being the blackberries. In a handful of places the purple flowering raspberries can be found as well. Berries and nuts that turn out in late summer and autumn are a crucial food source for a great many critters in these mountains, ranging in size from birds to bears. It’s been a few years, but the Mountain Ash trees that grow among the spruces and firs around the lodge can produce fruit as well. If it’s a good crop, bears have been know to climb the tees and snap the limbs off to gain easier access to the berries.
Good Morning,
Waking up to partly cloudy skies, streaky clouds, and a soft sunrise. Temps are in the low 50s with light breezes. Most of yesterday was spent in the clouds and only an occasional mist was felt by mid afternoon. Today and tomorrow look very similar in terms of weather, with higher chances for storm formation from lunchtime onward. So best to start and descend the mountain earlier in the day. Conditions improve for the weekend although temps will get hotter down below. There were a lot of people hiking the mountain yesterday. Remember that are several great trails traversing the peak suitable for social distancing if Alum Cave isn’t your cup of tea, some offering up convenient loop options. Trillium Gap Trail is still closed during the week as the rehabilitation work is ongoing. We’re probably 1-2 weeks out from seeing the first of the Grass of Parnassus in bloom along Mt. LeConte’s slopes. Same can be said for the Purple Gentian. The rare Mountain Krigia and Pink Turtleheads have started though. Always something to see this time of year. Good Afternoon,
We’ve been in and out of the clouds the last 24 hours, producing some impressive mountain scenes whenever we aren’t staring at a wall of gray. Last night’s sunset was stunning despite the actual event of the glowing orb hitting the horizon was obstructed. The diverse cloud formations this time of year really help bring out the rays and colors. Even without sunny skies, the coneflower are really opening up, enough yellow around the lodge to brighten anyone’s day. Temps remain mild to cool, a pleasant break from the heat and humidity down below. 50s and 60s with a light breeze might require a jacket or long sleeve for some. Slight chance of a passing shower today, with rain percentages increasing for tomorrow. Have the rain shells and ponchos with you just in case. Seeing increased bear activity in recent days. Both big and small. Please continue to inform NPS rangers or lodge employees of your sightings. Good Morning,
Skies are rumbling and raining to start the week as storms sliding in from the west meet the warm and moist air pushing up from Isaias. It appears as though these rains will be going on much of the day. Depending on how heavy the downpours, expect mountain streams to start swelling as the day goes on. Use caution on any and all unbridged stream crossings on the trails, and avoid lingering atop the mountain during thunderstorms if you aren’t a guest with reservations and guaranteed shelter. Temps should bounce around in the 50s and 60s. Tuesday looks better for hiking conditions until more rain showers return mid week. Be safe out there! Good Afternoon,
Saturday turned out to be a better day than how Friday finished, with strong rainstorms and winds clobbering the region. The weekend has been a solid mix of sun and clouds from our vantage point. Cloud cover has helped keep the temps from boiling at times, so we remain in the 50s and 60s. Chances for pop-up showers will continue through this evening, and then increase for all of Monday. Even though the busiest months of summer are behind us, it’s still advisable to get an early start and get out in front of the heat, if not to secure a decent parking spot. The Smokies will still receive significant visitation until the last of the northern states resume their school calendars by the end of this month. We’ll slowly see a decrease in daylight hours as well now that we’re nearly a month and a half past the solstice. |
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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