Good Morning,
Rolling out of bed and stepping into what should be a beautiful weekend. Open skies and soothing sunrise colors mean we’re in for a pleasant Saturday to explore the mountains. Temps are starting out in the mid 50s and we ought to see the upper 60s this afternoon. Late tonight there is a small chance for some cloud building and even a passing shower that could spoil a sunset. Winds to be light all day. Sunday looks fairly decent as well, with only a slight possibility of precip during the day. Only 14 weekends left in this lodge season for any weekend warriors to tackle the mountain. Autumn is approaching at a blistering pace, although the temps of summer are still hanging around. Our humble neighborhood is still the place to be to beat the heat! Have a great day.
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Good Morning,
Waking up to wet weather again this morning as scattered storms work their way through the mountains. Conditions are expected to improve as the day progresses though. We can still count on clouds hanging around, and there is a slight chance for late afternoon showers. Temps are in the upper 50s currently and we could tap the upper 60s later today. The weekend looks promising with opportunities for some sunshine. Since we’re still marching through summer, there is the potential for afternoon storms each day. Not expecting much in terms of winds. A warmup seems to be making its way back into the lowlands over the coming days, so life above 6,000’ sure sounds like the cool ticket. That’s the nice thing about August leading into September. The forests are still lush and green, average temps remain comfortable across all elevations, but the humidity starts to ease off and even the views get a little clearer. Given how toasty recent weeks have been, the approaching changing of the seasons sounds delightful. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Yesterday saw intermittent splashes of sunshine all around the mountain, but it doesn’t appear as though we’ll be getting a streak of fair-weather days just yet. The summit is up close and personal with the clouds yet again today, and scattered showers have already said hello this morning. There is a chance for storms throughout the afternoon, so come dressed head-to-toe for sloppy conditions. Rivers have all dropped below flood stages in our vicinity, but the persistent bouts of rainfall are keeping them running higher than average. Over the last 48 hours the mountain has collected around 5.5” of liquid precip, enough force to move rocks and uproot trees along our various approach trails. Temps are in the mid 50s and might climb into the lower 60s this afternoon. Winds will be light but present enough to add a chill to the air with all these clouds and mists. Friday looks like it will bring a more pleasant first half of the day, with storms possible during the afternoon. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Fred is long gone, but not after unleashing every bit of what was forecast. Waterways continue to run high to start this Wednesday and it will take several more hours for levels to subside. We’re waiting on a cap cloud to break free, and once it does we’ll be enjoying mostly sunny skies today. There is a chance for some evening showers later on. Temps are in the mid 50s currently and should reach the mid 60s this afternoon. Winds to remain light. Beginning today, our gift shop hours will be changing. Guests wanting to make a last minute purchase before departing, or even the early riser up for a day visit, can still access the shop from 8:30-9:30 in the morning. Our afternoon hours will now be from 12:00-4:30 these next several weeks. Guests arriving after 4:30 will need to proceed to our Dining Hall for check-in. Supper is still being served at 6:00, and breakfast at 8:00. When we get to the end of September, these hours will once again change as we shift our meal times to account for the earlier sunset, as is the norm. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Fred, now a tropical depression, is here. Its outer bands have been rolling over the Smokies all evening and will continue to do so as the heart of the storm churns its way north today. In fact, if the storm was strong enough to still possess a defined eye wall, it would be slated to pass directly over Mt. LeConte. A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for our area, from 8:00 AM today until 8:00 AM Wednesday. Fred is now expected to unload 4-6” of rainfall on the mountain, with locally heavier amounts possible elsewhere, especially the NC side of the park. Wind gusts of 30mph are forecast for the daytime hours, and up to 35mph later tonight. Temps will be on the cooler side, as the lodge might not escape the 50s. All roads and trails accessing the mountain remain open at this time. Guests with reservations for tonight are advised an early start and should not delay. Consistent and heavy rains will likely swell creeks by the afternoon. Trails like Rainbow Falls and its hazardous crossing of LeConte Creek should be avoided during significant wet weather events. Other unbridged drainage crossings along Trillium Gap and Bull Head pose similar hazards. Alum Cave has the benefit of numerous foot bridges, is the shortest path to and from the summit, and has the added benefit of being the most trafficked trail should you find yourself in a pickle needing assistance. Fred should dissipate by Wednesday morning and then the rest of the day looks pleasant and partly cloudy. So folks enduring sour skies today will be treated to a better descent of the mountain tomorrow. Please make note of any downed trees or newly created trail hazards so that they can be addressed promptly by the NPS. Be safe and have a great day. Good Morning,
A lot to unpack as we kickoff this new week and halfway point of August, so let’s dive in! *Day time work resumes today along US 441 (Newfound Gap Rd) between the Chimneys Picnic Area and Newfound Gap. Expect intermittent lane closures and delays now through September 30th. Exact dates have not been determined yet, but parking lots and road shoulders at the Alum Cave trailhead are to be addressed that will reduce available parking for visitors at times. *Maintenance work along both directions of US 441 (The Spur) between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge begins today. The work will take place Monday through Thursday this week and next. Expect single lane closures and brief delays. *Schools across Sevier County are back in session starting this week. Congestion in the various school zones of our gateway communities will now be the norm the rest of the season. Plan your routes accordingly depending on the time of day and your direction of travel. *Today marks 100 days left in the 2021 lodge season! We’re also at 13.5 hours of daylight as we step closer to the autumnal equinox. Still plenty of sunshine available to enjoy the mountains, but the pace at which night time sneaks up on folks comes faster and faster. *Tropical Storm Fred has its sights set squarely on the Smokies. Although it’s not expected to be a powerful storm by the time it reaches our neck of the woods late Tuesday, it shows the potential for substantial rainfall as it lingers on, particularly on the North Carolina side of the park. *Rain and storms are going to be on tap everyday this week. Trails will be soggy and creeks are likely to run higher than usual for this time of year because of the steady saturation. Come dressed appropriately from head-to-toe so that you can have a hike that is safe and as enjoyable as possible. Temps will range from the mid 50s to lower 60s most days with light winds. Good Morning,
Summer skies continue to display their awesome power over the Smokies in recent days, and that trend is going to continue. The mountains are covered in varying cloud layers with views out and around dispersed among the gaps. Conditions will be calm the first half of today, but the atmosphere will ramp up the intensity during the afternoon and evening hours once again. Lightning and localized heavy rainfall are all expected for storm cells that have time to develop. Otherwise one can anticipate a mix of sun and clouds depending on where you are at and when. Temps are starting out in the mid 50s and we should enjoy the upper 60s later. Pay close attention to your surroundings if you happen to be on trail today in such stormy elements. With the mountains enduring a consistent state of saturation, some precariously standing trees can become more susceptible to uprooting from softer soils, especially if an isolated squall produces strong wind gusts. So best to take care of business early today and leave yourself plenty of time to get back down the mountain before the skies turn sour. Have a great rest of the weekend. Good Morning,
The clouds are already in position to begin this Saturday. It’s going to be another active afternoon among the skies as temps rise and storms build across East Tennessee. When the lodge wakes up to temps close to 60° you know it’s going to be a humid day on the mountain. We should have no problem getting up to the 70s later. Once again, whichever storm cells hit the their mark have the potential to produce heavy rain, gusty winds, and even hail. Events like this could even cause creeks to swell rapidly, so use caution on trails without footbridges over certain drainages. The air quality may not be as clear during the summer months, but the heat and moisture help to build massive clouds that contribute to impressive scenes from the mountain top. Especially if an onlooker catches an opening during either sunrise or sunset. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Happy Friday the 13th. It’s a bright and beautiful morning but it’s looking like conditions will turn interesting as the day progresses. Our streak of scattered storms tap dancing across the Smokies will continue to dominate the skies this weekend. Warnings indicate that today’s squalls could produce significant rainfall, lightning, and damaging winds. The worst chances aren’t until much later in the day which ought to serve sufficiently for allowing guests enough time to make the climb and get settled in, and also day hikers to descend back to their cars. Going to be hot and humid again, with temps around the lodge getting up around 70° again. We’ve talked about the toasty conditions along Bull Head trail numerous times and how one should take extra precautions utilizing that trail in this heat. Other points worth mentioning for hiker safety involve the wildlife that become active this time of year, specifically in the dry, sun scorched stretches through the mid elevation burn zones. Visitors made note of ground nesting yellow jackets around halfway up the trail. This would be a few tenths above the CCC Pulpit as the trail navigates the western slopes of Balsam Point. Other creatures that enjoy the canopy-less areas during the warmer months are the infamous sizzling vampire sticks…aka timber rattlesnakes. So again, if you choose to take Bull Head this time of year, just use some extra caution until you reach the cool and shaded confines of the upper elevations. Have a great day. Good Morning,
We’ve got another day lined up where it’s a roll of the dice to determine just when and where scattered thunderstorms will strike. Yesterday was another day spent in and out of clouds, with thunder rumbling near and far. The summit managed to avoid the rain most of the day until some light showers met their mark toward the evening. A couple cracks of lightning even hit the mountain, close enough to make one leap out of their rocking chair. Today will be much in the same, with clouds, sun, and storms all dancing their Cliff Tops tango. Some come prepped for beautiful sunshine and a soaking deluge. Heat indeces of 90-100° are still expected down below, so that means we’ll easily tap the 70s this afternoon. Currently waking up in the upper 50s. Despite the stormy atmospheric conditions the winds are to remain light. We’re of course watching Tropical Storm Fred in the Caribbean as it makes its way toward the lower 48. Too soon to know just what it’ll do as it relates to the Smokies. 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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