Good Morning,
Waking up to cloud layers clinging to mountain tops this Wednesday. Every so often a dash of color from sunrise sneaks through like the gray veil wants to break open, only to get snuffed out. Such conditions were certainly the norm yesterday as numerous thunderstorms tip-toed around the lodge all afternoon. We managed to dodge all of them until supper time when the luck of staying dry ran out. The forecast looks similar for today, so have the rain shells ready in case a pop-up shower targets the mountain. Temps will be warm and humid once again as we start off in the upper 50s and should jump into the lower 70s. Still beats the heat wave happening below! Any air movement is a win with these conditions for keeping cool. Have a great day.
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Good Morning,
Some low lying clouds have the upper peaks in and out of view this morning. Going to be another interesting day for the upper atmosphere, with sun, clouds, and thunderstorms expected by the the afternoon. Some storms could be strong enough to produce heavy rains, gusty winds, and lightning according to the forecast. Temps will remain fairly stable between the upper 50s and mid 60s. Unless you are set on getting an early start up the mountain, it would be wise to avoid certain trails in such heat and turbulent weather. When heavy rains come out of nowhere, creek crossings can swell dramatically and become hazardous along Rainbow Falls. When the afternoon sun bakes the western slopes, or there’s lightning in the vicinity, the exposed terrain that runs several miles long around Bull Head can become treacherous. And as cool and calming as a ridge walk like The Boulevard is, because you spend its entirety up high, one is more susceptible to experiencing the inner workings of storm clouds. So all things to consider this week or anytime of year where heat, humidity, and stormy weather dominate the forecast. Have a great day. Good Morning,
It’s a new week, and this one is setting up to be a hot and humid one. A mountain escape will surely feel delightful compared to the stickiness and heavy air down below. We’re waking up to temps in the mid 50s this morning and we expect to rise into the upper 60s this afternoon. By mid afternoon there is the potential for thunderstorm activity, so waiting too late to hit the trail is definitely in everyone’s best interests. Wind should stay relatively light throughout the day and skies will be a mix of sun and clouds. Tuesday’s forecast is looking very similar. We’re getting into that time of year where a number of school systems in the area are back in session. Some already started up last week, but most in our neck of the woods will be resuming this week and next. As summer vacations wind down across the south, that could mean lessened traffic in the park and on our trails. It will certainly mean more congestion at certain times of the day in our gateway communities, so be mindful passing through any school zones on your way to and from our trailheads. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Yesterday saw a very active atmosphere over Mt. LeConte. Scattered thunderstorms kept dancing around the summit dropping the occasional deluge. There were even some last minute flood advisories thrown into the mix. Thankfully the skies broke open for everyone to enjoy around supper time, leading into a rewarding sunset display. Creeks could still be running a little high this morning but should quickly drain out to calmer levels today. There is a dense fog advisory in effect for the lowlands, but abundant sunshine is expected throughout the day for all of East TN. Conditions could witness the return of clouds around sunset tonight bringing the smallest chance of a rain shower. Winds will be calm today and temps delightful. Starting off in the low 50s and we ought to jump into the upper 60s this afternoon. Trails will be a little soggy in places after all that liquid precip yesterday, so double check that footwear choice. Monday’s forecast appears fairly cut-and-paste from today for getting the new week started. Have a great day. Good Morning,
The weekend is here and it’s going to be a cloudy and rainy start. Scattered showers are expected to crisscross the park today before finally clearing up this evening. Temps will be decent as we begin in the low 50s and hope to reach the mid 60s this afternoon. Winds will be light and variable. Sunday certainly looks more promising for gallivanting in the woods, calling for abundant sunshine and a slight uptick in temps. Going to get hot again in the lowlands so the upper elevations should feel quite nice. We have some maintenance work resuming this weekend, so please pardon our progress and noise as we take advantage of the weather and daylight hours. Have a great day. Good Morning,
A hazy start to this Friday and skies aren’t exactly going to get any clearer today. Whatever sunshine we can muster this morning will be the best of it over these next 36 hours if the forecast holds. Clouds are supposed to build and thicken as today progresses, eventually giving way to rain showers during the night that will persist we’ll into late Saturday afternoon. Winds to remain light ranging from 5-10mph. Temps should be getting slightly warmer for us up top, as we start out in the lower 50s but ought to see them tap the mid 60s later on. The coneflower are really coming into form around camp with their annual sea of yellow. What few monkshood the deer didn’t digest are also peaking. Further down the mountain the stalks of grass of Parnassus and gentian continue to gain height, but won’t begin their show for a couple more weeks yet. August is always a great time to enjoy the natural beauty of the mountain. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Fairly decent skies reside above the mountain this morning after a storm filled day yesterday. Today will mostly be a mix of sun and clouds with a chance for some developing rain showers later this afternoon. Winds will be light and variable. Temps continue to be cool for the time of year. Starting off around 50° for breakfast and we’ll enjoy the lower 60s for a high temp. Tomorrow’s forecast should be quite similar to today. Those interested in submitting written reservation requests for the 2022 season either online or by written mail now have the ability to do so. This process does not guarantee a reservation due to the volume of requests received, and bookings do not officially begin until October 1st, 2021. Interested parties have until September 27th to submit written requests that will be considered beginning October 1st. All requests received after September 27th will not be considered until all of those received prior have been processed, of which there are thousands. The order in which written requests are received does not matter, so long as they are submitted prior to the September 27th cutoff. For more info, please visit our reservations website. Have a great day. Good Morning,
It’s a wet weather blender atop the mountain these days. We were in and out of the clouds with some intermittent rain yesterday and that is just how this Wednesday is kicking off. Showers are bubbling from the NC side of the park currently, but we could receive a break in the action this afternoon before the rain chances pickup tonight. Either way count on getting wet on the trail today. It’s going to be nice and cool again, as we might not escape the 50s. Sure is nice given how July finished. Winds will be relatively light. One last reminder to overnight guests not to park along the southbound road shoulder at Alum Cave. Particularly the section across from the upper paved lot. Maintenance crews will be tackling that section tonight and into tomorrow as part of their bigger Newfound Gap Road repaving project. Sometime this month the NPS trail crews are expected to make several passes up and down the mountain’s numerous footpaths clearing brush and debris. If you see them in action, be sure and give them a big thank you for maintaining our scenic trails to make everyone’s trek safer and more enjoyable. Have a great day. Good Morning,
It’s going to be a cool, cloudy, and rainy day in the mountains. Scattered rain showers will be passing through the region at various times and it’s doubtful we’ll get to enjoy much sunshine. Winds will be light also working to keep conditions feeling cool up top. Temps are starting out in the low 50s and might struggle to break 60° this afternoon. Have the dry and warm layers ready, especially since this upper elevation cool down might come as a bit of a shock to those who have been basking in the summer heat down below. For guests with overnight reservations in the next week or two, it is advised that you refrain from parking along the southbound shoulder of US 441 (Newfound Gap Rd) in the vicinity of the Alum Cave trailhead. This would be the side that gradually proceeds uphill toward the state line. The work being done on the roadway will be addressing the drainage culverts there and will be posting warning signs only about a day or two in advance. So best to find a spot in one of the paved lots or along the northbound shoulder until we can confirm the work is completed. The exact dates for when the upper paved lot at Alum Cave will be redone is still to be determined. We do know it will be sometime during the window of August 16 - September 30. Have a great day. Per recent guidance from the National Park Service (NPS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), changes to mask wearing requirements for individuals, regardless of vaccination status, are going into effect. Changes to existing COVID-19 protocols that visitors can expect at the lodge include:
*Masking requirements for all visitors and federal employees inside all federal facilities within Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), including LeConte Lodge, regardless of vaccination status. *Masking requirements to remain active at federal facilities in areas of "substantial" or "high" transmission. These areas of concern include all counties and communities within and around GSMNP. *Levels of community transmission range from Low to Moderate, Substantial, and High. Those interested can track up-to-date transmission information from the CDC by visiting this website. All other COVID-19 health and safety protocols at LeConte Lodge previously in effect remain in place. Overnight guests or day hikers seeking more information about the current lodge experience should visit our reservations website. We will also continue to provide updates on our various social media platforms as they happen. Thank you for your cooperation and support during these unusual times. |
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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