 Good Morning, If there was a time to enjoy beautiful sunshine over picturesque mountain scenes, that time was yesterday. Beginning today, conditions across the Smokies will become less appealing as a rejuvenated Hurricane Ian spins up from the southeast after making its second US landfall. A Wind Advisory for our area will be in effect from 2:00 PM this afternoon until 8:00 AM Saturday, with increasing sustained winds and gusts of 60mph possible over the higher peaks. The first rain bands could start passing through around supper time tonight, then it’s going to be a steady dose of showers through much of the weekend. Current forecasts suggest the mountain could receive around 2” of total rainfall once Ian has broken up and moved out Monday. With the surge of tropical air, temps up top will be less frigid than they’ve been, likely to hover in the 40s this weekend. Guests with reservations should hit the trails early to beat the wind and rain today, and do the same on Saturday before the rainfall has a chance to accumulate and potentially swell creeks. The Park has made no indication that it plans to preemptively close any roads in advance of this storm system. We will continue to provide updates regarding Hurricane Ian as they happen. Be safe and have a great day. 
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 Good Morning, That cold wind is a’blowin’ this morning. In fact the mountain was cloud capped most of the night with the trees rocking in the wind. The thermometer right around freezing overnight, but when you factor in the 40mph wind gusts slicing through, it has conditions feeling like we’re in the teens up here. Fortunately we have yet another sunny day in store, and we could tap the lower 50s this afternoon. But the winds are expected to ease for several more days, so bring plenty of layers to shield yourself from the cold. Tropical Storm Ian is still slowly churning through Florida, but it’s losing steam quickly. Its forecast cone has it tracking slightly to our east, but we could still receive a few inches of rain and breezy conditions starting late Friday and lasting all weekend. The NPS has approved rates for the 2023 season, and interested parties, especially those that have already submitted online written requests, can now view them on our reservations website. Beginning on Monday, October 3rd at 8:00 AM, the booking process for next season will begin. We will begin accepting reservations over the phone at that time as well, while previously submitted written requests are processed simultaneously. A note to prospective guests for the 2023 season…we are awaiting more information from the NPS as it relates to their new parking pass program and how it will affect lodge guests. As soon as we have more information we will promptly share it here and on our website. Have a great day.   Good Morning, It’s another chilly start to the day as bodies stiff from the hike up and the subsequent cold air muster up the motivation to roll out of bed and into the wilderness. The mountain endured another 29° low overnight along with a light frost. We’re yet to get our first hard freeze of the young autumn season, so the ground is still fairly warm and soft despite such temps. Today will bring us plenty of sunshine once again. Winds are light and the thermometer should climb into the upper 40s this afternoon. We’re starting to see a lot more visitors donning their beanies, mittens, and puffy jackets these days, especially in the evenings. With eight weeks left in the season, we still have plenty of cold days and nights ahead. The ever-evolving track for Hurricane Ian has done a switch-a-roo in recent hours. Instead of the eye passing south and east of the Smokies, it now has the potential to churn straight toward us in a northwesterly direction. Despite making landfall as a major hurricane, it’s expected to lose a lot of its strength by the time it gets to our neck of the woods. Beginning late Friday we can expect to start seeing some of the storm’s first rain bands and elevated winds. Saturday and much of Sunday should be soakers as remnants of Ian pass by and dissipate. The mountain could receive 3-4” of rain spreadout over the weekend, with the highest gusts tapping 40mph at some point. These numbers are sure to change some given how slow moving this storm is and how many days away we are from its arrival. For now, guests with reservations this coming weekend best pack those waterproof layers! Tomorrow morning (Thursday), the NPS will be doing some maintenance work that requires a brief closure of Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. This will be taking place from 6:00 - 9:00 AM, so any guest that was hoping to utilize the Trillium Gap Trail from the upper trailhead along the one-way road will need to plan accordingly. Have a great day.   Good Morning,
It’s a calm, clear, and cold Tuesday morning on the mountain. The mercury dipped to a frigid low temp of 29°, but there’s only a faint hint of frost in a few places. Even with the sunny skies expected, temps are going to spend the bulk of their time in the 30s and 40s today. The winds will only add to the chill, gusting as much as 25mph at times. We’re down to 12 hours of daylight now, and with the sun slowly arching lower in the southern sky, the shaded portions on this mountain’s northern slopes will grow in coverage and remain cooler longer. So if you’re intending on hiking trails like Rainbow Falls or Trillium Gap, keep that in mind when packing your gear. We have a couple more days of sunny skies lined up until the rain returns in earnest this weekend. The Smokies are currently in the rapidly intensifying Hurricane Ian’s wide forecast cone, but it’s still a bit too early to know just how impactful it will be here. If it continues to take an easterly track, the bulk of the wind and rain should stay on the North Carolina side of the park and away from Mt. LeConte. We’ll know significantly more in the next day or two, and certainly keep guests and day hikers posted. We want to give a quick shout out to beloved longtime lodge employee and llama wrangler Chrissy Householder, who on Sunday completed her dream of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. She joins a growing list of current and former lodge staff, which includes her husband Alan, who have accomplished the feat of thru or section hiking the famous footpath. We’ve all been following her journey since the spring, admiring her strength and determination along the way, and are incredibly proud of her achievement. This week we raise a glass of LeConte Lodge hot chocolate in her honor! Have a great day.  Good Morning,
Despite a few weak moments of light sprinkles yesterday, the mountaintop managed to avoid the majority of the atmospheric action. So travelers to and from the summit were able to enjoy their hikes without having to get soaked. Skies this morning are starting out partly cloudy with a few pale colors on the distant horizon. By this afternoon conditions should become clearer with plenty of sunshine beaming down. Temps will be somewhat cool, only in the 50s, and the winds are expected to ramp up a bit today as well, gusting as much as 30mph at times. Currently the rest of the work week’s forecast looks pleasant until the weekend. We’re of course keeping a close eye on Hurricane Ian, but at this point it’s too early to know just how it will track in relation to the Smokies and what kind of impact it will have. If you’re in town for the week and hoping to visit the lodge for an afternoon, best to take advantage of the nice weather these next few days instead of waiting for what could be a wet weekend. Have a great day. Good Morning, It’s a mostly gray and overcast wake up call atop the mountain this Sunday. The air is breezy with temps in the low 50s as the coffee flows and the pancakes flip. Today will bring more turbulent conditions as isolated rain showers and thunderstorms should cycle in and out throughout the day. Some storms have the potential to be severe producing heavy rain, lightning, or even hail at times with gusty winds upwards of 25mph. So come prepared for the wettest and worst of conditions today if a summit is in your plans, and don’t be fooled by the false reprieve of calm or partly sunny skies. Thankfully come tomorrow we’re back in line for a great week of sunshine and favorable hiking weather. Have a great day.   Good Morning, Well if there was a day to get out and bask in the beautiful sunshine, it was yesterday. The deep blue above was present all day and certainly brought out the hiking enthusiasts. Sleepy-eyed guests are waking up to mostly overcast skies to kick off this weekend. And unexpectedly there are some light rain showers scattered across the region, though none have found the mountaintop just yet. Today will see mostly cloudy and breezy conditions, with temps staying put in the 50s. Come Sunday the possibility of sour weather increases, with rain in the afternoon and gusts of 25mph forecast. So if you are braving the trails this weekend instead of staying home and watching football, come prepared for wet and windy elements in the woods. Have a great day.   Good Morning,
We only have two months, or 25% of the season, remaining. And what a way to ring in the first full day of autumn! Just as predicted, we started out yesterday warm and clear, then the clouds decided to settle in with the occasional rain shower. All afternoon and evening the lodge couldn’t see past the gray wall, until finally this morning the skies cleared, the stars flickered, and the chill hit hard. Our thermometer bottomed out at 33° early this morning, and with gusts still blowing around camp, windchills in the lower 20s could be felt. Thankfully this will be the coldest point we reach over the next several days. It will remain somewhat cool today even with the sunshine forecast, as we’ll be lucky to break the mid 50s this afternoon. Windbreakers and extra layers are a must if those traversing the mountain hope to stay comfortable today. Reminder to tonight’s overnight guests that dinner is now being served at 5:45 PM. The next change will occur in a couple weeks. Have a great day.  Good Morning, We gave summer a good send off Wednesday, despite being so unlike how the rain-filled rest of it has gone this year. The mountain topped out at a whopping 76° yesterday under superbly sunny skies. It never felt overbearing this high up though now that the humidity levels have eased. Today the script is going to flip a bit. We’re dishing out pancakes under clear and sunny skies and a light breeze, but this afternoon there is a chance for cloud building and rain showers. Winds are also going to ramp up as the hours pass, gusting as much as 35mph at times. Temps could reach the lower 60s for a high. Once the system passes thru, the thermometer is going to drop significantly. Lows tonight are expected to bottom out in the mid 30s. Include the windy conditions and folks are going to be in for quite a shock tonight. Summer to almost winter in an instant! Everybody needs to come prepared with the right gear and layers to stay dry and comfortable today. Thankfully more sunshine returns tomorrow. As is normal for this time of year, we begin the process of gradually moving up the time we serve overnight guests supper. Beginning this Friday, September 23rd guest supper will be served at 5:45 PM. Remember that we do this in order to give guests adequate time to consume their meal then make the trek up to Cliff Tops for sunset. There are no changes to gift shop hours or beverage services for overnight guests just yet. And breakfast will remain at 8:00 AM despite the later occurring sunrise. Our hard working crew just has too much to accomplish each morning to move back the breakfast service time. Ambitious guests can sometimes catch sunrise at Apollo Overlook just between the backcountry shelter and the summit, which cuts the total trail distance in half compared to Myrtle Point. Have a great day.   Good Afternoon, Summer is bidding farewell in fabulous fashion this Wednesday. Some of the sunniest and clearest skies we’ve been able to enjoy in quite a while are gracing the mountains today. And the temps up top feel fantastic. We might just scrape 70° this afternoon, but it won’t feel oppressive like in months prior. Overnight lows will feel extra mild as well and should hold tight to the 50s. It appears autumn will be kicking it down another notch after tomorrow though. Some brief afternoon showers are expected Thursday before the thermometer drops. We could see figures in the 30s come tomorrow night, so pack those layers if you are booked to stay with us soon. Right now the trails are completely dry. So much so that even the occasional drips one experiences at the bluffs are nonexistent. The weather of the last week has been stupendous, but even a little rain now and then is good for the ground. Speaking of bookings, folks interested in submitting online written requests for 2023 reservations have one more week to do so in order to be considered for our annual booking kickoff happening Monday, October 3rd. Check out our official website for all the details. Once the National Park Service has provided us with rooming and meal rates for the 2023 season, we will post that information as well. 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
February 2023
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