Happy Halloween!

​Pumpkins are carved, candy is out and crew are dressed in costumes. A happy halloween all around. With all of the crews pumpkin art proudly displayed in the dining hall, we now sit and patiently wait for the votes to roll in. A winner will be announced late tonight. The costumes this year look great, from Star Wars to Hippie to Zombie the crew really pulled out some creativity. Its a relatively warm halloween day for us, currently at 43 degrees. Last nights low only dropped to 37 degrees. High winds are certainly making it feel colder than it really is. Forecast calls for a rain free day but looks like we will get a few showers tomorrow. Be sure to pack that rain gear and some dry extra layers.
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-Adventure is out there.
​(35.654261, -83.436827)

Good morning, 

The sun is shining down on LeConte as crew prepare for Halloween festivities! Pumpkin carving and costumes will be a treat to see as a majority of our crew are participating this year. Also, we have a fun escape room planned following dinner for the crew planned by our cook Emily and crew member Scott. We are excited for all of the Halloween festivities! Yesterday, our high reached a warmer 48 degrees, melting a majority of the ice left over by our first fall snow, while our overnight low got to a chilly 25 causing muddy areas to become icy once again. Be careful when walking around on those slippery areas and continue to pack layers as it is COLD up here!

-Adventure is out there.
(35.654261, -83.436827)

Our first snow for fall of 2018 has officially happened!

It may not have stuck on the ground but we did have giant snow slakes falling mixed with sleet and other freezing precipitation adding .1 inches to our total. Henry was our snow pool winner, and on his birthday of all days! Our high yesterday was 32 while our overnight low was 25. A cold night to say the least! When bringing coffee up to the office at 7am, there were quite a few of our overnight guests hanging out in rocking chairs around the fire. Over the next couple of days, we are expecting a warm up and no precipitation. When hiking up, remember those warm layers and be careful on the trail as some of the wet rocks have frozen overnight.

-Adventure is out there.
(35.654261, -83.436827)

Good morning,

It is 31 degrees on the mountain currently as breakfast is being made and the only sounds in camp are the guests as they get up to find coffee in the office. Today, we are expecting the rain to  stop in the afternoon hours but will only be in the mid 30s for our high. Layer up! Yesterday, our high reached 42 while our overnight low was 31. With a constant sprinkle of rain over the last 24 hours, we added .75 inches to our yearly count. If you plan on visiting us today, pack those rain layers as well as warm layers. You never know what kind of weather is in store in the smokies. We hope to see you at the top warming up by one of our heaters and drinking warm coffee!

-Adventure is out there.
(35.654261, -83.436827)

Park Reopens Bull Head Trail and Sugarland Mountain Trail

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced the reopening of Bull Head Trail and Sugarland Mountain Trail on Friday, October 26. Both of these trails extend from the highest peaks in the park to the lower elevations, providing incredible opportunities for hikers to enjoy fall colors over the next few weeks.

These trails have been closed since November 2018 due to damage resulting from the wind event and fire damage associated with the Chimney Tops 2 Fire. Park trail crews spent several weeks this year repairing over 500 feet of trail tread, cutting 758 downed trees, removing over 20 large rootballs and boulders, and repairing and replacing 53 trail drainage structures.

“The trail crews accomplished an amazing amount of work to safely repair and reopen these trails under very challenging conditions,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “We are excited to offer this opportunity to hikers, but also want to remind them to stay alert for trail hazards as they pass through the burned areas.”

Both trails pass through areas in the park which burned at a high intensity, including some sections where the entire tree canopy was lost. Hikers should remain alert for hazards such as loose rocks and falling trees or limbs and should avoid hiking these trails during and after high wind or rain events. At all times, hikers should avoid lingering around standing dead trees.

The Friends of the Smokies provided $195,000 for this rehabilitation. The donation was made possible thanks to the generous support of donors from across the country who responded to help fund park recovery needs following the wildfire.

For more information about hiking safety, please visit the park’s website at
https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/hikingsafety.htm.

Good Afternoon,

It is a calm day at the summit. Slightly overcast outside with mild temperatures, currently at 43 degrees. Last night low was 33 degrees and yet another rain free day. Most of crew will be spending the day outside for the forecast going into the weekend is calling for rain and cold temperatures. All of crew has put their guesses in on what day we are going to see the first snow of the season and its a strong possibility it could happen over the weekend. For those planning a hike up to the lodge be sure to bring that rain gear and plenty of warm/dry clothes . I will keep updates on trail conditions throughout the weekend but expect rain and likely snow/ice patches.

-Adventure is out there.
​(35.654261, -83.436827)

Good Morning,

​I woke this morning to begin breakfast service to a chilly 29 degrees. But with clear sunny skies we are warming up rather fast. We are currently at 41 degrees and still climbing as the sun gets higher in the sky. Another day of no rain on the forecast. One of the wonderful parts of being an overnight guest with us at the lodge is the opportunity to see a wonderful sunset over the mountain landscape. As the days get shorter and sunset getting earlier by the day, we have moved our dinner service hours back to allow guests the time to see sunset. We are now ringing the dinner bell at 5:30 PM sharp. Please plan your arrival times accordingly. 

-Adventure is out there.
(35.654261, -83.436827)

Good Afternoon,

You won't find anyone hanging out inside any of the cabins or in the dining hall today, its just too nice outside. After a chilly weekend we are certainly in need of a warm day. No breeze and direct sunlight all day has us warming up fast. It is currently 51 degrees outside and no chance of rain. We only dropped to 34 degrees last night with similar temperatures for tonight. We are starting to see some color changing in the leaves down below, creating spectacular views. No better time to be in the mountains.    

-Adventure is out there.
​(35.654261, -83.436827)

Good Afternoon,

​Today is another busy Monday at the lodge. With such perfect weather its easy to see why. Clear skies all day long, warm-(ish) sunshine falling all over camp and no rain has everyone out and about. All of crew that has the day off can be found out on the trails or relaxing in hammocks at Myrtle Point. Truly a perfect day to be at the top.
We are currently at 49 degrees with an overall low last night of 36 degrees. No rain on the forecast for the next few days and looks to be an all around sunny week. Perfecting hiking weather so lace up those boots and come see us. 

-Adventure is out there.
(35.654261, -83.436827)

Happy Sunday All,

What a beautiful day it is here at the lodge. Sunny skies bring clear views like no other. Even though we are soaking up the sunlight it is not very warm today. We are currently at 37 degrees. I woke this morning to start the daily breakfast routine and found that it was 15 degrees outside with heavy winds that didn't seem to make things feel any warmer. It was quite difficult to crawl out of bed. All of camp was covered in frost this morning that crunched beneath our boots as hurried during todays clean up. Though it may be cold outside it is a wonderful place to be. We are expecting temperatures to warm up and be back into the upper 40s by tomorrow afternoon. Be sure to pack extra layers to stay warm on top of the mountain. Safe Hiking!

-Adventure is out there.
​(35.654261, -83.436827)