Good Morning,
The rain and wind are right on schedule. Sometime after midnight the precip started pouring down and we’ve tallied close to a half inch so far. Conditions were cloudy and breezy all day Friday, with gusts cutting through camp around 10-15mph, but higher speeds passing over the peaks. Throughout the night and at this current moment some gusts are tapping 20-25mph. Rain showers shall remain scattered throughout the day as rain bands sweep across the region. Short breaks are possible, but the rain gear will be necessary throughout one’s hike. Delta’s strongest impacts are expected to happen late tonight and into Sunday. Use caution on the trails while there is increased potential for falling trees in strong winds and swelling creeks from heavy downpours.
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Good Morning,
Oh, what a beautiful day Thursday was atop the mountain. Superbly sunny skies as Mt. LeConte continues to bask in autumn glory. It was our warmest day in a while, nearly tapping 69° here at the lodge, and looking ahead it could be the highest temp we see for quite some time. As the evening dragged on, clouds began to move in high above. That trend is expected to continue today, even though the twinkling lights of civilization far below are still visible. It was a most delightful streak of unbroken sunny days. Hurricane Delta should make US landfall today, although rain associated with the storm is already making its push toward Tennessee. Beginning late tonight and lasting clear through early Monday, our region could see a slow and steady dose of rainfall. About 1-2” is expected, but as we know, locally higher amounts are always possible in the mountains. Wind gusts of 20-30 mph are also anticipated throughout the weekend. With all of this warm air and moisture bubbling up from the south, temps should remain mild for this time of year. Stay alert on the trail and use caution at any and all wet creek crossings that appear during excessively rainy weather. Good Morning,
The sunny streak continues, perhaps our longest set of days without any precipitation or smothering cloud cover all year. We’re in luck for more of these pleasant conditions today, and it should be even warmer during the height of the afternoon. Yesterday we tapped the lower 60s, and today we can expect to get a few degrees higher. Lows are still manageable in the mid 40s. Autumn outdoor hiking is at its finest these days. Hurricane Delta continues to do its thing in the Gulf as it tracks north and eventually toward our mountains. Forecasts are still calling for the first of the outer bands to start sweeping over the region late Friday with the storm lingering into early Monday. Saturday and Sunday will witness the height of the storm, and we could see a couple inches of rain when it’s all done. Wind gusts of up to 30 mph are being called for at times. These could be the last couple days to enjoy any leaf change along the upper elevations! Good Morning,
And just like that we’re a week into October. There was abundant sunshine all across the mountain yesterday with only an occasional cloud or some haze to obstruct views into the valley. Judging by the pre-sunrise stars above, we are set to enjoy yet another beautiful day of autumn weather. We’ll start off in the 40s, and with enough mid-day sun could jump close to 60° again. Absolutely great weather for gallivanting through the woods! The timeline and potential track for Hurricane Delta remains relatively unchanged for our neck of the woods, with rain rolling in late Friday but lingering through early Monday now. Despite its rapidly increasing strength out in the Gulf, plenty is unknown what Delta will look like by the time it makes landfall and churns through the south. In the meantime, plan accordingly for a wet weekend. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Sunny skies? Check. Cool autumn air? Check. Another beautiful day atop Mt. LeConte? Check. And that’s exactly what’s on tap for the next few days. Additional layers might be necessary for folks in the evenings, but it feels great in the sun during the day and guests are still taking advantage of eating supper outside on their respective porches. Temps will remain decent for the season again today, starting out in the 40s and easily ascending into the 50s. By all accounts the trails to the lodge remain busy with hikers. We’re keeping a close eye on Hurricane Delta as it churns through the Gulf. There is the potential for significant rainfall associated with the storm if it tracks over Southern Appalachia. Right now our timeline for wet weather appears to be late Friday through early Sunday. We’ll continue to monitor. Have a great day. Good Morning,
We were gifted another sunny autumn day on the mountain yesterday, and expect to see a repeat of such pleasant conditions the next few days. Temps remain mild for this time of year hanging out in the 40s and 50s, with a warmup anticipated come mid week. Colors are transitioning along the park’s upper elevations. With increased traffic in the Smokies, remember that Mt. LeConte has several trails accessing the summit, each unique in their offerings. So if the crowds along Alum Cave aren’t your cup of tea, what a great opportunity to ascend the mountain from a different angle. Have a great day. Good Morning,
We’re on the backside of what has been a beautiful weekend thus far. The sun continues to dominate the sky, and conditions are quite comfortable. Once we broke past yesterday morning’s frost, the temps jumped into the 50s and have been staying in the 40s since. There are patchy and whispy clouds, but nothing that interferes with the sun’s light and warmth. Clouds could thicken overnight and into the morning, but tomorrow and the next several days still look promising for outdoors exploration. The booking process for 2021 reservations resumes tomorrow at 8:00 AM. Our team will still be sifting through the thousands of written requests, so if you participated in submitting requests thank you for your patience. Have a great end to the week. Good Afternoon,
What another marvelous October day on the mountain and all across East Tennessee! The sun is shining bright and the color wheel of greens and yellows below compliments the deep blues above. It certainly feels like fall up top too, with quite a temperature range yesterday of highs in the upper 50s and overnight lows in the upper 20s. As it stands the forecast through the weekend looks stellar, a great way to kickoff historically one of the busiest months of the year in the Smokies. And if this year has been any indication, expect there be decent size crowds and lines of cars. Sunshine should prevail all the way til late Sunday when clouds could return and bring with them a little rain. Our reservations office is still hammering through booking folks for the 2021 season. Reminder to not only scour your email inboxes for an email confirmation if you are fortunate enough have been selected for an opening, but also your email’s spam/junk folders. We don’t want anyone to miss out on meeting the November 1st payment deadline because of an overlooked email. Have a great rest of the day. Good Morning,
Autumn is in full swing in the Smokies! The weather has been superb for sending out September and ringing in October. Skies are clear, and despite chilly temps overnight, day time highs feel fabulous in the sunshine. We're currently in the mid 40s with a high around 50° expected and a low in the bottom 30s. The next couple days leading into the weekend are looking sunny and spectacular as well, and just slightly cooler. Best to layer up for these awesome autumn evenings on the mountain! Today begins our open booking period for 2021 reservations. Our team is sifting through the thousands upon thousands of written requests submitted by Sept. 25th and answering the phones weekdays from 8:00-5:00. Reminder that anyone who did not submit a written request by Sept. 25th will not be able to do so until all previously submitted requests have been reviewed. Due to current COVID-19 health and safety protocols, we are unable to receive walk-in reservation requests at our office at this time. Those in need of 2021 reservation information for staying at the lodge should visit www.lecontelodge.com/reservations to learn more. 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
March 2024
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