Good Morning,

Our brief stint with winter continues for another day. There are still several stubborn patches of hoar frost clinging to tree limbs and shaded grasses atop the mountain. The sun yesterday managed to cook off the white stuff on most southern facing slopes, but it remained too chilly to instigate any change on the northern side. Warmer temps this afternoon will likely polish off the rest and bring us back to a more autumn-like scenery, despite most leaves on the mountain being long gone. Areas of ice on trail are gone linger though, and shift from place to place as the low-angled sun and shade jockey for position. With tons of foot traffic yesterday and another round of the freeze-thaw cycle, there are going to be plenty of slick spots along the upper half of the trails. We’re starting out in the low 20s this morning but could reach the mid 40s later today. We’ll dip back down around freezing again tonight, so we aren’t out of the cold conditions just yet. This weekend continues to look promising for sunshine and warmer temps, and we’re expecting another busy national once again. We’re toting up a last minute batch of this year’s incredibly popular “I Hiked It” shirt, but sizes are limited and the weekend crowds this month have been buying up lodge swag in droves. With so many supply chain challenges these days and the season drawing near its close, once certain date specific items are out of stock, they’re out!

Have a great day.

Good Morning,

We’ve already put three October weekends behind us and now Mother Nature is primed to hit us with our first winter blast, at least according to the thermometer anyways. What little lingering rain there is in the vicinity this morning is gradually making it’s way out of town, and skies are expected to clear with each passing hour. And as the clouds disappear today the temps will drop to what will be downright bone chilling late this evening and into tomorrow. We’ve had several teasers of light frosts in recent weeks, but this is going to be our first hard freeze of autumn. We’ll begin the day in the 40s but the mercury will eventually slide down to the mid teens tonight. The cold temps will become amplified by the gusty winds, slicing through as fast as 30mph at times, which will make it feel like single digits tonight and tomorrow. The Freeze Warning extends to the lower elevations, so any wet places on trail and around the lodge are sure to become icy and slick. Extra layers and accessories for keeping your body and extremities warm are going to be a must for overnight guests and day hikers in the coming days. And you’ll be wise to include some traction devices just in case the trails become uncomfortably slick. Even though we’ll receive an adequate dose of sunshine this week, don’t bank on it for providing much info the way of warmth at our elevation. This is also a good time to remind folks about staying tuned in to the NPS road conditions, as slippery surfaces can prompt the temporary closure of park roads on a whim. Always a good idea to have a backup plan in place for accessing Mt. LeConte if your primary route of choice becomes unreachable for reasons of visitor vehicular safety.

Stay warm out there and have a gray day.

Good Morning,

It’s the third weekend of October and a beautiful Saturday is in store for the Smokies. Expect sunny skies overhead and a cascade of color blanketing the landscape below today. Temps could reach 60° this afternoon, but it’s going to be windy the higher up one gets. Gusts will be whipping up to 35mph at times, so hold on to your hats and have the layers handy while soaking up those grand views. Come ready for busy roads, parking lots, and trails throughout the park today as enthusiastic leaf peepers flock to the mountains.

​Have a great day.

Good Afternoon,

It’s going to be another glorious autumn weekend in the Smokies. The sun is shining bright over endless mountains and should be hanging around with us the next couple days. Temps are going to read as warm on the thermometer, possibly tapping the 60s tomorrow afternoon, but the persistent presence of blustery winds will certainly take any warm advantage away. Gusts of 30mph are going to hound the higher peaks all weekend, so remember the wind breakers and extra warm layers. Overnight lows will be in the 40s for a few more days. The park highways and byways are once again bustling with leaf lookers. With so much captivating color happening across multiple elevations, and such sunny skies, the crowds are getting pulled into the park and Mt. LeConte en masse. Early start times and patience will go a long way for one’s outdoor enjoyment this weekend.

​Have a great rest of the day.

Good Morning,

​We’ve seen plenty of cloud cover in recent hours but not much in the way of rain. Hopefully what’s forecast on the backside of the weekend produces some much needed precip for us. In the meantime, skies will begin to clear back up this afternoon and possibly afford guests a delightful sunset. The winds have been howling and are expected to remain active the next several days. We could endure gusts of 25mph now and straight on through the weekend. Temps have been fairly warm of late in the 50s, even at night, but the mercury should start to dip this evening into more seasonably appropriate figures in the 30s. The steady winds will surely add a chill factor that could make it feel like the 20s at times, so layer up for those moments you aren’t actively moving today and tonight. The winds will gradually yank some transforming leaves off trees over the coming days, but there is still a grand display to be seen in the Smokies’ mid to upper elevations. Friday and Saturday are shaping up to be sunny and beautiful, so bank on the park roadways and footpaths being thoroughly congested with travelers again this weekend.

Have a great day.