Good Afternoon,
Slowly but surely the mountaintop is climbing out of the recent cold spell. After a few consecutive mornings waking up to temps in the 20s, conditions over the Smokies are warming slightly, enough that lows should stay above freezing a few days with highs maybe even tagging 50°. It won’t seem warm at the lodge though so long as these overcast skies and wind gusts remain, which is why everyone needs to be coming prepared with extra layers for the top. The further we get into autumn, the greater the risks of hypothermia for the unprepared, so do yourselves a big favor and please don’t be one of them. Colors are really changing throughout the park now, with the greatest transformation taking place between 4,500-6,000’. That’s basically from Inspiration Point on up if you are leaf peeping along Alum Cave Trail this week. Lower than that and most trees are either an early mix of lemon and lime or still holding firm to their summer greens. Visitor traffic has been quite congested since the holiday weekend, par for the course here in October. We expect the crowds of people on trails, at visitor centers, and in transit to remain dense all week. We’ll have to wait and see how busy the coming weekend will be if the rainy forecast holds. Have a great rest of the day.
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Good Morning,
How do temps in the 20s sound? Because that’s where the higher peaks of the Smokies are spending their waking hours this morning. The sun is out and the skies are mostly clear over the mountains, which is expected to be the norm all day, but conditions up top are going to be brisk. Winds are also going to be a factor again with gusts of 20mph today and 35mph tomorrow. Layers from head to toe are an absolute must for all visitors, overnight guests and day hikers alike. Coming out of the weekend, the thermometer will gradually slide back up to more comfortable temps. It’s going to be a busy Sunday in the park, which is to be expected for an October weekend. Come ready for lots of traffic congestion on roads and trails. Have a great day. Good Morning,
The leaves, they are a’changing. It’s safe to say that this year’s autumn display will be a bit different than normal. It’s been especially dry these past several weeks, and that seems to have thrown the typical schedule off kilter. Trees at varying elevations around the mountain have begun changing color. Some have gone straight to brown, and others have just simply had enough and dropped their leaves. The most color to be seen currently is in the upper elevations, with golds of the mountain ash and beech trees shining bright. All that said, the mountains are in for a bit of shock come this weekend. Rain is expected to roll in late this afternoon, followed by a steep drop in overall temperatures. We’re talking a 20° slide down the thermometer across the board. While the mountain could enjoy an early afternoon high in the upper 50s today, the summit might not escape the 30s on Saturday or Sunday. And overnight lows below freezing are anticipated the next several nights. That means frost and potential ice on trails. Throw in some breezy conditions with gusts upwards of 25mph, the air up top will feel quite brisk to those still relishing in the lingering warmth from summer. Adequate layers for staying warm and dry are an absolute must for all visitors now through the end of the season. And as we quickly lose daylight with each passing day, everyone should have flashlights so as not to get out late and in the dark. Speaking of waning daylight, our next guest supper service time will shift this Sunday, October 8. Overnight guests will soon be served at 5:30 PM to allow ample time to enjoy a warm meal and catch sunset. All other service times will remain as is. Have a great day. Good Afternoon,
Another beautiful day in the mountains? Yes, please and thank you! That’s exactly what visitors to the Smokies and Mt. LeConte are getting today, and the trails have been hopping with happy hikers! Skies will be a mix of sun and clouds today with only light winds. Temps are maxing out in the lower 60s this afternoon and we’ll certainly dip into the 40s overnight. Looking ahead, we have some wet and chilly weather on the way. Par for the course this time of year with just seven weeks remaining in the season. After some precip chances on Friday, temps are going to dip significantly beginning Saturday. The sub-freezing kind that inspire frost to form on ground and in the trees at night. Adequate layers are essential for everyone with reservations now through the end of the season. Our reservations team has been processing all the written requests and phone calls these past few days. At this point, all the single room cabins have been booked for 2024, save for a few last minute opportunities in November. There are still various nights available, particularly on weekdays, for larger parties to book stays in our bigger multi room lodges. And remember, cancellations are possible between now and November 1st when payment is due for those lucky enough to have secured a reservation. So keep an eye and ear out for vacancies to return to the general pool in a month’s time. Thanks again to all that submitted requests. We look forward to hosting an exciting mix of returnees and first timers next season! Have a great rest of the day. Good Morning,
Crystal clear skies cover the Smokies and greet lodge guests this morning. Another beautiful day to enjoy the outdoors is upon us. Temps up top will reach the 60s this afternoon and conditions will remain mostly sunny with only light winds. The rest of the first week of October is looking like more of the same, a great way to start the month and relish in autumn glory. Hard to believe we’re down to just 50 days to go in the 2023 season, but our reservations team is already looking ahead to 2024, as bookings for next season continue again today. Remember to check those inboxes and spam folders for confirmation emails as they process thousands of written requests and phone calls this week. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Yesterday evening, Congress passed a stopgap bill to continue funding the federal government through November 17th and avoid an immediate shutdown. That development means GSMNP, and thus LeConte Lodge, will remain open and operating as normal for the time being. We are grateful to continue to welcoming visitors up top! It’s going to be a mostly sunny Sunday atop the mountain today, with these delightful early autumn temps continuing to range from upper 40s to lower 60s. Any winds zipping over the peaks will be light. With such superb weather and the favorable news that the park will remain open this first day of October, expect traffic congestion on roads and trails to be just as dense as it was yesterday. If you have plans of visiting Mt. LeConte this autumn, perhaps for the first time, please keep in mind that all weekends now through Veterans Day are historically the busiest for the lodge, and in turn the Smokies, out of the entire year. And with the addition of the parking tag requirements at all trailheads, expect the reduced number of permissible spots to be at quite the premium. Be planning those routes and times accordingly, even more so since weather conditions will gradually have a greater impact on roads and trails with each passing day. Bookings for the 2024 season will kickoff tomorrow at 8:00 AM Eastern, when phone calls will be processed simultaneously with those thousands of written requests received prior to last week. The annual booking process is highly competitive, as the number of available cabins during our eight months of operation is quite small compared to the vast volume of requests received, many for the same popular dates or weekends. Please note that our reservations office does not accept walk-ins. If you submitted a written request prior to last week, sit back and relax or carry on with your day, but be sure and check your email spam folders for potential reservation confirmations this week, as some domains filter emails from the lodge differently than others. If you did not submit a written request on time and are relying solely on trying to get through via phone, understand that this process is highly competitive and can result in long wait times as we are a small operation. 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
May 2024
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