Good morning folks,

What a fantastic couple of days we have had on the mountain. Temperatures have been relatively cool but with the abundance of sunshine sitting outside has been very enjoyable. The high yesterday reached 32 degrees. The overnight low was 13 degrees. It is 28 degrees with light winds flowing around camp. No precipitation was recorded. Ice is not much of an issue at to moment. On a side note, Roaring Fork motor nature trail is closed for the season. Access to Cherokee Orchard remains open year round (weather permitting.) Also, Clingmans Dome road is closed for the season. Have a great day.

Fresh whole wheat bread is always a favorite of mine while caretaking. Warm bread paired with real butter. Mmmmmm!!! Also, it makes great French toast. The days have been great for viewing sunrise/sunset. I’m trying out a different lens this year to get longer shots of the mountains. Pictures posted here are from that lens. Weather looks fantastic the rest of the week with plenty of sunshine and warming temperatures. Anyways, the French toast is done and it’s time to eat. SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

​PNUT

Good morning folks,

Its another fantastic morning on LeConte. The high yesterday reached 35 degrees. The overnight low dropped down to 12 degrees. It is 14 degrees with winds racing through camp and the tops of the firs. No precipitation was recorded. Ice continues to be an issue only in certain areas of the trail. Shaded areas along the trails to LeConte will hold ice for an extended period of time so traction devices should always be in your pack this time of the year. Plenty of people buzzing in and out of camp yesterday enjoying the views and weather. The weather has held off and made for very pleasant days on the mountain. November is almost behind us and my question is when will I get my first snow…? The mountain and I are eager to welcome that fluffy white stuff coating camp. The snow tubs wait! Have a great start to the week.

The early morning hours on LeConte are some of my favorite. Oils lamps take over the darkness. The kettle roars with steam reminding of how loud it can get. Sipping coffee from my trusty insulated mug I enjoy the morning sounds. It’s going to be a fantastic day. Apollo overlook is always a great choice for sunrise. SEE YOU AT THE TOP.

​P-NUT

Good morning folks,

Its another fine morning on everyone’s favorite mountain. The high yesterday reached a warm 39 degrees. The overnight low only dropped down to 23 degrees. It is 26 degrees and clear with calm winds. No precipitation was recorded but still plenty of ice around camp and the trails. Looks to be another spectacular day on LeConte. Alum cave trail was extremely busy yesterday with day hikers enjoying the day. Many hikers with no spikes made for a slippery day for them on trail. Be safe folks! Have a great day.

These past couple days have been stellar for weather on LeConte. Sunshine paired with a warming trend has made sitting outside in the sun very pleasant. This weather trend looks to stick around for a couple more days. After supper last night I setup the projector for a movie. This will be a great addition to spending the winter evenings up top. Nights are long here in the winter. Anyways, the coffee is hot and breakfast is cooking. SEE YOU AT TOP!

​P-NUT

Good morning folks,

​The early morning light pushes into the dark areas around camp with a chill and light breeze. The morning light is welcomed. The temperatures yesterday only made it up to 23 degrees. The overnight low was 13 degrees which felt much colder with winds around camp. We gradually warmed overnight with our current temperature hovering around 22 degrees. We should warm up much more than yesterday but all those layers and down jackets will be needed. Areas around camp are extremely slick even I have to wear them just to go do things around camp. Trails are sure to be the same so pack those micro-spikes (Kahtoola) are the best!
With the weekend upon us the mountain is sure to be busy with hikers wanting to see the peaks from LeConte. Remember all guests services are closed!


Another fantastic day on the mountain. I’m settled in for a long winters nap. Yesterday was spent doing chores around camp and organizing things in the kitchen. Supper menu last night consisted of Pork loin with Brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes. Something about the food on LeConte seems to always taste better. Anyways, have a great weekend folks. SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

Good morning folks,

Its a cold, blistering morning on the mountain. The high yesterday reached 47 degree with an overnight low of 14 degrees. Its currently 15 degrees with light winds making it feel much colder than that. We received 0.67” of precipitation. There are trace amounts of snow/ice mixture on the ground. Very slick around camp this morning. Today is shaping up to be a crisp winter day with abundant sunshine just in time for the weekend. It will remain cold on the mountain so pack those extra layers and puffy jackets. Micro-spikes are a must to reach the summit. Ice is heavy in and around camp so prepare for a slick trail. All roads are open so get out and shed some of that Turkey and dressing. Have a good day folks!

Welp folks I’m back! P-Nut here for my 3rd season on top of everyone’s favorite mountain top. The cold has set in with a heavy icing forming overnight. The mountain must know that I’m back for the winter. Prepare for cooking adventures, tubing runs, and pictures of this magical place. I look forward to sharing my experience through this blog. Let’s get the winter season started! See you at the top!

Cliff tops last season

Good Morning,

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! After serving our final overnight guests of the season on Wednesday, and a great deal of cleaning up, locking down, and winterizing, the lodge is officially closed for the winter season. All on-site visitor services will resume March 21, 2022. A couple reminders about what visitors can expect over these next few months:

*Anyone day hiking to Mt. LeConte will only have access to our pit privies.
*The only available water source will be the natural spring located northeast of lodge grounds where Trillium Gap Trail exits. If you don’t have means of treating the water you draw from the spring, then it is recommended you pack enough hydration for the entirety of your trip up and down the mountain.
*Since our buildings are closed to the public from entry, you will also need to come prepared for spending 100% of your trip outdoors in the raw elements, as there will be no shelter from the cold or potential storms.
*More so now than ever, all visitors are responsible for being good and caring stewards of our national park, and that certainly starts with packing out all trash. Although the NPS may have the restrooms closed at any/all of our mountain’s trailheads, the bear-proof trash bins remain in place to use upon completing one’s hike.
*Our on-site gift shop might be closed until next spring, but lodge enthusiasts can still purchase unique souvenirs and apparel 24/7 through our online store. Be sure and visit www.lecontelodge.com/store to scope out our latest online offerings ahead of the holidays.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, it’s important to go through and express our sincere gratitude to everyone that helped to make this season possible. There simply isn’t enough time or text to adequately cover everyone and everything as is deserved, but we’ll do our best!

Since we are located on top of a mountain inside the most visited national park in America, we’ll start with thanking our local park partners here at GSMNP who allow us to operate in such a beautiful place. There are so many people under the employ of the NPS who do incredible work to help provide a safe and enjoyable visitor experience here in the Smokies and on Mt. LeConte. From the trail crews keeping our paths passable, to the medics responding to visitors in distress, the folks managing resources and wildlife to keep our mountains wild and beautiful, to the staff and volunteers stationed at trailheads and visitor centers keeping travelers educated and informed, and so many more. To those donning the green and gray, your services are greatly appreciated!

To be able to provide the array of goods and services that we do at the lodge requires the involvement of numerous outside business partners. We’re talking food distributors, shirt designers, artists, craftsmen, construction contractors, mechanics, electricians, plumbers, and so on. We have the fortune of working with so many businesses, big and small, local and nationwide, all of whom have been committed to providing contributions to our unique operation, even during these unusual times. Thank you all!

Countless visitors and guests throughout the year have commented on how awesome our hard working staff is, and we couldn’t agree more! Our team of folks at the lodge and Stokely Hospitality is full of caring, dedicated people working tirelessly to provide a safe and memorable once-in-a-lifetime experience. Whether working behind the scenes at our administrative offices, answering phones and emails assisting reservations, leading or caring for our lovable pack llamas, or crewing as the face of the lodge while serving up delicious meals, selling stylish shirts, and welcoming guests to cozy cabins, we just can’t brag enough about our team. In the 97 year existence of LeConte Lodge, no team has ever had to overcome and adapt to the changes and challenges of the times like this one, and to continue to do so while remaining committed to serving our guests and each other, these folks deserve the utmost thanks and appreciation.

Last and certainly not least, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who took the time and effort to visit us this season, either as overnight guests or on a day hike. It is our pleasure to be able to share our passion for this mountain and the outdoors with so many people. First timers and long time returnees, your patronage is greatly appreciated and we truly hope to welcome you back to our special mountain getaway sometime soon. The kind words of encouragement, support, and appreciation you doled upon our team throughout the year in many ways was the fuel that kept us going.

Have a safe and prosperous holiday season. We hope you enjoy the sights and musings of Mt. LeConte via this blog over the coming winter months. Until next March, thank you again and happy trails!

Good Morning,

We’re kicking off the final weekend of the season with abundant sunshine and open skies. It’s definitely chilly up top, as was predicted, so be sure and load up on the layers before deciding to make the climb. Be sure and have the traction devices ready in case you run into icy patches close to the top. We should rise out of the 20s and reach the upper 30s this afternoon. We’re getting a break from the blustery winds today so the summit conditions should be calm and pleasant, but by tomorrow the gusts return blowing up to 35mph. Saturday will be slightly warmer than today and begin in sunshine as well, but as the day progresses clouds are expected to roll into town. By Sunday we are looking at the strong possibility of rain eventually mixing with snow showers along the upper elevations. With less than a week remaining, let’s all take these weather reports to heart so that everyone has a safe and enjoyable trek up and down the mountain.

​Have a great day.

Good Morning,

It’s another mild morning high above East Tennessee, although it won’t last but a few hours. The cold front preceded by rain is slowly making its way west to east across the state. Shortly after lunchtime, the precip should start and hang around through supper. After that the skies will begin clearing in time for a sunnier Friday. The upper elevations will be mostly packed in with clouds today with occasional breaks of sunshine before the rain arrives. Also going to be windy again, with gusts as high as 30mph now through the entire weekend. There is a slight chance that as the precip peters out tonight and the temps drop, that some snow showers could form, but the summit isn’t expecting much if any accumulation of the fluffy stuff. This morning might also be the warmest part of the entire day as we begin in the 40s, but by tonight we’ll have to welcome a return to sub-freezing conditions. Remember plenty of layers for keeping oneself dry and warm, and don’t forget traction devices because all that rain runoff will most certainly ice over the trails. All roads accessing the mountain are currently open, but be sure and have a backup plan in place just in case the sour weather and winds cause a temporary road closure somewhere.

Have a great day.