Good Morning,
Hot, hazy, and dry conditions will persist across the Smokies again today. Temps this afternoon will reach their highest of the week, and probably the warmest for a long while, climbing near the mid 60s at the lodge and 80s in town. Winds will be staying strong again, blowing out of the south and gusting upwards of 30mph at times. That means the Collet Ridge Wildfire in NC, which has nearly doubled in size to ~4,000 acres over the last 24 hours, could have its particulate matter and smoky smells blowing directly into and over the Smokies again. So expect poor visibility at times if trekking Mt. LeConte today. Starting Thursday, the chances for rain return with great anticipation and could linger all holiday weekend. Temps will also gradually slide downward to a more normal November coolness. Have a great day.
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Good Morning,
We’ll put it simply…Southern Appalachia needs rain. East Tennessee is experiencing an extreme drought, for the last several days Sevier County has been under a High Fire Danger alert, and as of last night GSMNP issued a temporary ban on all campfires in the backcountry. Just on Mt. LeConte we’ve received little liquid precip over the last two months, but plenty of locations elsewhere across the region have seen even less. To do our part at the lodge in minimizing the risk of human-caused fires, we have temporarily removed all kerosene lanterns from guest cabins. Fires of any kind are strictly prohibited across Mt. LeConte, which most definitely includes the nearby backcountry shelter. All visitors are expected to bring their own flashlights as it is, but until climate conditions improve, overnight guests will not be able to rely on the ambiance of those lanterns at this time. Anyone who visited the park yesterday would have certainly noticed the deteriorating air quality due to various wildfires actively burning in surrounding states. The biggest culprit to the intense smells and haziness happening in the Smokies yesterday appears to be the ~2,200 acre Collet Ridge Fire occurring near Andrews, NC. There are also some smaller wildfires burning in nearby Anderson County, TN. As winds continue to shift from south and west these next few days, the air quality and visibility will continue to be negatively affected until the wildfires cease. These unseasonably warm temps we’re experiencing will continue a few more days, in which the mountain could see 60° today and tomorrow. In the lowlands, highs of 80° are even forecast. Winds will be a regular presence, with gusts up to 30mph at times. Humidity will remain low, making the air feel drier than folks from the South are used to. Anyone with respiratory health concerns should use caution if choosing to hike while the air is so smoky. As it stands, our next chance of rain isn’t expected until late Thursday into Friday. Until that much needed precip arrives, please join us and the NPS in minimizing risks associated with fires in our beloved park. And as always, if you notice reckless or suspicious behavior that could endanger yourself or others while visiting the backcountry, please report it to authorities immediately. Thank you for your understanding and support. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Sunny skies grace the mighty mountains this first Sunday of November. Hopefully everyone is feeling refreshed and not caught off guard by the time change, bringing more daylight to the morning hours for those who prefer to hit the trails early. Temps will feel delightful up top once again scraping the lower 50s by this afternoon. Winds will be light over the crest with partial clouds giving way to plentiful sunshine. More of the same is expected in the coming days with temps gradually rising each day, bringing highs near 60° by midweek. Now that the time change has taken place, it’s a good opportunity to remind folks about planning their excursions to the mountain accordingly. The sun will now set around 5:30 PM beginning today. That means anyone day hiking to the summit needs to keep that in mind for getting back down the mountain with adequate light. Based on the average hiking times and abilities for most visitors, one really needs to be considering departing the lodge by 2:30 PM. Otherwise, flashlights and warm layers will be a must for exiting the trails safely and comfortably. Even before sunset, it gets dark in the tight hollers of these mountains. During these last 2.5 weeks of the season, hypothermia becomes a legitimate threat to those venturing into the wilderness unprepared. Please don’t be that person who scoffs at safety by putting yourself or others at risk. Thank you. Have a great day. Good Afternoon,
It’s going to be a warm weekend on the mountain. Sunny skies will be the norm today, tomorrow, and into the second week of November. Temps are nearing 50° at the lodge today with only an occasional light breeze reminding one that it is in fact autumn and not summer. It’s still chilly down along the creeks, so don’t be surprised if you require the use of warm layers more down below than up top. We should even stay above freezing at night which we’ll help keep the trails clear of any ice formation. Today is the last day overnight guests will be served supper at 5:30 PM. With the time change happening tomorrow, guests will next be served supper AFTER sunset takes place. So beginning this Sunday, hikers will have more daylight hours in the morning, less in the afternoon, then we’ll start serving supper at 6:15 PM. All other visitor service hours will remain as is. Have a great rest of the day. Good Afternoon,
Sunshine abound today. It always feels like a heat wave once the thermometer returns to 32° and after experiencing sub-zero wind chills. The coolness of the creeks and shaded hollers are still holding their chill, but higher up it actually feels warmer to the skin. We’re enjoying temps in the 40s today and could even get to bask in 50s over the weekend. Overnight lows will still dip down close to the freezing mark in the coming days, but nothing as frigid as what we’ve seen of late is on tap. Skies are looking to remain clear all weekend and beyond without the threat of any precip. Should make for another spike in visitation to the Smokies with travelers eager to explore the outdoors. Have a great rest of the day. Good Morning,
We’re down to our last score of days remaining in the 2023 season. Between the absence of color in vegetation and the recent frigid temps, it certainly looks and feels like November on the mountain. And the trails have gotten noticeably less busy as well. A pleasant forecast now on through the weekend still has the potential to draw in the crowds though, especially if folks hope to catch a final glimpse of any low elevation leaf change. Aside from what resilient tree clingers remain in places like Greenbrier or Cherokee Orchard, Mt. LeConte is sporting its winter coat from base to summit. We’re slowly climbing out of the hard freeze of the past 24 hours. Windchills around 0° still had things feeling cold and creaky up top last night. Abundant sunshine and a high pressure system will see the return of warmth to the region over the next several days. Day time highs will work their way up into the upper 30s today and then 40s this weekend, but still bank on overnight lows dipping slightly below freezing. Thankfully there is little to no ice on trails even at our elevation. In the sun and out of the wind feels stellar, but those northern gusts and shaded forests bring a chill that can cut to the core. So bring those layers for sure. Have a great day. Good Morning,
November wasted no time in bursting on the scene with a wicked dose of winter. As skies cleared and winds shifted from the north, the mercury took a nose dive during the night. Coffee pots are giving it their all this morning to combat the 7° temps outside, while windchills certainly have it feeling about -10° with their icy gusts. Thankfully this is the low point for the rest of the week, as temps will slowly climb out of the chilly cellar over the next few days and leveling out in the 40s by the weekend. Warm layers from head to toe are a must for all travelers today. Have the traction devices handy just in case the abrupt freeze caused recent rains to glaze over the trails. With just three weeks to go in the season, the clock seems to be ticking faster each day. We have just a few days remaining before the daylight savings time change on Sunday. Guests are still being served supper at 5:30 PM, but beginning Sunday, guests will eat at 6:15 PM after enjoying a potential sunset at Cliff Tops. That also means hikers will have daylight much earlier in the morning. All other lodge service hours will remain the same these final three weeks. One last reminder that today is the final day for folks who received 2024 reservations last month to remit payment. After today, any unpaid slots will be returned to the general pool for rebooking. Phone lines are likely to be busy the next several days with those eager to snag a possible cancellation. 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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