Good Morning,

Happy New Year’s Eve, friends! It’s time to close the door on 2021 and get excited about what 2022 has in store. Whether you’re traveling through the woods today, attending countdown parties with friends, or sticking close to home watching some football with family, our hope is that everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday. It’s sure to be a bustling Sevier County this weekend, so expect heavy congestion en route to and from the park.

​The clouds and rain will be intermittent today, with an off chance for views into the valley below and just maybe a glimpse of sunshine. Yesterday’s high temp was 47° and we actually dipped down to 38° for a low. We’re back in the mid 40s to start this last day of December under breezy conditions, and could tap 50° of we’re lucky. Winds will remain steady today and tomorrow, gusting up to 40mph at times.

We’ve strung together some fabulous sun-scapes of late, and last night’s setting spectacle was nothing short of grand. The waning sun simply sucks you toward the horizon for an out-of-body experience. Perfect for an opportunity to reflect on this past year and ponder one’s dreams for the future. May your trails this coming year lead you to peace and prosperity. And if those same trails direct one toward Mt. LeConte, then we look forward to sharing in the magic with you.

Have a great day.

Good Morning,

​Tis a moist mountaintop this penultimate day of 2021. The clouds have seemingly thickened and strengthened their grip on these woods of solitude. Each of yesterday’s successive rain bands managed to combine for exactly 1.11” of liquid precip. We know full well that this December has been one of the warmest on record, but we haven’t seen all that much rain either. So we’ll take the occasional day of soaking showers with a smile on our face. Temps are holding firm in the 40s, only ranging from 40-48° on the thermometer these past 24 hours. We’re kicking off this Thursday right in the middle and likely won’t stray far from it. Winds are light but still have the potential to whip around with some gusto, up near 35mph at times. Expect cloudy conditions and intermittent mists throughout today.

It’s an odd and eery place to be, this peak, when the skies are dark, the colors of the mountains monotone, and the sounds of one’s surroundings amplifying a roaring hush. The confusion sets in the moment you look at the calendar and realize what the eyes see and the skin feels don’t quite add up. Par for the course in a most unusual year for it to feel like spring as the days trudge deeper into winter. There is hope for a return to normalcy, though, as it appears our graduation into the New Year will be greeted with colder and more seasonably appropriate temps followed by flying flurries. Perhaps the most appreciated gift during the holiday season of giving will be just that, a callback to a little something familiar…and flaky!

​Have a great day.

Good Afternoon,

Welcome to a wet Wednesday in the wilderness. The clouds and passing showers have settled into the region and are going to hang around a few days. Yesterday the skies leaked a little more than a half inch of liquid precip on the mountain. Temps have remained stable, as our high-to-low variance was only 49-43° and we’re right in the middle of that range currently. Highs in the 50s are expected the next couple days. Winds aren’t terrible at the moment, but gusts should pickup again tonight blowing around 40mph.

When conditions are dark and cloudy like they are currently, it can force one to look more closely at their immediate surroundings. Often atop Mt. LeConte, the grand views at places like Cliff Tops grab one’s attention. The grand and distant views are inherently awesome and captivating. Our jaws drop and our minds easily wander off into the unknown and unseen. But when the cloud walls crowd in the periphery, and damp surfaces coated after a recent rain redefine the landscape’s contrast, objects and movements within a stone’s throw and an arm’s reach suddenly reel us in. Almost as if the old buildings have seized their moment and start speaking to us, or the trees whisper their wisdom with each passing breeze. Rain or shine, calamity or calm, there is always magic on the mountain to behold.

​Have a great rest of the day.

Good Morning,

You’d think it was springtime on the mountain. Only thing missing would be the budding trees and flowers. At this point, it’s probably safe to say we are done seeing any new snow for the rest of 2021. At least that means safer driving conditions for the masses of people flocking to the Smokies this week. And although the white fluffy stuff and ice add a certain level of magic to the scenery around these parts, having milder temps sure makes life for a caretaker a little easier. Especially when toting all that water for cooking and dishwashing up from the natural mountain spring.

Yesterday’s high temp came in at 51° and our low was only 42°. We’re back in the lower 40s this morning under cloudy conditions. We managed to avoid getting any precip on Monday, so we’ll see what today’s skies have in store. It’s anyone’s guess as to whether we’ll catch any sunny breaks in the clouds. Rain chances increase later this afternoon, and then again overnight. The next couple days appear to be soakers. The winds will also ramp up this evening gusting up around 55mph, so better do one’s ramblings in the park on the early side today.

Have a great day!

Good Morning,

We’re rolling into the last week of 2021 under varied weather conditions. Skies are a mix of sun and clouds, but there is light scattered rain creeping into the region. Yesterday’s temps ranged from a high of 46° to a low of 38°. We’re already back in the mid 40s this morning and ought to tap the 50s later. Percentages are slim for any direct hits of liquid precip today, but the chances increase quite a bit over the coming days. The breezy conditions are set to continue, with gusts up to 45mph possible today. Still no break in the unusually warm temps anticipated just yet either. Perhaps 2022 will get the memo that this time of year is technically winter!

Our reservations office will only be open for a short stretch this week as we bridge the gap between the holidays. We’ll be taking calls and e-mails during our normal business hours from Tuesday through Thursday. On Friday, our office will be closed in observance of New Year’s.

​Have a great day.

Good Morning,

Hopefully everyone was able to make the most of it yesterday and had an enjoyable Christmas. If there’s one good thing about the day after the grand holiday, it’s diving into those delicious leftovers! If you’re in town for the week or have plans to visit the mountain, count on our gateway communities being thoroughly congested with holiday traffic, so pack the patience and do travel safe!

It was an oddly warm day on Saturday, with the lodge reaching a high of 52° and only a low of 42°. We’re currently in the lower 40s under clouds-as-thick-as-egg nog type conditions but sunshine is expected later. As you can see, sunset was nothing short of a stunner, and it’s just best to let the photos do the talking. Winds are calmer than they have been of late, but that isn’t expected to last as gusts of 35mph should return tonight and tomorrow. This could also be our last opportunity to soak up any substantial sunshine, perhaps for the rest of the year. Temps are to remain decently warm all week, but rain is lining up to be a hounding presence now through the next eventful holiday. So if you’re looking to ramble through the woods in the coming days, best prep for wet weather and sloppy trail conditions.

Have a great rest of the weekend!

Good Morning,

Merry Christmas beloved LeConte Lodge enthusiasts! Hopefully everyone has an enjoyable and safe holiday, especially those who are traveling far and wide to be with friends and family. And a special shout out to those working on this day to keep things rolling along, like our armed forces, first responders, medical, police, and fire, as well as our brethren and sisters in the hospitality industry.

It’s starting off as a windy Saturday with a cloud sea roaring over the upper elevations. The gusts are whipping across the summit and could gust up to 45mph at times today. Clouds and rain chances will continue to increase throughout the day. Despite that, the unusually warm conditions across the Smokies will persist. Yesterday’s high temp reached 45° and our low was 32°. We’re already back in the 40s this morning and could tap the mid 50s this afternoon. The warm trend is expected to last several more days.

Sending you all happy holiday tidings from your favorite mountain. Happy trails and Merry Christmas!

Good Morning,

Happy Christmas Eve to everybody! It’s going to be a rather warm holiday for the mountain, quite the reversal from what we experienced this time last year. Yesterday’s high temp reached 41° and our low was 24°. It’s going to be mostly sunny and clear across the park again today, with temps likely to tag the upper 40s. But the winds are slicing and dicing up here and keeping things chilly. We’ll see how well Rudolph does leading Santa’s sleigh through the winds tonight, as gusts upwards of 50mph are expected up top today and tomorrow. Saturday will be warmer and skies should start out nicely, but rain chances increase as the day progresses.

Even though we won’t be skiing or sledding around while enjoying a white Christmas this year, the views from our various overlooks have continued to be spectacular of late. No two sunrises or sunsets are ever the same, and that couldn’t be more truthful than what happens up here. All this solitude and serenity really makes the simple pleasures more pronounced, offering countless moments to reflect and be thankful for what one has. May you also find peace and joy this holiday season, spreading love and cheer with a thankful heart.

Have a great Christmas Eve and safe travels wherever you are!

Good Afternoon,

Stunningly sunny skies are shining bright over Mt. LeConte today. Going to be outdoor appetite-filling kind of day to explore these majestic woods. It was a cold Wednesday up top as predicted, as our high temp only tapped 27° while our low was a chilly 17°. At least we’ll be climbing up the thermometer today to easily surpass the freezing mark and should hit the lower 40s. Skies are clear but it’s going to stay windy, with gusts up to 45mph possible. Tack on the layers if a summit is in your plans today, gonna be a biting cold even with the sun out.

A heads up to those folks needing to inquire about existing 2022 reservations, possible openings for next season, or just trail info in general. Our reservations office will be closed in observance of the Christmas holiday both this Friday 12/24 and Monday 12/27. So make sure to reach out before 5:00 PM Eastern today if you are in need of a prompt response. Otherwise, we won’t resume answering the phones and emails until next Tuesday at 8:00 AM.

Have a great rest of the day!

Good Morning,

We’re officially over the winter solstice hump now. Every day gets a little bit longer and brighter from here on out. That means more daylight for doing the important things in life, like hiking outside! It’s a beautiful start to this Thursday on the mountain. Conditions are clear with a slight cloud inversion happening beneath us. Yesterday’s high temp hit 41° and our low this morning was 21°. We’re currently in the low 20s, but the way that wind is cutting through sure has it feeling like single digits up top. We’ll be fortunate enough to reach the freezing mark this afternoon, but with gusts of 30mph possible through the day, one may not even notice if we did. We’re looking at a stretch of a few nice and sunny days ahead.

The festive holiday is fast approaching. One of the best things about living atop a mountain with a unique spruce-fir forest ecosystem…it smells like Christmas all the time! Throw in some cheerful holiday music while baking in the cozy kitchen by lamplight, and we are in the right mood for the season.

​Have a great day.