December 13, 2019

Good morning friends,

Here is the official report from The National Weather Service

Detailed Forecast

Today Rain likely. Patchy fog after 3pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 41. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight Rain before 3am, then snow. Patchy fog. Low around 32. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday Snow showers before 11am, then rain showers. Patchy fog before 1pm. High near 38. Windy, with a west wind 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Saturday Night Rain showers likely before 8pm, then snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 40. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night A 30 percent chance of showers after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Breezy.

It doesn’t appear that US 441 has been reopened. Please check the NPS site for any possible changes or updates.

@SmokiesRoadsNPS

Well friends let me first apologize for the lack of a morning temperatures and precipitation report and let me update you on an ongoing development. You see I’ve been battling an unforeseen medical issue for a little over a week. After consulting by phone with my Doctor, it was decided that I needed urgent and proper medical attention and medication to “knock this out.”

So friends I’m posting my final blog while I wait for my medical Doctor and start what should be a short process of getting back to good as new. Thank you for your kind well wishes.

Let me take this opportunity to say how much I appreciate the LeConte Lodge Management team for giving me this very unique once in a lifetime experience. There is already another caretaker on site carrying the torch.

I came down from the “Top” carrying memories that I will always cherish. Memories of hikers, not just from all over the country but from all around the world. The friends I’ve made through those day hikers coming to the Lodge, the people who help make the Lodge operate, year in and year out and of course our on line friends who follow us almost daily on our blog.

What I leave behind is a piece of my heart which will always belong to Mount LeConte.

My friends, my hope is that you always love this mountain and never lose sight of how special it is.

Explore, hike and never quit looking for your path and as always. Stay Safe.
​
Steve