Looking at another sunny and beautiful day across the Smokies, but conditions on the ground continue to make life difficult for foot and vehicular traffic. All roads accessing Mt. LeConte remain closed and there is no ETA for their reopening. Park road crews will continue to focus their efforts on an icy US 441 (Newfound Gap Rd). Hopefully these warmer temps today and bright sunshine will help in those endeavors. Any trees still coated with snow and ice could pose a threat for falling down, as light winds are expected still expected across our region. Temps around the lodge this morning are already around the freezing mark, but still plenty of snow on the ground upwards of a foot.
Special thank you to the road maintenance crews and electric companies who have been working tirelessly these past few days throughout East TN to restore power and road access to the Park and gateway communities. Stay safe out there!