High On LeConte
  • Home
  • Daily Posts
  • FAQ's
  • Trail Guide
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer

December 7, 2019

12/7/2019

14 Comments

 

Good morning friends,

The temperatures ranged from a high yesterday of 34 degrees and a low last night of 25 degrees The current temperature this morning is 26 degrees. We had no new precipitation.

We currently have 2 inches of snow still on the ground.

Here is the official report from Mountain-Forecast.com

Mount LeConte Weather (Days 0-3): The weather forecast for Mount LeConte is: Mostly dryFreeze-thaw conditions (max 3°C on Thu night, min -1°C on Fri afternoon)Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NW on Thu morning, calm by Sat morning).

Mount LeConte Weather (Days 3-6): Heavy rain (total 45mm), mostly on Mon night. Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Tue morningFreeze-thaw conditions (max 8°C on Mon night, min -10°C on Tue night)Winds increasing (moderate winds from the SSW on Sun morning, gales from the SW by Mon night).

Cherokee Orchard remains closed above Twin Creeks Science Center.

Well friends today’s blog is going to be a little different. I’m going to have a rare time where I don’t talk about the mountain today but will tell you a little bit about myself.

Many of the wonderful people who support us here at the Lodge and love this mountain as much as we do, and take the time to be gracious enough to follow our blog, have asked about me and how I came to be the winter caretaker.

Well to start with my name is “Steve,” I’m from North Georgia and at the end of 2012 I retired after 37 years working in public safety.

At the age of 55 I took up hiking and backpacking. I have always loved the mountains and being on the trails. For me they’ve always been a place of peace, reflection and renewal.

I fell in love with LeConte when I initially hiked up with some dear friends and later even more so when I started a tradition of an annual father son hike and overnight here at the Lodge each year.

I’m not telling you guys anything you don’t already know but as amazing a place as this is, it’s even more amazing when you share it with loved ones.

So when the opportunity came up and with the support of my wonderfully supportive wife (of 42 years thank you Honey), I’m getting the chance to live out a bucket list type dream for me.

I posted my first blog on November 27th, and although I may possess different writing skills and insights than previous caretakers (I’m a blog follower), I will try my best to give you guys good timely information and hopefully a little bit of the feel of the mountain from day to day.

Sorry for the length but I promise to do my best not to talk about myself too much in the future.

Take care, enjoy nature and as always stay safe.
Steve

14 Comments
Joyce Kent link
12/7/2019 08:35:36 am

Welcome, Steve. I will look forward to your postings daily

Reply
Kevin Wates
12/7/2019 08:37:08 am

Definitely a bucket list item for me! I have 11 years until retirement eligibility in federal law enforcement. Maybe my wife will let me come spend a winter watching over the place at that point. My son and I just started our "tradition" this past year. So far we've hiked up Bullhead for an overnight in the lodge, and up Boulevard for a shelter stay. We have a few more trails to check off, so we will definitely be back.

Reply
Amy link
12/7/2019 08:48:37 am

Hi Steve! Your friend “The Warden” is my manager and she told me about your stay this winter at the lodge. I’m a long time follower of the blog and look forward to more of your posts! Stay safe and warm! 😊

Reply
Tim
12/7/2019 09:16:45 am

Welcome to winter on LeConte, Steve. See ya soon!

Reply
BettyChambers
12/7/2019 09:17:26 am

Welcome Steve! I am so happy that you have this opportunity to fulfill a bucket list item. I hope to be able to stay overnight at LeConte (March reservation) to fulfill one of mine. In the meantime, thank you for the great blog posts and enjoy your time there.

Reply
Jan Randles
12/7/2019 10:17:12 am

You are certainly living a good life on Mt. LeConte. Thanks for sharing your info as I read these each morning. Love hearing conditions and seeing the beautiful photos from my favorite spot in the Smokies. Hoping to get back up there soon!

Reply
Rick and Celeste Cox
12/7/2019 10:21:20 am

Steve,
I retired twice at 54 and then took up hiking as a hobby. This year on October 28 we hiked up Alum Cave Trail and spent the night at lodge#3
And fell in love with Mount LeConte. We stay at Buckhorn Inn every March and then October/November we have 14 days booked in the spring and 14 in the fall for next year as well as a night at the lodge on November 3, 2020. We reed your blog most everyday. Love it, keep up the good work and as always stay safe.
Rick and Celeste

Reply
LarryW. link
12/7/2019 10:45:52 am

Again, WELCOME, STEVE! Thank you for continuing the great Leconte Blog tradition, thank you for your many prior years keeping us safe, and thank you for your great hospitality Wednesday letting me in from that 19 degree cold to warm up these 72-year old bones a bit. It was great meeting you.
ENJOY your LeConte Winter Wonderland... and stay safe!!

Reply
Pat Walker
12/7/2019 01:20:35 pm

Welcome and thank you for introducing yourself. It was not too long and now we know a little bit about you and who is taking such good care of LeConte. I look forward to reading your daily posts. Thank you for having the desire to spend 4 months watching over the Lodge.

Reply
Deborah
12/7/2019 07:38:33 pm

I enjoy reading any and all about LeConte. I Love it and I think it’s totally awesome that you get to have the mountain in all it’s glory. Have a wonderful, fluffy safe Winter!!

Reply
Dawn
12/8/2019 06:48:42 am

It was great to meet you yesterday. I myself started hiking at age 49 and fell in love as well. Enjoy your time up there.

Reply
Paul
12/8/2019 08:11:14 am

Welcome Steve and congrats on the early retirement yet not just sitting around doing nothing! Would love to hear any tips on retiring early.

Reply
kihm
12/8/2019 11:45:49 pm

Hi Steve, I was wondering what your name was. I love to hear what is going on up there at that beautiful place. We were just there this last April. I had stage 4 cancer surgery in October 2018. I already had our reservations made so I said I WILL make it up there. I did. Keep up the good work on the blog.

Reply
Paula B.
12/9/2019 04:08:38 pm

Thanks so much for telling us a little about yourself. I love your pictures and your musings. I love LeConte, but have not been on a few years. Can't wait to get back up there. Enjoy your winter.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    LeConte Lodge

    Welcome 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!

    For information regarding GSMNP's paid parking tag requirements, please visit their website.

    For information regarding shuttle services, as well as overnight parking options in Gatlinburg, please visit our reservations website.

    Lodge Gift Shop Hours:
    9:00 - 10:00 AM
    ​12:00 - 4:30 PM

    Online Store

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010

    RSS Feed

For current GSMNP road and trail information, visit the Park's Twitter page, official website, or call 865-436-1200 and follow the prompts.
  • Home
  • Daily Posts
  • FAQ's
  • Trail Guide
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer

Picture

Picture

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture