June 14, 2024

Good Morning,

​What a week for stunning sunrises and sunsets atop Mt. LeConte. Guests sure have been treated to some superb conditions in recent days, and that trend appears to be continuing through the weekend. If you’re in the vicinity and waffling about making the trek up, consider it this way…the mountain endures plenty of stretches where it’s socked in (often the last cloud in the sky) or routinely getting saturated by rain (remember this May?). So to have such impeccable skies and opportune hiking weather served up on a silver platter, make the journey for yourself, and if not for you then do it for those who wish they had such luck during their Smokies visit.

Sunshine and haze will be the standard today, as the summit could tag the 70° mark this afternoon. High humidity and little air movement will make those ascents feel sticky, so start early, keep up with the hydration, and enjoy frequent breaks admiring the views to keep your energy levels up. Once you reach the top and allow your body to acclimate, the surroundings will feel quite nice. There is the slightest possibility of a sprinkle late tonight, but if it’s anything like yesterday, any cloud-building this afternoon could be all bark and no bite. The same appears to be the case for Saturday. As we enter the third weekend of June, expect more crowds to flock to the busiest national park and the heights of Mt. LeConte in record numbers.

Have a great day.