June 26, 2023

Good Morning,

After a late afternoon rain shower soaked the mountain yesterday, the mountain top was finally treated to views of the valley as clouds parted. Guests could even enjoy a sunset spectacular for the first time in a week. As the sun rises this Monday, lodge residents are waking up to beautiful blue skies and what is now expected to be a crystal clear day. That was not the case during the night though…

In what was easily one of the fiercest storms the lodge has endured all year, over 2.5” of rainfall lambasted the summit in an hour, accompanied by hail, roaring winds, and unrelenting lightning. Numerous waterfalls quickly formed and raged around camp, displacing rocks and churning footpaths into rivers. All that water will be making its way down the mountain this morning and creek levels will take a couple hours to subside down below. Despite the sunshine, expect wet and sloppy trails en route to the top today, and use caution at any unbridged crossings. This week it appears temps will start to warm up to readings more seasonably appropriate. Highs for us will be in the upper 60s by this afternoon, and we could experience time in the 70s later this week.

US 441 (Newfound Gap Rd) is temporarily closed due to a rockslide near the Chimney Tops trailhead. Guests with reservations today will need to utilize trails out of Cherokee Orchard this morning to reach to the lodge. There is no timetable when US 441 will reopen, but road crews are actively working to clear the obstruction.

Have a great day.