May 15, 2023

Good Morning,

Partly cloudy skies overhead and across the valley greet mountain top dwellers this Monday morning. Conditions are going to be calm at our elevation until this afternoon, when stormy weather is supposed to settle in for the next couple days. Right now the second half of today, much of Tuesday, and early Wednesday have the highest chances of rain and storms hounding the mountains. These are the types of conditions, along with warmer temps, where it could be decent one minute, then a pop-up shower forms above and brings strong winds and unloads heavy precip. So pack those layers in a place you can grab them quickly if needed while on trail. Temps at the top will continue to bounce between 50s and 60s the first half of this week.

Reminder that the NPS Trail Crews are scheduled to perform trail maintenance on Alum Cave this week and next, from Monday - Thursday both stints. Above the bluffs and to the lodge will be closed to day hikers throughout. Guests with reservations need to carry with them some form of confirmation that they are set to stay with us when coming upon the closure area. And at some point, the lower paved lot containing the privy at the trailhead will also be temporarily closed for hazard tree removal. Since this will mean a reduction in available parking spaces on some days, guests still looking to utilize Alum Cave should arrive early enough to secure a permissible parking spot in the upper paved lot or along available roadside pullouts.

Have a great day.