Good Morning, Clouds. Some rain. Repeat. We appear to be stuck in a dreary weather cycle this week, with no end in sight. The amount of liquid precip received Thursday wasn’t much, just 0.17”, but the ever-present gray and mist has one longing for the return of the big bright orb. Temps were fairly steady yesterday, never leaving the range of 42°-49°. We anticipate similar conditions today. Temps down below are expected to rise in time for the weekend in the lowlands, but we’ll see if such a trend finds its way as far up as 6,593’. We’re on the cusp of a major holiday weekend, and the reopening of the most popular trail to Mt. LeConte, if not the Smokies. We’re all under the impression that this weekend will see the largest influx of people to the mountain in quite some time, so come ready for dealing with the crowds. Better yet, consider one of the lesser used approach trails to the lodge to really hone in on those safe social distancing practices.
With decent chances of rain and pop up storms all weekend, visitors need to come prepared for sudden changes in the weather. As we continue to progress through our modified operations and limited occupancy, visitors who forgot rain jackets, wore the wrong type of shoes, or just aren’t used to hiking in such conditions, won’t be able to rely on hanging out inside our public spaces to dry off or warm up. Reminder that all purchases, food and gift related, are “to-go” to ensure everyone coming to the mountain gets a fair opportunity at making said purchase and that we don’t exceed the set occupancy limits. That means no inside dining or hanging out by the big space heaters at this time. Please come ready for the conditions, and have the sense to turn around if things turn sour. With limited NPS staff, and the lodge likely being stretched in dealing with the holiday traffic surge, this is no time to make ill-advised decisions that require a medical rescue. Thank you for considering those who are already working extremely hard to provide visitors with a safe and enjoyable experience here in these majestic mountains.
1 Comment
Pat N
5/22/2020 11:25:12 am
Thinking of our mountain folk...Rain or shine(although we’d all prefer sunshine), enjoy the upcoming days. Wishing all a safe hike, a brief visit or delightful overnight, and lots of fun purchases! Above all, remember what this weekend leads up to... honoring and memorializing veterans.
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LeConte LodgeWelcome 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! Archives
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