November 21, 2017

Good Morning,
     The mountain is socked in for the moment, with windy conditions whipping through the trees and shooting clouds through the gaps between buildings.  We're sitting just above the freezing mark, but the wind chill factor will certainly have things feeling much colder.  We're hoping to see the sun at some point today, but we'll just have to wait it out and see if it makes an appearance.  There is still plenty of snow and ice around the mountain, so please continue to use caution on the trails.  Some of the most hazardous places are where hikers have already packed down the snow, and the overnight refreeze has paths slicker than they've been.  Traction devices will be your best friend out on the trail until the snowpack is able to melt away.  Monday's high temperature came in at 39 degrees, and our low reading was 19.

     The lodge itself may be shutting things down for the winter months, but our office staff will be available and committed to serving you now until we reopen our cozy cabins in March.  If you have any questions pertaining to 2018 reservations, cancellations, and waiting lists, or even want to get ahead in your preparations with concerns regarding trail conditions and the seasonal nature of our weather, our knowledgeable team handling reservations is ready to assist you.  You can always call our reservations office at 865-429-5704 Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  You can also email us at [email protected] at anytime.
     Even though the chance to purchase 2017 "I Hiked It" specific LeConte Lodge swag will conclude after today, we have an amazing assortment of merchandise always available through our online store.  There are a number of great gift ideas if you're just now getting into the holiday shopping grind.  Be sure and check out what we have to offer this season at www.lecontelodge.com/store/ to find that perfect gift for the LeConte Lodge lover in your neck of the woods.  What better way to snuggle up by the fire than by wearing our comfortable logo hoodies and thick socks!

     It is with great pleasure that we introduce you to our newest Winter Caretaker.  Meet Seth Orme of Topton, NC.  Seth is no stranger to life in the woods, standing ready and willing to embrace the conditions winter will throw his way while here on Mt. LeConte.  Already familiar with the backcountry lodging scene, Seth has spent time in the past working for the Appalachian Mountain Club as a Hut Naturalist.  He is also a founder of an honorable mission of environmental stewardship, a cause called "Packing It Out."  During thru-hikes of the Appalachian Trail in 2015, the Pacific Crest Trail in 2016, and a TransAmerican Bike Tour in 2017, Seth's mission has packed out nearly 4,000 lbs. of trash from some of our nation's most famous green spaces.  He's visited Mt. LeConte several times in the past, already forging a great relationship with our previous caretaker, JP Krol.  Seth is looking forward to getting to know the Mt. LeConte scene this winter, meeting new folks, and sharing the magic of this amazing mountain through his eyes and words on this very blog.  He'll take up the writing this Thursday, so let's give Seth a grand ole welcome to the team!

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     Nearly eight and a half months of work for this crew concludes tomorrow.  It's no simple task, and bringing a quality backcountry lodging experience to our guests across all four seasons is something we strive for everyday.  If you made the climb this season, we hope you enjoyed your time getting to meet our on-site staff.  It's certainly been our pleasure to serve you and assist in making your mountain top experience memorable.  A HUGE thank you the 2017 crew, our fine office staff doing amazing things behind the scenes, and a dedicated group of volunteers.  An even BIGGER thank you to the overnight guests and visitors who visit the mountain to make this experience possible.
​     We'll wrap it all up tomorrow.  In the meantime, have a great afternoon.

It was our pleasure to serve you this season. The 2017 crew, from left to right: (back) Tyler, Henry, Casey, Ryn, Allison; (front) Heather, Stormi, Pauline, Caroline, John.