Rainy October days...

10/15/2014

A "dry" crossing about 300' below Leconte's summit yesterday.

What a day we had yesterday! With unprecedented amounts of rain and wind, we might have done well to have had a sail boat to maneuver around camp. Our grand total rain accumulation was 6.57" for the whole day with winds gusting around 60 mph all through the day as well. For all of our guests who made it up, congratulations on a tough hike! I want to say a word of praise for anyone who made a good judgment call on not coming up as well - it is just as important to know your personal limits and to be able to see when a risk might out weigh the reward. The mountain will always be here for you to come and visit again later!

Our high yesterday was 51 and all that weather blew in a cold front, dropping our temperature last night to a chilly 35. Anyone out and about in the mountains today, bring layers, especially if you are coming up to stay the night! Also, trails are probably a bit rough after yesterday, so exercise caution around downed trees and while crossing swollen stream crossings! Have a wonderful day, and I will leave you with the same photo i took yesterday, but only 3 hours later- Leconte Falls had evolved into a cascade!

14 Comments

norman

10/15/2014 06:34:40 am

Like the water fall in front of the dining room door! New wall paper of stream crossing.

Rick

10/15/2014 07:15:20 am

Glad to see no one floated away.

Barbara

10/15/2014 08:14:41 am

Impressive water flow. Where is the otherwise 'dry' crossing? Is it on Rainbow Falls trail or elsewhere? Thanks

Pat N

10/15/2014 08:40:07 am

So glad we survived it and got to spend a couple nights on our favorite mountain. As always, the hospitality of the crew is greatly appreciated.

William Schmitz link

10/15/2014 08:43:01 am

Was surprised to see that the 5.56 was the wettest day on record(1988-2014)

Rank

Value

Ending Date

1

5.56

2014-10-15

2

5.32

2004-09-17

3

5.30

1990-03-17

4

5.15

1998-01-08

5

4.87

2011-09-06

6

4.75

2003-05-06

7

4.72

2003-11-19

8

4.52

2011-04-16

9

4.45

1996-01-27

10

4.00

2008-03-04

norman

10/15/2014 09:04:07 am

WHAT??

H Clark

10/15/2014 10:42:44 am

Spent Monday night at the Mt. Pisgah Lodge on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Wind, rain and fog the entire night and the weather was the same on Tuesday morning when we headed south on the Parkway to Cherokee. It was an interesting drive with the various waterfalls created by the rain. However, the fog blocked long range views.

Ron Adams

10/15/2014 01:15:16 pm

Out of curiousity, do you folks up there have any problem with water coming into the Dining Hall during these times of torrential downpours? I have been up there in the rain before, but not like the one you just got. I do wonder if a rain like this can come in thru the front door.

tomk in SC

10/16/2014 12:34:30 am

I've wondered the same thing too, so I looked. The bottom of the last step is actually BELOW the door threshhold by quite a bit. One steps UP into the dining room. At home, the bottom step would be flush with the dining hall, but not at LeConte Lodge (for good reason.) Further, the land slopes away and down below that step on both sides as I recall. As I write this I wonder about undermining the foundation, but I'm guessing that the water runs around and away. I suppose one would need to look for an erosion path around the dining hall to see where the water runs, but all of camp is sloped north and water makes its way toward Gatlinburg without a lot of resistance! A few photos would tell the story.

Jan

10/15/2014 01:31:21 pm

That's a LOT of water to get in a day! Wow! Just be happy it wasn't snow... wonder how many inches that would have made? Love the photos today. The "dry" crossing is really pretty!! Of course, I wouldn't want to even try to cross it right now. It might take me somewhere I don't wanna go!

Olin

10/16/2014 12:26:32 am

This appears to be the last waterfall on Alum Cave. If not, I sure would like to see a picture of someone crossing it.

Ron Adams

10/16/2014 03:28:18 am

Thanks, Tonk. I think you are right about the water rushing downhill around and away from the Dining Hall. Even though I have been in that building lots of times, I cannot recall the entrance exactly. Never really thought about it much till now, but I think you are right; I think one does have to step up to enter the Dining Hall. Still, that's a lot of water rushing right down those steps.........

norman 'airborne reble' ga.

10/16/2014 03:58:47 am

You'r all right, that's a lot of water! Have a great day.

Leconte Lodge

10/16/2014 04:10:31 am

The first picture is take on the bridge over the usually dry gully on Trillium. About 35 yards from the lodge.

Rainy October days...

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