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Vote No More New Snow on Election Day

11/6/2012

 
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Beginning overnight, new snow returned to Mt. LeConte and could continue through Wednesday.
Good morning to all of you.  Happy Election Day to you.  If we can find a way to vote living up here on LeConte, then you can, too.  As we don't have a precinct located at the lodge (surprise, surprise), some of us early voted, others will vote in person and some had absentee ballots delivered up the mountain by llama.  Not a lot of electioneering llamas living in America in 2012 (or any other time for that matter), but our boys are just that good.

As indicated in the photo above, snow has been our most regular guest at the lodge the last nine days or so.  New snow began falling overnight and is still coming down as of 8:22 a.m.  Currently, we've received about two inches of new snow to give us a total of 13 inches on the ground (accounting for some melting on Monday).

The forecast calls for about a 20 percent chance of precipitation today giving way to mostly cloudy skies.  On top of LeConte, the probability of snow increases tonight through midday Wednesday--about an 80 percent chance.  We could get enough additional accumulation to affect trails and roads, but we're not expecting another three feet of new snow (as a man who carries dozens of eggs on snow and ice, I hope we are done with that).  As of now, nicer conditions waltz in on Thursday and remain through the weekend.

Monday's high reached 40 under sunny skies, but we didn't get as much melting as I'd hoped.  The lowest temperature we saw on Tuesday morning was 26, not quite as cold as Monday's 21 degrees.  At the conclusion of Tuesday's breakfast, the temperature registered 27.

I'll pass along a few trail updates we received up top throughout the day Monday.  Please keep in mind all of these reports reflect conditions before the new snowfall.  I still couldn't track down any guests who attempted the Boulevard and Bullhead Trails.  Rainbow Falls Trail still seems the best bet, as I heard there's not even much snow below the Rainbow/Bullhead Trail junction--just 0.6 miles from the lodge.

We're fortunate to have our general manager Tim Line, a longtime LeConte veteran, up for a couple of days.  Tim took Alum Cave Bluff Trail up Monday morning and found its conditions improved even since Sunday night.

I received a detailed trail report from a dayhiker who fared well on Trillium Gap Trail Monday.  He said that there are about five trees down on the trail, which shouldn't slow down hikers too much (llamas are a different matter, unfortunately).  Like all the trails, Trillium is quite wet, carrying a great deal of snowmelt away from LeConte's summit.  However, there's little snow below Trillium's junction with the Brushy Mountain Trail.  The snow is patchy above that point until it transitions to packed snow about one mile below the lodge.  You should be fine if you stay on the packed snow, but the drifts will swallow your lower leg if you stray too far.

Please be well prepared if you come up to see us in the next couple of days.  We're expecting some continued overnight refreezing, which is slicker than just snow or slush. 

Thanks to everyone for their help with accurate trail reports.  You are helping keep our guests safe, and all of us at LeConte Lodge appreciate that.
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No, those aren't orbs haunting us at the top of Tennessee. We've seen a return of snowflakes overnight at the lodge to the tune of about two new inches as of breakfast.
Pam
11/6/2012 12:56:15 am

Beautiful pictures!! You folks up top just don't seem able to catch a break!! By the time J.P. arrives there won't be anymore snow for the entire winter!! Love the trail updates so all can stay safe!

Bill
11/6/2012 01:23:16 am

Tim: You said conditions on Alum have improved, and, I assume, passable. But do you think there will be any dicey/dangerous sections remaining by Friday? We have some first-timers in our group this year.

Brian N bama
11/6/2012 01:39:04 am

Bill, looking at http://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Mount-LeConte/forecasts/2010 it should be warm enough to melt most of it. However, I would spend the money and get yaktrax. If you don't use them, return them but if it is icy, they could save your life. What time are y'all heading up friday morning? That is when me and my family are heading up.

Bill
11/6/2012 01:46:39 am

Brian N bama, those in our group without yaktrax I'll probably advise Rainbow Falls (starting @ 9:00 - 9:30). For those with yaktrax, if Tim says Alum is OK, we'll start Alum about 8:30 - 9:00.

Brian N bama
11/6/2012 02:16:38 am

Sounds like you have been up before. LOL We are planning on heading up alum between 9:00-10:00. My wife has never been up alum and my youngest has only been down it. The plan is to take it slow and take it all in. I always love the views in november. See you at the top.

Bill
11/6/2012 03:26:20 am

We love Alum trail also; but @ my speed, you'll probably pass us on the way up....say "hi". And we'll see you at the Lodge, godwillin'.

Finn.H
11/6/2012 01:38:41 am

I'm starting to wish I was stuck up thier"send some our way"

Debi
11/6/2012 03:07:24 am

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Beginning to look alot like Christmas. I will keep my rain in Michigan, hehe. Have a good time Brian and family. Keep a rope on that kid of yours and tell him to slow down a bits and enjoy the views. Or at least wait for his mom and dad.

Brian N bama
11/6/2012 03:38:54 am

Yippee!! I am worse than a kid at Christmas. The speed at which we are going to go has been a big topic around the house lately. To be honest, I was hoping it may be a little icy just to slow him down. Oh well, we were all young once. It is setting up to be a beautiful weekend up top. Should be clear and calm.

Tony Ga
11/6/2012 03:59:32 am

I bet you couldn't wipe the smile off your face thinking about your hike Friday. Hope you have a safe and good one and don't forget to take plenty of pictures for us to look at.

Debi link
11/6/2012 10:30:10 am

yep, being down there is my Christmas.

Kent
11/6/2012 03:51:46 am

Well, just two days until I summit, and it looks like I'll get to see some snow after all. I'm getting pretty stoked. It looks like the sun will be out in force on Thursday, if the forecast is accurate.
Everybody hike safely. :)

Audie
11/6/2012 06:22:12 am

What are the odds of the llama's making a trip up the mountain Monday?

High on LeConte
11/7/2012 12:30:09 am

Audie,

Things change in a hurry up here, but our goal is for the llamas to return to the trail Monday. We still have to get a few things to line up for us, but Monday is our target. Thanks for reading. Happy trails.

Nathan

Jerry & Jo Smith
11/6/2012 10:11:23 am

we expect to be at Rainbow TH @ 9:30 tomorrow for our hike to the lodge. Any others going up are welcome to join up.

Kathy & Bobby from KY
11/6/2012 11:00:47 am

To Jerry & Jo. We r planning on starting at Rainbow TH @ 8:30 or 9:00 Wed morning. Watch for us on the trail. We r slow hikers!

Eddie
11/6/2012 12:42:41 pm

My son and I hiked up Rainbow Falls Sunday and back down Monday. The two best investments we made were Yaktrax's (The cheapest) and hiking poles (again the cheapest). The best insurance aginst a twisted ankle or a broken wrist. The view, crew and food were the best. Can't wait to return.

Marilyn
11/6/2012 12:43:15 pm

Sure do envy all of you who are making the trip to LeConte the next few days no matter what trail you are taking. Be safe and enjoy the beauty of the best place in the world! Will be looking forward to your comments. Wish I were there!

Janet
11/6/2012 12:46:03 pm

Anybody know which part of Trillium has the downed trees? Above the Brushy junction or below? Large trees? I am the trail volunteer for Trillium. If they are mainly limbs and small trees I can try to get up there Saturday to help clear the trail a bit. If they are big trees, they are more than I would be able to do alone.

Jon
11/6/2012 03:13:44 pm

Above Brushy Junction. A few large ones that I don't believe are doable alone. Up yesterday and down today and now back in Ohio ready for my bed. What a great time.

Keeleu
11/7/2012 01:14:52 am

My husband and I are coming up Saturday morning for our one year anniversary. I told him there has been more snow, and he pointed out that since "it's all downhill on the way out," we should bring our sleds. What do you think :-)


Comments are closed.
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