 It’s been an ideal first full week of October in the mountains. The leaf change is well underway, the 50-60° temps have been optimal across upper elevations, and clear skies have offered up endless views and awesome scenery. Each sunrise and sunset has been its own jaw-dropping show-stopper as well, with no two ever alike as the hills and heavens work in harmony. At night, with the new moon nearing, the stars and Milky Way have been amplified and dazzling. It even allowed the NPS’ demo contractor to complete their airlift! Seems our streak of impeccable days and nights will wrap up later today though, as overcast skies will precede a wet and windy weekend. After Hurricane Isaias makes landfall and begins the process of weakening, the bulk of the storm is expected to quickly pass west, then north, of the Smokies. Our area is still on target for receiving some rain bands and heightened winds over the coming days. A High Wind Watch will go into effect from 2:00 AM Saturday through Sunday 8:00 AM, with the strongest gusts (near 70mph) peaking Saturday night. There has been no indication from the NPS that they intend on closing any roads or trails in the park. If that changes at any point, we will of course share that information. In the meantime, the Lodge remains open and accessible and will look to provide visitor services as normal. Guests with reservations this weekend should revisit Lodge policies regarding booking changes or cancellations if concerned about the weather conditions. Some things to consider if hiking this weekend: *Early starts on Saturday will allow hikers to get on trail and up the mountain before the stronger winds arrive, and before much rain has had the chance to fall. *Winds will be coming out of the southeast the majority of the time. That means trails like The Boulevard and upper portions of Alum Cave will be taking the brunt of it during the storm’s height. Trails like Rainbow Falls and Trillium Gap, with being on the mountain’s north side, will be more sheltered from the winds. *Guests will still be wolfing down breakfast on Sunday morning as the storm fizzles out and the wind watch expires, so hiking conditions should be much improved by that point once everyone departs the summit. *As always, pack the appropriate gear for protecting yourself and your belongings. Layers for staying dry and warm go a long way in contributing to one’s comfort level on trail and after arriving to the Lodge. 
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 We have been spoiled with some impeccable skies, divine temperatures, and stunning scenery of late. October in the Smokies is rolling on in fine form, as colors have been changing in earnest across the higher elevations. With a few more sunny days ahead, one expects the park to be buzzing with travelers excitedly hunting for vivid landscapes and tantalizing trees. Popular trails like Alum Cave are sure to see their parking lots fill up early and stay packed much of the day. The demolition airlift resumed Tuesday and saw several productive hours of flying occur. The NPS’ demo contractor is getting down to the last bits of material to remove from the summit, and everyone is optimistic that the process could be completed within just a couple more days. Thankfully we have a promising weather forecast in store to help encourage a prompt completion. Reminder that Lodge grounds are closed in their entirety during flight operations this week, beginning at 9:00 AM each morning and continuing into the early afternoon hours if necessary. Services like the gift shop, restroom, and water spigots will only be accessible once flight operations have ceased for the day and it is safe to permit visitors into the Lodge area. As always, everyone’s cooperation and support is greatly appreciated.   Margaret Stevenson on Alum Cave Trail, during one of her 718 lifetime summits of Mt. LeConte (photo by Julie Dodd, gracing the cover of Margaret’s hiking log kept at LeConte Lodge). While the rains have been nonexistent this first Sunday of October, the clouds have held firm to the lofty heights of the mountain. The air remains warm and humid, more reminiscent of summer than autumn at such an elevation. Precip possibilities will linger into tomorrow morning though before clearer skies find their way back to us. May such a projection hold true for a few days of necessary flying this coming week! The summit of Mt. LeConte and the timeless halls of the rustic lodge nestled here have welcomed and witnessed millions of pairs of boots over the last century. Those countless hardy souls willing to scale a mountain comprise an interesting spectrum from one-and-done’s to repeat offenders, of the latter a few tallying dozens to hundreds of visits, and only a handful having ever conquered the famous peak on 1,000 or more occasions. Some manage to stay overnight year to year, others make do with quick roundtrips in a single day, then of course a small percentage call it a commute…namely those stewards taking up the mantle as Lodge crew or llama wranglers. Few peaks on the entire planet attract hikers, whether for recreational or spiritual purposes, as often or as repetitiously as Mt. LeConte. Year-round accessibility has a great deal to do with it, but so does the history and mystery of such a hallowed summit. While millions of names have found their way to the top of Tennessee’s “Crown Jewel,” few are as recognizable and revered even today as that of Margaret Stevenson. Why is it that a place special to SO many people for so many reasons, and where wall space is at a premium for historical or interpretive displays, does a single photo accompanied a pair of bronzed boots warrant such visible recognition? The answer is complex, which in turn makes it simple to understand! Margaret’s introduction to hiking atop Mt. LeConte came in October 1960 at the age of 48. For several years, she would average but a single visit to the Lodge annually, often with close family or friends alongside. It wasn’t until 1974 that Margaret seemed to have caught “the bug” for scaling the mountain on more than one occasion each year. She enjoyed spending so much time on Mt. LeConte in fact that she continued to conquer the mountain a whopping 718 times, the all-time record among females to this day (2nd - Bonnie Northrup, 461 at present). Also of note, Margaret still holds the all-time record among females for summits in a single year at 78, which she did in 1991 at the age of 79 (2nd - Bonnie Northrup, 71 in 2024). And her hiking accomplishments were not exclusive to just Mt. LeConte, as Margaret was the first female to complete hiking all the trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, making her a “900 Miler.” Margaret kept a personal log of each Mt. LeConte summit she ever completed or attempted. While Alum was a typical trek’s go-to trail, she never shied away from tackling the numerous other approach trails accessing the Lodge, including various unmarked manways following creeks, drainages, or ridgelines. Not only did she track statistical data such as dates, trails taken, time spent on trail, and accomplices, but even noted special sightings and engagements from each event, from flower and wildlife findings to appreciated lunches with Lodge crew at nearby overlooks. Scouring through a copy her logbook - which is kept at the Lodge to this day - one learns that it was common for her to share the trail with other notable repeat climbers, such as Ed Wright, Bill Sharp, the Dinwiddies, or Dave Scanlon. And few Lodge employees would have spent more time welcoming and conversing with Margaret than Tim and Lisa Line, or John and Donna Mansfield, during their stints as site managers. Interestingly enough, Margaret recalls witnessing the inaugural season of llamas packing supplies to and from the Lodge…what an interesting sight that must have been! An example of just how much Margaret valued sharing her time on the mountain with others, and how much others valued their time with her…journal entry from lifetime summit #300 on July 18, 1987…”The most exciting day of my life! About eighty friends went up the Alum Bluff Trail with me to the Lodge for a gourmet luncheon. Some of my family members were along. Margie, Mark, Sarah, Judy, and Virginia. 9:10 to 3:00. Channel 10 had two television spots on the occasion. Carson Brewer wrote for the Knoxville News Sentinel. Nancy Cain had articles for The Daily Times.” Margaret’s influence extended far beyond Mt. LeConte. As a founder of the local Wednesday Hikers Club, she inspired hundreds to become active in the outdoors and foster an appreciation for the natural environment. Many of whom would go on to become “900 Milers” or conquer famous peaks themselves. For a time, it wasn’t unusual for the group to hike up on Margaret’s birthday each year to celebrate and reminisce at the Lodge. In terms of lasting impacts, there is an endowment in Margaret’s name through the charitable group Friends of the Smokies that provides funding to necessary projects in the national park, such as the Trails Forever program. When you consider all the attention that Alum Cave, Rainbow Falls, Trillium Gap, the Lodge area, and now Bull Head have all received, we have outstanding givers like Margaret and those inspired by her to thank.  LeConte Lodge General Manager, John Northrup, signing the famous hiker registry - in the shadow of Margaret and her bronzed boots - after summit 719 on September 30, 2026 (fittingly a Wednesday!) moving him into 10th on the all-time Mt. LeConte summit list.
 As promised, the clouds moved in overnight and set up shop on Mt. LeConte. Rain showers have been inconsistent and light, but what has fallen at times has done enough to soak surfaces and cause some hikers to question their gear choices. Any glimpses of sunshine are sure to be a rarity today, if at all. Sunday shows a continuation of storms and downpours in the mountains. Despite the sloppy conditions, temps at our elevation remain warm, rolling between 50s and 60s for the weekend. Once we enter the new week, another glorious stretch of sunshine returns. That’s good news, because the NPS and their demolition contractor are scheduled to resume airlift operations on Tuesday, October 6. Like previous iterations this summer, Lodge grounds will be closed in their entirety during flight operations. As weather permits, these closures will begin at 9:00 AM daily and likely extend into the early afternoon hours. Lodge services will only resume once the helicopter has vacated the area, and transporting of loads has halted for the day. Same as before, there will be no gift shop access during the morning, visitors can use the nearby privy at the backcountry shelter, and water can be sourced from the natural spring just down Trillium Gap Trail. On days flying is scheduled, overnight guests will be served breakfast at 7:30 AM followed by a mandatory checkout of 9:00 AM. Overnight guests arriving to the Lodge while flight operations are actively happening can expect to receive instruction pertaining to their stay from on-site safety perimeter flaggers and Lodge staff. Thank you in advance to everyone for their understanding and cooperation while the NPS works to wrap up the Recreation Building demolition removal process.   Our streak of endless sun-filled days and star-studded nights appears to be coming to a close. My, what an appreciated stretch of superb days it has been to begin the autumn season. Although it’s feeling much warmer down below today, at our elevation the temps are quite divine. Clouds have made their presence known today, adding a dose of humidity back into the mix while obscuring views from the summit at times. There is a slight chance for rain showers as we trudge toward evening, but this weekend is really where the skies are expected to pack their punch. Tomorrow and Sunday are both calling for heavy rain and thunder, so trails that have been bone dry and trickling creeks this past week will most certainly become soaked slogs and bubbling brooks. With less daylight and cooler average temps, these aren’t the conditions to engage unprepared, especially for day hikers who don’t have an assigned cabin waiting for them to overnight in. We’re heading into the time of year where hypothermia can pose increasing risks to those improperly clad for staying dry and warm in the outdoors. Please be smart, do the research, pack the appropriate gear, and know one’s limits. The middle of the backcountry where resources are extremely limited is not the place to naively learn hard lessons. The mountain isn’t going anywhere. Our reservations team has been hard at work flipping through those online written requests and answering phones, fulfilling those 2027 bookings. Once the process takes a pause at 5:00 PM today, it won’t resume again until Monday at 8:00 AM in conjunction with our normal business hours. Thank you to everyone who submitted requests to stay at our world-famous lodge next season. It’s always a heart-warming treat to read the countless comments that folks include with their requests. From eager first timers to grateful repeat regulars, to those celebrating highly anticipated milestones, as well as the kind words describing our staff and the experience they caringly foster.  Bookings for the 2027 season are officially underway! Phone calls are being processed simultaneously with the THOUSANDS of online written requests we received prior to last week. The annual booking process is HIGHLY COMPETITIVE, as the number of available cabins during our eight months of operation is quite small compared to the vast volume of requests received, many for the same popular dates or weekends.
*If you submitted a written request prior to last week, sit back and relax, or go for a soothing hike, but be sure and check your email spam folders for potential reservation confirmations this week, as some domains filter emails from the lodge differently than others. *If you chose not to submit a written request on time, and are choosing to try and get through via phone instead, understand that this process is highly competitive, and you are choosing to dedicate yourself to what could be a long wait time. *Please note that our reservations office does not accept walk-ins, even if you are repeatedly attempting to book via phone. Reminder that we will require payment for 2027 reservations by November 1st. Bookings will only be taking place during our normal business hours, weekdays from 8:00 AM-5:00 PM Eastern.  Look to the left. Look to the right. Look to the front. Look to the back. Look up. Sunshine everywhere! Another day blessed with bountifully blue skies and clear mountain air. Days like these are a gift. Being outside among the trees and rocks, admiring the open expanse of beckoning horizons just feels right in such conditions. Seems our autumn teaser of recent days is about to concede to warmer temps. Mornings near 40° and afternoon highs scraping the 60s have felt delightful, but summer never gives up that easily. We can expect several more days of sunny skies before clouds and rain possibilities return by the weekend. Get outside and enjoy it if you can!   The mountain is alive with awe and burgeoning with beauty. This first weekend of autumn has provided us with some of the best weather of the entire year thus far, and everybody with an affinity for the outdoors seems to have taken notice. Since Friday, the Lodge, nearby overlooks, and approach trails have all been bustling with travelers excited about the unabated sunshine, cooler temperatures, and limitless views. And while it feels like forever since we’ve gotten to bask in such clear skies from sunup to sundown, the magic simply doesn’t end there. Among the countless overnight guests and day visitors, the Lodge has played host to anniversaries, birthdays, engagements, notable returns, and first time stays just within these last couple days. There have been stunning sunsets and captivating moonrises to witness, yellow leaves and deep blue horizons to admire, graceful deer and even an elusive bobcat sighting! Throw in filling meals, pridefully-earned gift shop purchases, and relaxing afternoons among the stately trees to boot. In fact, the substantial crowds from Texas who traveled in for yesterday’s football game made it a point to spend what time they had outside of watching the collegiate contest by visiting the world-famous summit and surrounding vistas. The joyful aura glowing from person to person has been both contagious and palpable atop the mountain and on trail. The experiences unique to LeConte Lodge are as loud and true as ever, unrivaled even after more than 100 years! The forecast continues to shine favorably upon East TN these next few days, calling for more sunshine and quite comparable temps. The waning daylight hours, cooler evenings, and reduced humidity are likely to get the annual leaf change underway very soon. That means the crowds renowned for flocking to the Smokies will ramp up as well. Expect trailheads to fill up with cars sooner than they have been and stay packed much of the day. Packing extra layers inside decision now as well, especially if starting up the trail before sunup. Reminder that beginning today and lasting for the next few weeks, guest supper will be served at 5:45 PM to allow adequate time for ascending to Cliff Tops for sunset.   It sure feels like fall now! Mountain top occupants found themselves waking up to a chilly 43° this morning. The summit started out cloud-capped, but the rising sun is doing its best to try and break up the veil. Where outward views appear, the air is clear and verdant landscape stunning. Given the sunny disposition of the forecast, it sure looks like Mt. LeConte is in for a stunning first weekend of autumn. Day time highs in the 50s and overnight lows in the 40s will be a welcome change from the last few months of hot and humid. Hints of color here and there will certainly get visitors excited about the coming leaf show. The Lodge, nearby overlooks, and trails, are sure to be the happening place now and over the next several weeks. We’re officially 75% of the way through the 2026 season, and down to 12 hours of daylight. What is typical at this point on the calendar is the need to modify some of the services we provide in order to allow guests to get as much out of the overnight experience as possible. Specifically, the time at which supper is served. Beginning this Sunday, overnight guests with reservations will get to enjoy their well-earned supper at 5:45 PM instead of 6:00 PM. That way, those guests interested in making the jaunt up to Cliff Tops for a famous Mt. LeConte sunset can do so safely and without feeling rushed in downing a warm meal. Once we get into October and November, subsequent supper time shifts will occur as well. In regard to breakfast, that will remain firmly at 8:00 AM through the end of the season (future airlifts outstanding) so that our hard working crew can get all the cabins turned around and dining hall prepped for the new day’s arrivals.   Going to be one of those not-so-endearing days to be outside. The clouds are monotone and gloomy. The temps are not too warm but sticky, while not too cold but wet. Rain showers continue to roll in and out, keeping the ponchos unpacked. Everywhere you walk is squishy underfoot…or in some cases on trail, over-foot. Wouldn’t expect the mountain to be all that busy today, but hopefully those who do tempt to tackle the summit come dressed appropriately for the conditions. Once we get through today, the weekend sure looks promising for sending us sunshine and drying things out.
One last reminder that prospective guests interested in submitting online written requests for overnight stays in 2027 have until 4:00 PM today to do so. Please visit our website, follow the links to the reservations page, and thoroughly read all submittal process, rates, and policy information before completing. Make sure all necessary contact info (name, phone number, mailing address, email) is correct before submitting those forms. The official booking process for the 2027 season begins next Thursday, October 1. |
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
July 2026
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