 UNUSUAL WEATHER! The highest temperature for yesterday and the previous day was 41 degrees at 6:00 in the morning—while it was raining. After that the rain stopped and the temperature continued to drop throughout the day even after the clouds cleared away and the sun was shining brightly. The temperature this morning at 6:00 AM was 20 degrees, so there are still some patches of snow and ice remaining on the ground—slick spots! So continue to keep your traction devices close at hand. I used mine this morning just to safely travel from my bedroom to the kitchen! The good news this morning is that the sky is clear and the sun is shining again today. Hopefully this will cause the remaining snow and ice to disappear! Be safe and have a great day! HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert 
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 RAIN FOR A CHANGE!
Mt LeConte received 3/4 inches of rain last night. The temperature at 6:00 AM was 41 degrees. This combination is quickly changing the remaining snow to slush! I strongly recommend that anyone attempting to hike up Mt LeConte today come equipped with traction devices. The snow and slush can hide dangerous patches of ice. Wear or carry appropriate rain gear! I am listening to the park employees discussing rescuing some hikers or backpackers whose clothing has gotten wet and who are now suffering hypothermia! If you venture out in the mountains this time of year you should be prepared for anything and everything! HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert  CONTINUED WARM WEATHER
The morning temperature at LeConte Lodge was 38 degrees. The high yesterday was 44 degrees. But with the warmer temperatures we have returned to clouds and fog. You eventually learn to expect that in the Smokies. The warmer temperatures yesterday and last night are melting the snow and turning it into slush. I would recommend continuing to wear your traction devices as you attempt to navigate the slush, snow, and ice. Add to that a pair of gaiters. This will help in reducing the amount of ankle deep slush, snow, and ice that you get into your shoes and socks. And then carry an extra pair or two of clean, dry socks. Now you are properly prepared to enjoy the warmer weather. HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert  HEAT WAVE This is the first day in over a month that the temperature at the lodge went above the freezing point! When you’re living off the grid you can get excited about little things like this. The thermometer is now reading 34 degrees! The other excitement up here includes sunset from Cliff Tops and sunrise from Myrtle Point. I’m also excited today about having clear blue skies and bright sunshine! This will definitely help with charging up the solar panels and batteries. I hope that you can enjoy this balmy weather as much as I do. HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert   THE HIKERS ARE BACK Highway 441 was reopened yesterday and skies cleared and the sun was shining brightly yesterday. After several consecutive days with no day hikers the braver ones are slowly returning! Several hikers have reported to me that the trails are extremely slippery. Hikers have reported these conditions right after the parking lot. Be sure to use the proper gear and to use caution. Some of my friends broke trail out to Myrtle Point yesterday and returned with some good pictures of the snowy conditions. Yesterday’s post on this site regarding “socks” has triggered several interesting discussions at the Lodge. Hikers are comparing brands and styles and how many pairs of spare socks that they carry. Hopefully this will help the inexperienced hikers to become better prepared for the conditions they meet up with on the mountain. Please be prepared and be safe! HAPPY TRAILS! WILDCAT/Bert   SUNSHINE (FINALLY!)
Early morning at LeConte brought 11 degrees, clouds, fog, light snow falling and closed roads. At 11:00 AM everything changed! Highway 441 is open again! The skies are clear and the sun is shining brightly! In other words, everything is going to be alright! Yesterday I mentioned the importance of gaiters. Basically the gaiters help to protect your socks. We could talk all day about socks, because there are so many variables, but I would recommend wool and let you decide on the length, the thickness, the color, and any other details that you might want to choose. Now that we have all of that decided, regardless of your preferences, I would highly recommend that you carry at least one spare pair of clean dry socks. Many of the experienced hikers on Mt LeConte stop at the top and change their socks so that they are wearing clean dry socks for the trip down. If your feet are happy, the rest of your body will feel better too. HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert  Why Use the LeConte Shuttle?
✅ Convenient shuttle service to ALL FIVE Trailheads & Twenty-Five up/down options!
✅ Ability to hike up one trail and down another without relocating or having multiple vehicles ✅ Learn more about the Great Smoky Mtns. and Mt. LeConte from our team of Interpretive Tour Hosts ✅ Free water refills; snacks and trail essentials available for cash purchase ✅ And best of all—less traffic and pollution in the Great Smoky Mountains Rates are $20 per person, or less, each way with group discounts available. This shuttle is your stress-free ride to the trailhead—and your way to help protect the Park we all love. 🔗 Book now or learn more: www.lecontelodge.com/shuttle 📞 Questions? Call us at: 865-868-6031 See you on the mountain, The LeConte Lodge Team  HERE’S HOPING FOR ANOTHER SUNNY DAY!
The Newfound Gap road was closed at six o’clock and this morning. The sky was cloudy and the temperature was 19 degrees. This is very much like what happened yesterday, so I am remaining cautiously optimistic. Yesterday’s high temperature was 25 degrees, but the sky was clear after mid morning, and the sun shone brightly all afternoon. I sat outside in the sunshine for at least two hours yesterday, enjoying the warm sunshine and waiting for day hikers to arrive while phones, radios. And rechargeable lanterns powered up. But surprisingly no one showed up. The last day that we experienced above freezing here at the lodge was January 11th when the temperature soared to 48 degrees. That would have been 26 days ago when we last experienced temperatures above freezing. I hope that we can pass the 32 degree mark today! The past couple of months I’ve mentioned “traction devices” almost every day. I think that I’ve neglected “gaiters,” but they’re very important also! Other hikers frequently ask me about “those things around your ankles.” Those things are GAITERS! They can be short or tall, but their purpose is to help keep “scree” out of your shoes—that is small rocks, sticks, dirt, and snow. This greatly aids in keeping your socks clean and dry and warm. All that I can say is that you should try them if you have not already done so. HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert  HELLO SUNSHINE!
The skies were cloudy at 6:00 AM, but suddenly the clouds disappeared and now the sun is shining brightly on our solar panels. I have been awaiting the sun’s return for three days! With the warmer temperatures the snow has been melting and compacting. The temperature dropped to 19 degrees last night—cold enough to refreeze the surface to a thin crust. Enjoy the sunshine, but be careful as the snow and ice melts today creating a slippery surface for walking and/or driving! HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert  HELLO FROM MT LECONTE
The temperature is still a balmy 30 degrees at the Lodge and Highway 441 is still open. The mountain received a little more snow during the night but with the warmer temperatures it should be melting quickly. Leconte is covered with dense fog and clouds. It would be great if we could have some sunshine to help the solar panels recharge our batteries. Remember to wear your traction devices to help reduce slipping and sliding on the snow and ice! With the roads now open I would expect to see some day hikers on the mountain again today. HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/BertI’m |
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
February 2026
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