 HEAT WAVE!
That’s how it feels at the Mt LeConte Lodge this morning! I left my cabin at 6 o’clock this morning and was greeted by 23 degree temperatures. Yesterday morning the temperature was a chilly 7 degrees. So Highway 441 is still open. Enjoy these conditions while you can—we are advised by the National Weather Service that more snow is expected to arrive on Friday. Please be prepared for snow packed and slippery trails. I hope that y’all have a wonderful Wednesday! HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert
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 HELLO FROM MT LECONTE LODGE!
The good news for today is that with the clear weather that we are enjoying on the mountain Highway 441 remains open. It does appear that the next snow event being forecast will be significant, rolling in sometime Friday afternoon and persisting through Sunday. Snow or ice amounts are still up in the air, but road closures this coming weekend shouldn’t come as a surprise. The snow that we now have is not melting very much, but the snow that is on the trails has been compacted by the day hiker traffic. Traction devices are still highly recommended. The afternoon high temperatures for the past two days was 15 and 18 degrees, so dress accordingly. With the colder temperatures I’m spending more time in the kitchen and enjoying the heater! I was looking thru the file of LeConte Lodge recipes yesterday and found one for peach cobbler. I decided that would be a good way to spend time in the kitchen. It turned out fairly well and tasted even better than it looked. We have a good supply of canned apple slices, so I’ll try apple cobbler next! Please try to stay warm! HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert  A CHILLY, BREEZY, SUNNY GOOD MORNING!
The temperature at the Lodge was 10 degrees this morning but a stiff breeze makes it feel colder. At least we have clear blue skies and bright sunshine. Highway 441 to Newfound Gap is open now, so I would anticipate more hikers today than yesterday. My “new neighbors” at the backcountry shelter last night were an interesting group—two fathers, each with two sons, ages ranging from six to ten. This was their first winter backpacking trip for two of the boys. To their credit, the fathers appeared to have their boys well outfitted for the trip! Seeing six-year olds properly outfitted with traction devices and all of the other proper gear made me smile inside! Please stay warm and stay safe. HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert  A CHILLY GOOD MORNING FROM THE LECONTE LODGE!
The temperature this morning at 6:00 AM was 9 degrees, compared to 25 degrees yesterday, which was the highest temperature for the day! At least there is no wind. There was no additional snow last night, but Highway 441 remains closed this morning. The road was closed yesterday so the day hikers who visited Mt LeConte were unable to use the Alum Bluff Trail. All of the hikers that I visited with yesterday came up the Rainbow Falls Trail and most of them said that they were going down on Bullhead. If you decide to venture out today please remember to wear your caps and mittens—mittens are warmer than gloves! Stay warm! HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert  MORE SNOW!
Mt LeConte received another one to two inches of white fluffy snow last night. The total snowfall is now six or seven inches—enough new snow to obliterate all of yesterday’s footprints! Today’s temperatures are much warmer than what was observed during the past few days—25 degrees at sunrise! Highway 441 was only open from Noon until 6:00 PM yesterday, and was still closed this morning until last night’s snowfall can be cleared away. If you decide to hike today, bring your traction devices just in case! Sunshine and warmer temperatures turned some of the fresh snow to slush yesterday. The temperatures are still below freezing, so much of yesterday’s slush is probably today’s ice! Please be safe. HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert  Good morning from atop beautiful Mount Leconte! Temperatures yesterday hovered below zero for the entire day. Our lowest recorded temp was -3.8 degrees!!! The wind and clouds stuck around for the whole day, only beginning to clear up just before sunset. Overnight the winds died down, the clouds mostly cleared out, and the temperatures rose to a warm 14 degrees by sunrise. The mountain is calm this morning. We’re looking to see temperatures in the high 20’s today. The winds and snow will make a return overnight. As of this morning Highway 441 is still closed. All the best!   Good morning from beautiful Mount LeConte! The temperature in camp is -1.6 degrees with light wind. The mountain top is clouded in and we have 5 inches of snow around most of camp. Highway 441 is closed for the time being. This much snow accumulation means it’s a bit harder to get around on the mountain top. Tree roots, rocks and other obstacles are buried beneath the blanket of snow. It takes extra time and effort to find your footing in these conditions. This also means that the lingering patches of ice could be hiding under the snow as well. Traction devices are still a very recommended piece of equipment for recreating at elevation. The snowfall is done for now, but is forecasted to make a return on Saturday. The snow and low temperatures are going to stick around, at least through this weekend. All the best!   Good morning from beautiful Mount Leconte! The thermometer is reading 27 degrees this morning and is expected to drop more throughout the day. We have been experiencing pretty consistent wind gusts over these last 24 hours. Beginning this afternoon we are expecting storms to come through the region. With the thermometer staying below freezing, there can be snow accumulation of up to 6” of snow at the top of Mount Leconte. Some forecasts have called for up to 12” of snow on the mountain between now and Sunday. Winds could reach gusts up to 40 miles per hour, and temperatures will not get above freezing for at least the next 5 days. There will be a good chance of 441 closing for a period of time this week as well. If you’re planning a hike to see the winter conditions on beautiful Mount Leconte in the coming days, expect conditions to be especially unforgiving. Prepare accordingly. Be safe and Enjoy the snow! All the Best!   Good morning from atop beautiful Mount Leconte! Yesterday was a quiet day up here. We had plenty of sunlight, a soft breeze, and not a whole lot of hikers. The winds have picked up overnight, and it was quite gusty this morning out at Myrtle Point. We’re already above freezing, and we’re likely to see temperatures rise a bit more today as well. Wednesday calls for snow in the afternoon, expect treacherous conditions and the possibility of highway 441 closing due to the incoming weather. It’s been a beautiful couple days up here. All the best!   Good morning from atop Mount Leconte! We’re recording 13 degrees this morning, with a low of 6 degrees last night around 9pm! The howling gusts of wind have subsided by the time the sun rose this morning. The skies are clear today, giving us a brief “day off” before more winter weather moves in later this week. We have a chance at seeing our largest snowfall of this winter season! Traction, as always, is recommended this time of year. As well as extra layers, snacks, headlamps and a way to keep your water bottles from freezing on your hikes. Safety must be our top priority while recreating in unforgiving winter conditions. All the Best!  |
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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