October 21, 2024

Good Afternoon,

When it’s all said and done, this might go down as one of the sunniest Octobers - or single months in general - in Mt. LeConte history. It has certainly inspired the crowds to spend their time here in the Smokies in epic numbers, this past weekend being no exception. And the changing leaves these mountains are known for this time of year obviously play a big role in that, with colors now approaching peak in the mid elevations. The trade-off to all this unbroken sunshine and blue sky is, well, the lack of rain. Apart from Helene’s final days and the recent snowfall, the Lodge hasn’t recorded squat for precip lately, and the extended forecast doesn’t show this pattern changing any time soon. Balance from our skies is essential…just something to keep an eye on in the coming days and weeks. Continue to expect cool mornings around 40° and afternoon highs near 60° this week. It gets warm, especially on trail, once the sun hits midday, but conditions can quickly cool in the shade and at sunset. That means packing layers for varying climates and knowing when to add/remove them to improve comfort and performance.

Heads up to anyone expecting to hike any part of Trillium Gap Trail on Tuesday. The NPS will be conducting some brief maintenance along the one-way Roaring Fork, requiring a temporary closure of the road from 10:00 PM tonight until 9:30 AM Tuesday. If wanting to ascend the 6.7 mile portion of the trail to the top of Mt. LeConte, just know you won’t be able to start at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning.