 MORE WINTER WEATHER! The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Friday afternoon and Saturday. Highway 441 is still open but will probably be closed again sometime Friday. The morning temperature at the Mt LeConte Lodge was 15 degrees. There was no rain or snow at LeConte last night. Prepare for that to start later today. Stay warm and dry! HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert 
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 HOWDY FROM LECONTE! The morning temperature today was 9 degrees—the same as yesterday. The most noticeable difference in weather is that the sky was clear yesterday morning and today it’s cloudy. The temperature never got above 9 degrees yesterday so there was little if any snow melted. Highway 441 was finally opened about midday yesterday, and remains open today. I saw two hikers yesterday. The first to arrive started early and came up the Rainbow Falls Trail. The second man drove up from the Chattanooga area and started up the Alum Cave trail after the Park Service opened Highway 441. Both men were retired and were experienced hikers and were well equipped (including traction devices). Both men complained about the amount of ice on the trails—and said that they would not have completed their hike without the traction devices! The National Weather Service is forecasting the next winter storm with significant snowfall to arrive in our area on Friday or Saturday. Please dress accordingly—remember that mittens are warmer than gloves! HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert   HELLO FROM THE MT LECONTE LODGE
The morning temperature up here was nine degrees. There was no snow or rain in the past twenty four hours, but there are still patches of snow and ice remaining on the ground. The skies are mostly clear and the sun is shining again today. Yesterday’s high temperature was 21 degrees. It would be nice if it would get above freezing today. Highway 441 was still closed first thing this morning. Hopefully it will be reopened later today providing access to the Alum Bluff trailhead. I only saw one dayhiker yesterday. He was a young man from Georgia and was wearing a set of full crampons on his boots. I commented that we didn’t often see them on LeConte. He said that they were very helpful in getting past Rainbow Falls. Please stay safe and warm today. HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert  GOOD MORNING FROM MT LECONTE LODGE!
The sky is clear, the sun is shining, and the temperature is rising. It looks like it will be a terrific Tuesday! The biggest problem is that Highway 441 up to Newfound Gap is still closed because of a large tree down on the highway at mile marker eight. This obstruction is preventing the trucks from traveling on up the road to take care of the slick spots. The heavy snowfall that was forecast for Mt LeConte failed to materialize. Consequently, there is only about two inches of snow on the ground near the Lodge. But I’m still wearing my traction devices when I go to the privy or go down to the spring to fetch water. Enjoy the sunshine! HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert  MORE SURPRISES!
Based on the weather forecast I was expecting heavy snow last night—we only received a light dusting—not even enough to measure! Apparently lower elevations received more snow than the higher elevations. The Lodge did receive 1.2 inches of rain during the day yesterday, along with high winds. Now with a morning temperature of 7 degrees and falling, what came as rain has now been turned into ice. In order to read the rain gauge accurately this morning I had to bring the entire device into the kitchen and immerse it in a large container of hot water! One hardy soul hiked up from Gatlinburg this morning hoping to see heavy accumulations of snow at the top. He confirmed that there is a cloud inversion with snow still falling below the clouds and clear skies above the clouds. All of the roads in the park remain closed this morning. The winds were strong enough here at the Lodge yesterday that one of the kitchen windows was blown inside. I was able to get the window back in place before all that rain could make a mess of things. The rain and wind and freezing temperatures turned the trees on the top of Mt LeConte into a winter wonderland! Please stay warm and safe! HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert  SURPRISE!
I woke up this morning expecting ice and snow. Instead of that I was greeted by 35 degree temperatures! Almost half an inch of rain had fallen during the night. This combination was rapidly turning the remaining snow into slush. The Lodge is also experiencing high winds—that part I was expecting. The roads in the park remain closed due to the winds and limbs remaining on the roads. This might be a good day to remain at home until the rest of the winter storm passes over our area. Please stay safe and warm. HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert  LET IT SNOW!
The temperature outside the Lodge was 23 degrees at 6:00 AM and the sky was cloudy. At about 8:00 AM snow started falling and shortly after that the Park Service began closing numerous roads and facilities, including US 441 and Cherokee Orchard roads. Phone service is spotty this morning, so I guess that I’ll just wait patiently and see what the weather decides to do! My wife obviously made the right decision yesterday when she decided to hike down Alum Cave trail early before the storm got here. The top half of Alum was very icy. Not only were the traction devices recommended, but were very necessary! Please stay safe and warm as we wait to see what this storm will bring. HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert  GOOD MORNING FROM MT LECONTE
The temperature here at the lodge is 26 degrees—three degrees warmer than yesterday, but the temperature never did get above freezing yesterday. Highway 441 is temporarily closed as of yesterday evening. The trails here at the top of the mountain are icy and slick, so traction devices are strongly recommended! The National Weather Service is still predicting rain, ice, and snow to start tomorrow, so plan accordingly. Be safe! HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert  HELLO AGAIN FROM THE LODGE ON MT LECONTE We’re starting today at 23 degrees—the same temperature as yesterday. Most noticeable difference is the ice! The Lodge received a slight amount of precipitation during the night—0.3 inches. And with the temperatures below freezing it all immediately turned to ice! A thin layer of ice coating everything! I needed the traction devices to walk from my bedroom to the kitchen. Now this is where the story gets interesting. I lost the one on my left shoe on the Alum Bluff trail last week. Yesterday a lady came up to the lodge and asked me if I needed a set of traction devices—and since I had lost one I really did! This was the first time that I’d ever seen a day hiker carrying a spare set! Thank you very much! The picture with this post was taken by a friend of mine at Myrtle Point a couple of days ago. It was seven degrees up here when he hiked out in the dark to take a sunrise picture. I’m very fortunate to have friends like these. HAPPY TRAILS!! WILDCAT/Bert   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 |
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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