Cloudy skies, scattered rain showers, and windy conditions are going to be the theme this Sunday. We are currently under a Wind Advisory until noon today, as gusts of 45mph are zipping over the crest. Because the air is coming up from the south, we have a couple more days of these unusually warm temps to enjoy. By Monday night, once any rain has cleared out, breezes will shift out of the north and start bringing the mountain some cooler temps. We’re talking highs in the 40s and lows in the 30s this next week. Still well enough above freezing that we won’t need to worry about icy conditions on trail, but not as summer-like as it has been where one can get by in shorts and a shirt from start to finish. With the calendar shift this year, November is about as long as it can be for hosting overnight guests at the lodge, which typically increases the odds of having to deal with frigid temps and occasional adverse trail conditions. So in that regard, all this nice weather to start the month has been a blessing. 2.5 more weeks of it will be welcomed, then skies can turn sour and snow all they want beginning on Thanksgiving after doors have closed and visitor services concluded. We’ll see how it all shakes out.
One last reminder that guest supper will move to 6:00 PM today. We’re down to less than 10.5 hours of daylight these days, with sunrise happening a tad after 7:00 AM and sunset just before 5:30 PM. With the average hiker typically requiring 3-4 hours to get back down the mountain on a trail like Alum Cave, it’s important to pay close attention to the time and not get caught out after dark. That means by 2:00 PM visitors not staying the night need to be making their descent from the summit.
Have a great day.
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