Clouds as thick as our potato chowder soup have gotten cozy atop Mt. LeConte and the Smokies’ higher peaks this morning. Such conditions certainly make for a moody and mystifying mountain top mixed with mild temps. Hikers will be lucky to catch a glimpse of sunshine between cloud layers today, as isolated storms are on schedule for ramping up this afternoon. So enjoy the moments absent of precip while on trail, but come ready for whenever the skies decide to let loose. We’re in the mid 50s at the moment and could see the mercury ascend into the mid 60s in a few hours. Once rain showers and thunderstorms get started later today, they’ll be expected to hang around through Wednesday and Thursday. Hopefully by the weekend more favorable weather for walks in the wilderness returns.
The mountain laurel are really coming into form now throughout the park’s mid elevations. Same can be said for the vibrant purples of the Catawba rhododendron, which will slowly be making their march up toward the higher elevations over the coming weeks. Much of the spring ephemeral ground covers have come and gone, about to be replaced by the likes of galax and wood sorrel depending on the elevation and forest type. You’ll be lucky to stumble upon a flame azalea on the slopes of Mt. LeConte, as they don’t quite have a foothold here like they do at famous places like Gregory or Andrews Bald. A few could be found on Bull Head Trail back in the day, but the November 2016 fire that scorched those slopes seems have sadly done them in. One more reason to not pick plants or flowers, but leave them for all to enjoy and allow them to flourish, reseed, and spread naturally.
Have a great day.
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