These are usually necessary all year round as temperatures at night seldom exceed 50. Heating is accomplished by portable kerosene heaters, which are a bit smelly. Bureaucrats and insurance companies banned the wonderful wood heaters and fireplaces originally installed. Lighting is provided by kerosene lamp, quite adequate and cozy. It is not uncommon to wake up to the pitter patter of little feet in backpacks, even if there is no food in them.
Bears also frequent the site mooching for morsels.
Although less common than in years past, they still get inside the buildings on occasion. A collection of games is stacked in the main meeting room, along with books, pictures, guitars and other gizmos. Also available on top of Mount LeConte is a back-country shelter. It is basically a lean-to with a chicken wire fence over the entrance to discourage bears. Reservations are required and it is not easy to obtain them in crowded seasons - late spring and fall.