Fall Color Thread

Jerry/Richard/Matthew,

We're about a month away from the typical fall color peak at Graveyard fields, the earliest peak color location. Let's make the thread sticky.

Thanks,

Steve

Folks,

I scouted south to Amicalola Falls State Park yesterday, and things look rough down there too. The Dawson Forest around Amicalola actually look good compared to other areas, so I'm hoping the park and falls will be O.K., but I'm not holding my breath - those mountainsides around Springer suffered badly from the Easter freeze.

The absolute worst I've seen anywhere was the Ocoee gorge. Trees turning, trees brown, entire patches of roadcut hillsides apparently dead. It gets some better as you approach the lake.

Steve

Folks,

I went to Midwest Photo Exchange in Columbus OH to horsetrade tripods this weekend, ending up trading all 3 I had (including the Ries A-Series) and ended up with a new Gizo GT 3540 XLS and a used but near mint 1548 with 1570M head for the 8x20 and maybe 8x10. I already love the new 3540, they fixed everything we don't like about collet locks; quarter-turn locks, non-rotating legs (you can loosen or tighten any collet in any order without the other leg sections turning), they made it a foot taller and a half pound lighter. Plus, the legs "tighten" if the collets are a little loose and weight is put on them.

I compared the 1548 to a Ries A-series side-by-side and judged the Gitzo to be lighter, stiffer, half the length, and much more compact, easier to use, much easier to carry, and as strong as I need it to be, and more.

So what does this have to with fall color? I went up through Paris and Mayfield, KY aka horse country, and back via I-71 and I-75. Things look as bad along that route as they do here. Granted I did not wander off the beaten path much with my agenda and time, and really would have liked to scout out Hocking Hills State Park. Those of you that think Ohio is flat farmland, well, you're 95% right; but in places in Hocking Hills you'd swear you're on the Cumberland Plateau. Nice falls too.

Steve

Steve,
I have made many a trip into Hocking Hills myself. As you say it is a great place! As far as everything else here in Kentucky I'd say we've had less rain here than you all. Hopefully there will be something worth shooting!

The maples are already turning here in the Raleigh / RTP area, along with a few sourwoods, and most of the tulip poplars. The colors look fairly muted. Not looking like any kind of a bang-up fall in this area!

Drove the Parkway yesterday from Asheville to Mt. Mitchell and hiked out the Black Mountain Crest Trail a couple of miles. The blueberries are turning rapidly in the higher elevations and there are splashes of color here and there along the rock faces that line the road cut. There are no mountain ash berries this year. None. Time will tell for everything else, but I still have hope!

Lori

Matthew,

I've noted the same early, muted colors in maples and sourwoods in my neck of the woods also.

Cheers,

Steve

I was up on the Parkway 9/22 - 9/23, drove a section from Shining Rock to Mount Pisgah. There is some Patchy red colour in and around Graveyard fields, but nothing substantial yet. No mountain berries at all as Lori mentioned!.
The creek and falls at Graveyard fields looked VERY low, as was Looking Glass Falls!.

Thanks Nick!

Got rain?

Cheers,

Steve

Folks,

WUOT Knoxville reports on 9/26 that the Little River is at all-time lows, and that observation is probably true of all Tennessee-side streams. So spending a day hiking to Ramsay Cascades probably should not be on your agenda unless things improve dramatically. From Nick's report above, Western NC streams are close, so plan accordingly.

Nye Simmons is on the road today in the Elizabethton area when I spoke with him and he said things look reasonably normal there and that the Pigeon Gorge looks good - of course if it's raining anywhere in the world, it's raining in that bottleneck in the mountains from I-40 TN MM 451 to about NC welcome center.

Steve

Folks,

I hiked Big Creek today 9/30, then up to Graveyard fields and back over the Smokies. Graveyard is 4-7 days away from peak IMO, which would put it about on time. The most striking thing everywhere is the low water levels. Mouse Creek Falls is Mouse Trickle Falls, and Meigs Falls, the Little River, and Big Creek are all amazingly low. Big Creek is 8-10" below the waterline on the rocks, which really cuts down on the "real estate" of a mountain stream.

So if you'd planned stream shots, time to formulate plan B as nothing but a hurricane in the next week to ten days is gonna help.

Steve

Thanks for the updates Steve. I think I'm going to hit the Linville/Grandfather mountain area weekend of the 20th. Hopefully colours will be good at that time, it'll be my final Appalachian Fall before heading back to Colorado to live ;).

Folks,

I did Elkmont today 10/4 and got rained on! What a wonderful sensation - storm light before the rain, saturated colors, the smell of wet woods, soft water, and all that goes with it. I was 3/4 mile up the trail when the rain came and I had to turn back because I did not have a proper pack cover for the McHale demo pack I was using. If not for risk to the lenses, I'd have kept on walking.

There's spotty shootable color along the Little River, most notably on the left 2 miles from the "Y" going east, and at the sinks. Still plenty of green too though.

Nye Simmons reports today the high country (with the possible exception of Graveyard) is spotty and he estimates a week off with maples turning earlier. Maybe longer if we don't get cool weather which is not in the forecast. Maples at the falls on NC 215 are good but everything else green.

Cheers,

Steve

Drove the Parkway yesterday from Soco Gap to Graveyard Fields. There's good color at high elevations but not much looking off at the distant ridges. For example, the view from the Waterrock Knob parking lot was mainly green. Cowee Mountain overlook has some good color in the foreground trees and underbrush which may not hold the way the winds are picking up today. Graveyard color was muted but still some nice reds and yellows. I think it will hold for several more days, again unless the wind does a number on it. All in all, fall seems a bit late this year, maybe up to a week but I'd say more like 4 or 5 days.

I ran into Nye Simmon and Eric Holderer at Graveyard. Good to see you both! Nye said the Linville Viaduct is at peak, but Rough Ridge still has a few days to go.

Lori

Hi Folks
Here's a useful site for predicting/tracking the fall colors in Tennessee
http://fall.tnvacation.com/foliage/

Richard Siggins
Kingsport, TN

Lori,

Good to finally meet you. Waiting on my film to be developed. Not really a great week in terms of color or weather. I made the best of it though. I'd say graveyard is close to being finished by now. Color appears to be muted everywhere. I did find a few pockets of good color but had to hike to find them. How did you do at Bubbly Springs Branch? I went to Black Balsam and caught a sweet sunset. We'll see if I got the grad right on. I'll see if I can find your e-mail contact info on your website...

Erich,

I hope you'll post an image or two when you get your film back. I'd love to see them. Nye went to Bubbling Springs and said the colorful leaves had blown off the trees since he was there a few days before. I went on down to the Cowee Mountain overlook for sunset. It was good, but windy.

Lori

The color along the parkway has really kicked in over the last several days between Balsam Gap and Wagon Rd Gap. Lots of good views of distant ridges full of color. The higher elevations still have color, but some trees are already bare. Cowee Mtn has good color in FG and on the ridges. Graveyard still has some nice color especially around Yellowstone Falls. Also, found good color along the Cullasaja Gorge. Any reports from further north - Roan, Linville, Grandfather??

Linda

Linda, I spent today going from Fancy Gap down to Grandfather Mountain. The colors are as good as I remember in the last twenty years. The colors at Grandfather are peaked and the good colors go down to at least around three thousand feet. They were spectacular today at Julian Price Lake and at other locations.

Sunday 10/21
GrandFather/Linville area still beautiful except the interior of Linville Gorge at Wiseman's View has yet to really kick in-maybe thursdayish or next weekend. Jonas Ridge area is pretty but Upper Creek area still yet to turn colors.

Max Patch area is still pretty but past peak thanks to high winds that have been blowing since Saturday and are still blowing now.

Lori

What is the projected outlook for this weekend in regards to color for the smokies?

Josh,

Probably pretty good if the wind didn't get it.

Nye Simmons reports today that the area around Grandfather is near peak and spectacular as are many areas up that way. It's 8:00 p.m. Tuesday 10/22 and I'm headed to meet him on the Parkway. Try Price Lake area too.

Cheers,

Steve

Strange over here right now. Low down color on the NC side of the GSMNP is marginal, but once you top out - there is a really nice show going on. At least there was Saturday when I was on 441 on the NC side of Newfound Gap. Creeks are still low, but it is drizzling here as I type this and we're expecting rain tomorrow. As long as the rain does not knock down all the leaves, the next couple days could be real nice over this way.

Bryson City, NC

Paige,
Thanks for the info: I'm trying to time a trip to Cataloocee with the colors and elk rutting and the elevation in the valley is very low (arond 800')

Folks,

10/24 from Little Switzerland. Colors are good along the Parkway from Blowing Rock. Parking lot at Linville Falls was good, did not hike to the falls. Color at Crabtree Falls shootable, but still some green in the woods - I got two here I liked if the wind was kind to me, and it almost never is. Lots of rain today so only 3 compositions.

When the clouds cleared at Little Switzerland, I was surprised how much green I was looking out over.

John Smith reports the "waterfall run" along NC 64 is not ready yet, and another photog reported there's still some color at Graveyard.

Likely I will travel south down the Parkway and over the Smokies, checking out Mtchell and Craggy. I'd recommend the area around Grandfather, Rough Ridge if there's clouds moving through and winds mild, Wilson Creek, all this area is good. There's a lot of leaves down but still just a LOT of color in these areas.

I'll try to post a report late tomorrow about Parkway south and the Smokies.

Good hunting SENPers.

Cheers,

Steve

Folks,

Also, there's been enough rain on the Parkway for stream levels to be quite shootable, but some streams are brown today 10/24. Crabtree is white, but the Linville river is brown and will take a day or two to clear up with no more rain.

Cheers,

Steve

Folks,

Update 7:30 p.m. 10/24: Nye is in Asheville and reports that Mt. Mitchell is fantastic. He did not shoot because of rain, but tomorrow is light rain in the a.m. tapering off in the afternoon. So I'm heading for Mitchell 10/25. Nye said from Mitchell to Craggy is spectacular, Craggy is likely a bit past peak, yellows and browns but maybe some shootable scenes..

Cheers,

Steve

Tuesday 10/23, My wife and I drove from Brevard NC to Townsend TN. The Parkway, what I could see of it for the rain and fog, anything above about 4800' or so was totally fogged in, looked better than I expected from the reports. When we got to the Steestachee overlook there was lots of color on the surrounding mountain sides.

Newfound Gap road looks pretty good from the the top (again, what I could see) down to about the Chimneys picnic area.

We drove Little River road after dark but saw a lot of green in the headlights.

Today we went to Tremont and Cades Cove. Tremont has a little color but a lot of leaves either down or turning brown. Still enough green to maybe be ok in a week or so but I personally don't think it can be great this year. The water level is down. The little waterfall on the right side of the road at the first bridge up the dirt road has no water at all. Cades Cove has some spots of good color but still a lot of green.

Bruce

Folks,

Revision, 10/25: Mt Mitchell is NOT good (I went up to the visitor's center), but the approaches are.

Smokies are not good; lower levels have a ways to go. Oconaluftee looks ragged and bare, but further up the road it's green and not at peak. Decent band of color from about 3,000 feet to 5,000 feet, but not a lot of opportunity given the up-and-down nature of the Newfound Gap road. Meigs Falls looked decent at a 1-second glance as I drove by. Little River road is not good at this time. I did not visit Elkmont or Tremont. Water levels in the Little River are better but still low, but clear.

The best bet this weekend is still the Parkway from Blowing Rock south, although color is starting to come down rapidly. But if the weather stabilizes, it may hold for 2 more days or so.

Color is still amazingly good at Graveyard, and I actually shot a composition there. It's probably a day or three past technical peak, but still a lot of color. If anyone told me Graveyard proper would be shootable on 10/25, I would have laughed at them - I've seen it like this on the 6th or 7th in the past. The Yellowstone Prong Falls are very good. Tenant is past, as are all the very highest elevations. Water rock knob and Balsam Mountain approaches good, and I shot a little roadside composition just about MP 465, or 4 miles from the Smokies.

Looking Glass view is not at peak yet, but I shot there late morning just for the heck of it because of some very colorful sassafras in the foreground at one of the pull offs. The light wasn't very good, but it wasn't horrible either.

Still lots of green in the valleys, the opinion is that peak color is 2 to 2-1/2 weeks late. I guess no cold weather or severe winds have delayed the peak. It was in the 50's and 60's in the Grandfather area at about 11:00 a.m.and I was wearing the lightest summer pants because they dried fast, and I was comfortable. I take it that wouldn't be true after this front pushes through.

So we may be shooting fall color in Amicalola in mid November.

Cheers,

Steve

I was on the Parkway between Linville Falls and Blowing Rock on Wednesday and Thursday thanks to a tip from Nye (Thanks, Nye!) and was AMAZED at how good the color was and how long it's held. Rough Ridge was still spectacular as was the viaduct. Price Lake is past peak, but still shootable. Like Steve, I didn't go to Linville Falls because the river was muddy, but it looked good leading to there. I can't imagine Rough Ridge, etc. will hold much longer, but if you can get up there quick it's probably worth a trip.

I'm heading to the Smokies this weekend to teach a photo workshop at the Tremont Institute. Will report in when I return.

BTW, does anybody have anything to report at other lower elevation locations? I'd be interested to hear how it's going in your neck of the woods whether it's in the mountains or not.

Lori

Spent the past week in GSMNP. Drove up Newfound Gap from Sugarlands on the 22nd, colors looked pretty good around the Chimney's and Alum Cave areas, Alum Cave trail had some nice colors towards the top around the bluff and rocky cliffs. Little river road was showing some color, may be good over the weekend into next week, river is low but there was a good rain on Tues the 24th, maybe it will perk up a little.. Cades Cove had decent color through out, a little nicer on the back side of the loop, around Tipton and Shields cabin areas, some color on the road to the Cove as well. Tremont area had nice colors, mainly yellow's and golds along the gravel road toward the upper parking and along middle prong trail, water levels were low as in most areas.

As of Friday 10/26/07 Weird patterns for sure: Wilson Creek Wilderness Area is showing some color but not at peak quite yet but the Forestry road away from WC following Upper Creek is still in the yellows phase. Alta Pass orchard area on BRP was spotty also.

10/28/07
Went to Linville Gorge/Wiseman's view for sunset-the interior of L Gorge has yet to peak. Some nice colors starting. I will post a pic in the morning after my 24 hr limit has passed

Here's a shot from rough ridge one windy day last week. October 24th I believe. BTW, I'm using a new monitor that I haven't calibrated yet, so pardon any unusual "effects".

Cheers,

Steve

The South Carolina mountains and foothills are rockin, guys and gals. Come get it while it's hot!