Winter Thread

Richard, Jerry, Matthew:

Scott's post below sort of beat me to the punch on a thought that's been rattling around in my head for a while. We've had sticky threads for spring, rhodies, and fall, but never one for winter.

Want to try a sticky winter thread for sharing locations, plans, weather, road closings (or openings), rime ice, etc? Let's try it and see if it's worthwhile.

I for one would like to know some of our folks favorite locations, and so on. I know Lori likes her front porch and so do I, but I haven't been able to get her to sell me her front yard yet.

So to start things off, where do you plan on going when the weather turns wintery?

Thanks,

Steve

Copy of reply to Scott's thread:

You might want to visit the "beauty spot" in the Unakas up above Erwin. I think Jerry did a nice shot there in the snow a few years back.

The problem of course, is that big brother closes all the roads when it snows. Can't say as I really blame them given the driving skills and vehicles of the general population, but walking from a gate on the Parkway is an option. I'd try bubbling springs (the waterfall near the top) on NC 215, or come up NC 276 and walk up towards Pounding Mill overlook on the Parkway if the gate is closed.

Also, any of the gaps along the Parkway offer some opportunity if the Parkway itself is closed.

Cheers,

Steve

Hey Steve,

I'll sell you my front yard for a couple of days! Seriously, I've been thinking about holding a winter photo tour here with participants staying at my vacation rental. The catch is the actual dates would be scheduled just a few days in advance when it looks like we have a better than average chance of snow and/or rime ice in the area. Anybody interested let me know and I'll put you on my email notification list.

Lori

Steve, good idea.
Lori, please add me to your list.

My favorite areas are Max Patch and Big Creek.

Max Patch is very scenic, and the roads stay open unlike most everywhere else high up. And Big Creek is always very beautiful in the snow.

I'd love to shoot the upper Smokies and the parkway in the snow, but such is not to be in the nanny-state world we live in today. . .

Lori,

Sign me up!

Cheers, Steve

Will do, guys. BTW, for those looking for rime ice (my favorite conditions), the best time to find it is on the windward side of the higher elevations along the TN-NC state line when weather forecasters are predicting an upslope or wrap-around snow event. You'll have to read the forecast discussion on the NWS site to determine the type of event expected. The bad news is upslope snow means wind, but often the wind dies down as the skies (fog) starts to clear.

Lori

Date 11/24: 2-4 inches of snow expected on Tenessee/Carolina line.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/breaking/story/374005.html

Good luck, I won't make it.

Steve

I know it's late, but the forecast for 12/1 in the Smokies and So. Apps. looks promising for snow. Any ideas? I'm not seeing to many good options besides 441 in the GSMNP and the BRP around Jackson Co. Access to both of which I assume will be limited or nill.

Folks,

11/30, Freezing rain was reported in Little Swizerland this morning, so be careful if you head out.

Cheers,

Steve

Couple of inches on the ground at my house this a.m. and coming down hard. No rime at this point though.

Lori

This time I decided to save my quota and stay home... In GSMNP, Deep Creek seems to be an option if snow reaches lower levels. Also, does Little River Road often stay open if 441 is closed? Would you likely have to go in through Tremont or Wear Valley?

Scott,

Little River Road is rarely closed because it doesn't get much snow, but they'll close it in a heartbeat if it does. 441 is usually closed at the gate just south of Sugarlands visitor center and Little River Road. You can access the Little River from either end, through Gatlinburg or Townsend.

Lori

Lori's correct about road closing in the Smokies. If there is a "big one" coming, the only thing you can do is get in before they close the gates. They will let you out. I've done this more than once.

And they do make every effort to clear the Newfound Gap road as soon as possible so people can get over to Cherokee to gamble. Many times you can take advantage of this.

That said, everyone please be cautious at altitude in the Smokies in winter conditions. There's snow, and then there's ice. The steep sections of the Newfound Gap road can be such that even 4-wheel drive would have trouble without chains in icing conditions, and just because they've opened the road doesn't mean there aren't patches of ice that can cause you a lot of hurt.

Cheers,

Steve

12/04: Folks, just a heads up.

There's a line of sleet/snow showing behind today's front on the Intellicast radar. It's still on the Cumberland Plateu at 3:45 p.m., so there may or may not be anything in the Appalachians, but I'd bet there will be something white on top tonight.

Cheers,

Steve

Thinking about heading up Sunday and overnight Jan. 18th. Thoughts about any icy stream/rivers or snowy scenes? Top of Max Patch can be dull photographically? I know Lori likes some stream scenes around Harmony Den in sub-freezing temps. Alternately, my sister says there are plenty of ice formations in the Toxaway and Brevard area. She could guide us to Stillhouse Falls.

Scott,

You can't beat the top of Max Patch at the back edge of a storm, but it looks like it'll be snowing through Monday morning and then wane a bit before picking up again monday night. That means it'll probably be socked in until Tuesday, except perhaps for a brief window on Monday afternoon. (It's socked in as I write this).

After this last arctic blast you'll be able to find ice along many streams and rivers. Toxaway and Brevard should be good, but they'll probably get less snow than the upslope areas along the NC-TN state line.

Hope this helps.

Lori

Hello All,

Can I get any of you folks' opinions on Bubbling Springs as a winter scene? I really like that spot in the fall for obvious reasons, and wanted to check it out in the winter, but don't want to waste the fuel from Raleigh area all the way out there w/o getting some input first.

Also, if the parkway is closed, and I am assuming it will be in the area where it intersects w/ Hwy 215, then what's the best route to get there from Asheville / coming from the E of NC on I-40?

Thanks for any advice!
Joe B.

Lori, we sent up Sunday evening around sunset and nearly got stuck there. We left MP trailhead at 7:30. At that point the previously packed snow had refrozen into slick ice. Never again will I go without tire chains in such conditions. It took hour hair-raising hours to get back to a safe area on FR 148. Once we reached I-40 we came all the way back to Atlanta, arriving at 4:15 AM. Whew, lesson learned.

Whew, Scott! Glad you made it down OK. It can change in a heartbeat up here and we've done countless mountain rescues when we just happen to be out there and find somebody in the ditch or off the bank. Were you in a 2WD vehicle or did you have 4WD? Sometimes you need both 4WD and chains. That's when I stay on foot!

Lori

Lori - 4WD. Went into the ditch twice, once on MP road and once near the top of 148. Fortunately both times on the 'uphill' side. I say I'll never go back without chains, but that's only as a last resort. The smart thing is to not be in that situation at all. Too much to post here, but I also recommend being absolutely sure you have the goods and know-how to start a fire on ice or snow. I thought I did. I didn't.

Yeah, I thought you had 4WD. I've seen many people get stuck in that spot at the top of 148. It often turns to ice. Agree, it's very important to have ample snow provisions. We even used to carry a chain saw in case a tree was blocking the road, but after a while we got tired of smelling the gas.

Next time, turn around and walk to my house. Our driveway is 1.4 miles north of the Max Patch trailhead. We'll put you up.

Lori