Posted by Steve Hamley on April 21, 2006 at 3:46 PM
Folks,
The Sink was near peak although both Jerry and I think the phlox is thinner than usual. Several of us went in and had a pretty good time. It showered a little in the morning, and started to rain lightly at about 3:30.
I'm not sure I'll make a second trip in on Saturday since heavy rains may have "drooped" the flowers some.
If you're using the guide to get in, it's really prety easy, just remember the manway starts about 150 feet past the Turkeypen Ridge trail, and look for the limbs across the seeps about 1/3 mile in. Take the well-traveled path and you'll be in!
Steve
Posted by Steve Wachtel on April 21, 2006 at 5:39 PM
Steve...
I bagged the weekend... given the forecasts and web cam views, I didn't think it was worth the drive. I may try next weekend - may be past peak, but hopefully I can still find something to putter with.
Posted by Steve Hamley on April 21, 2006 at 5:42 PM
Yep, the forecast pretty much stinks. There was a lot of thunder and lightning coming out yesterday, but not a lot of rain - didn't have to do the pack cover or rain gear. But it will take a day without rain for the flowers to stand back up and open up.
Steve
Posted by Jon Massie on April 22, 2006 at 11:56 AM
I left the Smokies Friday afternoon after figuring the weather would be sour over the weekend and after being rained on all night. Still, it was hard tearing myself away early.
I thought WhiteOak Sinks was a great place and spent about 8hrs there, meeting quite a few of you.
Posted by Thomas Biggs on April 23, 2006 at 3:11 PM
Well I went Saturday morning in the rain It is a really neat place, but the flowers had suffered from the rain, of course the sun was shinning today cause I had to come home I took a few shots.. got some really goods ones of the waterfall.
Posted by Jon Massie on April 23, 2006 at 10:21 PM
I bet that waterfall was going good seing as Little River was a streak of brown from all the rain. Didn't make it to the waterfall...maybe next time. Was good to meet some of you SENP folks.
Posted by Robert Cable on April 26, 2006 at 9:45 PM
Jack Riley and I went in Tuesday(4/25). We got dumped on by a storm as well, lightning struck a ridgetop real close to us, it actually lit up the front of my body. Not only was the Phlox terrible and the Shooting Stars past peak, but did anyone else notice the extensive wild pig damage back there. The worst parts were right near the trail junction by the bat cave. It looked like the damage was from Monday night or even Tuesday morning. Some of the up-turned soil was right in front of the first pig trap you come to back there. I then looked at the trap and it was tied off, the other trap was too. Has the park service run out of money to maintain the traps? I hate to think of what The Sink will look like in a year or two.
Discussion
6 repliesThe Sink was near peak although both Jerry and I think the phlox is thinner than usual. Several of us went in and had a pretty good time. It showered a little in the morning, and started to rain lightly at about 3:30.
I'm not sure I'll make a second trip in on Saturday since heavy rains may have "drooped" the flowers some.
If you're using the guide to get in, it's really prety easy, just remember the manway starts about 150 feet past the Turkeypen Ridge trail, and look for the limbs across the seeps about 1/3 mile in. Take the well-traveled path and you'll be in!
Steve
I bagged the weekend... given the forecasts and web cam views, I didn't think it was worth the drive. I may try next weekend - may be past peak, but hopefully I can still find something to putter with.
Steve
I thought WhiteOak Sinks was a great place and spent about 8hrs there, meeting quite a few of you.