Archive for the ‘downed trees’ Category

Over 4,500 trees down in Smokies

Friday, May 6th, 2011
Great Smoky Mountains officials published a press release late yesterday reporting that a survey by trail workers shows that, as a result of last weeks' tornado, a total of over 4,500 trees are down in the closed sections of the park, with some areas resembling jackstraws for over a mile at a time.

Trail workers also counted over a thousand areas where trees were blown down and their roots tore gaps in the trail.

At this time, the full and partial closures of seven trails on the west end of the Smokies total roughly 27 miles.

The popular Abrams Falls Trail remains impassable due to numerous blow downs and over 40 areas where root balls were ripped out of the trail surface, leaving hot-tub sized craters. Park managers hope to have Abrams Falls Trail reopened by Memorial Day.

Below is a map of the affected trails. Please click for a larger view:

Park managers stress that no park roads are affected by the storm damage, and that the remainder of the park’s 800 miles of trails remain open. In the Cades Cove area visitors are encouraged to seek alternative trails. Access to Gregory Bald via Parson Branch Road is unaffected. Visitors can stop at any park visitor center for advice.

You may also want to note that the camping area and lower picnic area at the Horse Creek Recreation Area in the Cherokee National Forest are closed until further notice. The area received extensive tornado damage as well. Visitors are welcome to camp at Paint Creek or Rock Creek Recreation Areas.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Posted in Abrams Falls Trail, Horse Creek Recreation Area, cades cove, cherokee national forest, downed trees | Comments Off

Photo of the Day: Beard Cane Trail

Monday, May 2nd, 2011
The NPS photo above is from the Beard Cane Trail. The pathway extends right up the center of the ravine in the photo, which is now totally choked with downed trees.

Both the Beard Cane Trail and the Abrams Falls Trail near Cades Cove have been closed due to extensive damage from the wind and rain that occurred last Wednesday during the severe storm outbreak that hit the South. The trails are blocked by scores of downed trees and also have areas where trail surfaces were washed out.

The Abrams Falls Trail is closed from its trailhead at Cades Cove to the Hatcher Mountain Trail junction, and will likely remain closed through Friday. There is no reopening estimate for Beard Cane Trail, which is closed from Cooper Road Trail to Ace Gap Trail. The trail blockages also resulted in the closure of backcountry campsites 3 and 11. Other trails may also be blocked as more assessments are conducted.

The Park’s acting Chief Ranger Steve Kloster said, “The west end of the Park in Blount County, Tenn. was hit hard by the storms. At this point we have not had the chance to assess the condition of the trails in the western end of the Park, so hikers and, especially equestrians, may want to consider planning their routes in other areas of the Park.”

The Smokies website is also reporting that Parson Branch Road and Rich Mountain Road are closed due to downed trees.

Additionally, all trails leaving from the Abrams Falls trailhead and Abrams Creek Ranger Station are closed to horse riding at this point as well.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Posted in Abrams Falls Trail, Beard Cane Trail, cades cove, downed trees, storm damage | Comments Off

Clean-up of downed trees on Smokies trails: not till spring

Sunday, January 10th, 2010
According to Park spokesman Bob Miller, the Great Smoky Mountains anticipates asking the park service for tens of thousands of dollars to help with cleanup costs from the wind and snow storms this past December.

An article in the Asheville Citizen-Times quoted Miller as saying; "We haven't begun to survey downed trees on the trail system from the two wind events last month, but there are probably hundreds, if not thousands, of trees down.”

For now, both the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway are focusing on clearing roads and don't anticipate working on trails until this spring.

Right now, most of the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed and will likely not reopen until the spring, according to Mike Molling, chief of maintenance.

He said aside from trees blocking the road, daytime temperatures below freezing have caused ice and snow to remain on the road. The parkway typically reopens in April, but Molling said that may be delayed this year.

You can read the full article by clicking here.




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.

Posted in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Smokies, blue ridge parkway, downed trees, trails | Comments Off