Fall Colors Update Thread

Folks,

The yellow walnut leaves are falling on the lawn telling me that summer's end is near, and sassafras, cherry, and other things turn early on the open slopes and roadsides. September is a week away, so Richard or Matthew, let's make this thread sticky.

Post that stuff!

Steve

One cove of Lake james is warming up for the change.Taken today 9/03/06 just before sunrise. Colors warmed and brightened later in the morning.I was wading through the shallows to catch the mist rising.

Dogwoods are beginning to show some color in places; not in others. Too early for much though.

Steve

No fall color here as of yet, but it sure feels like autumn this morning.

A friend in Mars Hill, NC told me it was 39 degrees when he got up this AM. Yup, shouldn't be long now.

It was 42 here this morning, we're starting to see just a hint of color

Scheduling Big Creek, Tremont, LRR, and the other valley areas.

I need to schedule my trip very soon. Which weekend for the peak fall color? October 20-22 or 27-29? Who has their crystal ball handy?

I'm planning on getting out the week of the 20-22nd. Not sure if I can make it to the park or not, but will be somewhere shooting!

Alice will you be making anymore nut bread?

I'm looking for anyone interested in car or campground camping the week of October 23rd during the week. I am planning on 3 days/2 nights or more during the week to avoid the weekend crowds. Anyone interested in joining me or meeting up to shoot? Jack, Bill, Matthew???

Leann, If you're in the GSMNP that weekend I'll bring some nut bread! I'm pretty sure I'll be up there then. I've made reservations at the usual Comfort Inn in Townsend. I'm just not 100% committed yet...we are very busy in October and November. Scott, maybe I'll see you there too. We can wait 3 hours for sunset again at Morton's Overlook.

Scott,

I'm planning on camping at Big Creek or maybe Cosby. I will have my kids with me, and it will have to be a weekend as I am almost out of vacation. Not sure which weekend yet. I'm sure we can shoot together if our trips overlap. . .

Scott,

I have vacation starting weekend of 10/21-10/28 (and if I can get it worked out, through 11/04)

BTW, do you still have the lightbox for sale?

Jack

Scott, I won't be able to make it. I'm leaving this Saturday for ten days in the Canadian Rockies. I won't be back until October 10 and have too many end of October deadlines to take any more time off. Have fun!

Folks,

I drove the Cherohala Skyway, hiked Joyce Kilmer, and then up and over the Smokies back to K-town.

Localized color was better than expected (quite good) on the Tennessee side, in particular sourwood, dogwood, cherry, and along the rocky road cuts. Most of the highest elevations were in cloud, so I can't really give you a good report there, but I'd guess it's getting decent based on the lower levels of the Carolina side. Late summer flowers are still good, and you could get some decent comps at some locations.

Smokies are nothing much yet, but be aware they're still paving the Carolina side, so expect delays during the week. I doubt it will be a problem unless you're trying to make a sunrise/sunset, but a word to the wise...

Fall looks a tad early to me, and remember peak at Graveyard will be about the 5th of October. The forecast also looks like there may be a high country frost Thursday night/Friday morning.

Steve

Hi Jack, I sent you an email. Let's plan on meeting up to do some shooting.

We're seeing more color than normal for this early in the season in the Max Patch area. Temps haven't gotten to 60 in the last couple of days and I'm thinking we may get our first frost later this week. Fall color is almost here!

Lori

Color is coming on strong along the road to work around Melton Hill lake where the road and the old pine beetle kills have opened things up. I can see a difference in 2-3 days.

Steve

Hey all,
I went to wiseman's view and up to Linville area on Sunday-10/01 and I'd guesstimate 2 weeks will be a good start to consistent color spread. Didn't drive enough to see Grandfather so I can't speak on that but Jonas Ridge area still pretty green.

Folks,

Did the plateau up around Pickett Sunday the 1st, color coming on but not as good as the Cherohala last weekend. Looks like the Cherohala may be a good choice in the second week of October.

The plateau is showing good dogwood, cherry, creepers, a few hickorys. Also getting a few assorted yellows here and there.

Steve

The weekend of the 20th should be about perfect then.

I hope so Josh!!

I went to Cades Cove this morning. Pretty in some spots, but no where near peak. Did see 9 bears, several very close. I saw more color at Roan Mtn last week. That was beautiful and near peak.

Thanks Cindy.
I am glad to here about so many bears and also that there is a ways to go for peak color in the area around Cades Cove. I will be coming up on the 19th and 20th if plans dont change.
Bruce

Autumn color is really beginning to show itself around Jordan Lake.

I don't think I've ever seen it this early here in the lowlands.

Matthew,
Probably the result of the chemical fires here in Apex drifting toward Chatham.

Scott H

Beautiful color at Graveyard Fields this afternoon... nearing peak. Humans outnumbered trees 2:1

Yep, I was at Graveyard Fields also, great color. The place was just begging me to whip the 4x5 out but it was way too windy. Hopefully tomorrow. Oh yea, LOTS of people

Fall color outing October 6th and 7th - NC high country – this is a long one

I was not able to cover all the ground I wanted but here is my view on things – Jerry saw almost all of this and might have a little different view but I think we are fairly close on things

I HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO REVIEW MY NOTES FROM PRIOR YEARS YET

I –40 and 81 corridor showing roadside color and patches of advance color change with large areas of green – suspect this is localized because of local drought stress or other microclimate issues
Pigeon Gorge hillsides looked green green green as high up as I cold see – couldn’t get a view of Max Patch from the road because of cloud cover

Mountain Ash are the best I have ever seen loaded with red berries on Grandfather Beacon Heights Craggy Gardens – ditto for the blueberries

Rough Ridge was at absolute peak of perfection – best that I have ever found it

The high ridges coming off Grandfather and Mitchell have advanced color due to high concentration of Maples

Rough Ridge seems a few days early but less than a week – ditto the viaduct which was killer – those areas go off early – I usually plan on being there around the 7th or 8th and timing was spot on this year – that leads me to believe we aren’t all that early

Fall color has come late for so many years now that I think we have lost sight of “normal”

Linville parking lot had great color but lots more green yet to turn – didn’t have time to hike to the falls – there was a patch of back lit trees on the spur road to the parking lot that looked at peak that was very alarming driving in but it was not a blanket peak situation at all

We stopped and photographed occasionally where patches looked good and had the urge to make images but had long “green” stretches – often just around the bend from good color.

Coming down off Craggy around 2700 ft elevation up to probably 4000 or so was green

Time didn’t allow getting to Graveyard or the Smokies – Hamley is out today and hopefully will have news to add.

Luck to all – I personally felt a bit panicked as here in K town the color seems forward and many maples are at peak and or dropping their leaves and the interstate corridors and the approach to Grandfather from the north seemed likewise advanced but getting on location eased my anxiety a bit. Overall I think it’s a little early relative to what we are accustomed to but not a giant problem – there will be areas that peak before any certain person’s schedule allows them to be there but I don’t think we are headed for a total premature fall off unless we get hosed by a bad storm

I will check my prior year’s notes to try to get a better correlation and add to this thread

Sweet light to you all

Nye

Thanks for a great report, Nye. We have some great color in the Max Patch area, but not peak yet. I'm thinking we're on target for our normal peak of October 15. The hillside behind the pond may peak a little earlier.

Lori

Just a quick note that the colors at Mount Rogers/Grayson Highlands SP (about 4500-5000') were at peak this weekend. They were the best colors that I've seen in that area, enough to just stop you in your tracks. The New River area in Jefferson, NC was behind about 1 - 1/2 weeks.

I was in the Shining Rock wilderness area this weekend 7/8, from the top of Balsam Knob looking down into graveyard fields the trees were at near peak, definitely the best colours I have seen in a few years!.

Driving North from the Graveyard fields area the eastern slopes were patchy colour, very good in spots but still green down in the valleys.

As mentioned above the Mountain Ash is just awesome this year, really striking red berries!.

I can confirm Nye's report about ash berries and also his report that many oaks were turning a dark red rather than brown. Truly a good start. If you want high country color (other than say 6000 feet), start in about 3 days.

I did the Smokies and southern Parkway, all the way to Little Swizerland. The Smokies have shootable color along the Little River Road from Metcalf Bottoms to the Sugarlands. West of Metcalf was still blocked off from the slide on Sunday so I can't report for the west end LRR. That slide has now bwwn cleared and the road opened. I think peak on the Little River is about 5-7 days off.

The Tennessee-side Smokies look great from about 4500 feet on up. Good golden color along the road prong, and I suspect the stream at the Chimneys is near peak just from a few second glance driving by. No place to park, so I went on. I think Clingman's Dome road would be good if you have something in mind there. Carolina side is a bit behind, but not a lot. The low country is at least a week off,

I hit rain and fog on the Parkway, so I can't really tell you a lot, but the color's better the further north you go, and it looks good around Water Rock Knob.

Lori's probably about right for the 15th being peak except maybe for the river valleys which I think will be a tad later, maybe the 20th. But that's a long ways from the first week of November of last year.

Enjoy,

Steve

Thanks, Steve. Just to clarify my comments, I was talking about a 10/15 peak at Max patch, elevation 4500. I'd expect peak to be later at lower elevations, but I haven't checked it out. i'm heading for the high country right now! Yeehah!

Lori

Hey Folks,

I'm thinking of heading up the them thar mountains this weekend (thurs nite, coming back sunday evening). Any suggestions? I'm open to either a backpacking trip or just a car-camping and dayhiking shoot. Anybody interested in tagging along, or having me tag along with them, or just saying G'day is more than welcome.

Cheers

Carl

10/11/06 Graveyard Fields, BRP, Black Balsam area

Graveyard Fields is at peak right now - a beautiful tapestry of brilliant reds of the maples and blueberry bushes and oranges of the mountain ash. There is no green to be seen except for the spruce trees. Trees are holdiong their leaves well, but a front is coming thru with heavy winds on Friday and that could spell the end of this.

The area around Yellowstone Falls is peak as well. Its a beautiful shot looking across the gorge from the Parkway. Basically, anything over 5000 feet is at peak or closely approaching it. Some of the lower ridges were an equal mixture of greens and yellows, 40 to 50 percent.

Hwy 276 along Looking Glass Creek is a mixture of greens and yellows, with birch and beech quickly dropping leaves like garnish along the creek. Very pretty. The foliage near the Falls looks ragged but might brighten up over the next few days.

Just got back last night from a whirlwind trip of the high country. In short, it's gorgeous out there!

Monday-Tuesday, 10/9-10: Grayson Highlands/Mt Rogers just back peak, but still plenty to shoot.
Tuesday-Wednesday,10/10-11: Linn Cove Viaduct/Grandfather Mtn area pretty much at peak at or above Parkway level with the prettiest blueberry/huckleberry leaves I've ever seen on Rough Ridge. I didn't go above the Tanawha trail.
Wednesday, 10/12: Foliage at peak in vicinity of Mt Mitchell at Parkway level and past peak at Craggy Gardens. Both locations have lots of beautiful Mountain Ash left, but many have dropped their leaves and are starting to droop.

I think this cold front will knock a lot of the leaves off in the high country, but things should be coming on strong below 4000 ft. We're still pre-peak at my house (4100 ft), but a lot of leaves are flying in the wind today. Couldn't see the Patch when I drove by in the dark last night, but trees aong the road looked pre-peak

Lori

Lori,

Any idea about Linville Falls?

Steve

You guys are all just making me ill--40 miles away and I can't get off work!

Bob Slaughter

Steve,

I didn't make it to Linville Falls because there didn't seem to be too much happening elsewhere at its elevation (3100 ft). I'm guessing it'll go quickly after this cold snap.

Lori

27 degrees at my house this a.m. and a hard frost!

Lori

Frodo Lives!! and so do the leaves of Lothlorien (and the BRP)

Stressing over the potential leaf killing impact of the front passing through I took a Big Playing Hooky day Thursday the 12th and back home on Friday the 13th –

Thursday night blew very hard but scarecely any leaves gave up the ghost – could not tell there was any frost or an nip to the leaves 1st light at Pounding Mill - ? 4600 or so st no frost on ground and no crunch – everything looked great


Bubbling Springs falls – see the ESS post – is just a hair past prime though at 1st glance you might not notice – talked to Bern and got the hot tip but couldn’t get there for a couple of days

Grave yard Fields – the Middle Falls view from the road was a riot of color with more to come The FG trees are ripe with some green offering more options for the late comers – the comps will change but still be sweet

Looking Glass Rock from Pounding Mill - great FG elements more to come – not yet peak

Water Rock Knob – great blueberry at the road junction though the goldenrod are toast

BRP in general - Pisgah South to Water Rock – not as advanced as expected from prior reports – lots of green up to 5000 ft or more in places – a few bright ridges mostly east facing with higher density of maples but lots more green than anything – not surprised if it’s a week or more away though the Friday night cold snap may hurry things along

Cherohala – few bright ridges but its lagging the rest of the pack as usual – spirit ridge at 5000 had some color looking down at the road but its at least a few days if not a week form peak


Boys and Girls – this could be the year we have been waiting so long for – luck to all and good light

Nye

yep yep. I drove up yesterday just to see for myself. Likely wouln't be able to get back again before leaves fall, but there are some trees yet to change over. Things are just SO pretty. Nice drive, but LOTS of people on the roads. Nye, I might have passed you.

Tammy

Went up on the Patch for the sunrise this a.m. It fared amazingly well through the cold snap and high winds. We lost some leaves, but only about 50-60% of the trees have turned. Looks like peak is still several days away unless the torrential rains and high winds forecast for Tuesday do it in.

Lori

Did anyone go to the Cades Cove, Tremont, or Little River road area this past weekend? If you did how was the color looking?
I will be up on Thursday and Friday (19th-20th) and am looking to get an idea of what to expect. I may also head up Newfound Gap.
IF anyone else will be in the area then, I will be in a Blue Ford Taurus so stop and say hi.
My wife already thinks I talk to everyone anyway.

Bruce

Before leaving for GSMNP later this week, be sure to check their website for road closures. There was a big storm last night into this morning (Oct 17th) with high winds and many roads in the park on the Tennessee side are closed. From their website: "Major roads closed by this event include Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441), Little River Road from Sugarlands Visitor Center to Townsend entrance, Laurel Creek Road from the Townsend entrance to Cades Cove, and Cherokee Orchard Road outside of Gatlinburg". The press release is on their website here: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/parknews/windstorm.htm. Hopefully they'll have things opened up soon.

Hmmm.

Wonder how bad the leaffall is?

Maybe I will find somewhere else to shoot?

I sure hope it opens up before Friday....

Well, our fall leaves might be somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean by now...

http://tinyurl.com/yc5wvf

I haven't been up to the Patch, but we're fried here at my house. Lots of green leaves still on the trees, but they're withered and drying up. I think the hard frost started it and the winds finsihed them. There will be no true peak here this year :-(.

Lori

Folks,

I haven't had an update (10/19) but remember we're not short on natural beauty. There's Big South Fork (a HUGE area), Fall Creek Falls, Virgin Falls Pocket Wilderness, Walls of Jericho, Savage Gulf, Obed River, Fiery Gizzard, Cumberland Falls State Park, Pickett State Park, Tellico and Bald River Wilderness, Cherohala, and on and on. You could shoot all your life in these areas and not exhaust the opportunities.

The last 4 are this year although not at peak color

http://www.pbase.com/sahamley/image/52252640

http://www.pbase.com/sahamley/image/52252640

http://www.pbase.com/sahamley/image/67922156

http://www.pbase.com/sahamley/image/67922168

http://www.pbase.com/sahamley/image/68068340

http://www.pbase.com/sahamley/image/68068362

Steve

It went from being the best fall color in 10 years to no peak at all?

I know, I know, no one predicted this storm. Oh well, I plan to make the best of it. A bad day of shooting is still better than a good day at work.

I meant there would be no true peak in the Max Patch area this year. Colors here are still nice, but very, very muted.

Lori

I think I speak for many of us heading up this weekend that the latest turn of events (windstorm) is the icing on the cake for me. First, Fall seemed to come early and you local folks torture me with all the pics and the hype of the best fall color in 10 years while I am stuck here at work. Now as I prepare to leave for GSMNP tomorrow, you tell me a freak windstorm blew all the leaves away and the trees down. On top of that, some of the roads may not even be passable. I'm about ready to run up the white flag and sell all my LF gear and get into golf!!!

Erich, If you really want to be frustrated then go ahead and take up golf.

Bruce

Steve, I'm local and still don't know how to get to the areas you've posted. If I had all the time in the world to explore and know where to shoot, I would be there. But, I do know the Smokies and the parkway, and well, that's sort of the boat that many other people are in at this point, I think. Especially when we only have a weekend or a few days and then back to work. And, it would be nice to know if the winds went across the Plateau. Locals here said it did in places. Does anyone know?

A map leading to the areas you've posted would be a big help--with big yellow circles around nice and easy spots to get in and out of from Knoxville. Big South Fork is huge, and both times I've driven in, I've not seen one nice comp from the road. These areas take a bit of knowledge to come away with anything, just like with any landscape.

Tammy

Erich, don't take up golf yet.

Tammy,

Here ya go!

Hey, I'm available and offer to go with anyone who wants to go, with the caveat that my dad's in the hospital right now and he takes priority. But here's my plateau choices.

Pickett State Park and Big South Fork: Take I-40 West to Crossville, 127 north to Jamestown, hang a right just before Jamestown and follow the signs to Pickett and BSF trails like the Twin Arches Trail.

http://www.nps.gov/biso/

http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/Pickett/

Rock houses, natural bridges, rivers, etc.

Fall Creek Falls State Park: Take I-40 west to Crossville, 127 south, 30 west to Fall Creek Falls state park. Avoid weekends if possible, very popular (lots of facilities and very pretty).

Ozone Falls: Just drive up hwy 70 west out of Rockwood and look for the sign. It's right by the road. From the parking lot, walk about 50 yards west along the road and look for the trail down.

If you do Ozone, you can also do Burgess Falls State park the same day, hike about a mile to the falls.

http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/BurgessFalls/

Frozen Head State Park: Hwy 62 and 27, a couple hours out of Oak Ridge. DeBord Falls can be nice, and just a few hundred yards walk. other woodland trails too.

http://www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/FrozenHead/

Cumberland Mountain State Park: take I-40 west a few miles out of Knoxville and look for the signs before you get to Crossville.

http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/CumberlandMtn/

Tellico/Cherohala areas. Take I-75 south to Sweetwater (about 40 miles), go through Madisonville to Tellico Plains (have lunch or dinner at the Tellicafe if you can), follow signs to the Cherohala Skyway. Ops are the Tellico River with Bald River Falls (one of the prettiest waterfalls in the south IMO, right by the road) and the Bald River Wilderness, further up the Cherohala is Indian Boundary Lake, the Cherohala Skyway itself, and on the Robbinsville end, Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. From Robbinsville you can take hwy 129 all the way back to Maryville.

Tellico Plains is as quick and easy to get to from the Knoxville/Maryville area as gatlinburg is, actually a lot easier in leaf season.

Steve

Thanks Steve. Hope your dad gets to go home soon.

Steve, sorry to hear about your dad. Hope everything is okay and he gets out soon and to a quick recovery.

Thanks everyone, dad went to rehab today (I talked him into it!) which is really where he needs to be for about a week. That "shakes me loose" so I'll likely be heading out Saturday afternoon for an overnight.

Steve

Steve, I hope your dad gets well soon.

A quick road and color up date for those that haven't heard.
I just returned home and here is what I saw. Most of the roads are open. Newfound Gap is open all the way with good color through out. If you want big sweeping landscapes with lots of color on the peaks below the best is on the N.C. side from the overlooks on that side of the road to Clingmans Dome. Little River road also has good color and everything is open except Metcalf Bottoms. I guess you could walk in but you could not turn in off of Little River road. There are spots of good color going in to Cades Cove from the Townsend Y. Yesterday I went to Tremont and like was said in another thread there is not much there up to the Smokey Mountain Institute at which point the road was still closed. Not all of the Roaring Fork Motor Trail was open either. I drove the loop at Cades Cove up to the Hyatt Lane road. The cove was hit pretty hard as far as downed trees. There is also some colorful spots on the Foothills Parkway, I just wish someone would have reminded the sun to get up this morning since I was at the overlook at 6:30 this morning.
I just wish I had more time than just driving up yesterday morning and back tonight.

Everyone have a great weekend.

Bruce

Top notch colors in both the Fall Creek Falls area (splendid), and the Tellico/Cherohala areas, for those of you not yet vacationing in the Smokies. I wish I could bottle it up and take it with me. My photographic shortcomings don't do the scenes justice, actually. There were some places where I just had to stop my car and gape. Never seen anything quite like it. I love Fall.

BRP Update... sort of...

Graveyard is toast. Just the brownish oaks or whatever are left.

Area around Pisgah has some nice spotty color. Nice flashes of color along the road-cut rock faces.

Though the hillsides are probably in top color, it seems mostly russets and browns. Not a lot of oranges or reds between Graveyard and Pisgah, or on the hillsides around Looking Glass, etc. Lot of yellow (wish I could be more specific, but I don't know the trees here, being a Rocky Mountain dude)

Hwy 276 from Pisgah down toward Brevard had a lot of yellows, but again, not much in the way of reds and oranges. Seems like that is on its way in - still alot of green to be seen, especially along the creeks.

Nicest overall color I saw was north of Mt. Mitchell - around the Crabtree area. Craggy Gardens is way done - except for the hillside of red berries below the pullout just north of the visitor center.

Hmph... sounds like I should have popped around to the other side of the Smokies in TN. Oh well... was a nice drive, though I didn't shoot much.

J. Greer: Saw your truck at the Devil's Courthouse parking area last weekend and waited around to say "Hey", but you must've been wandering up the rock.

Hope everyone is getting better stuff than me - I seem to be timing things poorly.

Well I am glad I read that about BRP, was going to head up that way tommorrow. I was up part of the way about a week ago and it was ok, but not yet peak. Mostly near boone. No need to go if its over with.

I live in Maryville and have spent the last few days in and out of the GSM. It is so beautiful there along Little River Road and part way up Newfound Gap. Once you get to a certain point, you can tell where the storm last monday really stripped the trees. Did Roaring Fork Motor Trail today in Gatlinburg and it was very pretty color. The sad part is, you can really see the damage left behind from the storm. Several of the homesteads have trees right in front of the buildings. And most of the creek are filled with trees, I guess tossed aside from the road. When I went several weeks ago, they were great photo opps. This one place that has a big waterfall just aways from the road, was looking forward to stopping there and shooting it. I got down to the water and there were trees laying across the water. Also at the thousand drip sight at the end, it was nice, but there again, a few trees messing up what could have been a wonderful shot. But its still pretty there. Havent been to cades cove this week. I went last monday morning before the big storm hit that night. The color wasnt that great then. I have heard that over 75 trees were blown down so I really hate to go and see all my favorite photo spots ruined. I have been seeing some this past week and its sad. Since moving up here from FL about 3 1/2 months ago, I have been lucky enough to visit Cades Cove almost on a weekly basis. Have been there when only saw 4 other cars in the whole park. Thats when its good, hard to enjoy it when all you see is car lights. Oh foothills parkway is peak right now on both sides, near townsend and also on the other side of cosby. was there yesterday.

Oh today while at Roaring Fork we had some snow flurries, which was too cool. Its very cold here and will be very cold the next few nights. So if anyone is coming this week, you might get some snow covered scenes as well as fall colors. I heard from a ranger at sugarlands that it was snowing up high on newfound gap road today and around 15 degrees at clingmans dome. So funny, I was there yesterday and it was at least 25 degrees there in pure fog. Would loved to have seen a little bit of snow on the ground. Will go out tommorrow and see what I can find.

It is on the other side of peak, not that I am an expert by any means. But I can see a change on the downside the last few days.

Cindy Nowlin
Maryville, TN
http://www.eyetoeyephotos.net
(someday, I will update my website. Right now, I am having too much fun out taking photos. Will update soon!)

Oh Steve thanks for all the great info. I have been to falls creek falls before but need to go again. Since i just moved to east TN, I will check out your info and visit these sites.

Cindy:

Please note that I did not go any further toward the GSMNP than Graveyard Fields. There may be stretches closer to Cherokee that are good - I simply didn't go that far over.

Good luck!!

Oh my, I braved the HEAVY traffic and took a quick spin around Cades Cove this morning. Well not exactly quick, had 2 bear jams and one I am not sure what stopped traffic for at least 100+ cars. It was better several weeks ago when it was just me and a few other cars on the road. Not that alot of color, but it was prettier than today all the way around.

If you are going to cades cove for fall colors, then you best go elsewhere as they have come and gone or been blown away by that storm. Its so sad to see all those trees down and a few of my favorites are gone. To me coming from Fl, it looks just like after a hurricane. I know by next year it will come back a little, but very sad to see. I actually didnt go all the way around. By hyatt lane I had enough of bumper to bumper and F250 Truck fumes from in front of me. LOL Got my high for the year. So I cut over and did the other side quick as all the traffic was still on the front side and around the back side of the loop. Got done and at the end when you come up near the horses and almost to the camp ground, so very sad to see all those trees down. It looked so bad.

I didnt do Sparks on the first run around, so I thought, well I will just zip back to it then follow the road out and be done with it. I got going pretty good and got almost to the point where the road splits and you can go sparks lane or keep going on the loop and wouldnt you know it, all the sudden break lights and people pilling out of cars, vans and running into the woods. Wouldnt you know it, Mamma bear and 3 cubs decided to put a dent into my quick trip back around. I sat there for 20 min at least, with tons of cars stacking up behind us. I know they almost had to stretch to the entrance. I was a little ticked as I could see sparks lane just a few feet in front of me, but no way to get there. Had to sit and wait, no rangers ever came and broke up any long bear jams or traffic problems. Never saw one, guess they gave up. lol I dont blame them, too many people. Finally the bears moved on and people slowly and I mean slowly got back in their cars! lol

Most of the nice colors were half way up the road to cades cove along the little river, that was nice color still. Got some good shots then. But was very dissapointed when I got to cades cove for many reasons. Heading towards Chattanoga tommorrow with a photographer friend to see if we can find some color.

Cindy Nowlin
http://www.eyetoeyephotos.net

Big Creek is still good on Thursday the 26th. Barring wind, I'd expect the leaves to hold up reasonably well for a couple more days at least. There are still green leaves here, and some purple late summer wildflowers that look un-frostbitten. Hope the wind predicted for Sat morning is nild and doen't make it into the valley.

Steve

I'm probably at big creek tomorrow. Will probably try Tremont unless someone tells me it's toast. Maybe some Greenbrier too, LRR very likely. How is Roaring Fork? Done?

Perhaps a trip down to Transylvania county then. . .

Yeah, I know, a day late and a dollar short!

Tremont is toast according to Nye; closed above the Institute at last report. Big Creek is probably a better bet since it was good 10/26 - I shot there and it was good.

I've wondered about Greenbrier, if you have a report, please post.

Steve

A quick update. I just returned to Ohio from a 25 mile backpacking trip in GSMNP on the Appalachian Trail starting at Clingman's Dome and finishing in Cades Cove. We started on Monday with temps that had to be around 0 with wind chill. It was difficult to hit the trail when it was so cold but once we got down in the mountains and out of the harsh wind it was proabably around 20 degrees . Some great photo opps with ice covered trees! This was my first backpacking trip on this section of the AT and big sweeping views are rare after you get off Clingman's until the you get near Cades Cove. After several very cold nights camped at 5400 and 4800 feet with temps in the teens on Monday and Tuesday it warmed and provided a great day on Wednesday with a few good views to be had. Not much color to be seen as you look down over the park from the ridges. On the last day, as we hiked from Spence Field Shelter at 4700+ feet down to Cades Cove, there was good color from about 3500 feet on down. Should be a few good days left from 1500-3000 feet in areas that were somewhat protected from the wind storm last week but it was raining leaves as we descended. There were many trees down but my hat comes off to the park service for getting not only the roads but most of the trails cleared of the fallen trees.

Sorry Steve, something came up again this weekend and I am stuck in the Triangle again. No mountains for me this year. There is some nice color around here and I am getting some opportunities to shoot it.

Quick synopsis of my trip...starting last weekend through this.

Foothills parkway (both east and west) were AWESOME! probably past peak by now. Lots of reds and oranges.
Cades Cove- a complete bust.
Tremont - upper section open last friday when I went through. Got almost the same image as Thomas except mine is on 4X5 film and will be drum scanned
. Some yellows and reds but is probably gone by now.
LRR - Okay color, but probably past peak.
Chimney top picnic area - great yellows still there a few days ago. Past peak and WAY past beyond that going up.
Greenbriar- yellows abundant. Reds only found at ramsey cascade trailhead. Probably past peak by now. BAD trees down along trail up to the falls. Reminded me of the hurricanes we deal with down here.
Clingmans- shot the ice early last week. Cold for a guy from FL.
Big Creek - yellows still hanging around pretty well, but don't know if they made it through the rain on friday.
BRP- brown or gone everywhere I went.
Transylvania county, NC - still some yellow around looking glass creek but no reds. Did not really seem to have a good season here IMHO. Good color on whitewater falls 3 days ago. Also great color on Glen falls near Highlands. Color spotty but decent in areas south of Cashiers. Color along 64 was spotty.

Had a good time and hopefully have a few decent ones in the bag. Looking forward to Spring!!!

There is still some good color in the mountains and piedmont areas of South Carolina and portions of north Georgia. This might be the last weekend though...

South Mtns area (HWY 226)near Rutherfordton,Golden Valley NC.are still nice.

Well we are past-peak here in RTP now. I guess there's probably some fall left in S. Carolina, Georgia, etc.

A great year!