Posted by Julie Hatvany on January 8, 2010 at 3:36 PM
According to the park web site many of the roads are closed. Does anyone know if they usually get these open for a few hours during the day? I am thinking about running over tomorrow. I am most interested in the Townsend side of the park.
Temporary Closures
• Newfound Gap Road (US-441)
• Little River Road
• Laurel Creek Road
• Cades Cove Loop Road
• Gatlinburg Bypass
• Greenbrier Road
• Cosby Entrance Road
• Cherokee Orchard past Twin Creeks
• Cataloochee Entrance Road
• Old NC-284 between Big Creek and Cataloochee
• Foothills Parkway East
• Foothills Parkway West
• Lakeview Drive
Thanks,
Julie
Posted by Steve Hamley on January 8, 2010 at 8:15 PM
Julie,
The Park's closed in winter!
Cheers, Steve
Posted by Lori Kincaid on January 8, 2010 at 8:32 PM
Julie,
You can get more current information from the road information line: (865) 436-1200. If it continues to snow tomorrow there's a good chance they won't reopen the roads They tend to err on the side of caution in the Smokies.
Max Patch is very pretty and not far from the smokies. There is a beautiful mountain stream that runs along the road there too. In the Smokies itself, I think Big Creek usually stays open, and it is spectacular in the snow.
Steve, didn't you say something about the Cherohala staying open too?
I grew up near there but am now in Richmond. My impression has always been that the Smokies do a very good job at staying open during snows and, even if they close, they re-open promptly. Is this no longer true?? Are some of teh closures bc of the road work that is scheduled? I am interested in hearing from you guys on this issue because I am looking into Shenandoah's practice of closing for very long periods of time. Shenandoah has been largely closed for 3 weeks, for example.
Posted by Lori Kincaid on January 10, 2010 at 8:12 AM
Ed,
You're correct, the Smokies roads are open most of the time, because in a normal year there's just not much snow except over 441. But they do close lower elevation roads when there's snow and the roads only reopen when almost clear. Things are a little different this year because there's been more snow and it's stuck around longer so more roads are closed and they're staying closed longer.
I'll second Matthew's statement that Max Patch is good for snow, but you absolutely must have 4WD or tire chains to get here. Also, this year be very, very careful if you try to travel Cold Springs Creek Rd where the creek is. It's off I-40 exit 7 and I-40 is closed from the west at mile marker 3, therefore the exit is not accessible from the west. (This also means you can't get to Big Creek from the east on I-40.) Also, the Forest Service doesn't maintain that road in the winter and there's good potential for deadfall blocking your path, especially since it isn't seeing much traffic due to the interstate closure. Folks who normally travel with a chain saw simply aren't coming through and clearing the way. For example, we often carry a chain saw when we go through there in the winter, but we haven't been that way since the interstate closed.
Lori
Posted by Steve Hamley on January 10, 2010 at 9:18 AM
Thanks for the update Lori, I hadn't thought about folks not coming down the Cold Springs Road.
Allegedly the current GSMNP superintendent has a policy of closing roads until they're clear for all vehicular traffic, as opposed to the "old" practice of allowing 4WD and chains before the roads were perfectly clean.
Many times years ago, there would be a ranger at barricades that would let you through if you had 4WD and/or chains, but apparently no more. I can sort of understand that with the increased traffic of inexperienced drivers and reduced resources. And the last storm (well, storm before last now) put down 42 blowdowns between Sugarlands and the "Y", so I would expect closures to clear trees and rock falls.
But a couple of statements are undoubtedly true; that the roads are now nearly always closed when in the past they were nearly always open to people in properly equipped vehicles, and winter photography from the roads is often not possible anymore.
Matthew, yes the Cherohala reportedly stays open most of the time. But keep in mind that anyone traveling it in winter must be very well prepared; sleeping bag, plenty of food, water, a small stove, a shovel, chains would be nice or the radial tire equivalent. A "Black Cat" catalytic heater and a 6-pack of propane fuel would also be very nice to have. There's no cell phone service along much of the higher elevations so you wouldn't be calling for help.
I feel certain that the current GSMNP superintendent's policy is in response to unprepared people who try to travel snow and ice in regular 2WD vehicles of pickups with no weight in the back and then have to be rescued.
Cheers, Steve
Posted by Larry Puckett on January 10, 2010 at 3:33 PM
The parks now have a policy of not using chemicals on the roads so this means that if the plows can't plow it off then it is likely to stay put until the temps get up enough top melt it. Even the stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway around Asheville is closed right now (I was out there this morning) only the small stretch at the Folk Art Center is open. Temps in Asheville are projected to get back into the 40s this week so some lower elevation parts may open soon but I wouldn't hold my breath about higher up--but spring is coming--Larry
Shenandoah just opened up part of the drive this past Thursday following the snow two weeks before Christmas! The ranger at the station said they were not using any salt any more so if roads not totally clear, then they would stay closed. The drive that was open (in the central district leading to and from Big Meadows) was entirely dry and clear. I think the park superintendants need to recalibrate this policy. I have no problem with them insisting on chains or 4wd and having other policies, i.e., you get stuck you pay to get towed out. I think we need to let our voices be heard!
Discussion
8 repliesTemporary Closures
• Newfound Gap Road (US-441)
• Little River Road
• Laurel Creek Road
• Cades Cove Loop Road
• Gatlinburg Bypass
• Greenbrier Road
• Cosby Entrance Road
• Cherokee Orchard past Twin Creeks
• Cataloochee Entrance Road
• Old NC-284 between Big Creek and Cataloochee
• Foothills Parkway East
• Foothills Parkway West
• Lakeview Drive
Thanks,
Julie
The Park's closed in winter!
Cheers, Steve
You can get more current information from the road information line: (865) 436-1200. If it continues to snow tomorrow there's a good chance they won't reopen the roads They tend to err on the side of caution in the Smokies.
Lori
Steve, didn't you say something about the Cherohala staying open too?
You're correct, the Smokies roads are open most of the time, because in a normal year there's just not much snow except over 441. But they do close lower elevation roads when there's snow and the roads only reopen when almost clear. Things are a little different this year because there's been more snow and it's stuck around longer so more roads are closed and they're staying closed longer.
I'll second Matthew's statement that Max Patch is good for snow, but you absolutely must have 4WD or tire chains to get here. Also, this year be very, very careful if you try to travel Cold Springs Creek Rd where the creek is. It's off I-40 exit 7 and I-40 is closed from the west at mile marker 3, therefore the exit is not accessible from the west. (This also means you can't get to Big Creek from the east on I-40.) Also, the Forest Service doesn't maintain that road in the winter and there's good potential for deadfall blocking your path, especially since it isn't seeing much traffic due to the interstate closure. Folks who normally travel with a chain saw simply aren't coming through and clearing the way. For example, we often carry a chain saw when we go through there in the winter, but we haven't been that way since the interstate closed.
Lori
Allegedly the current GSMNP superintendent has a policy of closing roads until they're clear for all vehicular traffic, as opposed to the "old" practice of allowing 4WD and chains before the roads were perfectly clean.
Many times years ago, there would be a ranger at barricades that would let you through if you had 4WD and/or chains, but apparently no more. I can sort of understand that with the increased traffic of inexperienced drivers and reduced resources. And the last storm (well, storm before last now) put down 42 blowdowns between Sugarlands and the "Y", so I would expect closures to clear trees and rock falls.
But a couple of statements are undoubtedly true; that the roads are now nearly always closed when in the past they were nearly always open to people in properly equipped vehicles, and winter photography from the roads is often not possible anymore.
Matthew, yes the Cherohala reportedly stays open most of the time. But keep in mind that anyone traveling it in winter must be very well prepared; sleeping bag, plenty of food, water, a small stove, a shovel, chains would be nice or the radial tire equivalent. A "Black Cat" catalytic heater and a 6-pack of propane fuel would also be very nice to have. There's no cell phone service along much of the higher elevations so you wouldn't be calling for help.
I feel certain that the current GSMNP superintendent's policy is in response to unprepared people who try to travel snow and ice in regular 2WD vehicles of pickups with no weight in the back and then have to be rescued.
Cheers, Steve