Posted by Joe Baltimore on April 3, 2006 at 12:21 AM
Hello All,
I've got one week of freedom left (vacation) before I have to go back into the flourescent crypt ("the office").
Have any of you been out in the park or any surrounding areas this past week? If so, how are things looking? Is it all still twiggy? Is there anything interesting going on?
I'd love to get out and get some water shots, or anything blooming at all.
Posted by Steve Hamley on April 3, 2006 at 8:16 AM
Joe,
Given the storms and huge amount of water that fell last night, water shots shouldn't be a problem provided the wind didn't down trees across the roads.
Everyone's anxious wanting spring flowers, but spring is the third week of April in the Smokies lowlands. There are a few places (like Porter's Creek trail) that may have early spring stuff (bloodroot, dutchman's breeches, squirrel corn) for a couple hundred yards here and there, a week to ten days earlier. The Chestnut Top trail out of the Townsend "Y" and the Meigs Mountain trail out of the Sinks have a good reputation for early spring flowers although I can't say from experience.
So no, I wouldn't expect much except a good crop of violets at this date (4/3), maybe jonquils around old home sites.
Go south young man, go south!
Steve
Posted by Steve Hamley on April 3, 2006 at 8:39 AM
Just checked my notes, I'd head for Porter's Creek trail. There should be something flowering and shootable above the "third bridge" up to maybe Fern Falls.
Good luck Joe, let us know what you see. I'm probably going to take a half day Tuesday or Wednesday and head there myself.
Steve
Posted by Thomas Biggs on April 3, 2006 at 11:00 AM
If nothing changes between know and then I hope to ride down Sat. and Sunday and try Porters Creek... hope there is a little something blooming by then
Discussion
4 repliesI've got one week of freedom left (vacation) before I have to go back into the flourescent crypt ("the office").
Have any of you been out in the park or any surrounding areas this past week? If so, how are things looking? Is it all still twiggy? Is there anything interesting going on?
I'd love to get out and get some water shots, or anything blooming at all.
Given the storms and huge amount of water that fell last night, water shots shouldn't be a problem provided the wind didn't down trees across the roads.
Everyone's anxious wanting spring flowers, but spring is the third week of April in the Smokies lowlands. There are a few places (like Porter's Creek trail) that may have early spring stuff (bloodroot, dutchman's breeches, squirrel corn) for a couple hundred yards here and there, a week to ten days earlier. The Chestnut Top trail out of the Townsend "Y" and the Meigs Mountain trail out of the Sinks have a good reputation for early spring flowers although I can't say from experience.
So no, I wouldn't expect much except a good crop of violets at this date (4/3), maybe jonquils around old home sites.
Go south young man, go south!
Steve
Good luck Joe, let us know what you see. I'm probably going to take a half day Tuesday or Wednesday and head there myself.
Steve