Fall Colors in the Smokies and other parts of east Tennessee

(The following is an edited re-post from my friends at the GSMNP)

Forecasting the fall color change calls to mind the comedy routine of the late George Carlin as the “hippy-dippy weatherman” who said, “Tonight’s forecast: Continued dark overnight, with widely scattered light by morning.”

The leaves will inevitably change color as the days shorten and the nights grow cooler. The real question is whether autumn will bring a fiery burst of color, or a slow parade of muted pigments that fade from yellow to brown.

Kathy Mathews teaches biology at Western Carolina University, and every fall for the past nine years she has issued a color forecast based on the complex interaction between leaf chemistry and weather patterns.

Mathews’ forecast in late summer wasn’t encouraging. Based on consistent rain as far back as April, she called for a below-average color display this fall. A few weeks ago Mathews changed her forecast. Now, thanks to the recent dry weather coupled with sunny days and cool nights, she believes the stage is set for good leaf color.

“Until we get the first frost, the colors will be uneven,” Mathews said. “Frost kills the chlorophyll and brings out the other pigments that are more cold-resistant. That’s when all the trees change at the same time.”

It used to be that leaf colors at the lower elevations peaked around the second week of October. In recent years the peak has come about two weeks later, usually in late October or early November. Scientists say the delay is likely due to warming weather patterns.
(Hmmm?...is this what some call Climate Change?)

In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park there already is a splash of color above 4,000-feet elevation; lower down, the main leaf season still is about three weeks away. The park’s dogwood, sumac and sourwood trees already have turned orange and red. In a few weeks the hickories, maple and oaks will follow suit to produce the fiery colors that make October the park’s second busiest month next to July.

The Smokies maintains a fall color Web page — www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/fallcolor.htm — that’s updated weekly.

The Cherokee National Forests’ fall color report can be found online at: www.fs.usda.gov/cherokee/. After accessing the home page, scroll down to “Spotlights” and click on the “Fall Color Report.”

Here are some other recommended scenic drives for viewing fall colors in East Tennessee. Bear in mind that color will come and go sooner at the higher elevations than the lower elevations.

* The Ocoee Scenic Byway (U.S. Highway 64) through the Ocoee River gorge, elevation 838 at Lake Ocoee to 2,200 feet at the Chilhowee Recreation Area.

* Foothills Parkway, western tip of the Smokies, elevation 850 feet.

* Cherohala Skyway, Cherokee National Forest and Nantahala National Forest, elevation 930 at Tellico Plains to 5,390 feet at the crest of the highway.

* Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, elevation 2,440 feet at the Pinnacle Overlook.

* The Blue Ridge Parkway’s southern terminus between Cherokee and Asheville, N.C., average elevation, 5,000 feet.

Fall colors in the Smokies...Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail will close for the season on the evening of October 31, 2014...

Hello to all, we apologize for the lack of current post but we have been busy!  Busy with things like jobs, activism, other volunteer commitments, and hiking of course!!!  We have just fallen behind in keeping these post up to date.

So forgive our derelictions. I thought we could start with the following for those who may be traveling to the Great Smoky Mountains NP for the fall colors.

(Thursday Oct 2)

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail will close for the season on the evening of October 31, 2014 and will remain closed until April 30, 2015 to replace eight bridges along the 5.5-mile, one-way roadway. The road will be closed to all public use including hiking and biking.

Due to the complete removal of the bridges and the use of large equipment to perform repair work, the road will be closed to all users. Hikers may not walk along the road to access trailheads, but may use connector trails to access the area. To access both Trillium Gap and Baskins Creek trails, hikers may begin their hike at the Rainbow Falls trailhead on Cherokee Orchard Road by following the connector trail for 0.6 miles to the Baskins Creek trailhead and 2.3 miles to the Trillium Gap trailhead. Baskins Creek Trail hikers may cross the road and walk to Baskins Creek Falls and continue east to the opposite end of Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Hikers may not cross the road for thru-access to Grapeyard Ridge Trail due to bridge construction at this intersection. However, hikers can enjoy the Grapeyard Ridge Trail by accessing it from the Greenbrier area and hiking west towards Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail which allows access to backcountry campsite 32. 

For more information about road closures, please visit the park’s website at http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm or call the park’s Road and Weather Information Line at 865-436-1200.