View Full Version : Weather in Smokies
Has anybody hiked the northern part of the AT in GSMNP this week? I'm reading a lot about the rain and possible flooding,tornados, etc. Is it really that bad? A group of us are headed up that way next week.
Debbie
Head on up and hike. Watch the forecast before leaving Miami and again before heading into the woods.
double j
05-08-2009, 23:32
just went from fontana to clingmans dome. nothin but mud i would wait. water is flowing great at shelters. they have seen 3 huge bear at russel feild shelter. i would move onto spence feild. oh i did see a wild pig. thd hike wasnt bad at all. but seriously the trail is holding water and extremely muddy. thats why i stopped at clinmans.
Maybe too late to help. A friend of mine an I hiked from Stecoah Gap to Clingman's Dome the week of 5/3. Rain, rain and rain, and hail near Clingman's Dome. Watching the forecast the past week indicates it was still raining. The trail was rutted and incredibly muddy. Campsite 113 (GSMNP) filled with field mice - crawled on the tents at night. Avoid Russell Field shelter. Spence Field shelter was nice. The next set of shelters were all nice. We saw turkeys, wild pigs and deer between Spence Field and Double Spring Gap shelter.
Munchies
06-13-2009, 22:23
Anyone been through this area lately? We're planning a 6-7 day hike from Fontana Dam, North.
This is only my second section hike but my first big one where we will be covering some serious miles! I'm very excited!
Pennsylvania Rose
06-15-2009, 02:30
Just got back from a week in the Smokies. Afternoon thunderstorms every day, along with straight line winds one day that scared the **** out of us. No drought problem this year. Only spent a few miles on the AT, but other trails are wet and muddy. A supposedly dry trail I was on had lots of springs flowing across it.
Check the weather report before you leave. Have fun!
Just finished 2 week section hike from Fontana to Erwin. Water is in good supply. Trail in Smokies is muddy but better up north. Rained 10 of the 14 days but usually in the afternoon so leave early and get to shelter before 3pm. Mice at shelters seem less than last year at this time but perhaps I'm just better at ignoring them. Due to rain, weeds are tall in some places but trail workers are starting to get to them (if you see them, be sure to thank them)
Take your time going up big hill at Fontana...
Have fun