View Full Version : Snow in the Smokies?
teachergal
12-16-2009, 20:54
I'm heading down to the Smokies right after Christmas and I'm hoping to use my new snowshoes a bit - anyone know what the snow situation is down there? I know they have gotten a few storms, but has it stuck around?
Our cabin is near Gatlinburg.
SGT Rock
12-16-2009, 20:58
Not really.
Snowshoes probably aren't worth the effort, but Yaktrax or instep crampons might be worthwhile on the AT since any snow gets packed down, melts a bit in the sun, then freezes into glass overnight.
SGT Rock
12-16-2009, 21:34
I sent my YakTrax home in Hot Springs. Then on Roan Mountain and in the Virginia Highlands I could have used them.
You might check with the GSMNP backcountry office before you go.
865 436-1297 or 865 436-1231. :)
SGT Rock
12-16-2009, 21:57
My experience is they make things sound worse than they are.
humunuku
12-17-2009, 13:54
no snow at all right now
snow - maybe, it's supposed to snow on Friday and Saturday, but you will not have enough snow for snowshoes. Also note when it snows they close 441 through the park. You can check out the temps and snow depths for various areas of the park here:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/productview.php?pil=MRXRTPMRX
ShelterLeopard
12-17-2009, 14:43
Someone put up a great report of snow in New England (measurements of snow that were confirmed as accurate by lots of people here), and I'm sure there have reports for the smokies as well, I'll see if I can find the link.
ShelterLeopard
12-17-2009, 14:44
Never mind, mocs posted a good link.
Tennessee Viking
12-17-2009, 15:13
Last I heard, there was just a couple inches for a couple days then it was gone. You won't need snowshoes. But YakTraks....yes. I have seen foot deep ice across the trail just a mile in from Newfound.
Blissful
12-17-2009, 15:17
Well there might be some good snow this weekend with the pending storm. Depends how long then it sticks around after that. yak traks work good, when they don't break.
Chaco Taco
12-17-2009, 17:11
Friday Sat, 100% chance of rain and snow showers. Probably have stuff above 2500 ft. Other than that I just think it will be a wet and cold weekend. Sunday is looking better than originally forcasted. Just pay attention to the weather and be prepared for some cold temps and wet weather
bigcranky
12-17-2009, 18:15
The Boone forecast is for 10-20 inches of snow areawide. Should be some nice snowshoeing by Sunday.
Chaco Taco
12-17-2009, 18:38
Yea the amounts are going up the closer this thing gets. I think everyone up here will freak out and it will be like 2 inches. Im trying to hike on Monday and Tuesday. Hope it works out
Bulldawg
12-17-2009, 19:23
My experience is they make things sound worse than they are.
EXACTLY!!! Tried their best to talk me out of a hike one time.
I have seen foot deep ice across the trail just a mile in from Newfound.
I know the place, it was pretty bad the day after Thanksgiving.
Friday Sat, 100% chance of rain and snow showers. Probably have stuff above 2500 ft. Other than that I just think it will be a wet and cold weekend. Sunday is looking better than originally forcasted. Just pay attention to the weather and be prepared for some cold temps and wet weather
Yea the amounts are going up the closer this thing gets. I think everyone up here will freak out and it will be like 2 inches. Im trying to hike on Monday and Tuesday. Hope it works out
Wanna hike Sunday and Monday in Georgia. Send me an email!!
Chaco Taco
12-17-2009, 23:01
EXACTLY!!! Tried their best to talk me out of a hike one time.
I know the place, it was pretty bad the day after Thanksgiving.
Wanna hike Sunday and Monday in Georgia. Send me an email!!
Monday Tuesday in NC???????
Chaco Taco
12-17-2009, 23:02
Monday Tuesday in NC???????
We can hike to Roots and Gungho on the Art Loab and they can pick us up and take us up to Asheville.:banana
humunuku
12-18-2009, 13:25
http://http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/parks/grsmpkcam/grsmpkcam.cfm (http://http//www.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/parks/grsmpkcam/grsmpkcam.cfm)
its snowing ins the smokies right now!
humunuku
12-18-2009, 13:26
sorry - get rid of one of the http:// 's
SGT Rock
12-18-2009, 16:22
EXACTLY!!! Tried their best to talk me out of a hike one time.
Been there. I've also got: "Sir, that is too far for you to hike in one day"
Once I got that a campsite (reservation only) was closed due to bears, but the horse campsite right next to it was open (you can throw a rock from one to the other)- but I couldn't stay there because I didn't have a horse. But there was no one planning to stay at the horse campsite either.
I wonder if anyone that works there ever actually hikes?
Darwin again
12-18-2009, 16:33
There will be snow. :D
SGT Rock
12-18-2009, 16:42
The Smokies webcam above my house has ice on the lens so I can't say what is going on out there: http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/parks/grsmcam/grsmcam.cfm
But I can see snow on Purchase Knob: http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/parks/grsmpkcam/grsmpkcam.cfm
Time to get ready for work.
Cabin Fever
12-18-2009, 16:45
There's snow there now!
SGT Rock
12-18-2009, 16:46
I gotta work this weekend or I would be heading for the mountains.
Does anyone know how much fresh snow fell in the smokies this week?
Ox97GaMe
01-08-2010, 15:07
They got substantial snow and ice in the park yesterday and high winds. The road up to Newfound Gap is closed today and most likely tomorrow also. There are approx 6-8 inches in some places in the valley. There could be as much as 2 feet up on the top, with drifts even deeper than that. Wont know the exact amounts until they are able to clear the road.
Forecast for the next couple days includes even more snow flurries in the valley, so could be more accumulation on top.
Does anyone know how much fresh snow fell in the smokies this week?
National Weather Service
Smoky Mountain Temperature & Precipitation (http://www.srh.noaa.gov/productview.php?pil=MRXRTPMRX)
teachergal
01-09-2010, 15:43
I was there the week after Christmas and there was still plenty of snow from the Dec 18/19 snow storm at the higher elevations - lower places were snow free.
There were TONS of people up on Newfound Gap Road - many were sledding on the hills off the roads! The road to Clingman's Dome is closed in the winter and there were cars 4 deep parked by the gate and people sledding down the road!
My dad and I attempted a hike to Chimney Tops - we made it until about 1/4 mile past where the Road Prong Trail comes in - just before the steep part - the rocks were covered in ice! We decided it would be best to turn around and I was glad we did as getting up was one thing, getting down was something else entirely! There were a lot of people up there - most who had no business at all being up there. There was youth group with about 20 kids - all hiking in tennis shoes, jeans and cotton hoodies (it was about 20* at the time!) - they all made it to the summit, but were having a hard time getting down. Also saw a woman nursing her 6 month old baby! I saw them on the way down just before they were going to get to the icy part -I urged them to turn around. I talked to a Ranger the next day and surprisingly no one had to be rescued from Chimney Tops that day!
We then went and hiked the Kephart Prong trail - that was great! No snow, no ice, a fabulous creek, and NO people!!!!! :-)
We seem to have gotten in during the window of good weather! It was cold but nice the 4 days we were there.