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ChinMusic
04-22-2012, 17:43
Looks like a potentially high impact storm could affect NOBOs already in northern Virginia. If the snow comes as expected there could be significant blowdowns with the heavy snow falling on trees with leaves.

Hope the NOBOs are paying attention to this one.

Slo-go'en
04-22-2012, 19:44
Doesn't look like there will be snow in VA, but western PA and NY will be another story. Since it's been in the 40's here in the valley all day and the clouds are at about 3,000 feet, I bet it's been snowing up at the summits here in the Whites. Hard to say if it will still be there after the bulk of the storm comes by later tonight.

rocketsocks
04-22-2012, 22:37
Bummer...April showers bring May flowers,April snows bring nothing but freaking misery if your a North Bound Hiker on the Appalachian trail....no rhyming here and no time to cheer,fold-up and hold-up till you get the "All's Clear":D

doritotex
04-23-2012, 07:51
Doesn't look like there will be snow in VA, but western PA and NY will be another story. Since it's been in the 40's here in the valley all day and the clouds are at about 3,000 feet, I bet it's been snowing up at the summits here in the Whites. Hard to say if it will still be there after the bulk of the storm comes by later tonight.It's going to be 28 tonight in the TN mountains with freezing rain and 30 mph winds, I'd rather have snow!

Cedar Tree
04-23-2012, 08:58
It is snowing pretty good here in Marion Va right now.
CT

Mrs Baggins
04-23-2012, 11:59
Heard from someone that tried to get into SNP today that the road is closed, the park is closed.

Cookerhiker
04-23-2012, 14:11
I don't know if this FB link will post but it's from the PATC FB page showing white-out conditions in SNP this morning.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/5835394554/

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s320x320/403497_440520842630368_100000173697438_88184325_17 83517636_n.jpg

Slo-go'en
04-23-2012, 14:18
I don't know if this FB link will post but it's from the PATC FB page showing white-out conditions in SNP this morning.

Great, I bet this caught a lot of hikers by suprise - who already sent thier warm layers home.

I'll have to wait for the clouds to lift to see if it snowed on the summits or not here. Was cold enough in the valley that it should have higher up. Got a lot of rain, that's for sure. We needed it, but maybe not all at once!

WingedMonkey
04-23-2012, 14:28
I don't know if this FB link will post but it's from the PATC FB page showing white-out conditions in SNP this morning.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/5835394554/ (http://www.facebook.com/#%21/groups/5835394554/)

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s320x320/403497_440520842630368_100000173697438_88184325_17 83517636_n.jpg


Those shots are from the live web cam at Big Meadows.

http://www.nps.gov/shen/photosmultimedia/bm_webcam.htm

kidchill
04-23-2012, 14:30
It's been snow, sleet, and rain all morning here in State College, PA. I'm about an hour away from the AT near Harrisburg. It seems the snow is mostly sticking on the higher elevations. I doubt NOBO's are this far North yet, but just a heads up anyways...

rocketsocks
04-23-2012, 14:46
It's been snow, sleet, and rain all morning here in State College, PA. I'm about an hour away from the AT near Harrisburg. It seems the snow is mostly sticking on the higher elevations. I doubt NOBO's are this far North yet, but just a heads up anyways...Read a post the other day that a hiker who started Feb,2 was approaching palmerton PA.though I can't remember his name.

kidchill
04-23-2012, 14:53
Read a post the other day that a hiker who started Feb,2 was approaching palmerton PA.though I can't remember his name.

Hope he/she didn't send home all the winter gear! It's weird, where I'm at we've only had maybe 6 days of snow the entire winter. But, it is APRIL in the northeast...

ezNomad
04-23-2012, 15:16
Some thruhikers were caught in snow this morning on the AT in the Smokies. A lot of us are in Gatlinburg now - mainly the Grand Prix which I believe is sold out. I got off the trail yesterday in near-whiteout conditions of fog/rain/wind in the 30s. I talked to some incoming thruhikers just a few minutes ago at the hotel lobby and they said they were hiking in snow, high winds and 20F this morning.

ChinMusic
04-23-2012, 15:25
Some thruhikers were caught in snow this morning on the AT in the Smokies. A lot of us are in Gatlinburg now - mainly the Grand Prix which I believe is sold out. I got off the trail yesterday in near-whiteout conditions of fog/rain/wind in the 30s. I talked to some incoming thruhikers just a few minutes ago at the hotel lobby and they said they were hiking in snow, high winds and 20F this morning.

Dang, didn't know this was gonna affect those as far south as the Smokies. Hope all made it out or are prepared for such conditions.

MyName1sMud
04-23-2012, 15:35
Wow. I hope everyone finds some warm clothes. I figure most people have already mailed the really warm stuff home?

Sent from my Milestone X using Tapatalk 2

ChinMusic
04-23-2012, 17:16
Bluegrass is at Harpers. He says that he is #14.

So there are a few that could be affected.

ChinMusic
04-23-2012, 17:21
Destination: Rockfish Gap/Waynesboro
Starting Location: Maupin's Field Shelter


Okay, its the 23rd of April. In Virginia. I'm sitting here in town doing my
laundry as Carol and the kids drive down. That's the normal part. The abnormal
part of the day is that I just finished 21 freakin' miles through, rain, sleet,
snow, and freezing rain, all delivered by 35 knot winds. It was blizzard-like at
3600' ft. WTH? And the snow was thick and sticky so it stuck to the trees,
covering the white blazes. In parts it covered the trail itself, making
navigation really hairy. I got off Humpback Mt alright, and I hope the hikers
behind me did, as well. The first one out was Meats. He led the way. I was able
to make out his tracks at times. And that helped with navigation. These
conditions were totally unexpected.

If I didn't have my fam coming to see me I would have stayed in the shelter for the day. Nasty. All said and done, though. This day has been a memorable one.


-Nor'easter

johnnybgood
04-23-2012, 19:06
Doesn't look like there will be snow in VA...

It snowed today in SNP on the order of 2--3 inches, depending on elevation. I hiked in from Swift Run Gap because the Skyline Drive was closed to vehicular traffic. Went north on the AT for a couple hours before road walking back to the car for a nice day hike of 8 miles.

Ranger at Gap said they had reports of a foot or more of snow further north but seriously doubt this,the snow was constantly changing, snow/rain ,sleet even at times.

Wished I'd remembered to toss the camera in my pack before leaving though as the trees were beautiful...drats !:datz

teachergal
04-23-2012, 20:00
I met a thru-hiker on the trail in Linden, VA - about 15 miles north of SNP - on Friday evening. He asked about the rain but I had no idea that it could be snow then! I hope he made it somewhere warm before the nastiness started! I didn't get his trail name so I have no idea who he was, he said he wasn't the 1st hiker and that he'd started Feb 27 and so far hadn't encountered snow!

I hope everyone is safe!

slims
04-23-2012, 23:56
There was snow as far south as TN. Stayed at Hogback Ridge Shelter last night and that's where it started for me. Woke up to a white forest and frozen shoes and socks from the rain all day that day and half of yesterday. We bailed out at Sam's Gap for Erwin. Heading back out tomorrow. Hope everyone got through cuz even in my 15° bag and layers it was still fairly chilly and tonight was supposed to be colder.

Skyline
04-24-2012, 00:46
Why would NOBOs ditch their winter gear in mid-April? It can and does often revert to winter with little notice through mid-May in the mountains of the AT.

rocketsocks
04-24-2012, 01:06
Why would NOBOs ditch their winter gear in mid-April? It can and does often revert to winter with little notice through mid-May in the mountains of the AT.Honestly,3 reasons. 1.It's a game we play,send stuff home and make a note for statistical reasons that can be brought up later,saying "Oh yeah, well I sent my stuff home by gatlinburg". 2.Can't think for themselves,and listened to someone saying something about not carring to much weight,and they bought into it. 3.They didn't really have a good understanding of the potential for changing weather systems.

Skyline
04-24-2012, 11:10
Good points.

I'd "suffer" with the additional weight before I'd suffer through a mid-Spring cold snap made worse with precip of any type.

Pedaling Fool
04-24-2012, 11:15
...

http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/5835394554/

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s320x320/403497_440520842630368_100000173697438_88184325_17 83517636_n.jpg
Seems to me I remember walking through similar conditions in SNP in the month of May...I'm thinking it was 2008, but I'd have to check to be sure.

WingedMonkey
04-24-2012, 11:25
ShenandoahNPS ‏ @ShenandoahNPS (http://twitter.com/#%21/ShenandoahNPS)
The entire Skyline Drive is now open!! Wooohoo! Get out there and enjoy free entrance in celebration of #nationalparkweek (http://twitter.com/#%21/search/%23nationalparkweek) :)

posted on tweeter at 11:15 am

Patrickjd9
04-24-2012, 16:57
Got an inch or so of snow/sleet at Lost Mountain shelter (3360') south of Mt. Rogers early Monday morning. Kept spitting snow through the morning as we walked down to Saunders Shelter.

swjohnsey
04-24-2012, 19:11
Stayed at the shelter on Roan Mountain the 22nd. It was starting to snow when I arrived and by morning about six inches had accumulated. I'm at Vango Hostel now about 3 days and change from Damascus averaging over 15 miles/day.

Mfrenchy
04-24-2012, 20:44
I can confirm snow in Virginia. This was taken yesterday between Partnership shelter and Chatfield shelter. Brrr


http://youtu.be/KkmxRhpOwts

http://appalachianfrenchy.blogspot.com/

Mike2012
04-27-2012, 17:13
Hiked out of Hot Springs, NC in humid weather so I got soaked. Got up to the pond and a storm rolled in so I put up the tent and had a chill night under some rhododendrons. The following day read until about 11 am before deciding the weather was finally clearing up so headed up to Spring Mountain Shelter (I think that is the name). On the way rain and wind started and by the time I got to the shelter there were TWELVE people in it seeking shelter, of all things. 6 or 7 people slept on the shelter deck, 3 or four underneath and another 2 on or under the picnic table! I opted for my lovely NEMO Esprit 2P tent and Marmot down bag from twenty years ago and was snug as a bug. Woke up to snow on the ground and on the tent and it was VERY cold and windy till about noon after which the sun came out and everyone pulling a zero brought out clothes and gear to dry and a large fire was made for the new people coming in. All in all it was a very fun day with lots of great people. IT'S FRICKEN BEAUTIFUL OUT HERE!!!!!
LOVIN IT!!!!
:banana

Old Hiker
05-04-2012, 15:32
I camped about 11 miles south of Damascus. That night, I had a small tarp between my tent and the west wind. It started snowing about 2100 or so and continued all night. It wasn't too cold, just windy. I had a 30* Marmot syn bag and shorts on, plus a hat. The snow against the tarp sounded like a billion spiders trying to scratch their way into my tent.

It was pretty the next day, though. It looked as if everything had been covered in powdered sugar! I really felt sorry for the violets, spring beauties and trillium flowers that were covered! The snow lasted on the ground until I dropped a 1000 feet or so.