Would the second half of October starting at Springer (via approach trail) be a good time to see fall colors along the southern portions of the AT? I'm looking for a good 14-18 day hike but I cannot start before October 13 or 14. Would starting at Springer and ending near Hot Springs or Erwin by the end of October/early November be a good trip if one of the primary goals is fall color? I suspect that getting toward the end of October might be too late for the AT through GSMNP but there should be good views of the color down at lower elevations since it is a ridge walk, correct? And maybe there would be good fall color further south as well.
Default plan is to stick closer to home and probably hike HF southbound through SNP and keep going until the end of the month (probably ending near the Roanoke area for logistical reasons). Only part after Rockfish Gap would be new to me. I know that fall colors in SNP are usually very good in mid October. And while I love hiking in SNP I've been wanting to check out the southern parts of the AT for a while now.