Hi there,
Myself & 3 others in my group have been stuck in Fontana since Friday, waiting for the winter storm to pass through the Smokies. We are debating whether to start tomorrow, and would like your thoughts. We all have 10-15 degree bags and appropriate clothing, but we don't have snow gaiters or microspikes/crampons.
We are all tired of being stuck and want to keep moving. But, we want to be smart about it. None of us have hiked through the Smokies in snow before (and frankly our winter hiking experience is limited).
The GSMNP twitter feed said today that between Fontana & the 113 campsite (~ 6 miles into the Smokies) there is 1 foot of snow and up to 3 feet drifts. We called the backcountry office earlier today and they said they have pulled at least 7 hikers who were having trouble off the mountain at Newfound Gap (even though the road is closed) in whiteout conditions today, and they are not letting people back on the trail.
Our options seem to be:
1) stay put in Fontana and wait for the weather/snow to clear. (How to tell when it is safe to go?).
2) get transport around the Smokies (to Hot Springs? Erwin? Other?); come back and finish the Smokies later on.
3) go.
I really wish there was a "go/no go" advisory at Fontana Dam, but WB is the closest thing we have. If you were us, what would you do?