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Storm Damaged Trail Status Update

Thursday, July 19, 2012

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It appears the Great Smoky Mountains has made a full assessment of all trail damage due to the July 5th windstorm. The latest update has a few changes compared to previous updates. Gone is the long list of trails that the park had no, or little information on. What's left is only the list of trail and backcountry campground closures. Here's the latest:

The following trails have been closed to all use:

• Ace Gap Trail
• Beard Cane Trail and Campsites #3 and #11 (damaged by tornado in 2011)
• Chestnut Top Trail
• Goshen Prong Trail and Campsite #23
• Gunter Fork Trail (closed due to landslides)
• Hatcher Mountain Trail (damaged by tornado in 2011)
• Rabbit Creek Trail and Campsite #15
• Scott Mountain Trail and Campsite #6
• West Prong Trail from Tremont Road to Campsite #18. This trail is open from Bote Mountain Trail to Campsite #18. The campsite is also open.

The Parson Branch Road is also closed and may affect access to trailheads.

To keep up with all the latest information, please click here.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
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Smokies Publishes List of Trails Damaged By Severe Storm

Monday, July 9, 2012

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The Great Smoky Mountains just published the following press release, which includes a list of trails impacted by the Thursday's storm:

On Thursday July 5th, a line of severe and fast moving thunderstorm cells struck the western half of the park generating wind gusts in excess of 70 mph. Within minutes thousands (perhaps tens of thousands) of trees fell on the roads and trails in the park. Preliminary reports indicate that the hardest hit areas stretched from Metcalf Bottoms to Abrams Creek, including the Cades Cove area.

Park staff are still working to clear roads, and have begun assessing trails, but due to the extensive and widespread damage, it may be several weeks before a full trail assessment can be completed. Trail status will be changing frequently. Please check this page before planning a hike, or stop by a visitor center, ranger station, or the Backcoutry Office for the latest information. You may also call (865) 436-1231 or (865) 436-1297.

Do not endanger yourself or others by using any trails that have been closed. When hiking on open trails, please be especially observant to the hazards associated with fallen, broken, or weakened trees and damaged tread on all trails.

The following trails have been closed to all use:

• Scott Mountain Trail
• Chestnut Top Trail
• West Prong Trail
• Finley Cane Trail
• Rabbit Creek Trail (Cades Cove Trailhead to junction with Hatcher/Hannah)
• Ace Gap Trail

The following trails are closed to horse riding, but open to hikers:

• Rich Mountain Trail
• Indian Grave Gap Trail
• Rich Mountain Loop Trail
• Crooked Arm Ridge Trail
• Crib Gap Trail
• Turkey Pen Ridge Trail
• Lead Cove Trail
• Schoolhouse Gap Trail
• Bote Mountain Trail
• Cooper Road Trail
• Anthony Creek Trail
• Russell Field Trail
• Gold Mine Trail

Hikers have reported that the following trails have significant damage. Park staff have not been able to assess these trails yet, so these reports are unconfirmed. However hikers are advised to avoid these trails until they can be assessed:

• Twentymile Loop Trail with Wolf Ridge
• Eagle Creek Trail (from campsite #90 to Spence)
• Jonas Creek Trail
• Welch Ridge Trail
• Bear Creek Trail
• Deep Creek Trail and others in that area
• Laurel Falls (above the falls)
• Cove Mountain Trail
• Goshen Prong Trail
• Noland Creek area, including Springhouse Branch Trail
• Hazel Creek Trail, including campsite #82



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Video: Smokies Windstorm from a Cabin

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Here's another look at what it was like when the July 5th windstorm struck the Smoky Mountains. This video was taken from the porch of a cabin. The publisher doesn't indicate where the cabin was located, but you certainly get a feel for the power of the storm as it passed through:




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Several weeks before full trail assessments can be completed in Smokies

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It may be awhile before visitors can begin hiking in the western portion of the Great Smoky Mountains again. Early this morning officials posted this statement on the park website:

Warning: A severe storm on July 5, 2012, resulted in downed trees on park trails. Preliminary trail assessments indicate that thousands of trees have fallen along hundreds of miles of trails throughout the western half of the park. The worst damage is in the northwest section of the park which includes the Cades Cove area. Due to the widespread damage, it will likely be several weeks before full trail assessments can be completed.

Also, in a press release Saturday, the park stated:

Initial indications are that several trails received significant damage, including the Chestnut Top Trail, of which a two-mile section has essentially been lost. The magnitude of the storm damage will most likely result in the closure of all or portions of several backcountry trails in the area.

To possibly gauge the current situation, keep in mind that the Beard Cane Trail, Hatcher Mountain Trail and Backcountry Campsites 3, 11 are still closed as a result of the tornado from April 27, 2011.

Other trails currently closed in the park, or have a warning that you should make note of include:

• Chimney Tops Trail will be closed Mondays through Thursdays, until October 18, for trail rehabilitation.

• Gunter Fork Trail closed due to landslides

• Caldwell Fork Trail - the number eight footbridge along the trail is out. Hikers wishing to use the trail will need to ford the creek.

• Smokemont Loop Trail/Bradley Fork Trail - the foot bridge located at the junction of these trails is out and scheduled to be replaced by the end of July.

• Middle Prong Trail - The first bridge on this trail has undergone temporary repairs. Stock users are advised to walk stock across the bridge.

Also, as of this morning, the following roads remain closed:

• Little River Road from Metcalf Bottoms to the Townsend Wye
• Abrams Creek Campground is closed
• Parson Branch Road in Cades Cove
• Rich Mountain Road in Cades Cove
• Forge Creek Road in Cades Cove
• Abrams Creek Entrance Road
• Tremont Road above the Institute at Tremont


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Video: Great Smoky Mountains Storm from Clingmans Dome

Sunday, July 8, 2012

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Check out this pretty amazing video of the windstorm that struck the Smokies Thursday evening. This video was shot from the parking lot at Clingmans Dome as the storm approached. It was uploaded to Youtube yesterday:




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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What to do during a windstorm while hiking?

Saturday, July 7, 2012

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In light of the devastating windstorm that struck the Great Smoky Mountains Thursday evening, I have been wondering what a hiker should do if a severe windstorm were to hit while out on the trail. I did a few Google searches but could not find any advice.

So, I will pose my questions to my readers to see if anyone has any advice, recommendations, or even an authoritative source to quote:

My first question is what you should do if you're out on the trail, in the middle of the forest, miles from your car, and a severe windstorm hits? Running back to your car doesn't seem to be an option. Assuming you don't have meadow, a cave, a rock outcropping, or a steep embankment to use as a shelter, I'm thinking getting behind the largest (live) tree you can find might be the best thing you can do. I'm assuming you would have time to get out of the way if that tree were to fall. Of course I really don't know the answer to this question - any thoughts from anyone?

My second question: What do you do if you're driving when the storm hits - such as on Little River Road or Laurel Creek Road? Do you keep driving and hope to find a pull out or clearing in the tree canopy? Do you stop and get on the floorboard of your car? Get underneath the car? The last two options may protect you if a smaller tree falls on your car, but I'm not so sure about a large hemlock. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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