From the Purchase Knob webcam, we can see the first dusting on snow in the Great Smokies. Mark the date, October 20. Though not much is seen here, the intense storm, which is our first midlatitude cyclone of the season, might produce a little more snowfall overnight and more at higher elevations. We will check the gauge at Mt. LeConte tomorrow and see how much they got. Winter is here in the highlands. Read the rest of this entry »
First snowfall in the Great Smokies
October 20th, 2011Late Summer in the Red River Gorge
October 12th, 2011A hike down the Sheltowee Trace from Pinch ‘Em Tight Trailhead to the suspension bridge across the Red River. September saw more rain than usual and the river’s tributaries were decently full for late summer. Chimney Top Creek showed evidence of a recent flood. Intersections with smaller streams had freshly deposited sand and flattened vegetation a foot above the bank.
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Big South Fork in Early Fall
October 12th, 2011The first weekend of the October saw us in the Big South Fork country enjoying a dramatic change in weather. The first day was warm and sunny, but as evening set, the winds increased and rustled the treetops throughout the night. The morning was overcast, mild, and as we began our descent into the Big South Fork at Blue Heron, the sky thickened into sweeping rolls of stratocumulus clouds.
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Gray’s Arch in the Red River Gorge
September 12th, 2011A quiet afternoon hike visiting D. Boone Hut, Gray’s Arch, and Butterfly Hill. This short video adds an audio component that maybe helps a viewer appreciate the unique solitude.
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Woodland Art Fair!
August 19th, 2011It’s time of year when the morning glories bloom in full, locusts buzz softly with early sunsets, and the promise of drier, cooler days ahead stirs images of woodland travels. Come on down to the Woodland Art Fair this weekend to get some park trail maps and discuss our new projects. See you there, August 20-21. We’ll have lemonade, too!