Chasing Snow Trip...This Time At Sams Gap

The weekend before last it was supposed to be a significant snow event. Well, Heat Miser had other ideas and while it didn't turn out to be the amount first forecast there was some. Let me just say that the 'some' was in the mountains, so it was on the road, last Monday, to find some. I thought about the Roans, but since it wasn't a heavy snow (about 4-to-6 inches there) and I wanted to avoid driving the two hours. Newfound Gap Road (US-441) wasn't open so I wasn't going there. Then I thought about Beauty Spot, but I went there a year ago, but one place I haven't Sams Gap to Street Gap. I have done this as part of the Sams Gap to Spivey Gap over the Big Bald section hike in July of 2018. I worried about snow all the way to Erwin because I hadn't seen any. On the way up I-26 I didn't see snow until I closed in on the Metcalf East Overlook. 

So, once at the Sams Gap Parking, there was snow, about an inch. As I started up, the trail was on the ridge's sunny side, meaning there was decent snow or melting spots. Once the trail started up towards the meadow, which I have since seen called Street Bald, I saw more snow...about three inches. I sat and enjoyed the incredible view of Big Bald. It was here I met my first thru-hiker of 2023, I mean literally because Kenny had the AT Registration Tag #1. 

AT Thru-Hike Tag (Photo by Kenny Marney)

After he departed I headed to my turnaround point of Street Gap. Boy did it look different than summertime! It took, less than an hour, to get back to Street Bald it was amazing how much melt had happened. That was even more evident when I got into the woods. I mean there were spots completely devoid of snow. This was the case all the way back to Sams Gap. I was glad I came on this day as it would have been all gone Tuesday.

Summer of 2018 & Winter 2023

SmugMug Photos

It Isn't Winter Until A Snow Hike On The Roans

It is the first weekend in February and that means the last month of winter. While mild would be an understatement for this winter and contradicting outcomes on Groundhog Day (Punxsutawney Phil predicts more winter and Beauregard Lee an early spring) So, back in January when I had the chance to hike in the snow I jumped at the chance and I headed up to my favorite places for white stuff..the Roans.

Heading into a weekend in mid-January I waited to find out about snow.  On Friday night and Saturday, we only had a dusting in Hawkins County, but from what I can gather above 4,000 feet, it was six inches or more (Mt. LeConte in the Smokies got 16 inches). Since Newfound Gap Road was closed and I had heard the road to Cavers Gap was clear, at least on the North Carolina side, I decided to head up Sunday morning. It was a chilly 19° when I started out and was about that when I reached Carvers Gap, except it was really windy.

Because of that and knowing how snow works on the Roans, I declined a trip to the Balds and headed up the road to the Rhododendron Gardens. Because I was trying to stay out of ski tracks, I put on the snowshoes and used the edges where deeper snow is. It was between nine inches and more than a foot with drifts in spots nearly 20 inches.

I visited the old hotel site (where I ran the drone), the Rhododendron Gardens, and then on to the Appalachian Trail (AT). I eventually made it to the Roan High Knob Shelter, and I made right the crash of the drone from June.

Getting back to Carvers Gap, I was surprised to find it packed like it was Rhododendron season. Anyway, it was a great day of snow and ice on the Roans in the wintertime.

SmugMug Photos

There Is No Business, Like Snow Business At Rich Mountain

The surprising snow last weekend gave me, maybe, my last chance for a hike in the white stuff. So, Sunday as I like to say "there's no business, like snow business!

So, where to go? Just like my last snow hike, to Beauty Spot, my first thought turned to the Smokies. Like in February any trip to the National Park always depends on if Newfound Gap Road is open. Because of the winter storm Saturday it was closed and I figured it would be Sunday and it was. With sunshine and rising temperatures, I didn't know what would be there on Monday (which by the Newfound Gap webcam was not far off). The other reason is the price of petrol. It is a long trip to Newfound Gap and if it wasn't great I would have felt it was a waste. Because of the amount of snow, there were closer options. Plus in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) you can't fly a drone and I kind of wanted to take the Nostromo up again. So, I decided on a favorite place of mine...Rich Mountain Fire Tower. See it's 0.15 miles off the Appalachian Trail (AT) which means I can fly it there.

GSMNP 2018 (TL), Rich Mtn. (ML), Beauty Spot (BL) & Saturday snow (R) 

Anyway, it was forecast to be cold Sunday morning but I was getting up early with the time change it made it where I could run the drone for its first sunrise, and even with 12-degree temperatures the drone performed great and the pictures were amazing. When I arrived at Tanyard Gap it was much warmer as it was 15 degrees. While it was cold, I mean two-hand warmer cold, at least the wind wasn't blowing. There was also plenty of snow which is why I came. It took me a little longer to pack up because of the drone, but I finally started up the trail. Did I mention there was snow? Well, eventually it got to the point where I had to put my microspikes on. I don't know if it is just the snow or I am out of shape or both, but this trip up just gassed me. 

Sunrise over St. Clair

Pisgah National Forest (PNF) Snow Adventure

Start of day (T) & end (B) at Tanyard Gap

Snowy AT

Microspikes time

Up to...

...Rich Mountain Fire Tower

However, once there and got the Nostromo up it was well worth it. I mean the views from the tower are great, but with the drone, I got a view of the tower from above. This is why I wanted the drone to get pictures and footage like this. Because of running the drone, lunch, and just enjoying the tower, I spent an hour-and-a-half there. 

Tower from 150 ft.

Northeast Vista

East Vista

Southeast Vista

Southwest Vista

Me &  the Drone

In that 90 minutes, it was amazing how much the trail started to change. When it had been snow it was now slushy ice, which is actually slicker, so I had to put on the micro-spikes. Before long the trail transitioned from slush to mud and by the time I arrived back at Tanyard Gap half, the snow was gone. But I had one more thing to do. I got the Nostromo out and set it up far enough from the AT and got some nice shots from above. If it was my last snow adventure it was a great way to end it...

Slushy AT

The switchback early in the day & later

Tanyard Gap: Morning (TL), When I got back (BL) & above (R)

Rich Mountain

More Photos: SmugMug & Google Photos

Snow, Snow...It's A March Snow!

As a lover of snow, I thought my only way to see any was watching the end of the biathlon season. But to my wonderful surprise, we have snow...here at St. Clair!

I will admit I was really skeptical when the early predictions started for snow this weekend. I mean it had felt more like summer than winter recently. Last weekend it hovered near 80 degrees. Even yesterday, while we were issued a Winter Storm Warning, it was in the mid-60s.

Add to the number of times we were supposed to get snow we ended up with those "downsloping winds" and little more than a dusting. We have had snow in March with 1993 coming to mind, but in the Era of Climate Change, I see that becoming less likely. However, not impossible as we had between three and in spots six inches this morning which makes this the biggest snow of Winter 2021-22 here in the far west of Hawkins County. I enjoyed the snow and even got the drone up. Can't think of a better spring day...

More Photos: SmugMug & Google Photos