Appalachian Memories

2020 AshevilleWX Fall Color Forecast-Beautiful Leaf Season In Store — AshevilleWX

ashevillewx.com Those cool, crisp evenings have already started to grace our presence here in the mountains of WNC, and you know what that means? Fall and fall color are just around the corner! This year, several factors will play into another vibrant leaf crop for all to enjoy. Below I detail out the peak spots

The Folk Apothic

There is a little custom found throughout Southern Appalachia, and for those who plan on visiting this summer, it is a good one to understand and respect....and your cooperation can make the road a safer place.
There was a time when not too long ago, a common practice flourished throughout the United States of allowing the grieving families an opportunity to know they had the full respect of total strangers: Oncoming motorists would pull over as a funeral procession approached their vehicle.
It is a sign of respect, honor, and kinship for our fellow humans. This custom is so ingrained in me that not only do I pull over, I immediately turn off my radio and take off my hat and put it over my heart.

Times are changing and now this custom seems to be found only in rural areas of the south and pockets of appalachia as the ability to slow down for a moment has become an inconvenience.

Anna Garland, who has spent her entire 76 years in the hills and hollers of appalachia recalls, It’s just a sign of respect — a way of saying ‘We don’t know you, but we know that you’re hurting and therefore we’re going to pause of a few seconds to show our respect. It’s how things were done when I was younger and I sure miss that level of respect people had for strangers.”

But where it gets hairy is when folks who may not know the custom or those who simply don't care try to pass the procession or weave through the vehicles who have stopped to pay their respects.

And this is where folks get hurt.

So as you find yourself vacationing in some of these rural mountain towns and if you happen to come across a funeral procession, take the time to stop for a few moments and honor not only a fellow human's life, but their family as well. I mean.....isn't the point of vacationing here to slow down a bit, anyway?

Hoppy Trout Brewing Company

Did you know that Andrews, NC is 45 minutes or less from five pristine high mountain lakes? Check out the latest from the bar blog and see why Andrews is the perfect springboard to each of them!

https://hoppytroutbrewing.com/visit-western-nc-lakes/

Yaasss Witches

March 17th we were all Irish.
May 5th we were all Latino.
How about this July 4th we all act like Americans. 🇺🇸

Hate to get political on here but i have to post this one


Yes... let’s all join in the hatred of all Police for the sins of a few. Let’s defund one of the most important public institutions in our countries history. Let’s have all badges removed and allow people to tend to their own safety and security.

But before you do so, Let me tell you about the badge and the thousands of good men and women it represents.

This badge ran towards certain death as the Towers collapsed on 9-11.

This badge ran into the line of fire to save the people in the Pulse Night Club.

This badge sheltered thousands as bullets rained down from the Mandalay Hotel in Las Vegas.

This badge protected a BLM rally that left five officers dead in Dallas.

This badge ran into the Sandy Hook School to stop a school shooter.

This badge killed the Oregon District mass shooter in seconds.

This badge has done CPR on your drowned child.

This badge has fist fought the wife be**er who left his spouse in a coma.

This badge has run into burning buildings to save the occupants.

This badge has been shot for simply existing.

This badge has waded through flood waters to rescue the elderly trapped on the roof.

This badge has intentionally crashed into the wrong way driver to protect innocent motorists.

This badge has helped find the lost child so his mother would stop crying hysterically.

This badge has helped the injured dog off the road and rushed it to the vet.

This badge has escorted the elderly woman across the street because she couldn't see well and was afraid to cross.

This badge has escorted thousands upon thousands of funeral processions regardless of race or religion.

This badge has bought food for hungry kids because they had been abandoned.

This badge has taken needy children on shopping trips for Christmas when in reality their parents could not afford it.

This badge has been soaked in blood and tears.

This badge has been covered by a mourning band to honor those who have sacrificed everything in service.

You may hate me because I wear it. But, I wear it with pride. Despite your hate and your anger, I will await the next call for help. And, I will come running without hesitation. Just like the thousands of men and women across this great nation.
This badge. ~Unknown

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Visiting the park soon? Expect traffic congestion!

Spring is a busy time in the Smokies when it comes to wildlife. Normally, the park has seasonal staff and volunteer support to help keep traffic moving through wildlife viewing jams, but these staff are not back yet during our first reopening phase. Here are some tips to keep your visit as safe and enjoyable as possible for you, our wildlife, and your fellow visitors:

1. Travel early or during the week when possible. Traffic is extra heavy on weekends.

2. Do not get out of your vehicle to view wildlife. Remember, these are wild animals, and we are in their home. Stay in your car for your safety and the animal's safety.

3. Please be respectful of your fellow motorists. Drive carefully, and please keep moving through wildlife jams to avoid blocking other drivers.

NPS photo, Cades Cove, Saturday, May 9, 2020.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

What does 6 feet look like in the Smokies?
Experiencing the outdoors is a great way to get exercise and some much-needed fresh air. Plan ahead wisely to make the most of your time in the park.
We will be opening in phases, so remember to please give yourselves and others plenty of space (especially animals!) Some tips:
• Plan ahead. Many facilities are still closed so bring extra water & snacks, and plan your restroom breaks. Visit: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
• Respect closures and changed traffic flows.
• (NPS Image)

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Park managers have updated the park’s current conditions page to include an interactive map reflecting road access status in response to opening the park in phases as a Covid-19 mitigation measure. Visitors are encouraged to view the maps on their computer or mobile devices before arriving to the park in order to make informed navigation decisions.

In addition, the park has made available a free mobile application in lieu of maps not being available at the closed visitor centers that allows users to interact with the parks topographic maps and does not require a cellular connection to work in the park. Visitors should allow a few minutes to download the application and maps before entering the park.

Current conditions page with map: nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
Topographic maps accessible offline on a mobile device: nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/offline_topo.htm

My biggest fear is getting a murder hornet stuck in my face mask while shoveling snow on a Saturday in mid May.

May Snow Coats Roan Mountain & Portions of NC High Country (Photo Gallery) — AshevilleWX

ashevillewx.com A rare may snowstorm brought snow overnight to high mountain locations around WNC. Below is a collection of photos & videos from Meteorologist Hunter Ward that are being collected and uploaded as he covers various locations around the NC High Country. Follow AshevilleWX socials as well bel

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

As you plan your trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, know where you can go! Check out this table to see what roads and facilities will be open beginning May 9 and what will be a part of a later phase. For an accessible text version of this information, please visit our current conditions page: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Current Conditions - Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

GSMNP♥️
The park is reopening on Saturday, May 9th. The park is reopening in *phases* -- that word is important. In this first phase of reopening, many of the things you are accustomed to experiencing in GSMNP will not be available to you, others may be available but not in ways you are used to. The chart of what is expected to open in phase one is on the Current Conditions page on the park website so please look there ([https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/conditions.htm?fbclid=IwAR2pU7aogTqbBxT0iDdrhxG6Ga5Ehg6OW2hHCee2-QaDKMbwIHlQZ68YiLM](https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/conditions.htm?fbclid=IwAR2pU7aogTqbBxT0iDdrhxG6Ga5Ehg6OW2hHCee2-QaDKMbwIHlQZ68YiLM)). This post is about expectations.

1. GSMNP has a very detailed plan in place for slowly reopening the park. Slowly. Please do not show up at the park "pearly gates" at 0-dark thirty Saturday morning and expect to drive right in. You might be deeply disappointed to find the gates still locked. Park staff will have to go through each area, making sure roadways are clear and it is safe for visitors..and that takes time.
2. Just because the roadway or area is listed as reopening on May 9th does not guarantee that area will be open, or when. Slowly phasing in means things will take longer than usual. Yes, staff are working super hard and will do their best, but if the location you wanted to visit isn't open, please find another place that is ready for you to visit.
3. Just because an area reopened is no guarantee it will remain open. Stuff happens, things change, and the park plan is highly adaptable to those changes. That means we have to adapt, too. Have alternate plans for your visit, just in case your first choice isn't an option.
4. Backcountry camping. Due to constraints posed by the reservation system, the system will not be available to make reservations until Saturday morning, May 9th. Sorry, park staffers tried to get this done sooner but it was near impossible. Again, be flexible. You may may shelter reservations along the AT. As before the shut-down, during this phase-in time tent camping is allowed at shelters. I don't know about hammocks, which are not permitted in shelters, so please ask the park about that.
5. Frontcountry camping. It's closed in the first phase, with a limited reopening in phase two -- whenever that happens. Because this is fluid and not predictable, the usual advance reservation system will not be operating as usual. If you want a guarantee you'll be able to camp in a certain park campground for your upcoming trip in May, or June, or possibly longer -- well, sorry. If you need that guarantee well in advance I suggest you look outside the park. If you are flexible and OK with short-term planning, then you might get lucky and get a spot in the park. This is one of those must-adapt areas.
6. Trails. We're a hiking group so we are all about trails. Except for the explicitly closed trails (Laurel Falls, Alum, Chimney Tops, Clingmans Dome Tower), all park trails are open, however, access roads to many of those trails are not. You may walk or ride a bike in on those closed roads to access those trails. Just plan for the extra miles.
7. Bike closure days in Cades Cove -- not yet. When the phase-in process is to the point bike days are feasible, the park will make that announcement. Don't expect that to happen in the next few weeks. This is a work in progress.
8. Personal accountability. It's up to each person to chose to be Park staff are there to offer limited services and promote safety -- they are not the compliance police. Returning to the Smokies is a privilege, not a right. If that privilege is abused to the point that park resources are no longer safe, that privilege could be paused. Please come with the plan to be self-sufficient, having everything you need to be well. Remember to pack-it-in/pack-it-out and Leave No Trace. Together we can do it.

If your specific question is not addressed, please ask the park directly. This is all I know. Happy hiking, y'all!

nps.gov Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is increasing recreational access and services through a phased approach that aligns with local, state, and national opening p...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

This week for , we wanted to address the reopening of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and how you can keep yourself and other visitors . An important factor in staying safe is washing your hands frequently and for at least 20 seconds. Our question this week: What song by Dolly Parton has a chorus that lasts about 20 seconds?

Check https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/conditions.htm for all information on what will and will not be open in GRSM beginning May 9. NPS Photo/Bob Carr

Great Smoky Mountains will start reopening in phases May 9

wbir.com The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is set to reopen its main roads and restrooms May 9. Campgrounds and visitor centers will remain closed the first two weeks.