Sneakyracer wrote:
Here is my take on the Bells. Weather was horrible for days. I was camped out there for three nights and went to the bells for three mornings straight (4:30 AM at the spot each time). It wasnt fun but the place is amazing and it was great to camp out there even though it was wet.
JimFox wrote:
Hey Dan, some very nice color there!
Jim
Thanks Jim, for the first shot the rocks were really slippery and in the pursuite
of adding a few extra red leaves to the sceen I went flying on my ass and smashed my elbow....As I was lying on the ground to get the shot I felt my one shoe suddenly getting cold and realized it was submerged in a puddle of water......It was worth it
I drove up the BRP from Balsam Gap to Graveyard Fields this morning. Color is slowly progressing but there is still a lot of green leaves out there. Graveyard Fields have colorful underbrush but many of the larger trees, especially around the falls are green. I'd say another week but this year is so different than last year. We might get another shot of colder air this weekend and that would help.
There are pockets along some of the steeper, higher ridges that show decent color but generally things have some time to go. Again, I'd guess another 2 weeks for broad widespread color though by then the highest elevations will probably be gone. The best color isn't up there anyway. So best guess for peak in this area would be sometime around Oct. 16-20 with lower elevations a bit later. In the Smokies color might be best toward the last part of Oct.
I'm taking my bike up Waterrock Knob tomorrow so I'll get a good long look up that way and post back.
I am dancin' a jig after reading that post NCAndy...just elated that after planning this trip for the last month it might work out just right! Thanks for the update!
Travis Rhoads wrote:
I am dancin' a jig after reading that post NCAndy...just elated that after planning this trip for the last month it might work out just right! Thanks for the update!
I'm glad the timing might work out for you Travis. I really can't say how bright the color will be this year. After last year's brilliant display I doubt it can be as good. Time will tell.
as long as there are still colorful leaves on the trees, and not just sticks...i will be happy...I missed the peak of spring in the GSMNP by a week this year and peak fall by a week last year...
Kelly Phillips wrote:
Great news Andy! I'm going to be down that way next weekend and again the last weekend of the month. Thanks for your updates!
Good deal. I'm tied up a couple weekends with our daughter's gymnastics meets but I'll be getting out most weekdays from now on. We could use another freeze up there to really set things off.
Southern Maine had a ton of rain. It has been stripping the leaves from the trees.
The White Mountains in NH were a bit further behind, with a lot of green still on the Eastern Slope. Hopefully they faired a bit better. I'll try to get back up there this weekend, though I am feeling more like heading to the coast.
Hey anyone been up on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah NP, Virginia? I'm up in northern MD and was thinking of driving down this weekend time permitting. I would think we'd be at or close to peak at the higher elevations down there...
photogwest wrote:
Hey anyone been up on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah NP, Virginia? I'm up in northern MD and was thinking of driving down this weekend time permitting. I would think we'd be at or close to peak at the higher elevations down there...
I drove Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway a few years ago. I believe it was the second week in October and I hit it about right. Check with the park service, web cams, and foliage reports for current conditions if no one has been there lately.
...It was worth it 
