The upper elevations of the Smokies received their first big snow of the season over the last day-and-a-half.
Allyson Virden, resident manager at the LeConte Lodge, is reporting that Mt. LeConte has 8.5 inches of snow on the ground. At 8:30 this morning she reported a crisp 16 degree temp as well!
Clingmans Dome Road and Newfound Gap Road between Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC is still closed due to the ice and snow.
If you're planning to travel on US-441 through the park this weekend, it's a good idea to call 865-436-1200 for road and weather updates before making an attempt. You can also call 511 in either North Carolina or Tennessee to access the Department of Transportation Information Line for updates on US-441.
A little more snow is expected in the mountains of Western North Carolina and the Smokies throughout the morning. To keep up up-to-date with weather forecasts you can also click here.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
Showing posts with label Newfound Gap Road. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Newfound Gap Road. Show all posts
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Snow and Ice closes Newfound Gap Road
In addition to yesterday's announcement about Clingmans Dome Road being closed, the Smokies website is reporting this morning that US Hwy 441 (Newfound Gap Road) between Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC is also closed due to ice and snow.
The website also has this posted warning:
A winter storm advisory is in effect for the mountains (above 3,000 feet elevation) through 5 AM EDT Saturday. If you are planning to travel on US-441 through the park this weekend, please call (865) 436-1200 for road and weather updates. You can also call 511 in either North Carolina or Tennessee to access the Department of Transportation Information Line for updates on US-441.
The National Weather Service said more snow (2-4 inches) above 3000 feet is possible.
As of early this morning, Allyson Virden, one of the resident managers at the LeConte Lodge, is reporting that Mt. LeConte has already received 1.5 inches of new snow.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
The website also has this posted warning:
A winter storm advisory is in effect for the mountains (above 3,000 feet elevation) through 5 AM EDT Saturday. If you are planning to travel on US-441 through the park this weekend, please call (865) 436-1200 for road and weather updates. You can also call 511 in either North Carolina or Tennessee to access the Department of Transportation Information Line for updates on US-441.
The National Weather Service said more snow (2-4 inches) above 3000 feet is possible.
As of early this morning, Allyson Virden, one of the resident managers at the LeConte Lodge, is reporting that Mt. LeConte has already received 1.5 inches of new snow.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Six injured in RV crash on Newfound Gap Road
Yesterday was not a good day on Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441). After being shut-down as a result of a rock slide on Sunday evening, the main artery through the park was reopened late in the morning, only to be shut-down once again just a couple of hours later.
Around noon yesterday, a large motor home went off the road and slid about 100 feet down an extremely steep embankment, injuring six of its seven occupants – two seriously. The accident occurred on the North Carolina side of the park - roughly 3 miles south of Newfound Gap.
The driver of the motor home was attempting to pull off the Newfound Gap Road onto the shoulder, but was unable to stop before the shoulder became too narrow to support the vehicle. The RV fell onto its side and slid about 100 feet down the embankment. The driver was uninjured, but all six passengers were hurt – two with severe injuries were flown to a hospital in Asheville, while the other four were taken by ambulance to Cherokee Hospital with less serious injuries.
Newfound Gap Road was shut-down around 12:30 p.m. as emergency personnel from the park and several North Carolina agencies converged on the scene to provide medical assistance to the patients and conduct technical rescue operations. When emergency personnel arrived on scene, all but two of the passengers were alongside the road. The two victims who were airlifted out had to be hoisted up the embankment by medical personnel.
The road remained closed through the early evening in order to allow a crane service to remove the RV from the site.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
Around noon yesterday, a large motor home went off the road and slid about 100 feet down an extremely steep embankment, injuring six of its seven occupants – two seriously. The accident occurred on the North Carolina side of the park - roughly 3 miles south of Newfound Gap.
The driver of the motor home was attempting to pull off the Newfound Gap Road onto the shoulder, but was unable to stop before the shoulder became too narrow to support the vehicle. The RV fell onto its side and slid about 100 feet down the embankment. The driver was uninjured, but all six passengers were hurt – two with severe injuries were flown to a hospital in Asheville, while the other four were taken by ambulance to Cherokee Hospital with less serious injuries.
Newfound Gap Road was shut-down around 12:30 p.m. as emergency personnel from the park and several North Carolina agencies converged on the scene to provide medical assistance to the patients and conduct technical rescue operations. When emergency personnel arrived on scene, all but two of the passengers were alongside the road. The two victims who were airlifted out had to be hoisted up the embankment by medical personnel.
The road remained closed through the early evening in order to allow a crane service to remove the RV from the site.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
Monday, August 23, 2010
Rockslide shuts-down Newfound Gap Road
Update: U.S. 441 (Newfound Gap Road) is now reopened.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
A rockslide in the Smokies on U.S. 441 (Newfound Gap Road) yesterday evening has shut down the road to all traffic from Gatlinburg to Cherokee, NC.
The slide occurred near Collins Creek roughly six miles north of Cherokee and has impacted both sides of the road.
The road is expected to open sometime mid-morning today.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------
A rockslide in the Smokies on U.S. 441 (Newfound Gap Road) yesterday evening has shut down the road to all traffic from Gatlinburg to Cherokee, NC.
The slide occurred near Collins Creek roughly six miles north of Cherokee and has impacted both sides of the road.
The road is expected to open sometime mid-morning today.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Smokies seeks comments on rehabilitation of Newfound Gap Road
The National Park Service (NPS) is proposing to rehabilitate 14.5 miles of Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) on the Tennessee side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and to reconstruct many of its stone masonry guardwalls. The work area runs from the Park’s entrance near Gatlinburg to the North Carolina state line at Newfound Gap. Work is scheduled to begin in November 2010 and be completed in phases over the course of six years. The NPS is soliciting public comments in response to an Environmental Assessment (EA) which evaluates the potential resource and other impacts of that proposed action.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent, Dale Ditmanson said, “This action is needed to address the deterioration of the pavement, safety concerns, circulation and parking problems. In addition, the cut stone guardwalls, most of which were constructed about 70 years ago by the Civilian Conservation Corps, are deteriorating with age, impacting the historic character of Newfound Gap Road. All these factors have been increasing the park’s routine maintenance and intermittent repair costs as well as posing safety hazards.”
The EA examines two alternatives; no action and the NPS preferred alternative.
The preferred alternative consists of improving the safety of Newfound Gap Road, improving the condition of the road and associated features, and maintaining the integrity of Park resources. Specific activities under the proposed action, would include: rehabilitation of the road surface, rehabilitation of road shoulders where needed, reconstruction of settled sections of roadway to restore stability of embankment, rehabilitation of existing stone masonry guardwalls, reconstruction of guardwall sections to meet current crashworthiness criteria in areas with a demonstrated safety risk, and adding new guardwall and/or guardrail extensions or transitions in areas.
The EA is available, and comments may be submitted online at the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment website.
Comments must be received no later than April 21, 2010.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent, Dale Ditmanson said, “This action is needed to address the deterioration of the pavement, safety concerns, circulation and parking problems. In addition, the cut stone guardwalls, most of which were constructed about 70 years ago by the Civilian Conservation Corps, are deteriorating with age, impacting the historic character of Newfound Gap Road. All these factors have been increasing the park’s routine maintenance and intermittent repair costs as well as posing safety hazards.”
The EA examines two alternatives; no action and the NPS preferred alternative.
The preferred alternative consists of improving the safety of Newfound Gap Road, improving the condition of the road and associated features, and maintaining the integrity of Park resources. Specific activities under the proposed action, would include: rehabilitation of the road surface, rehabilitation of road shoulders where needed, reconstruction of settled sections of roadway to restore stability of embankment, rehabilitation of existing stone masonry guardwalls, reconstruction of guardwall sections to meet current crashworthiness criteria in areas with a demonstrated safety risk, and adding new guardwall and/or guardrail extensions or transitions in areas.
The EA is available, and comments may be submitted online at the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment website.
Comments must be received no later than April 21, 2010.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)