Mountain Lion Attacks Hiker On AT In Virginia

Posted on by July 4, 2016
Reply

Mountain Lion Attacks Hiker On AT In Virginia

A hiker on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia was attacked by a mountain lion on Friday July 1, 2016. The mountain lion attack was near Humpback Rock in Augusta County near Waynesboro, VA. The Blue Ridge Parkway police called 911 to request assistance at the picnic area of Humpback Rock Friday afternoon. The hiker was reportedly attacked by the mountain lion on the AT at a location about 30 minutes away from the picnic shelter. The male hiker was treated for injuries and was in stable condition.

It is still uncertain that the attack was from a mountain lion. Park officials think the attack was due to a black bear and not a mountain lion. The hiker attacked on Friday was treated for unspecified injuries at Augusta Health in Fishersville, VA. As of Sunday he was in stable condition at the hospital.

There have been sightings of mountain lions in the past in the Shenandoah National Park and other nearby counties in western Virginia. But sightings are not common and attacks are even less common for this area.

Mountain Lion Attacks Hiker on AT in Virginia

Mountain Lion Attacks Hiker on AT in Virginia

Share

Trails Closed Due To Dangerous Bear Activity

Posted on by July 4, 2016

Trails Closed Due To Bear Activity Near Big Run Overlook
The park service at the Shenandoah National Park have had to make some trail closures recently due to dangerous bear activity that took place several days ago. Trails were closed on July 2, 2016 for the Big Run Portal Trail as well as the Big Run Loop located in the South District of the SNP. The trails will remain closed until further notice by the park service. Big Run Loop Trail is closed at Big Run Overlook. It is also closed at the intersection with Rockytop off of the Appalachian Trail. The Big Run Portal Trail is closed at the Patterson Ridge Trail intersection. Big Run Overlook and nearby trails are located at Mile Marker 80 and 81 on Skyline Drive near Loft Mountain.

Bear Activity Closed Trails in SNP

Bear Activity Closed Trails in SNP

Reports of a black bear bluff charging a hiker is the reason for the trail closures. There have also been other reports of seeing bears in this area recently. This area has a lot of berry bushes and bears like to eat the ripe juicy berries this time of year. Some bear safety tips include: stay atleast 50 yards away from bears, back away slowly, do not turn your back on the bear and run away, do not feed bears, hike in pairs and never alone.

Video of a black bear bluff charging…

 

 

Share

Shenandoah National Park Fire

Posted on by September 23, 2016

Shenandoah National Park Fire Growing

The Shenandoah National Park fire is growing. The wildfire in the Shenandoah National Park is spreading. Now more than 8,000 acres have burned. Several hiking trails have needed to be closed as well as a portion of the Appalachian Trail. Skyline Drive was closed also due to the wildfire. Dry and windy conditions over the last several days have certainly not helped as well as the rugged terrain in the area. Rain is in the forecast but it may not be enough to help. The fire is currently about 40% contained according to fire and park officials. There is a $2,000 reward being offered. Call the Arson Tip Line at (434) 220-9053.

Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park

Multiple agencies are assisting in the Rocky Mount wildfire. Those agencies include The National Park Service, Virginia Department of Forestry, Rockingham County Department of Fire and Rescue, USDA Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Grottoes Volunteer Fire Department. Almost 350 firefighters and support crew have joined together to fight the wildfire. The wildfire began last Saturday and may be due to humans but an investigation is underway.

 

 

 

Here a is a copy of the Shenandoah National Park website’s Alerts about the fire and the closures.

ROCKY MTN FIRE 2016 CLOSURES (April 19, 2016, latest update April 21)
Skyline Drive from Swift Run Entrance (mile 65) to Blackrock Gap (mile 87.5)
Loft Mountain Wayside (mile 79.5)
Appalachian Trail from Powell Gap (mile 70) to Blackrock Gap (mile 87.5)
Blackrock Hut
Brown Mountain Trail
Big Run Portal Trail
Rocky Mountain Run Trail
Rockytop Trail
Big Run Loop
Austin Mountain Trail
Lewis Peak Trail
Patterson Ridge Trail
Madison Run Spur
Madison Run Fire Road
Rocky Mount Trail
Gap Run Trail
Onemile Run Trail
Browns Gap Fire Road
Madison Run Fire Road
Doyles River PATC Cabin
Furnace Mountain Trail
Trayfoot Mountain Trail
Jones Run Trail
Doyles River Trail

All other trails and facilities are open. There are no out-of-park road or facilities closures.

Real-time Road Closure Information

Here is a link to the real-time road closures. You can also call and listen to the recorded Park Information Line at 828-298-0398 for up to date information.

Share

Winter Storm Jonas Closes Entire Parkway

Posted on by January 22, 2016

Winter Storm Jonas Has Closed Entire Parkway

Winter Storm Jonas closes the entire parkway in North Carolina and Virginia. The entire 469 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway has been closed due to the widespread winter weather conditions in North Carolina and Virginia. Winter Storm Jonas is causing hazardous driving conditions in the mid-atlantic region. Conditions in North Carolina range from snow, to sleet to freezing rain. Many areas are without power. Virginia is getting snow with predictions of 2 feet in northern Virginia over the next 2 days.

Blue Ridge Parkway Real-Time Road Closure Map

Blue Ridge Parkway Real-Time Road Closure Map

The Blue Ridge Parkway as well as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Shenandoah National Park are closed with all Park operations suspended for the duration of Winter Storm Jonas. No search and rescue personnel will be available during the storm.

Northern regions of Virginia are under a Blizzard Warning. A Blizzard Warning is not related to the amount of snow but is related to how heavy snowfall and windy conditions resulting in reduced visibility.

Here is the Watch and Warning for Virginia:

Blizzard Warning
Statement as of 10:53 AM EST on January 22, 2016
... Blizzard Warning remains in effect from 3 PM this afternoon to
6 am EST Sunday... 

* hazard types... heavy snow and wind with blowing and drifting
  snow this afternoon through Saturday night. Sleet may mix with
  the snow tonight into Saturday morning east of Interstate 95
  before changing back to all snow by Saturday afternoon.

* Accumulations... snow accumulation 18 to 24 inches along and east
  of Interstate 95... and 24 to 30 west of Interstate 95. The city
  of Washington DC is expected to receive around 24 inches.

* Timing... heavy snow will develop this afternoon and continue
  through Saturday night. Conditions are expected to deteriorate
  this afternoon with the heaviest snow...  strongest winds... and
  potential life threatening conditions expected tonight through
  Saturday night.

* Impacts... heavy snow and blowing snow will cause dangerous
  conditions and will be a threat to life and property. Travel is
  expected to be severely limited if not impossible during the
  height of the storm tonight and Saturday. Visibility will be
  reduced to near zero at times in whiteout conditions.

* Winds... north 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph along the
  Chesapeake Bay shoreline... becoming north Saturday and
  northwest Saturday night.

* Temperatures... in the mid 20s.

Precautionary/preparedness actions... 

A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are
expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds
and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout
conditions... making travel extremely dangerous. Do not travel. If
you must travel... have a winter survival kit with you. If you get
stranded... stay with your vehicle. Prepare for the possibility of
power outages during snowy and cold conditions.

North Carolina is also experincing hazardous condtions related to Winter Storm Jonas. The mountains are predicted to get 6-8" of snow while other areas in central and easter North Carolina are getting sleet and frezzing rain. Here is the watches and warning for the Asheville, NC area.

  • Winter Storm Warning For Asheville, NC

    Winter Storm Warning in effect until Sunday, 7:00 AM EST. Source: U.S. National Weather Service

…WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EST SUNDAY…

* LOCATIONS…THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS…ESPECIALLY EAST OF
HIGHWAY 441.

* HAZARDS…A ROUND OF MODERATE TO HEAVY WINTRY PRECIPITATION IS
EXPECTED THROUGH SATURDAY. STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL CONTINUE THRU
THE AFTERNOON AND RETURN DURING THE DAY SATURDAY.

* TIMING…SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON…POSSIBLY
MIXING WITH OR CHANGING TO SLEET AT TIMES.

* ACCUMULATIONS…SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 10 TO 15 INCHES…WITH
LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. A TRACE OF ICE IS POSSIBLE AS
WELL.

* IMPACTS…HEAVY SNOW COULD MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS THROUGH
SATURDAY. HEAVY SNOW ACCUMULATION AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS COULD
RESULT IN SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES AND DOWNED TREES.

* WINDS…NORTH 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES…IN THE MID 20S TO LOWER 30S.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW
ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN
EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL…KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT…
FOOD…AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE SOURCE OF
WEATHER INFORMATION FOR THE LATEST UPDATES. ADDITIONAL DETAILS
CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/GSP.

Poor weather conditions related to Winter Storm Jonas will continue through Saturday night and into Sunday. Stay safe and stay home. Even after the storm is over it could take several days before the parkways could reopen to the public. Roads will need to be cleared, fallen trees, limbs and rocks may need to be cleared. If any power outages occur to the facilities it would have to be restored. Staff will need to make sure after the storm it will be safe to the public before the parks would be reopened.

 Check out the webcams to see weather conditions in the Blue Ridge Parkway areas

across Virginia and North Carolina.

Share

Winter Weather Causing Closures On Parkway

Posted on by January 20, 2016

Winter Weather Causing Closures On Parkway

Closures on parkway due to snow with more winter weather in forecast. The recent snow has either closed much of the parkway or parts are under advisory conditions. With today’s weather and the winter storm headed to the area I expect more closings and advisory on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The areas of Western North Carolina and the state of Virginia is under a winter weather warning. A low pressure is to travel up the east coast with the possibility of heavy snow in many areas. Please pay attention to the weather and the news for this area.

Blue Ridge Parkway Covered in Snow (Photo by Heidi Schacht)

Blue Ridge Parkway Covered in Snow On 1/19/2016
(Photo by Heidi Schacht)

Here is the winter weather watches and warnings for this area:

Winter Weather Advisory, Blizzard Watch
Statement as of 11:14 AM EST on January 20, 2016
... Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 6 PM this evening to
midnight EST tonight... 
... Blizzard watch remains in effect from Friday afternoon through
late Saturday night... 

The National Weather Service in Baltimore MD/Washington has
issued a Winter Weather Advisory for snow...  which is in effect
from 6 PM this evening to midnight EST tonight.

* Hazard types... snow for this Wednesday evening. Heavy snow and
  wind Friday afternoon through Saturday night. A wintry mix is
  possible Friday night into Saturday morning east of Interstate
  95... before changing back to all snow on Saturday.

* Accumulations... a coating to an inch this Wednesday evening.
  Potential for a foot or more of snow Friday afternoon through
  Saturday night.

* Timing... snow this Wednesday evening... then heavy snow Friday
  afternoon through Saturday night. Conditions are expected to
  deteriorate Friday afternoon with the heaviest snow... strongest
  winds... and potential life threatening conditions expected
  Friday night through Saturday night.

* Impacts... roads this evening will be snow covered and
  slippery... and this will make travelling hazardous. For Friday
  afternoon through Saturday night... heavy snow and blowing snow
  will cause dangerous conditions and will be a threat to life and
  property. Travel is expected to be severely limited if not
  impossible during the height of the storm Friday night and
  Saturday. Visibility will be reduced to near zero at times in
  whiteout conditions.

* Winds... light and variable this evening. Northeast 10 to 15 mph
  Friday. Northeast winds will increase to 20 to 30 mph with gusts
  to 40 mph Friday night... then shift north Saturday through
  Saturday night.

* Temperatures... middle 20s this evening. Mid to upper 20s for
  most locations Friday through Saturday night.

Precautionary/preparedness actions... 

For Wednesday evening... a Winter Weather Advisory means that
periods of snow will cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for
slippery roads and limited visibilities... and use caution while
driving.

Use this advance notice to plan ahead! Adjust travel plans... and
planned activities. Stock up on necessities. Make plans for
elderly family and those most at risk. Prepare for the
possibility of power outages during snowy and cold conditions.
Use this time to minimize impact on you... your family... and your
community.

Here is the link to the real-time closures on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Much of the North Carolina section is already closed. Most of the Virginia section is under advisory. With heavy snow fall in the forecast for Virginia and areas north the parkway will more than likely be closed soon.

Here are some winter driving tips

Be prepared by knowing your route.

Be aware of weather conditions in the area.

Drive slower than normal.

Have food or snacks and water.

Know how to handle a vehicle in a skid (steer the vehicle in the direction you want the front of your vehicle to go and don’t touch your brakes.

Make a winter travel safety kit. (Cell phone, ice scraper, a tow rope, cat litter (for use as a traction aid), blankets,  flashlight, portable weather radio and a can of de-icer.)

If you become stuck, stay in your vehicle and wait for help.

Share

Blue Ridge Parkway Visitors Top 15 Million

Posted on by January 12, 2016

Blue Ridge Parkway Visitors Top 15 Million For 2015

The number of Blue Ridge Parkway visitors for 2015 impressive. The number of visitors to the Blue Ridge Parkway for 2015 reached over 15 million. This has not happened in over three years. The National Park Service reports not quite 15.1 million visitors for the year in 2015. This is the most visitors since the year 2012. This is likely due to the better than average fall foliage prediction for last autumn and an unseasonable warm December. The park service report a very busy month this past December on the parkway with close to 870,000 visitors in that month alone.

The North Carolina section of the parkway had over 10 million visitors last year with the Virginia section of the parkway having about 5 million visitors. In Virginia the busiest areas along the parkway were reported to be The Plateau District. The Plateau District includes the Roanoke region and areas southward toward the North Carolina state line. It was a very good year for the Blue Ridge Parkway. The 460 miles highway is a beautiful drive along some of the most scenic landscapes on the East Coast. With an especially colorful fall foliage during October and a
unusually warm December visitors from all over traveled the Blue Ridge Parkway to enjoy the leisurely and beautiful ride the parkway offers.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Blue Ridge Parkway

Share

Rockslide Closes Section of Parkway

Posted on by November 24, 2015

Rockslide Closes Section of Blue Ridge Parkway Near Cherokee

A rockslide has caused the closure of part of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. Early this morning a section of the parkway was closed due to a rockslide that apparently happened overnight. The section closed is from Milepost 455 to Milepost 468. It will remained closed until the rocks can be removed and the section is deemed safe for traffic to resume. No injuries have been reported as a result of the rock slide. Officials expect the closure will be in effect at least a week if not longer depending on how much damage the rockslide caused and for stabilization to prevent future rockslides in that area. During the winter months closures on the Blue Ridge Parkway are common due to winter weather related issues.

Blue Ridge Parkway Rockslide (from WRAL facebook)

Blue Ridge Parkway Rockslide (from WRAL facebook)

The closure is located about 5 miles west of Maggie Valley at Soco Gap at the US 19 Crossover (about 12 miles east of Cherokee, NC). The closure extends all the way to Junction Parkway and US 441 which is about 2 miles south of Cherokee. To access the Blue Ridge Parkway south of the Great Smoky Mountains take US 441 south to US 19 east toward Maggie Valley. To get road closures updates in real-time see Blue Ridge Parkway Real Time Road Closures.

Location of Blue Ridge Parkway Closure

 

Share

Storm Related Closures

Posted on by October 4, 2015

Low Pressure Storm Related Damage Causes Blue Ridge Parkway Closures

The persistent low pressure system that is causing historical flooding in the Carolinas’ is also dumping  a lot of rain in the mountains of North Carolina. Many areas of the Blue Ridge Parkway in both Virginia and North Carolina are closed or under advisory. River and stream levels are being monitored, dams are being monitored, bridges, downed trees, trails and road conditions are being monitored daily. Many of the cabins located in the parkway are experiencing leaks and swollen doors due to the rain and extended period of wet/humid conditions making conditions unsafe for visitors. There have also been reports of rock slides, loss of power and loss of running water in some facilities. Some visitors centers and areas have reopened but many areas remain closed until Monday Oct. 5, 2015.

Blue Ridge Parkway Waterfalls

Blue Ridge Parkway Closures

Parkway staff have been out everyday monitoring the situation and park conditions. Plans to reopen all areas as soon as deemed safe are determined on a daily basis. With the forecast for the low pressure system to move out on Monday things should return to normal as soon as cleanup can be completed. Now that the wet weather is coming to an end the fall foliage show should be well under way this week. Reports of color in spite of the clouds and fog over the weekend have been reported in the 4000-5000′ elevation areas. Great areas to see the fall colors this week would be Craggy Gardens and Graveyard Fields.

Here is a link to the real-time road closures on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

 

 

Share

Fall Colors When And Where

Posted on by September 25, 2015

Fall Colors On The Blue Ridge Parkway – When And Where

The ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the fall is one of the most beautiful times to tour the parkway due to the fall colors. Whether the drive is on the parkway in Virginia or in North Carolina it doesn’t matter, both areas in the fall offer a great showing of fall foliage. But there is some difference in the timing of peak colors due to the difference in elevation along the 469 mile long parkway. The highest elevation (over 4000 feet) will peak first with progression going down to the lower elevations a couple a weeks later. Peak colors will take place just days after the first frost in the different locations.

Virginia

Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park

In Virginia typical fall foliage peak colors can be from October 10-20 in the far western region of Virginia (the mountain region). The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests west of the Blue Ridge Parkway would be a good location and in the nearby town of Blacksburg.

In the Piedmont section of Virginia peak colors are typically October 15-25. The Shenandoah National Park would be a nice ride during this time period on Skyline Drive. The highest elevation on the parkway in Virginia is Hawksbill Mountain with an elevation of 4,050 feet. It’s located off Skyline Drive at milepost 45.6.  Another area for a nice ride is from Waynesboro to Roanoke.

North Carolina

North Carolina has the highest elevations located anywhere on the Blue Ridge Parkway. A trip through the Great Smoky Mountains is where peak fall colors will happen first with elevations of 5000 feet or higher. The Blue Ridge parkway ends in Cherokee, NC. Cherokee is the southern entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The fall foliage show along the Blue Ridge Parkway will start in this area first where the highest elevations are. Typically peak colors in this are occur from October 4-10 due to the highest elevations (above 5,000 feet). Other areas above 5000 feet are located north of Asheville. Mount Mitchell, Craggy Gardens, Grandfather Mountain and Rough Ridge would be area to go to in the first weeks of October along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Blue Ridge Parkway

The mid elevations in the 3000-4000 feet range will typically peak October 15-24. A ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway north of Asheville is a good choice these weeks. Boone, Blowing Rock, Sugar Mountain, Little Switzerland and the Pisgah National Forest would be some great areas for a trip to view peak fall colors.

In late October south of Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway is when fall foliage peak colors will typically occur in elevations of 2000 feet and less. The areas of Hendersonville, Brevard, Biltmore, Chimney Rock and Lake Lure would be the areas to view some great fall foliage colors in late October.

A ride south of Asheville toward Balsam would be a nice ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina to get that last chance to see some peak colors in late October.

Fall foliage weekly reports will start soon on Travel Blue Ridge Parkway in late September. Check back often!

Blue Ridge Parkway Fall Foliage

Blue Ridge Parkway Fall Foliage

Share

Blue Ridge Parkway Tunnels

Posted on by August 31, 2015

Blue Ridge Parkway Tunnels

Blue Ridge Parkway tunnels add a fun and exciting experience to a leisurely drive. The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches for 253 miles in North Carolina and along the way if you were to drive the whole stretch you would drive through 25 tunnels. There are 25 tunnels on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. During construction of the parkway in the 1930s the plan was for the road to have little impact on the landscape appearance. The steep terrain of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northwestern NC portion of the road was the reason for the most number of tunnels. Tunnels were necessary to preserve the landscape.

The shortest tunnel is Rough Ridge at 150 feet long at milepost 349.0. The longest tunnel is Pine Mountain tunnel at 1435 feet long at milepost 399.1. There is one twin tunnel: Twin Tunnel North at milepost 344.6 and Twin Tunnel South at milepost 344.7. The triple tunnel is as the name suggest – a set of three tunnels with Ferrin Knob Tunnel #1 at milepost 400.9, Ferrin Knob Tunnel #2 is at milepost 401.3 and Ferrin Knob Tunnel #3 is at milepost 401.5.

BRP tunnel

BRP tunnel

The Virginia portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway has only one tunnel-Bluff Mountain Tunnel at milepost 53.1. All other tunnels are located in North Carolina between milepost 333.4 and 466.3. During the cold winter months sections of the parkway have to be closed due to dripping rain water that freezes in the tunnels and other areas that get little or no sunshine. Even though the air temperatures may be above freezing there is still a danger of ice on the roadway especially in the tunnels during winter.

Tips and guidelines for traveling on the parkway through the tunnels.

1. Use your headlights, even for the shorter tunnels.

2. Drive slow through the tunnels and pay attention to oncoming traffic.

3. Take off your sunglasses. The longer tunnels can be quite dark as compared to the bright sunshine moments earlier.

4. Beware of bicycle riders in the lane. There is no shoulder and therefore nowhere to go and nowhere to pass. Share the road and be considerate.

5. Passing a vehicle is not recommended. Pay attention to No Passing signs and other posted highway signs and speed limits.

6. The parkway speed limit is 45 miles per hour (unless at more congested areas where is 25 mph).

7. If on a RV know the height of the camper. The height of each tunnel is marked. Depending on how tall the RV, some tunnels may not have the clearance needed.

See The Blue Ridge Parkway Tunnel Runs from youtube…

Share