Fall Banter

[tnweathernut]

I hope everyone has enjoyed their summer.  We get to taste fall this weekend and I am guessing everyone will be smelling the rust getting knocked off their heat pumps very soon.

 

I haven't had much time to look closely at the weather lately with work being so hectic!  I am heading to the Tennessee vs. Oklahoma game this Saturday and keeping my fingers crossed the rain moves out in time to enjoy some tailgating and certainly the game.  Anyone else from this forum going?

[kvskelton]

I hope everyone has enjoyed their summer.  We get to taste fall this weekend and I am guessing everyone will be smelling the rust getting knocked off their heat pumps very soon.

 

I haven't had much time to look closely at the weather lately with work being so hectic!  I am heading to the Tennessee vs. Oklahoma game this Saturday and keeping my fingers crossed the rain moves out in time to enjoy some tailgating and certainly the game.  Anyone else from this forum going?

 

I'll be there nut! Our season tickets are in Section O in the south endzone. Really looking forward to going though I believe it'll be a very tough game! What section will you be in? Like you I hope the weather cooperates. Looks like the temp will be great, at least!

 

With the leaves changing color and dropping quick in the TRI and the season opener in Knoxville this weekend it's officially Fall in my book regardless of the calendar! The joys of pollen have returned and once more I question my choice of an outside career. Looking forward to another winter spent pouring over posts in the TN Valley forum! 

 

Go Vols!  

[tnweathernut]

I'll be there nut! Our season tickets are in Section O in the south endzone. Really looking forward to going though I believe it'll be a very tough game! What section will you be in? 

 

Go Vols!  

Just look to your left.............. I have four seats in section P this year, row 22.  I checked some of the modeling (very briefly) and at a quick glance it looks like any showers after lunchtime Saturday SHOULD be pretty spotty.  Temps appear to be hovering in the low 60's around kickoff, and falling into the 50's during the game.  If the weather holds out, the atmosphere inside Neyland will be unlike any other in the last 5-7 years.

[jaxjagman]

Just look to your left.............. I have four seats in section P this year, row 22.  I checked some of the modeling (very briefly) and at a quick glance it looks like any showers after lunchtime Saturday SHOULD be pretty spotty.  Temps appear to be hovering in the low 60's around kickoff, and falling into the 50's during the game.  If the weather holds out, the atmosphere inside Neyland will be unlike any other in the last 5-7 years.

Some SWP's from the last nights run

 

 

Edit:This is more easy to read

 

 

 

[Carvers Gap]

May make the trip down to UT on Saturday. Tickets are pricey. 140ish per. If I can get a pair for 100 each...will be there. Going to be a very tough game with our DB situation. If Martin and KMac can go...we have a shot. Been rainy here today...lots of drizzle. Very fall like. I am ready for the non-stop humidity to be gone. That will be a win in my books. Hey Jeff, what the heck was the KState band doing!?

[Snowless in Carrollton]

I was in the Brentwood area for an interview the other day. Really hope I get the job. It would also be nice to live somewhere that gets snow every winter, unlike here in Georgia. It seems though that Nashville doesn't get as much snow as they used to. Even last winter I think the airport only had 6" and probably some of that was sleet. Nashville is due for a huge winter I believe. I saw that Nashville had several winters in the late 70s with 20+ inches. And close to 40" in 59-60 !

[jaxjagman]

Good luck to the job.But snow has been  here the last several years

[tnweathernut]

I was in the Brentwood area for an interview the other day. Really hope I get the job. It would also be nice to live somewhere that gets snow every winter, unlike here in Georgia. It seems though that Nashville doesn't get as much snow as they used to. Even last winter I think the airport only had 6" and probably some of that was sleet. Nashville is due for a huge winter I believe. I saw that Nashville had several winters in the late 70s with 20+ inches. And close to 40" in 59-60 !

Nashville has been due for around 30 years, lol.

[tnweathernut]

May make the trip down to UT on Saturday. Tickets are pricey. 140ish per. If I can get a pair for 100 each...will be there. Going to be a very tough game with our DB situation. If Martin and KMac can go...we have a shot. Been rainy here today...lots of drizzle. Very fall like. I am ready for the non-stop humidity to be gone. That will be a win in my books. Hey Jeff, what the heck was the KState band doing!?

If you can find them for 140, that's not a bad deal honestly.  I am seeing them going for 200-225 for seats in the lower bowl. Saw some on Stubhub for the upper deck starting at 175 per.

 

I wish I had known a couple of days ago.  I just gave two of my seats to my wife's cousin this morning.  They had been looking for 10 days with no luck on finding seats for anything less than 150.00 per.

[tnweathernut]

Some SWP's from the last nights run

 

 

Edit:This is more easy to read

 

 

Thanks for sharing Jax.  How did things change for 12z? Do you have that one?

[jaxjagman]

Thanks for sharing Jax.  How did things change for 12z? Do you have that one?

[LithiaWx]

I've been up in Syracuse the past few days. The leaves are showing strong signs of early color, even some a already falling. Lots of reds, yellows and oranges showing up. Temps only hit 59-60 today with overcast skies. Winter is coming from the northlands my friends. I ended up with a long layover in Chicago on Saturday morning on my way up here. They had temps in the 50's too with lake effect rain bands setup. Winter is creeping in up north and will be dumping southward soon. A temp of 48-52 with wind, drizzle and overcast skies feels so much colder than a clear crisp still morning with the same temps. It was downright raw here and in Chicago this weekend. I heard you guys had some really nice dry and cool weather. I'm sorry I missed it. But finding weather like I saw here this weekend is hard to do in September in the southeast. The high temps being held down so low with cloudy skies was pretty refreshing despite how dreary it was.

[nrgjeff]

We are mulling over a fall foliage trip weekend of Oct 9-12. It is either Cherokee NC side of Great Smoky Mountain NP or something new like Roan Mountain SP area. Either would be less crowded than the Tenn side of GSMNP. I remember last year the NC side was gorgeous the same weekend but we ran out of time. Also I know we have members up near Roan Mtn and Carvers Gap. Should it be peaking or past peak Oct 9-12?

 

Any thoughts would be well appreciated. If the verdict is usually past peak, we'd still go visit another time. I hear it is great in spring and summer too. A buddy went hiking along the App trail and his photos blow me away. Thanks!

[Carvers Gap]

We are mulling over a fall foliage trip weekend of Oct 9-12. It is either Cherokee NC side of Great Smoky Mountain NP or something new like Roan Mountain SP area. Either would be less crowded than the Tenn side of GSMNP. I remember last year the NC side was gorgeous the same weekend but we ran out of time. Also I know we have members up near Roan Mtn and Carvers Gap. Should it be peaking or past peak Oct 9-12?

 

Any thoughts would be well appreciated. If the verdict is usually past peak, we'd still go visit another time. I hear it is great in spring and summer too. A buddy went hiking along the App trail and his photos blow me away. Thanks!

 

I am not expert...but linked site(below) for Gatlinburg is pretty good.  The leaf change will be elevation dependent.  When they peak at the bottom in Roan Mountain State Park, they are usually gone at Carvers Gap which is where the road crosses just below the bald.  So in a twenty minute drive, the change is stark. The top of the mountains is where it gets tricky.  My gut is they peak a bit early above 4,000'.  Also, watch the weather.  Sometimes if it gets really windy around the peak(leaves)...they will be gone in a hurry up high.  Also, remember rainy and cloudy days are actually better for getting leaf pics.  The colors are brighter.  If you want to see leaves in the valley, I would go a week later than the dates you mentioned in your post.  If you are cool with having to move to higher elevations, the 10th will have a lot of color above 5,000'.  Roan Mountain State Park has cabins for rent that are very nice.  No AC but has heat.  But the cabins are super.  You are close to Boone and Banner Elk.  Johnson City is 40 minutes away.  Not many restaurants in RMSP.  However, it is a beautiful place.  If you take the highway up to Carvers Gap, you can hike to the balds when parking at CG.  Just watch the weather.  Don't try hiking up high if it's foggy or a front is moving through.  I prefer RMSP over the Smokies because GSMNP will be slammed.  Now, Cherokee is not a bad deal either.  I love that part of the mountains...but it is a haul from TRI.  No easy way for us to get there.  You have three great options.  You will be fine with any of those IMO. 

 

Leaves

 

Edit:  Also, one year we drove to Mt. Mitchell and traveled some on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Was awesome.  The leaves will go early on Mitchell, but the Parkway may be good at that time.  So, maybe Asheville would be a good hub as well.  Lots of great restaurants there.  It is a bit earthy in the downtown, but still much to do.  Plus, there is Biltmore and many things within driving distance.

[jaxjagman]

https://news.uga.edu/releases/article/urban-heat-island-effect-on-temperatures-0915/

 

 

abstract
The spatial configuration of cities can affect how urban environments alter local energy balances. Previous studies have reached the paradoxical conclusions that both sprawling and high-density urban development can amplify urban heat island intensities, which has prevented consensus on how best to mitigate the urban heat island effect via urban planning. To investigate this apparent dichotomy, we estimated the urban heat island intensities of the 50 most populous cities in the United States using gridded minimum temperature datasets and quantified each city's urban morphology with spatial metrics. The results indicated that the spatial contiguity of urban development, regardless of its density or degree of sprawl, was a critical factor that influenced the magnitude of the urban heat island effect. A ten percentage point increase in urban spatial contiguity was predicted to enhance the minimum temperature annual average urban heat island intensity by between 0.3 and 0.4 °C. Therefore, city contiguity should be considered when devising strategies for urban heat island mitigation, with more discontiguous development likely to ameliorate the urban heat island effect. Unraveling how urban morphology influences urban heat island intensity is paramount given the human health consequences associated with the continued growth of urban populations in the future.

 

[nrgjeff]

Thanks Carvers for the reply. Sounds like timing up your way is not too much different than in the Smokies. We were also eying Asheville. Timing should be right there as well, but like you said higher peaks of northwest NC will go earlier. I'll let you know what we do. Cheers!

[Stovepipe]

I am not expert...but linked site(below) for Gatlinburg is pretty good.  The leaf change will be elevation dependent.  When they peak at the bottom in Roan Mountain State Park, they are usually gone at Carvers Gap which is where the road crosses just below the bald.  So in a twenty minute drive, the change is stark. The top of the mountains is where it gets tricky.  My gut is they peak a bit early above 4,000'.  Also, watch the weather.  Sometimes if it gets really windy around the peak(leaves)...they will be gone in a hurry up high.  Also, remember rainy and cloudy days are actually better for getting leaf pics.  The colors are brighter.  If you want to see leaves in the valley, I would go a week later than the dates you mentioned in your post.  If you are cool with having to move to higher elevations, the 10th will have a lot of color above 5,000'.  Roan Mountain State Park has cabins for rent that are very nice.  No AC but has heat.  But the cabins are super.  You are close to Boone and Banner Elk.  Johnson City is 40 minutes away.  Not many restaurants in RMSP.  However, it is a beautiful place.  If you take the highway up to Carvers Gap, you can hike to the balds when parking at CG.  Just watch the weather.  Don't try hiking up high if it's foggy or a front is moving through.  I prefer RMSP over the Smokies because GSMNP will be slammed.  Now, Cherokee is not a bad deal either.  I love that part of the mountains...but it is a haul from TRI.  No easy way for us to get there.  You have three great options.  You will be fine with any of those IMO. 

 

Leaves

 

Edit:  Also, one year we drove to Mt. Mitchell and traveled some on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Was awesome.  The leaves will go early on Mitchell, but the Parkway may be good at that time.  So, maybe Asheville would be a good hub as well.  Lots of great restaurants there.  It is a bit earthy in the downtown, but still much to do.  Plus, there is Biltmore and many things within driving distance.

 

How far of a hike is it from Carvers Gap to the bald?  I've been wanting take the family and camper over to RMSP for a while now and I reckon this fall would be a good time to pull the trigger.  Maybe we'll drive over there this Sunday and scout out the best campsites.

[Coach B]

How far of a hike is it from Carvers Gap to the bald?  I've been wanting take the family and camper over to RMSP for a while now and I reckon this fall would be a good time to pull the trigger.  Maybe we'll drive over there this Sunday and scout out the best campsites.

Not far at all. You can park right at the gap and cross the road.  I'm not sure what part of the bald that is, but it basically starts as soon as you cross the road. A short 10-15 minute hike gets you to the top. Beautiful up there. I wouldn't hesitate to do it with kids either. Carver's really is an easy access point for some high elevation sights(weather permitting).

[Carvers Gap]

How far of a hike is it from Carvers Gap to the bald?  I've been wanting take the family and camper over to RMSP for a while now and I reckon this fall would be a good time to pull the trigger.  Maybe we'll drive over there this Sunday and scout out the best campsites.

RMSP is in the valley at the foot of Roan Mountain.  The state park may also have the rhododendron gardens on the ridge as well.  The campground is in the valley.  Nice place IMO.  Basically, Carvers Gap is where the highway(two line road that goes through RMSP) crosses into North Carolina. That is the gap.  Park there and it is about 1.5 miles to the first bald.  There are several balds after that.  Carvers Gap is like a 25 min drive up the mtn from the campground.  The gap is not anything major.  Gravel parking lot w/ bathrooms(outhouses really).  What makes this area great is it is not really developed.  You can see forever from up top.

 

The campground at the bottom has nice facilities.  A creek runs through it.  Has trout if you like to fish.  Has a pool...not sure if it still open since it is seasonal.  Is very nice when it is.  The campground is shaded and pretty easy going.  My grandfather used to frequent the area due to smaller crowds.  Also, there is an apple orchard in the vicinity that is awesome.  Let me know if you head that way.  I will give more specific directions. 

[Carvers Gap]

Not far at all. You can park right at the gap and cross the road.  I'm not sure what part of the bald that is, but it basically starts as soon as you cross the road. A short 10-15 minute hike gets you to the top. Beautiful up there. I wouldn't hesitate to do it with kids either. Carver's really is an easy access point for some high elevation sights(weather permitting).

Would second that.  The trail is very family friendly.  The blueberries are probably gone now.  Hey, Coach B, bout time to fire-up the woodstoves!?

[Carvers Gap]

Thanks Carvers for the reply. Sounds like timing up your way is not too much different than in the Smokies. We were also eying Asheville. Timing should be right there as well, but like you said higher peaks of northwest NC will go earlier. I'll let you know what we do. Cheers!

 

We might be a week ahead, maybe.  Seems elevation is a bigger factor than latitude.  Please keep us updated.  I think the Blue Ridge Parkway would be awesome.  Mt. Mitchell is a neat place.  However, it is on a totally different schedule for leaves as you say.  Good luck, man!

[jaxjagman]

[jaxjagman]

Cant remember the last time Auburn and Alabama loss the same day

 

 

[jaxjagman]

Playing Jeremy Johnson for Auburn is like trying to start a fire on a wood log when it's wet.Good luck with this.

[jaxjagman]

[Mr Bob]

Sorry I have been MIA for a few weeks...my oldest daughter is doing a semester abroad in Ireland so we went over there to "help" her move in then my other daughter started school out on the west coast this week so I have been trotting the globe....add to that I have officially moved back to Chattanooga as of today....fortunately the weather has been dead! Definitely will miss Knoxvegas though!

[nrgjeff]

Welcome back to the city where 7/8 wind directions are downslope, lol! Somehow we got snow bombed the last two years straight. Can we make it a trifecta this year?

[nrgjeff]

I saw, Carver, your note in the Nino thread about leaves going early up there. You don't think it'll scream past peak by October 10? We are leaning toward Roan Mountain and the App Trail now. With a possible Fed Gov shutdown the Smokies and Blue Ridge are out. We are going the state park route. I figure Roan Mountain SP would be peaking at lower elevations even on the fastest scenario. Does that sound reasonable? I was hoping to get mid-mountain. I'm willing to see ridges past peak in exchange for the whole side of the mountain in a tapestry of color. Figure a valley peak would be great too since the actual state park is lower and those trails along the creek would be gorgeous.

 

Option two is the Tennessee state parks around Clarksville or even Frozen Head north of Knoxville. Those are at lower elevations. What does John see with the leaves on the Plateau?

 

I got southeast Tennessee figured out, but this year will venture elsewhere. Normally we visit the Smokies around mid-October; drive the Cherohala the next weekend; do local state parks or preserves the 4th weekend of October; and, the lowest elevations Halloween or first weekend of November. Those four weeks could arguably have a fifth up front, the Carolina Blue Ridge first weekend of October, but politics risk is present this year. Almost as annoying as storm chasing 2015 lol!

[John1122]

9th-12th is a week or 10 days off the peak time on the Plateau. It's normally from say, October 20th-30th. 

[Carvers Gap]

I saw, Carver, your note in the Nino thread about leaves going early up there. You don't think it'll scream past peak by October 10? We are leaning toward Roan Mountain and the App Trail now. With a possible Fed Gov shutdown the Smokies and Blue Ridge are out. We are going the state park route. I figure Roan Mountain SP would be peaking at lower elevations even on the fastest scenario. Does that sound reasonable? I was hoping to get mid-mountain. I'm willing to see ridges past peak in exchange for the whole side of the mountain in a tapestry of color. Figure a valley peak would be great too since the actual state park is lower and those trails along the creek would be gorgeous.

 

Option two is the Tennessee state parks around Clarksville or even Frozen Head north of Knoxville. Those are at lower elevations. What does John see with the leaves on the Plateau?

 

I got southeast Tennessee figured out, but this year will venture elsewhere. Normally we visit the Smokies around mid-October; drive the Cherohala the next weekend; do local state parks or preserves the 4th weekend of October; and, the lowest elevations Halloween or first weekend of November. Those four weeks could arguably have a fifth up front, the Carolina Blue Ridge first weekend of October, but politics risk is present this year. Almost as annoying as storm chasing 2015 lol!

 

I would say you are money with October 10th in the valley for RMSP.  The top may be cleared by then, but it probably would be anyway.  It is really odd right now where I live.  I am in Kingsport.  Normally, I can see the leaves change on Bays Mountain and work their way down the mountain.  However, the valleys seem to be in step.  The sycamores along the river are changing as well as maples and dogwoods.  Some oaks are changing now as well.  If you are doing Roan Mtn...I would guess(and I am not leaf expert) that you are going to see a lot of color.  Heck, a lot is showing (relatively for the time of year) right now.  I talked to a friend of mine on FB last weekend.  He rides motorcycles and made the trip up to Carvers Gap.  Said colors were starting to show last weekend up high.  Two years ago we took the kids to Mt. Mitchell on Fall break.  Here in Kingsport the leaves were just beginning to change.  Reached Asheville and rode up some elevation to the Blue Ridge Parkway.  The leaves were at peak.  We reached 5,000' on Mt Mitchell and the leaves were gone.  So, I have to think the leaf peak will be pretty close to the state park in the valley there...if not, just head up the mountain about 1,000' on the road.  Anyway, I "think" you are OK.  My neighbors are commenting on how early things are changing here.  I think a cabin in RMSP would be awesome IMO.  Those cabins in the state park have wood burning fire places.  Good thinking not messing with a gov't shutdown.  I am actually heading to Sanibel Island close to that time frame.  We like to go to Ding Darling to see the wildlife.  More birds than I can name.  Man, that shutdown could be a problem!  Well, the beach will still be there.