 |
Even the mountains couldn’t escape the historic severe weather that occurred during the “Super Outbreak” of late April. The park has had to close several trails and portions of trails on the west end of the park during clean-up. To see some of the damage on the closed trails and the path of destruction from Look Rock tower, watch this video. Updated trail closure map (May 31, 2011) - Ace Gap Trail is now open. Updated trail closure map (June 24, 2011) Now Open: - The entire length of Abrams Falls Trail - The entire length of Little Bottoms Trail - Hatcher Mountain Trail between Abrams Falls Trail and Little Bottoms Trail |
17 Comments
The video “Tornado Damage In The Park” is the best and most complete look yet at the aftermath of the April 27 storm in our mountains. I’m grateful for the perspective. Thanks, GSMA.
IS THE 11 MILE LOOP ROAD OPEN?? WE ARE COMING UP THE 9 OF JUNE FOR 10 DAYS HOPING EVERYTHING IS OK BY THAN. TOWNSEND TENN. IS GODS COUNTRY TO US AFTER 22 STRAIGHT YEARS OF COMING UP THERE THANKS FOR EVERTHING…
THE CASTLES
Yes, it is open.
The video regarding the Tornado damage is wonderfully done. So full of information and it will be wonderful in a few months to be revisted to see how much work has been done. I truly love the smokies and was very surprise to hear of the Tornado. Like the Smokies I beleive a lot of us took for granted that we would never experience natures fury as this. Seems no one is safe from it. I send well wishes for a complete recovery as best that can be done. Good news is i will be there in July. Sort of a “homecoming for me” I am bringing my boyfriend so hopefully he will fall in love with the area too. I am thankful no one was hurt. Thank you for everyone that works so hard to keep the park so wonderful.
Cath
Wonderful job on the video! Thank you so much for posting it! We love these mountains and this National Park.
What a shame. Maybe now they can make this a trail & name it “Tornado Trail”. Thank God nobody got hurt. I think they are doing the thing by closing the trails to prevent any injuries. I love the Smokie Mountains!
should read “doing the RIGHT thing” sorry.
This is an amazing view. I’m from Tuscaloosa and this breaks my heart also. My kids grew vacationing in the Smokies.
The Video is great. Thank you for all the info and I enjoy getting the Cub Report.
That Video was incredible! BSA Troop 59 surveyed the trail signs and campsites in that area last year as part of the 100 years – 100 miles Park Project. I know that area well and it’s a beautiful area.
Loved the video. I’m so thankful no historic buildings were damaged. Love the Smokies!!
Fantastic video and report. Thank goodness no one was hurt and no historic buildings damaged. I held my breath when I saw how close it came to Cades Cove. Grateful for all the people involved in restoration of our spectacular park. As an artist recording the beauty of the buildings there, I’m relieved that the tornado passed them by.
It still doesn’t affect the Beauty of the Mountains. I cherish every trip I make to the Smokies !
We hiked the Joyce Kilmer National forest May 24 2011 and the damage was substantial. Trees down for at least a fews miles and it was quite destructive.
My 16 year old son and I were camping at site 14 the night of April 27! Needless to say, it was a dark and stormy night. The next day we hiked the Hannah Mountain Tr past the Rabbit Creek Tr intersection and on to Abrams Falls Tr. The damage was amazing! There were sections where we would take up to an hour to go 100 feet through downed trees and brush. At 7pm on Thursday, about a mile and a half from the end of the trail, some soft, damaged ground gave way. I slid a few feet and my left leg bent in an unnatural direction. My fibula snapped. My son ran to the trailhead to get help. A team of rangers came with him to get me out. Those guys are GREAT!! Just got the cast off last week…woohoo! God preserved us in His wisdom and mercy. It could have been much worse. Can’t wait to go back.
We will miss being able to horse back ride the Abrams Creek Loop until the trails are cleared and repaired, which looks like it may be a long time. It was one of our favorite rides in the Smokies.
It was very frightening. We are literally just across Chilhowee Lake from the beginning of the tornado path and saw the rain-wrapped wall as it dropped down right before us. (Have pictures from moments before it touched down). We went inside and underground but could see the debris swirl from the window. In fact, our house can be seen in the aerial flyover. Every day we look out our window at the brown swath.
As an update, though, the video mentions that Chilhowee Lake is closed. It re-opened several weeks ago. Alcoa sunk the downed power tower and removed the power lines that crossed the lake. I talked to a gentleman from Alcoa who came to our property to survey last week. He said that they do plan to erect another tower and run new lines across the lake.