Smokies Drought Conditions?

To anybody in East Tennessee, West NC:

 

Are the trees in your area already dropping leaves due to the drought

conditions? When I was last in TN (4-5 weeks ago) things were dry, but the

trees seemed okay. Here in Birmingham we are starting to see lots of leaf drop

and many, many, many brown trees, even with the rain we've had in the last few

weeks. I've seen entire ridges that are brown.

 

I'm trying to gauge whether I should attempt any foliage photography up there

this year, or stick in Birmingham and do some cool-weather non-photography

hiking.

Here on Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga the trees have been stressed by the hard freeze in April and the severe drought this summer, but so far I have not seen extensive leaf drop. Two weeks ago I traveled to Asheville and can report the same with respect to the path between here and there. What this fall holds I cannot say. Have you been to Desoto State Park in Mentone (Alabama) or Cloudland Canyon on Lookout Mountain (Georgia)? They are not so far from Birmingham and usually offer fine hiking and foliage in the fall, especially around the first of November.

Well I am not in East Tennessee. I live in Nashville. Here in Nashville we are about 20 inches under for rain for the year. The leafs are turning brown. A lot of the creeks and streams are dried up, along with falls. I go hikeing pretty much every other day, and alot of the vegetation has died. I would assume that the conditions are much the same to the east but I am not 100% sure on that.

Chris,

 

Yeah, I've been to both. Check my profile & portfolio for proof. :)

Joshua

 

Nice pictures by the way. I looked at your profile. How do you like Cumberland School of Law? I considered the school but decided to hold off on law school for at least a year.

Nick,

 

Rather than cluttering up photo.net with school reviews, feel free to request my e-mail address through photo.net and I'll answer any questions you might have. I like the school, btw.

And thanks for the weather report, Nick!

I am about 70 miles from GSMNP. Here, at about 1100 to 2000 ft in my area, the poplars are already turning yellow, and there is some leaf drop. I think at least some of the higher elevations, especially around the Gatlinburg TN area have had more rain than we have had here. I was at GSMNP 2 weeks ago, and no leaf drop to speak of near Cherokee, NC.

Maybe the fall won't be a loss then. Thanks Tamara!

Joshua, I was in the Smokies last Sunday, 9-17-07 and I noticed a lot of leaf dropage. I saw quite a few trees that were already turning yellow and red. However, I think it will be OK come mid to late October. I also noticed all the rivers and falls were very low too.

 

The way I look at it is drought is part of nature to and I am sure you will get some great photos regardless.