Hey there, I'm planning to come to Asheville tomorrow for some town time and camping.
I see snow is predicted for tomorrow. How will the roads be? I'm from a snowfree area, so driving in it (and ice) is something I'm not experienced with at all. Will my 2wd car be able to handle driving in town at least?
Thanks for the help!
Posted Dec 7, 2017, 10:20 PM UTC
There won't be enough for it to be an issue.
LOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLcat
Dunno where you are sitting, but I'm near Mission. 2+" down and falling; in the last 10 minutes, the roads have started to cover.
Carry on.
It shouldn't be bad enough to warrant it, but perennial advice: if you slide, turn into the skid.
As in if I'm sliding forward angled right, I should turn right?
If you slide, and the car's back end skids to the right, turn to the right. If you slide and the car's back end skids to the left, turn to the left. If you think about it, if it skids to the right and you turn to the left, you spin in a circle.
And stay off the brakes.
Turn in the direction you want to go.
276 near Brevard will see the most accumulation of snow. Expect to see winter weather if you're thinking of traveling on that road.
Oh, thanks for the heads up! I guess I'll seek home elsewhere. Do you think road conditions will improve quickly?
Yeah it'll warm up into the 40's on Saturday/Sunday and 50's on Monday. Friday I'd expect hazardous road conditions.
Main streets will absolutely be fine, but plan to go slow, give extra room for other cars/braking, and keep in mind that if there is accumulation, some of the hills around town become challenging.
More concerned about where you would camp and making it out there. . .
Cool. I was looking at spots off of 276. I guess I should maybe plan to drive and camp somewhere that doesn't get accumulation?
The higher the elevation, the more chance of snow. Hwy 276 starts at 2200 feet and up at the Blue Ridge Parkway is 4500. Also, conditions can be icy in the morning and evening but fine during the day. But really, you should be fine.
Hard to say. I'm not super familiar with the area down there.
If you're equipped for it, you can camp in a bit of snow. And snowfall totals won't be that much - but just keep in mind getting around takes longer, becomes harder, and increases your risk when you do it in snow.
I'd bet you'd be fine though. There is also camping in the Pisgah Nat'l Forest kinda near Old Fort if that's close to ya. I know some spots in that area fairly well if you're interested.
Oh, I'm definitely equipped camping wise. Backpacking is my primary form of recreation, by far. I just get nervous pushing my car too far.
I'd love to get those recommendations if you'd oblige!
Writing this stuff is kind of a pain, but I've done some exploring in the Nat'l Forests around Old Fort, and have a campground map from a friend that worked wilderness therapy down there.
There is a gravel road that runs from Black Mountain to Old Fort called Mill Creek Road. There are a few pulloffs off that road, one or two of them that are old logging roads and would offer a spot to camp. In particular, there's one spot with a pulloff on both sides that has a gated-off road that goes several miles into the woods and has a few spots off the road itself - some casual exploring would show you what I mean.
Closer to Old Fort, you can park on the side of Graphite Road in between SUWS of the Carolinas (wilderness therapy) and the church, and head up a trail there toward a fork in the trail - left leads to campspots open to the public (and used by SUWS) and to the right leads to Heartbreak Ridge, a trail that switchbacks up the ridge and gives up options to go down the other side (toward more logging roads and dispersed camping), or you can follow the ridge toward Montreat. (you can google Heartbreak Ridge for more info)
Down in Old Fort, someone else already mentioned Curtis Creek. Closer to Curtis Creek, you can find other pulloffs on Newberry Creek Road, particularly at the end of it. That's all Nat'l Forest. There are lots of dispersed campspots in there.
There are also similar offers off Little Buck Creek Road (sign is missing however). If you can get your hands on some USFS maps, they might be really helpful and show you where the dispersed campspots are as well.
Yes Curtis Creek campground! I just drove by there a few weeks ago. In a protected valley and by the creek. beautiful spot. Preferable to 276 if u ask me
Curtis Creek is great but heavily used by hunters and we are in the midst of deer hunting with rifle season. Please wear bright colors if you go there. Sundays are no hunting days.
Doomed. Beware. Raid the stores of silly fattening food.
So, situation as normal?
Oh my god it’s the white death!!!
On a serious note you should be fine. It isn’t going to be any significant accumulations. Enjoy our city and area!
Haha that's the attitude of my hometown, but on a serious note.
Thank you!
it's going to be pretty if it hits the mountaintops.
That's what I'm looking forward to! Last time I came up here when it was snowy, I tried to go to Max Patch, which didn't quite work. So I'm hoping to find something cool and accessible tomorrow.
it's tough to do. they close a lot of high elevation roads when it snows or just in winter generally.
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Spivey Gap in Madison County. No snow there at all. ever.
The road conditions will be fine. However, there will be many drivers like yourself who have never driven in wintery conditions and will panic. Be extra cautious of the drivers and you will be fine.
Gotta love how under-forecasted this storm was :)
lol you are right