Folks, given the devastation and lives lost from Hurricane Helene, it no longer seems appropriate to provide fall leaf color notifications for this season. While this time of year gives many people great joy, it is simply not as important right now as focusing on helping everyone in this region who was affected by the storm to get their lives back together.
Given that over 300 roads are impassible and many others precarious, it is also not safe to be out on many of the mountain roads looking at fall leaf color. At this point, the entire Blue Ridge Parkway, the main thoroughfare for leaf lookers, is completely closed until they determine that the road is safe for visitors. And even if it is opened, the roads leading to the access points may not be.
Fall color season is important to the economy of the mountains, contributing $600-$800 million dollars to the tourist industry between September and November. Many people’s businesses depend on this tourism to make their annual profit, so it seems counterintuitive to recommend that people think twice before making the trip up here. I am conflicted about this. In one sense, we want to support the local businesses. On the other hand, we don’t want to interfere with the rebuilding that will be going on up here. What to do demands a Solomonic deliberation.
As of today, my family still has no power or water or internet. I am writing this post from my university office since the school has power and water. The main road south out of Boone caved in on one side, so traffic that way is restricted. Beech Mountain suffered mightily, and many of its roads washed away. Watauga County Emergency personnel posted a long list of closed roads here. If we have that many out, then it’s probably worse toward Asheville and that region.
As a result, I have decided that it would not be appropriate nor safe to be going out to check on the leaves the remainder of this season. We will just have to wait it out and see how it goes. For those still planning a trip to the High Country, or anywhere in western North Carolina, check ahead to see if you can even get there, and also to determine if your place of lodging is still open. It is too much for me to catalog myself.
Hoping that everyone affected can get back on their feet soon. I want to express my sincerest condolences to those who lost loved ones in this storm.
I hope everyone understands. Best wishes to you all. See you next fall hopefully!