Natural History Wanderings

 Blue Ridge Parkway Fall Colors Tracker has the following quick summary update for 10/16/14

Past Peak (but offering long-range views of valleys below)

• Southern region of the Blue Ridge Parkway near and below Graveyard Fields.
• Mt Mitchell and Graggy Gardens area from around Little Switzerland to just north of Asheville.
• Most elevations above 4500′.

At (or very close to) Peak ( 75% & up ) <= This weekend’s best outlook

• Boone / Blowing Rock area including Price Lake and Moses Cone Manor.
• Grandfather Mountain & Linn Cove Viaduct areas
• North Carolina Mineral Museum north of Little Switzerland.
• North of the Boone / Blowing Rock area to the Mabry Mill area.
• Most elevations in the range from 3250′ to 4500′.

Near Peak, but very colorful ( 60% to 75% )

• Asheville area near the Blue Ridge Parkway Destination Center south to the area just before Mt. Pisgah.
• Northern end of the Parkway from Skyline Drive (MP 0) to Milepost 101.  Bright colors in this area.
• Mabry Mill area north to Roanoke.
• Most elevations in the range from 2250′ to 3200′.

Patchy, but not green (  10% – 50% )

• Central Virginia area around James River and Roanoke River Valleys.
• Long range views off the eastern and western escarpment.
• Most elevations below 2200′.

See full Report at  Blue Ridge Parkway Fall Colors Tracker.