Blue Ridge Waterfall and Foliage Tour (Rescheduled for October 2025)

On Thursday, October 3, 2024, organizers of the club's long-planned fall field trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains notified registered attendees that the trip had been canceled because of the impact of Hurricane Helene.

 

The death toll from the storm has surpassed 200, with more than half of the deaths in North Carolina, where entire communities were uprooted and devastated by the deadliest mainland storm since Katrina in 2005.

The following excerpt from The Drive summarizes the current state of things regarding the Blue Ridge Parkway:

"The United States’ most-visited scenic road, the Blue Ridge Parkway, has been closed by the National Park Service with no estimated reopening date. The closure coincides with the arrival of Fall colors to Appalachia and the Southeast, which are typically the Parkway’s busiest season. But this year, the full length of the Parkway will be shut down as the Park Service scrambles to aid in recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene.

"Even before the storm’s conclusion on Saturday, September 29, the National Park Service announced that the Parkway would remain closed until further notice for repairs and rescue efforts. The 469-mile route, the longest linear park in the country, suffered innumerable road washouts that are complicating recovery efforts across the region.

"While only segments of the road closed initially, an updated closure notice on Thursday, October 3 declared the Parkway’s full length off-limits as 250 Park Service personnel from 32 states and the District of Columbia coordinate to reverse Helene’s 'catastrophic' damage."

Club activities chair Mary Ruehle has approved rescheduling the event for October 2025.

Work will begin in December 2024 on planning for next year's trip. As information regarding the rescheduled trip becomes available, it will be posted here.

Our hopes and prayers are with all the affected residents of North Carolina and other states impacted by the storm.

If you have any questions about this event, please contact Club President Parvin Stiles.