Hikers rejoice: Officials announce reopening of 85 miles of WNC trails

Officials announce reopening of 85 miles of Western North Carolina trails

WYFF NEWS FOUR AT SIX STARTS RIGHT NOW. A WINDY AND COLD THURSDAY LEADS TO ANOTHER ONE LIKE IT ON FRIDAY. COMING UP, I’LL LOOK CLOSER AT THE WEEKEND. WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA BRACING FOR ONE OF THE COLDEST NIGHTS SINCE HALLOWEEN. I’M REY LLERENA IN ASHEVILLE WITH HOW PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO HELP OTHERS STAY WARM. MORE OUT OF NETWORK CONCERNS THIS TIME WITH TWO HOSPITAL SYSTEMS AND A DIFFERENT INSURANCE PROVIDER. WHEN THIS COULD IMPACT YOUR HEALTHCARE COSTS IF THEY CONTINUE TO PUT THE SIGNS OUT, THEN THERE WILL BE CITATIONS ISSUED. SOME UPSTATE LEADERS SAY THEY’VE HAD ENOUGH OF ILLEGAL SIGNAGE. WHAT’S BEING DONE TO MAKE BUSINESSES FOLLOW THE RULES? WE BEGIN WITH WEATHER TONIGHT AT SIX. IT’S A LIVE SUPER DOPPLER FOUR IMPACT DAY ACROSS THE CAROLINAS AND GEORGIA. BLUSTERY TEMPERATURES HAVE ARRIVED AND SNOW IS POSSIBLE IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. A LIVE LOOK FROM OUR ASHEVILLE SKYCAM. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT IF WE CAN. YEP, THERE IT IS. IT IS DARK OUTSIDE, BUT IT LOOKS COLD. CHRIS. COLD AGAIN TONIGHT AND TOMORROW. SO COLD. I’M SEEING WIND CHILL VALUES IN THE TEENS AND 20S IN THE MOUNTAINS. THE 20S IN THE UPSTATE AND SNOW CONTINUES ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS. WE’VE HAD REPORTS, AT LEAST ON OUR RADAR, RIGHT HERE UP TOWARDS CAESARS HEAD. I WOULDN’T BE SURPRISED IF YOU’RE SEEING SOME FLURRIES. SAME STORY WITH TABLE ROCK UP THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS. THIS BATCH IS KIND OF WANING DOWN A LITTLE BIT, BUT ANOTHER BATCH TOWARD KENTUCKY AND VIRGINIA SWOOPING INTO THE AREA. AND IT’LL GIVE SOME MORE ACCUMULATION TO THE MOUNTAINS. WE’RE ALL SET. WE’RE TALKING SEVERAL INCHES INTO TOMORROW. TOMORROW NIGHT, EVEN INTO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. 49 ALREADY IN GREENVILLE. IT’S 41 IN ASHEVILLE NOW. THE SUN HAS GONE DOWN. TEMPERATURES ARE PLUMMETING QUICKLY AND THE WIND NOT HELPING MATTERS EITHER. SUSTAINED 10 TO 15MPH, BUT GUSTING UP TO 30MPH. RIGHT NOW. THAT’S BRINGING THE WIND CHILL OR THE FEELS LIKE TEMPERATURE DOWN TO 29. IN CULLOWHEE, 33 IN ASHEVILLE ALREADY FEELS LIKE 42 IN PICKENS. OUCH. AS WE LOOK AT THAT SUNSET, JUST GORGEOUS ACROSS GREENVILLE RIGHT NOW, THOSE CLEAR SKIES ALLOWING IT TO COOL DOWN VERY QUICKLY TO THE 30S. BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, MOST OF US WILL BE IN OR AROUND FREEZING. KEEP THAT IN MIND FOR THOSE TENDER PLANTS THAT MAY BE LEFT OUT ON YOUR DECK. A FREEZE WILL GET IT TONIGHT. COMING UP ON MAP OUT WHERE WE GO INTO THE WEEKEND. CHRIS THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN NEARLY TWO MONTHS SINCE HELENE SWEPT THROUGH WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. NOW PEOPLE ARE FACING A NEW CHALLENGE AS THEY RECOVER. THE COLD AND THE WIND TONIGHT IS A CODE PURPLE. IT’S IN EFFECT FOR PEOPLE IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF ASHEVILLE. OUR REY LLERENA HAS MORE ON HOW PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO HELP OTHERS STAY WARM. LOCAL OFFICIALS AND NONPROFITS ARE WORKING TO HELP PEOPLE STAY WARM AS WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA PREPARES FOR ONE OF THE COLDEST NIGHTS SINCE HELENE. ONE NONPROFIT IS HELPING DISTRIBUTE FUEL TO THOSE IN RURAL AREAS. RUSHING WINDS AND FALLING TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED THURSDAY NIGHT IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, AS THE NONPROFIT WESTERN CAROLINA EMERGENCY NETWORK TRIES TO BRING FUEL TO PEOPLE IN NEED. I CANNOT IMAGINE BEING OUT THERE PULLING OUT THIS MUCK FROM YOUR HOME AND YOUR PROPERTY AND TRYING TO SALVAGE YOUR STUFF AND THEN GO IN FREEZING BECAUSE YOU CAN’T AFFORD THE HEAT. BUNCOMBE COUNTY OFFICIALS SAY AROUND 50 PEOPLE ARE STAYING IN AN EMERGENCY SHELTER AFTER HELENE. THE GOAL IS TO CONNECT ALL OF THOSE RESIDENTS WITH HOUSING SOLUTIONS, WHETHER THEY ARE TEMPORARY BUT LONGER TERM THAN EMERGENCY SHELTER OR PERMANENT. TO DATE, THE NETWORK SAYS IT HAS DISTRIBUTED AROUND 72,000 GALLONS OF FUEL WHILE WORKING WITH STATE LEADERS TO PACK UP A VAN LOAD OF PROPANE TANKS AND CARRY THEM SOMEWHERE. BUT YOU CAN’T REALLY DO THAT TOO WELL WITH KEROSENE, SO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS REALLY NEED TO BE PLANNED OUT. BUT A POTENTIALLY LONG WINTER IS ALSO CONCERNING. THERE’S A LOT OF UNSETTLED LAND OUT THERE FROM THE LAND SIDES, AND WITH THE NEW PRESSURE OF SNOW AND THEN EVENTUALLY THE SNOW MELTING, I’M WORRIED THAT WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT MORE POWER DOWN AND A LOT MORE ISSUES. WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE, WYFF4.COM. AS TO HOW LONG CODE PURPLE WILL BE IN EFFECT. HOWEVER, THE NETWORK SAYS THAT THE NEED FOR FUEL WILL ONLY INCREASE DURING THE WINTER. REPORTING IN ASHEVILLE RAE ARENA WYFF NEWS FOUR. THANK YOU RAY. GREENVILLE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING A DEATH AFTER A MAN WAS FOUND INSIDE A HOME FOLLOWING A FIRE. FIREFIGHTERS SAY THEY FOUND THE MAN’S BODY AFTER THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AT THE HOME ON SPRING STREET. FIVE PEOPLE WERE INSIDE AT THE TIME. THE CORONER’S OFFICE HAS NOT YET IDENTIFIED THE VICTIM. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS ASKING ANYONE WITH INFORMATION TO CALL CRIME STOPPERS AT 86423 CRIME IN ASHEVILLE. A DRIVER IS NOW FACING CHARGES AFTER A DEADLY CRASH ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT. IT HAPPENED ON THE I-240 EAST ON RAMP FROM HAYWOOD ROAD. POLICE SAY A MOTORCYCLE WAS HIT BY AN SUV. DERRICK WHITE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BUT DIED SEVERAL DAYS LATER. AFTER THE INVESTIGATION, THEY SAY TREVOR CAGLE WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH MISDEMEANOR DEATH BY MOTOR VEHICLE AND FAILURE TO YIELD WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY, A MAN IS FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES ACCUSED OF LOOTING HALLOWEEN VICTIMS. ACCORDING TO THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE, TYSON PIKE WAS ARRESTED. DEPUTIES HAVE ACCUSED HIM OF LOOTING FROM HOMES DESTROYED BY THE STORM. THIS HAPPENED IN THE AREA OF LAKEY GAP ACRES NEAR BLACK MOUNTAIN. IF YOU CAN, YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION ON WYFF4.COM AND ON OUR MOBILE APP. SPARTANBURG REGIONAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WILL BE OUT OF CONTRACT WITH CIGNA AT THE END OF THE YEAR. THE TWO HAVE BEEN IN NEGOTIATIONS FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS. SPARTANBURG REGIONAL SAYS THE CONTRACT AFFECTS CIGNA COMMERCIAL PLANS AND MEMBERS COVERED BY THOSE PLANS. THEY SAY CIGNA PATIENTS WILL STILL HAVE ACCESS TO SPARTANBURG REGIONAL HOSPITALS, REGARDLESS OF ITS STATUS WITH CIGNA, BUT WITH OTHER CONTRACT AFTER JANUARY FIRST. PATIENTS MAY HAVE TO PAY HIGHER OUT OF NETWORK COSTS. THE CURRENT AGREEMENT WILL END ON DECEMBER 31ST. MEANWHILE, BON SECOURS SAINT FRANCIS HEALTH SYSTEM IN GREENVILLE HAS SENT A LETTER TO PATIENTS TO LET THEM KNOW THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM WILL END ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE CIGNA’S MEDICARE ADVANTAGE ON JANUARY 1ST. THE LETTER SAYS IN PART. QUOTE. BON SECOURS CONTINUES TO BE A NETWORK WITH MOST MEDICARE PLANS AND IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY AND COMPASSIONATE CARE FOR THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. ANDERSON COUNTY LEADERS ARE CRACKING DOWN ON ILLEGAL SIGNS SCATTERED ACROSS THE COUNTY. FINES COULD SOON BE ON THE WAY FOR THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO PUT UP SIGNS WITHOUT A PERMIT. OUR MIKE PEYTON JOINS US NOW LIVE IN ANDERSON. AFTER SPEAKING WITH COUNTY LEADERS MAYA. YEAH, NIGEL AND CAROL. FOR BUSINESSES WHO FOLLOW THE RULES, THEY PAY AROUND $100 OR MORE TO HAVE THEIR SIGNS PUT UP. WELL, COUNTY LEADERS SAY IT IS UNFAIR THAT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO DODGE THE COST AND PUT SIGNS UP ANYWAYS. THEY SAY DURING THEIR LATEST CLEANUP, THE COUNTY COLLECTED 500 ILLEGAL SIGNS, ALL FOR THEM TO POP BACK UP IN THE SAME LOCATION A FEW DAYS LATER. WELL, THE PERMIT PROCESS REQUIRES A $50 APPLICATION FEE AND A $50 SECURITY DEPOSIT PER SIGN. THE COST OF THE SIGN DOES VARY DEPENDING ON THE SIZE THE AMOUNT FOR FINES HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED BY COUNTY LEADERS, BUT THEY WARN THEY ARE COMING. THEY ALSO SAY ILLEGAL SIGNAGE COST THE COUNTY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN LOST REVENUE AND PUTS THE BURDEN OF CLEANUP ON THE COUNTY. WE’RE ALWAYS PICKING THE ONES UP THAT ARE IN THE DITCH AS WELL, YOU KNOW? SO WE’RE PULLING THEM OFF THE POLES. WE’RE PULLING THEM OFF THE STREET SIGNS. WE’RE PULLING THEM. YOU KNOW, OFF THE STAKES IN THE GROUND. BUT WE’RE ALSO PICKING THEM UP WHERE THEY’RE ALREADY COVERED IN GRASS, COVERED WITH, YOU KNOW, MIXED IN WITH OTHER TRASH. STIPE SAYS ALL THE PERMIT FEES GO TO THE COUNTY’S GENERAL FUND. STIPE ALSO SAYS THAT THEY ARE TRACKING REPEAT OFFENDERS BY TAKING PICTURES AND ALSO DOCUMENTING EVERY SIGN THAT IS COLLECTED IN ANDERSON COUNTY. I’M MIKE PATTON, WYFF NEWS FOUR. MIKE. THANK YOU. SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM IS SPEAKING OUT AFTER REPRESENTATIVE MATT GAETZ WITHDREW AS PRESIDENT ELECT DONALD TRUMP’S PICK FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL. IT FOLLOWS SCRUTINY OVER A FEDERAL SEX TRAFFICKING INVESTIGATION. SENATOR GRAHAM SAYS, IN PART, QUOTE, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP REGARDING FUTURE NOMINEES TO GET THIS IMPORTANT JOB UP AND RUNNING. END QUOTE. NBC NI

Officials announce reopening of 85 miles of Western North Carolina trails

The Grandfather Ranger District on Pisgah National Forest has reopened several roads and 85 miles of trails, lifting the area closure that has been in place since Hurricane Helene.(Video above: WYFF News 4 Evening Headlines)Officials said while access is now restored, visitors should remain cautious as some storm-related hazards, such as fallen debris or unstable conditions, may still be present.The following roads have now been reopened:Armstrong Road (Forest Service Road 469)Back Irish Road (Forest Service Road 118)Brown Mountain Road (Forest Service Road 299)Carroll Creek Road (Forest Service Road 466)Edgemont-Pinola Road (Forest Service Road 464)Pearcy Creek Road (Forest Service Road 4101)Rose’s Creek Road (Forest Service Road 210)Rich Cove Road (Forest Service Road 464B)Maple Sally (Forest Service Road 187)School House Ridge (Forest Service Road 4068)Boone Fork (Forest Service Road 2055)Roseboro Edgemont (Forest Service Road 981)Northern Section of Roseboro Gragg, locally known as “Old House Gap” (Forest Service Road 192)Watauga Turnpike (Forest Service Road 45)Marks Mountain (Forest Service Road 451)The following trails have been reopened and are grouped by location:Old FortGatewayFoundationBetty’s RunJarrett’s RunSalt Gap ConnectorOak HollowForagerKitsumaKitsuma PeakPoint LookoutBernard MountainOld Fort Picnic AreaMarionToms Creek FallsHarris Creek HorseWoodlawn FitnessMountains-to-Sea Trail from 221 to Old Toms CreekMountains-to-Sea Trail from 221 to North Fork of Catawba RiverLinville Gorge HawksbillSpence RidgeShortoffTable Rock SummitDevils CellarTable Rock GapMountains-to-Sea Trail from Shortoff to Linville RiverMorgantonUpper Creek FallsBrown Mountain OHV Area and all trailsWilson CreekWoodruff RidgeUpper Wilson Ridge (NC90 to Schoolhouse Ridge)Schoolhouse RidgeEstes MillWhite RocksBill CrumpThorps CreekBig Lost Cove CliffsLittle Lost Cove CliffsDarkside CliffsHuntfish FallsNorth Harper Creek FallsMountains-to-Sea Trail from Old House Gap to Beacon HeightsLenoirBoone Fork PondBuckeye LoopGem TrailAccording to rangers, the Jarrett Creek Bridge, which is the bridge that connects from Curtis Creek to the Gateway Trailhead, was heavily damaged during the storm. These trails are only accessible through the Rostan trail at Camp Greir.The G5 Trail Collective has built a website to provide the latest updates on trail conditions on the Grandfather Ranger District following Tropical Storm Helene. For more information, click here.

YANCEY COUNTY, N.C. —

The Grandfather Ranger District on Pisgah National Forest has reopened several roads and 85 miles of trails, lifting the area closure that has been in place since Hurricane Helene.

(Video above: WYFF News 4 Evening Headlines)

Officials said while access is now restored, visitors should remain cautious as some storm-related hazards, such as fallen debris or unstable conditions, may still be present.

The following roads have now been reopened:

  • Armstrong Road (Forest Service Road 469)
  • Back Irish Road (Forest Service Road 118)
  • Brown Mountain Road (Forest Service Road 299)
  • Carroll Creek Road (Forest Service Road 466)
  • Edgemont-Pinola Road (Forest Service Road 464)
  • Pearcy Creek Road (Forest Service Road 4101)
  • Rose’s Creek Road (Forest Service Road 210)
  • Rich Cove Road (Forest Service Road 464B)
  • Maple Sally (Forest Service Road 187)
  • School House Ridge (Forest Service Road 4068)
  • Boone Fork (Forest Service Road 2055)
  • Roseboro Edgemont (Forest Service Road 981)
  • Northern Section of Roseboro Gragg, locally known as “Old House Gap” (Forest Service Road 192)
  • Watauga Turnpike (Forest Service Road 45)
  • Marks Mountain (Forest Service Road 451)

The following trails have been reopened and are grouped by location:

Old Fort

  • Gateway
  • Foundation
  • Betty’s Run
  • Jarrett’s Run
  • Salt Gap Connector
  • Oak Hollow
  • Forager
  • Kitsuma
  • Kitsuma Peak
  • Point Lookout
  • Bernard Mountain
  • Old Fort Picnic Area

Marion

  • Toms Creek Falls
  • Harris Creek Horse
  • Woodlawn Fitness
  • Mountains-to-Sea Trail from 221 to Old Toms Creek
  • Mountains-to-Sea Trail from 221 to North Fork of Catawba River

Linville Gorge

  • Hawksbill
  • Spence Ridge
  • Shortoff
  • Table Rock Summit
  • Devils Cellar
  • Table Rock Gap
  • Mountains-to-Sea Trail from Shortoff to Linville River

Morganton

  • Upper Creek Falls
  • Brown Mountain OHV Area and all trails

Wilson Creek

  • Woodruff Ridge
  • Upper Wilson Ridge (NC90 to Schoolhouse Ridge)
  • Schoolhouse Ridge
  • Estes Mill
  • White Rocks
  • Bill Crump
  • Thorps Creek
  • Big Lost Cove Cliffs
  • Little Lost Cove Cliffs
  • Darkside Cliffs
  • Huntfish Falls
  • North Harper Creek Falls
  • Mountains-to-Sea Trail from Old House Gap to Beacon Heights

Lenoir

  • Boone Fork Pond
  • Buckeye Loop
  • Gem Trail

According to rangers, the Jarrett Creek Bridge, which is the bridge that connects from Curtis Creek to the Gateway Trailhead, was heavily damaged during the storm. These trails are only accessible through the Rostan trail at Camp Greir.

The G5 Trail Collective has built a website to provide the latest updates on trail conditions on the Grandfather Ranger District following Tropical Storm Helene. For more information, click here.

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