We'll be moving back to MO this spring and were wondering if anyone living in the Asheville, NC area could tell us if mid- to late-March is late enough to avoid getting caught in a late snowstorm or other bad weather for mountain travel. A little rain is okay, but I don't want to end up halfway through the peaks with a two truckloads of stuff and animals and end up in a freezing rain situation, or what have you.

Now I know there is no way to predict freak weather, but I'd appreciate it if y'all could let me know if I'm generally all right with that date.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), January 28, 2002

Answers

I use to live near Boone and we would almost always get snow or sleet around my birthday (March 21). Usually the last one of the season.

-- Karen (mountains_mama@hotmail.com), January 28, 2002.

With this years odd weather I suggest due caution. Or the weather channel!

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), January 28, 2002.

Ive run that stetch all months of the winter with never a problem. If its calling for snow, just wait it out. Mid march is generally ok- I 40 is top priority. If there is snow, you can potentilly dip south of it (at least for running X country) by going to Atlanta and then down 1 30, 1 20, 1 10, but there are other ways of doin it. Um, 40 is generally much better than trying to run 77- 77 is one hilly and twisty stretch through WV. And there is really only a couple of miles of 40 that are really tretcherous- the mountain just near ashville, and the tn nc border.

-- Kevin in NC (Vantravlrs@aol.com), January 28, 2002.

Yeah, that Asheville, TN border area is a real b****. That's the way we go, and that's the area I'm worried about.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), January 29, 2002.