FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Condition forcast for Burke's Garden field trip

["Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Area Birders:
Here is the weather outlook for the Bristol Bird Club's 15th Annual Burke's 
Garden Gold Eagle Field Trip for tomorrow (Saturday) morning.

Road Conditions in Burke's Garden: state route 623 over Garden Mountain from 
Va. Rt. 61 on the Tazewell side down to Gose Mill at 3050 ft. elevation is open 
and traffic is moving without  problems.  You will have snow ground cover in 
Burke's Garden.  Snow fences are keeping most blowing snow out of the road.  
Some snow blowing onto the road.  As of 5:30 p.m. Friday, there are no road 
problems into or over the main valley roads.  None is expected.  The highest 
elevation is 3200 feet on the East End Road where we usually see Red-headed 
Woodpeckers.  

We do not have a late-day snow forecast which would render our exit difficult.  
We have learned to watch carefully for that predicition.

The region forcast is calling for colder conditions and higher winds in Burke's 
Garden than expected south of Burke's Garden towards Abingdon and into 
Northeast Tennessee.  So don't dress according to what the weather will be like 
back home.  That never works!

Forecast for that region from the Blacksburg office of the U.S. Weather Bureau:

Burke's Garden region in general for Saturday...Partly cloudy. Scattered 
flurries in the morning. Not as cool with highs in the upper 40s. West winds 15 
to 20 mph. Gusts up to 45 mph...Decreasing to 35 mph in the afternoon. Lowest 
wind chill values as low as 10 above in the morning. (Birders should have all 
necessary warm clothing.) 

Sun glasses will be of great use to shield wind from your eyes and for sun 
glare off the snow as light condition increase.  Disposable handwarmers 
(Grabber MyCoal 7+ hours heat Mini-Mini Hand Warmers from the sporting good -- 
hunting supply-- department of Walmart are perfect for all day use.  Cost maybe 
less than $2 per pack and pack contains two warmers).   Those are proven good 
warmers.  No lighting.  Just crush the packages and slip in gloves.  Also 
footwarmers available by same manufacture.

Everyone bring spotting scopes, if you have one.

This is God's country in a very rural high mountain valley of the Appalachians, 
long famous as annual wintering area for Golden Eagles and Rough-legged Hawks.

See ya all on Saturday.

Let's go birding.....

Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN


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