Information station during the storm, at Newfound Gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkInformation station at Newfound Gap, during the storm on February 19th. Maintenance crews kept the highway open and 100 percent passable throughout the storm. From the 18th through the 20th, 40 inches or more of snowfall was recorded.Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7877, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
Oshkosh blade plow, Newfound Gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkStorms often occur when large accumulations are recorded at high elevations and up to 6 inches fall on the lower slopes. Such was the case from February 18th to 20th. The drag plow, attached to a stake body dump truck, is effective up to a 6-inch accumulation of snow. It frees the larger blade plows for heavier work higher on the mountain. Here the drag is being operated in tandem with the old Oshkosh blade plow, which is on light duty, and is soon scheduled for replacement.Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7891, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
Oshkosh blade plow, Newfound Gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkStorms often occur when large accumulations are recorded at high elevations and up to 6 inches fall on the lower slopes. Such was the case from February 18th to 20th. The drag plow, attached to a stake body dump truck, is effective up to a 6-inch accumulation of snow. It frees the larger blade plows for heavier work higher on the mountain. Here the drag is being operated in tandem with the old Oshkosh blade plow, which is on light duty, and is soon scheduled for replacement.Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7892, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
Plowers plowing the snow road, Newfound Gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkNaturally, the individual pieces of equipment have various limitations, and their specific uses match together to produce a unified snow removal operation over the entire range of elevation from Newfound Gap to Oconaluftee and Sugarlands. Here the V-plow pushes the berm back in an effort to widen the cleared roadway. This plow is the bruiser, the heavy-duty unit. It is large enough to handle the heaviest snow accumulation we have been faced with.Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7884, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
Plowers plowing the snow road, Newfound Gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkNaturally, the individual pieces of equipment have various limitations, and their specific uses match together to produce a unified snow removal operation over the entire range of elevation from Newfound Gap to Oconaluftee and Sugarlands. Here the V-plow pushes the berm back in an effort to widen the cleared roadway. This plow is the bruiser, the heavy-duty unit. It is large enough to handle the heaviest snow accumulation we have been faced with.Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7885, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
Plowers plowing the snow road, Newfound Gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkThis illustrates another advantage of tandem plowing: Here, the snow is being completely moved across the roadway in two stages.Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7888, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
Plowers plowing the snow road, Newfound Gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkAfter the storm comes the cleanup... At Newfound Gap, parking areas must be opened and roadways widened, because invariably, after a bout with Nature, the sun shines, and hordes of people drive to the top to view the winter spectacle. Grader in use.Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7895, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
Plowers plowing the snow road, Newfound Gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkThe blade plow is used as a supplementary unit at high elevations. It clears the snow from the roadway and puts it in position near the berm for Big John to push on over. In this picture, taken at Newfound Gap, the blade plow is reclearing a one-way roadway section of 4 to 6 inches accumulation. The plows are kept in continual operation during a major storm to keep abreast with the accumulating snow. Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7886, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
Plowers plowing the snow road, Newfound Gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkThese pictures illustrate one advantage of tandem plowing: The workhorse V-Plow, Big John, bulls back the rapidly accumulating snow berm, while a blade plow follows to remove the residue from the roadway to make it safer for normal traffic.Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7883, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
Removing snow using bull dozer, Newfound Gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkOnly a big job would justify moving these loaders 15 miles each way...Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7897, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
Road after plowing, Newfound Gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkWhen the storm abates and the plows finish clearing the roadway, the surface must be made safe for all traffic. Sanding appears simple, but a high degree of judgment is necessary to determine the proper mix to apply to the road. When the surface is soft, gravel (1/2-inch maximum size) is most effective. On ice, gravel is useless, but sand provides traction. When the road cover is melting, gravel must be used because sand washes away. Calcium and sodium chloride are mixed in varying degrees with the aggregate. In cold weather, the percentage of calcium chloride is increased, and in warmer weather, calcium choloride is not needed. Obviously, sanding isn't as simple as it looks... Sanded road.Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7899, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
Road maintenance, snow removalGreat Smoky Mountains National Park26 snow, head of river, 1B, North Carolina. H. Reese Smith in foreground on left. Road Maintenance, Snow removal - 1954 II-R-SR-13786, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
Sanding operations in progress after snow removal, Newfound Gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkWhen the storm abates and the plows finish clearing the roadway, the surface must be made safe for all traffic. Sanding appears simple, but a high degree of judgment is necessary to determine the proper mix to apply to the road. When the surface is soft, gravel (1/2-inch maximum size) is most effective. On ice, gravel is useless, but sand provides traction. When the road cover is melting, gravel must be used because sand washes away. Calcium and sodium chloride are mixed in varying degrees with the aggregate. In cold weather, the percentage of calcium chloride is increased, and in warmer weather, calcium choloride is not needed. Obviously, sanding isn't as simple as it looks... Sand truck.Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7898, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
Snow covered road, near Newfound gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkNear Newfound Gap on US-441 snow removal after storm of 2/20.Snow, I-A-MR-7867, Natural Features - Mountains - Views from Newfound Gap and Clingmans
Snow covered road, near Newfound gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkUS-441 below Chimneys (background) after snow removal.The Chimneys in snow, I-A-CHIM-7869, Natural Features - Mountains - Views of and from the Chimney Tops
Snow covered road, near Newfound gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkLooking toward NC; Newfound Gap with snow piled by plows to 12 feet high at side. Snow Removal; 1964, II-R-SR-7870, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
Snow covered road, near Newfound gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkUS-441 below Chimneys (background) after snow removal.The Chimneys in snow, I-A-CHIM-7868, Natural Features - Mountains - Views of and from the Chimney Tops
Snow covered road, near Newfound gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkCar and information booth roof showing just above snow, Newfound Gap, during snow removal.Newfound Gap in snow, I-A-NFG-7874, Natural Features - Mountains - Views from Newfound Gap
Snow covered road, park ranger with his car, near Newfound gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkMorton Overlook, US-441, after 2/20 storm. (Snow banks were higher than cars from Alum Cave on up to Newfound Gap.),Morton Overlook, I-A-GEN-7871, Natural Features - Mountains - General Views
Snow grader at work, Newfound Gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkAt lower elevations, where the accumulations are less. Occasionally a grader is called into duty. It can remove snow efficiently, and is effective by itself with snow berms up to about 36 inches.Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7889, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
Snow grader at work, Newfound Gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkAt lower elevations, where the accumulations are less. Occasionally a grader is called into duty. It can remove snow efficiently, and is effective by itself with snow berms up to about 36 inches.Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7890, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
Snow removal in progress, Newfound Gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkThese pictures illustrate one advantage of tandem plowing: The workhorse V-Plow, Big John, bulls back the rapidly accumulating snow berm, while a blade plow follows to remove the residue from the roadway to make it safer for normal traffic.Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7882, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
Snow removal on US-441, 1996Great Smoky Mountains National ParkRoadway after snowplows passed through - US-441 (1B4),Snow Removal; 1966, II-R-SR-14494, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
1966-02
Snow removal operations in progress, Newfound Gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkIf the amount of snowfall is moderate, the plows can push the berms back sufficiently. Occasionally, after a heavy snowfall, it has been found to be economical to remove the snow with front-end loaders. This equipment is also used to remove extremely large snow berms from along the side of US-441 so that the next storm will not cripple removal operations.Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7896, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
Snow removal using jeep in Cherokee Orchard road, Gatlinburg, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkIn the miscellaneous areas around the shops, at Twin Creeks and Cherokee Orchard, at the Visitor Centers, and at headquarters, the jeep is invaluable because of its mobility and flexibility. Here, the snow that fell during the February 18-20 storm is being cleaned from the Cherokee Orchard road. The jeep can efficiently handle snow up to about 12 inches.Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7894, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
Snow removal using jeep in Cherokee Orchard road, Gatlinburg, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkIn the miscellaneous areas around the shops, at Twin Creeks and Cherokee Orchard, at the Visitor Centers, and at headquarters, the jeep is invaluable because of its mobility and flexibility. Here, the snow that fell during the February 18-20 storm is being cleaned from the Cherokee Orchard road. The jeep can efficiently handle snow up to about 12 inches.Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7893, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
V-type snow plow workingGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkRoss V-type plow, on 4-ton T 6x6 on 1A.Snow Plow - Ross V-type, II-E-9454, Physical Facilities - Equipment
V-type snow plows workingGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkRoss V-type plow, on 4-ton T 6x6 on 1A.Snow Plow - Ross V-type, II-E-9453, Physical Facilities - Equipment
View of snow road, near Newfound Gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkThe steeper and more critical roadway sections of US-441 are benched into the mountainside. It has been found that accumulated snow must be moved completely across the roadway and pushed over the side... That explains the lack of a developed snow berm on the inward side. The outside berm would be even higher than the present 6 to 7 feet if much of the snow did not roll on down the mountainside when it is plowed over. The berm serves the incidental purpose of keeping stray vehicles out of danger.Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7881, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
View of snow road, near Newfound Gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkThe steeper and more critical roadway sections of US-441 are benched into the mountainside. It has been found that accumulated snow must be moved completely across the roadway and pushed over the side... That explains the lack of a developed snow berm on the inward side. The outside berm would be even higher than the present 6 to 7 feet if much of the snow did not roll on down the mountainside when it is plowed over. The berm serves the incidental purpose of keeping stray vehicles out of danger.Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7880, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
View of snow road, near Newfound Gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkInformation station at Newfound Gap, during the storm on February 19th. Maintenance crews kept the highway open and 100 percent passable throughout the storm. From the 18th through the 20th, 40 inches or more of snowfall was recorded.Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7876, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations
Workers adjusting the angle of plow blade, Newfound Gap, TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkThe blade angle on a blade plow must be adjusted often to accommodate various snow conditions, and to allow plowing to either side of the roadway.Snow Removal; February 1964 Monthly Report, II-R-SR-7887, Physical Facilities - Roads - Snow Removal Operations