Elk in Cataloochee Valley Field Trip I

Tuesday, September 20, 2016 

Meet at Lowes at 19 McKenna Rd. Arden, at 5:30 am.  It will be at least an hour drive. Sunrise will be at 6:47am.

Forecast: Rain earlier in the week, but should be clear for weekend. Maybe some fog.

Take I-26 to I-40 west to Exit # 20 and turn onto US 276 South.  There is only one exit.  The first road on the right is the exit ramp for I 40 East, so go to the second road on the right, which is Cove Creek Road.  Follow the main road with the yellow center line until it turns to gravel.  Continue up and over the mountain until you come to a stop sign, then take a left turn. Continue past ranger station and campground, with restrooms on right and the road will dead end. Elk and wild turkeys should be on both sides of the road.  This trip is great for wildlife photographers so bring you long lens.   They usually go into the woods between 9:30 - 10:00 am, but should have a few other photo ops until around 11:00 am. 

We will return on I-40 to Smokey Park Hwy. to Fatz Café (4.5 star rating) at 5 Spartan Avenue in Asheville for lunch.  

After lunch return to I-40 East to 240 toward Asheville.  Take the Amboy Rd. exit.  Continue to the stop sign and take a left to 191 Lyman St.   This will be the studio of Duncan Chaboudy Photography.   He is above Jonas Gerard Studio, in Studio 250 and he is expecting us.    If anyone remembers the field trip to the River Arts District, this is the building in front of where we were shooting.   Return to Lowes parking lot.

Please RSVP Mike Merrill at [email protected]