Portions of Skyline Drive remain closed weeks after a Thanksgiving eve ice storm knocked down trees, treetops and limbs along the scenic drive. From Big Meadows to Swift Run Gap, crews have been working to clear the downed debris felled the night of November 22nd. Next, the chainsaws will move south to the area toward Rockfish Gap. Some parts of the scenic drive just north of the Blue Ridge Parkway were hit harder than others, particularly at the top of the mountain near U.S. 33. Although teams have been working nonstop since the storm, there's no estimate as to when the roadway will reopen. Fifty-two miles of the drive are currently open. In addition to a contracted team, the park's maintenance, trails and fire crews are all pitching in, including seasonal employees normally let go for the winter. Some staffers worked 13 hours on Thanksgiving in the wake of the ice storm. The Appalachian Trail and other trails were also devastated. The Blue Ridge Parkway, which starts just south of Skyline Drive on Afton Mountain and continues into North Carolina, was not hit as hard, and is open to traffic.
