All-day hikes submitted by Bruce Bente 828-692-0116, bbente@bellsouth.net. Driving distance is round-trip from Asheville. All Saturday and Sunday hikes assemble at Westgate Shopping Center parking lot near CVS (Exit 3B off I-240) UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. Some hikes will have second meeting places as described in hike listings. Please contact the hike leader if you are not sure of the meeting location.

Scout Dates: If the hike leader is open to others hiking the scout, hikes might have a scout date listed.   If you want to go on the scout then call the hike leader.

ALL DAY NO. A0902-224 Apr. 5
Table Rock – Pinnacle Loop *8:00 AM
(strenuous)
Hike 11.2, Drive 125, 3900 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA+
Jeff McGurk, 864-921-6469, jbsbestfan@hotmail.com
*Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at the Nature Center Parking lot in Table Rock State Park. This great hike starts from the Nature Center, and climbs steeply up to our lunch spot on Table Rock where everyone can enjoy the great view. We will then follow the ridgeline to Pinnacle Mtn. and then do a steady but moderate descent back to our cars. NOTE: $2 parking fee per person. Second meeting place: Table Rock State Park at 9:15 AM. Topo: Table Rock

ALL DAY NO. A0902-304 Apr. 5
Shut-in - AT - Hot Springs 9:00 AM*
(moderate)
Hike 8.6, Drive 90, 2100 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA
Tish Desjardins, 828-656-2191, desraylet@aol.com
*Note later start time. After the hike there will be a potluck supper in the nearby Bear River Community Lodge. Hikers are requested to contribute food for the supper. Food will be taken to a refrigerator before the hike. Please phone the leader to coordinate what food to bring. We’ll start by hiking up the East Fork Shut-in Creek trail to the AT, and then a pleasant AT hike down Deer Park Mtn., ending at the old Jesuit Hostel in Hot Springs. The climb up to Garenflo Gap includes 16 stream crossings, a few of which may be wet if it has rained recently. 5-mile car shuttle. Topos: Lemon Gap, Spring Creek, Hot Springs; also Nat’l. Geo. French Broad & Nolichucky Rivers map

ALL DAY NO. A0902-333 Apr. 12
Bearwallow Mtn. 9:00 AM*
Hike 9.2, Drive 35, 2700 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@bellsouth.net
LTC *Note later start time. This hike is an old CMC favorite. From Hickory Nut Gap on US 74-A, we will hike over Ferguson Peak, then through undulating, open meadows before reaching our lunch spot on the windy summit of Bearwallow Mtn. Nice views down towards the Lake Lure area. Topo: Bat Cave

WEEKEND NO. A0902-tbd Apr. 17-19
Three-State Park Weekend
Danny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, danny@hikertohiker.com
LTC Come and hike in North Carolina’s Stone Mountain, Hanging Rock, and Pilot Mountain State Parks. A variety of hikes will be offered. You’ll walk on Stone Mountain’s 700-foot granite rock dome and see an amazing field of moonshine equipment. Hanging Rock and Pilot Mountain State Parks, in the ancient Sauratown Mountains, have high quartzite cliffs, moderate woodland trails, and isolation from other mountain ranges. Stay in great campsites. For details, go to the CMC website and look under “hiking” for “state park weekend”. Contact the leader to register and for info about meeting location and time.

SATURDAY. No.A0902-327 Apr. 18
Ridgecrest Ramble *10:00 AM
Hike 6.5, Drive 40, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Lee Silver, 828-668-7147, leehsilver@aol.com
*Note later start time. Meet at Westgate at 10:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader in Ingles parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s at Exit 64 of I-40 at 10:20 AM. This moderate hike in the Ridgecrest area follows the Rattlesnake, Rhododendron and Adventure Trails, and offers a number of great scenic overlooks as it meanders along the ridgelines, and includes Rattlesnake, Copperhead and Lookout Mtns. Topo: Montreat

ALL DAY NO. A0902-642 Apr. 26
Smokemont Loop 8:30 AM*
(moderate)
Hike 6.2, Drive 108, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Ashok Kudva, 828-698-7119, ashok.kudva@mchsi.com
900M, Smokies 75th Anniversary hike *Note later start time. This hike goes up Bradley Fork Trail, paralleling the beautiful stream. We’ll turn left onto Smokemont Loop Trail, crossing Bradley Fork on a long and narrow split log bridge with a steel cable hand rail, to complete the loop over Richland Mountain, with a stop at Bradley Cemetery on the way back. Second Meeting Place: Maggie Valley Post Office at 9:00 AM, but contact leader first. Topo: Smokemont; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map #229

ALL DAY NO. A0902-396 May 3
Pilot Rock – Mt. Pisgah -Thompson Creek *8:00 AM
(strenuous)
Hike 11, Drive 80, 3000 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Charlie Ferguson, 828-625-2677, ccf108@gmail.com
P400 *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Ranger Station at 8:40 AM. We will climb 1500 feet in 2 miles up the well-graded Pilot Rock trail, with a gentler 2 miles before climbing 750 feet in 2/3 miles up Mt. Pisgah trail to our lunch spot on the summit of Mt. Pisgah, and then down the Thompson Ridge trail. Expect great views along the way. Topos: Dunsmore Mtn., Cruso; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

Scout Report:  This hike is significantly more strenuous than stated above.  The total ascent and descent is closer to 3400 feet. It also involves a one mile stretch that is quite steep downhill - hikeing poles might be helpful.  If desired there will be an option for people to forgo the 750 foot climb to Mt. Pisgah and eat lunch near Buck Spring Gap.  That would involve waiting an hour and a half for the group that goes to Mt. Pisgah.  We will discuss this at the Pisgah Ranger Station.  The Thompson Ridge Trail is no longer maintained - it is heavily overgrown in places.  There is a relatively new trail that parallels it closer to Thompson Creek, hence it's name - Thompson Creek Trail.

ALL DAY NO. A0902-560 May 3
Groundhog Creek, AT, Rube Rock Loop *8:30 AM
(moderate)
Hike 9, Drive 100, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Marianne Newman, 828-257-2136, Marianneln@att.net
*Note later start time. A beautiful loop hike, rich in wildflowers and located in the Harmon Den area of Pisgah Nat’l. Forest. From Brown Gap, we’ll hike down the Rube Rock Trail, along the old railroad grade and then up the Groundhog Creek Trail to the AT. We’ll then go north on the AT to our cars. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck Stop off I-40 at Exit 24 at 9:00 AM. Topo: Waterville

Scout Report:  Our scout of the Rube Rock trail yesterday made it absolutely clear that this trail is not ready for what's listed as a moderate hike. Blowdowns, doghobble, washed out trail tread, and other obstacles too numerous to mention presented a real challenge.

Therefore, the May 3 hike will be an AT-Groundhog Creek in-and-out. It will still leave from and return to Brown Gap, with mileage (about 9 miles) and elevation gain (1800 ft.) remaining the same. The new hike description will be: From Brown Gap, we'll hike south on the AT to the Groundhog Creek Trail, then down Groundhog Creek and along the old railroad grade amidst lovely wildflowers to at least one and possibly a second stream crossing near the lower end of the Rube Rock Trail. We'll return by the same route, with a stop at the Hawks' Roost overlook.

We'll still meet at Westgate at 8:30 and at the Pilot Truck Stop at Exit 24 at 9:00.

ALL DAY NO. A0902-445 May 10
Pilot Mtn., Farlow Gap, Daniel Creek Trails 8:00 AM
Hike 11, Drive 80, 2550 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Janet Martin, 502-494-9309 (cell), jaykaymartin@msn.com
P400 If their bloom is slightly late this year, we will enjoy rare pink shell azaleas on Pilot Mtn. This diversified hike features good views from Pilot Mtn. and the beautiful Farlow Gap and Daniel Creek Trails. Short car shuttle. Second meeting place: Bi-Lo parking lot in Pisgah Forest at 8:30 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

SATURDAY NO. A0902-643 May 16
Woods Mtn. Natural History hike *9:00 AM   (note time change from Let's Go).
Hike 6, Drive 80, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
William Grow, 828-756-4070, waxwing4@verizon.net
Theme hike *Note later start time. Meet at Westgate at 10:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at the McDonald’s at Exit 73 (Old Fort) at 10:30 AM. Starting at the Woodlawn USFS Work Center on US 221 north of Marion, we will hike on the MST going west. We first will go along an old logging road but soon the trail turns off and slants down to Tom's Creek and then starts up toward the summit of Wood's Mountain along Betsy's Ridge. We will go part way up and then return by the same route. Since this is a natural history hike, how far we get depends upon how many wildflowers/birds/whatever we stop to look at. Anyone having them should bring magnifying glasses and/or binoculars. The number of hikers is limited to 15. Please contact the leader to reserve your space. Topos: Marion West, Little Switzerland

Scout Report (from the Wednesday hike): Starting at Woodlawn USFS Work Center on US 221 North of Marion, we hiked on the MST going west. We went on a series of FS roads and trails to Tom's Creek, after fording the creek we continued at a slow pace part way toward the summit of Wood's Mountain.

A natural history theme hike. We (12) went at a slow, sometimes moderate pace without incident on the well marked trail. There were numerous stops to discuss moss vs. fern life cycles, identify some ferns and fern allies, examine the growth forms of some lichens, identify several different kinds of pines, observe a water snake, examine a (dead) short-tailed shrew. An owl call was used to attract several song birds which were identified. Many kinds of spring wildflowers were admired. Hike was shortened because of time - it was about 5 miles.  (Some of the Wednesday hikers liked it so much that they want to try to go on it again, so call Bill soon if you want to go - Charlie).

ALL DAY NO. A0902-372 May 17
Big Fork Ridge–Rough Fork loop *8:30 AM
Hike 9.3, Drive 95, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Danny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, danny@hikertohiker.com
900M, Smokies 75th Anniversary hike. Cataloochee was one of the most successful communities in the Smokies. From the end of the Cataloochee Valley, we’ll hike up Big Fork Ridge Trail, then turn right onto Caldwell Fork Trail. We’ll pass by record-size tulip poplar trees, then go downhill on Rough Fork Trail. About a mile from the end of the hike, we’ll stop at the Woody House, a well-appointed framed house. On the way out of the valley, we’ll stop at the Palmer Chapel Cemetery. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck Stop, Exit 24 off I-40 at 9:00 AM. Topo: Dellwood; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map #229

ALL DAY NO. A0902-547 May 24
MST west from Balsam Gap *9:00 AM
Hike 7, Drive 80, 1600 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Stu English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@citcom.net
*Note later start time. Come to see the MST extension that CMC has been building for the last 6 years. We did a similar hike 2 years ago, but six subsequent CMC work days have extended the new trail farther uphill. We will hike the MST from Balsam Gap to the end of trail and perhaps a little farther. Car shuttle. Second meeting place: Rest area beyond Waynesville on US 23/74 at 9:30 AM. Topo: Hazelwood

Scout Report:  We had a nice, dry, slightly cool day to scout this one. Bruce Bente, Ashok Kudva, and Ted Connors were kind enough to join me and help form a car pool. Since the leader did not know pertinent information like where the hike started and ended, this scout was essential. The MST extends much farther than it did the last time we did this hike, so now it has to be a car shuttle. The big attraction for this hike is still to see the great work CMC trail crews, as well as the overall membership, has done in creating the trail. Although some of the trail is on the parkway itself, as well as a gravel road; the hike steadily climbs close to 2000 feet in a little less than 7 miles. So hikers will get their exercise. Toward the end of the finished section, Waterrock Knob and Browning Knob in the Plot Balsams were looming closely ahead. The MST will eventually cross Waterrock Knob. Come and join us on May 24th and see new trail and new views. Stuart
    

MEMORIAL DAY NO. A0902-095 / 257 May 25
Hike 9.5 or 13.7, Drive 95, 1900 or 3200 ft. ascent, Rated A-A or AA-AA+ *8:30 AM
Becky Smucker, 828-298-5013, bjsmucker@gmail.com
900M *Note later start time. Our annual joint hike with the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club again offers options for hikes of different distances and difficulties. We will hike from Polls Gap to our scenic lunch spot at Hemphill Bald in the GSMNP. The return route will either be by returning via the same trail, or by a longer hike down to the Caldwell Fork trail, passing old-growth tulip trees and returning to Polls Gap on the Rough Fork Trail. Second meeting place: Maggie Valley Post Office, rear of parking lot, at 9:00 AM, but contact leader first. Topos: Dellwood, Bunches Bald; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map #229

ALL DAY NO. A0902-459 May 31
MST: NC 128 to Greybeard Overlook 8:00 AM
Hike 8.9, Drive 80, 2600 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA
Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary.avl@gmail.com
SB6K We’ll head up into old growth Balsam and Spruce forests just south of Mt Mitchell and over to 6359 ft. Blackstock Knob. This is a scenic hike with dramatic views and several rocky climbs. Hikers wishing a shorter hike can stop after 6.4 miles at Glassmine Falls O/L. At the end of the hike, an optional climb will be offered up 6080 ft. Craggy Dome. The leader invites hikers to post-hike refreshments at his home. Car shuttle. Second meeting place: Craven Gap on BRP at 8:20 AM. Topo: Mt. Mitchell, Montreat; also MST Profiles, pg. 66-69

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY HIKES - 2 all day hikes on Sunday June 7: 
See the American Hiking Society site for other Trails Day events.

National Trails Day Hike:  ALL DAY NO. A0902-217 June 7
Sandy Mush Bald Ramble 8:00 AM
(strenuous)
Hike 9.5, Drive 40, 3100 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA+
Rob Resnick, 828-255-8066, rob@reschiro.com
Sarah Carothers, 828-586-3282, sjcarothers@hotmail.com
After dividing our group in two for a key swap hike, one group will ascend up Surritt Cove. The other group will hike up Long Branch Cove and both groups will traverse the ridge tops of the Newfound Mountains with their great views to reconnoiter for lunch atop Sandy Mush Bald. Some cross-country hiking required, and be prepared to cross a few barbed-wire fences. Thanks to Long Branch Environmental Education Center for providing access and coordinating permission from contiguous landowners. If the weather is clear, the views do not get any better! Topos: Sandy Mush, Fines Creek. 

National Trails Day Hike:  ALL DAY NO. A0902-137 June 7
Roan Mountain Flower Hike 8:00 AM
(moderate)
Hike 9, Drive 140, 2400 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Les and Catherine Love, 828-658-1489, lesrlove@charter.net
Theme Hike, SB6K We’ll hike the three Roan Mountain 6000 foot peaks, but also take time to stop and identify the flowers. It will be a little early for Gray’s Lily, but we should be able to see about 50 other species. Be prepared for a full day. Topo: Carver Gap; also Nat’l. Geo. South Holston & Watauga Lakes map #783

SATURDAY NO. A0902-604 June 13
Splash Dam via Trace Ridge *10:00 AM
Hike 7.8, Drive 42, 1100 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Dave Wetmore, 828-884-7296, dwetmore@citcom.net
P400 *Note later start time. Meet at Westgate at 10:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Trace Ridge Trailhead at 10:30 AM. This moderate hike will be mostly on old roadbeds up the Big Creek Trail, to what appears to the uninitiated as only a rocky place. If those rocks could talk, they would tell a tale of long arduous months of labor, the pitfalls of succession, the striving of man with nature and the consequences of that effort. Several wet but easy stream crossings. Come and learn the secrets of Big Creek! Topo: Dunsmore Mtn.; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

ALL DAY NO. A0902-644 June 14
Mingus Mill Semi-circular *8:30 AM
Hike 12.2, Drive 110, 2600 ft. ascent, Rated AA-AA
Lenny Bernstein, 828-236-01921, lsberns@att.net
900M, Smokies 75th Anniversary Hike. *Note later start time. We’ll hike up Newton Bald through wildflowers and a rhododendron tunnel to a former bald with flame azaleas blooming on top of the ridge, and then descend on the Mingus Creek Trail. On the way down, we’ll take a short side trip to a cemetery and later see remnants of a former house site. Short car shuttle. Second meeting place: back of Maggie Valley P.O. parking lot on US 19 at 9:00 AM, but contact leader first. Topo: Smokemont; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map #229

OVERNIGHT NO. A0902-645 June 21
Gregory Bald via Gregory Ridge *9:00 AM
Hike 11.4, Drive 250, 3500 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA+
Cindy McJunkin, 828-712-9646, mcjfive@aol.com
900M *This hike will depart from the Cades Cove Visitor Center at 9:00 AM. The leader will reserve a 20-person group campsite at Cades Cove for Saturday night. Contact her to reserve your space and for details about meeting place and tentsites. The hike will climb Gregory Ridge, one of the finest hikes in the Smokies, through old growth forest and virgin Tulip trees. The hike is timed to coincide with the magnificent bloom of flame azaleas on the summit of Gregory Bald. Panoramic views at higher elevations. Topo: Cades Cove; also Nat’l.Geo. GSMNP map #229

Scout Report: Scott and I scouted the Gregory Bald hike for June 21 and would like to change it a bit. It took us three hours, fifteen minutes to get to the trailhead, including over thirty minutes of driving the first part of the Cades Cove Valley loop. We hiked to Gregory Bald via the Ridge Trail, passing by backcountry site #12, which had the bear activity warning sign posted. We connected to Gregory Bald Trail for the last three quarter mile, passing a deer near the trail. She wasn't too interested in us. No other hikers were there, although we picked out the "chick-burr" of the Scarlet Tanager. The orange flame azalea were still blooming, and we found a few other azaleas that were still folded up. There are blueberry bushes too. The north side of the bald looks over the Cades Cove valley; we could pick out some of the fingers of Fontana and the Nantahalas behind it.

We returned the way we'd come up, but we took more time to look at the blooming galax, false bugbane, and Indian pipe. There's a great place to cool off in Forge Creek at the trailhead. We drove out the one way Parsons Branch and had to stop to look at the three hundred pound bear that was near the road. Parsons Branch terminates below Fontana and not too far from the Twenty Mile trailhead. This road is also part of the "Dragon's Tail" that's so popular for motorcyclists. We had to stop while EMS pulled away with the victim of a collision; the motorcycle's wheel was under the guardrail. In spite of the rutted, muddy Parsons Branch exit, our drive home was twenty minutes shorter than the drive in with the auto tourists on Cades Cove loop.

So....here's the new plan for hiking on Sunday, June 21st. We'll drop cars at the Gregory Ridge Trailhead and shuttle out Parsons Branch Rd. to the Gregory Bald Trailhead. We'll hike up to the bald on that trail, spend an hour (or two, depending on weather and interest of the group) at the bald, and make it a loop by hiking out Gregory Ridge Trail. That reduces the elevation gain by 800 feet, and the hike will be 10.3 miles. Hikers can either drive home via Cades Cove with thousands of tourists or hope for bear sightings along Parsons Branch. At least some of us will be stopping to eat at the Jarrett House in Dillsboro on the way home. Lenny Bernstein is even offering an option to extend the hike from Rich Gap to Doe Knob for those who want to complete the entire piece of Gregory Bald Trail to the AT.

 

SATURDAY NO. A0902-646 June 27
Mt. Noble Lookout Tower *8:30 AM
Hike 8, Drive 110, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Peter Barr, 704-941-9296, pjbarr@unc.edu
900M, LTC *Note later start time. Starting from the Oconaluftee Indian Village in Cherokee, we will hike up the steep Mt. Noble trail to its lookout tower. After enjoying the views, we’ll walk the gravel Adams Creek Rd. and a 0.5 mile manway up to the GSMNP boundary. There we’ll intersect the Mingus Creek Trail and descend to its end with a visit to Mingus Mill. Short car shuttle. Second meeting place: back of Maggie Valley P.O. parking lot on US 19 at 9:00 AM, but contact leader first. Topo: Smokemont; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map #229 and Hiking NC Lookout Towers, pg. 127

ALL DAY NO. A0902-215 June 28
Mt. Cammerer via Low Gap and Lower Cammerer Trails *7:30 AM
Hike 15.5, Drive 140, 2600 ft. ascent, Rated AA-AA
Carroll Koepplinger, 828-667-0723, carrollkoepp@bellsouth.net
900M, LTC *Note earlier starting time. This beautiful hike from Cosby campground will ascend to the AT, then follow the AT to Mt. Cammerer. After lunch and views from Mt. Cammerer, we will stroll down the Lower Mt. Cammerer Trail to our starting point. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck Stop at exit 24 off I-40, at 8:00 AM. Topos: Luftee Knob and Hartford