HALF-DAY SUNDAY 4th QUARTER 2007 HIKE SCHEDULE

Hike Ratings - First Letter: Distance,     Second Letter: Elevation Gain.

Newcomers are welcome, but non-members must call the leader before the hike to determine the requirements. Half-day hikes submitted by Paula Robbins, 828-281-3253, paularww@bellsouth.net. Driving distance is round-trip from Asheville. All hikes assemble at the 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 phone the hike leader if you are not sure of the meeting location.

HALF-DAY NO. H0704-035 Oct. 7
Looking Glass Rock 1:00 PM*
Hike 5.8, Drive 70, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Rusty Breeding, 828-692-0359, bree_lw@planetusa.net
P400 A moderately difficult well-graded trail leads to the top of this mountain with beautiful views along the way. In-and-out hike. *Meet at Westgate at 1:00 PM to form carpools and meet hike leader at the Pisgah Ranger Station on US 276 at 1:30 PM.

HALF-DAY NO. H0704-578 Oct. 14
Flat Laurel Creek, Little Sam Knob, MST Loop 12:30 PM*
Hike 6.5, Drive 80, Rated B-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Marcia Bromberg, 828-505-0471, mwbromberg@yahoo.com
P400 *Note early start time. This is a pleasant loop trail with views of Big Sam Knob, Fork Ridge and the lovely Flat Laurel Creek. We'll begin on the Flat Laurel Creek Trail, which ascends gradually until we are hiking next to the creek, where we will stop for a snack. Little Sam Knob Trail, with views of Little Sam Knob and Sam Knob, connects to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, which will take us back down to our starting point at NC 215. Second meeting place: Pisgah Inn, north end of parking lot at 1:00 PM.

HALF-DAY No. H0704-553 Oct. 21
Montreat Loop #4 1:00 PM
Hike 5, Drive 40, Ascend 1000-ft., Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Joe Burchfield, 828-298-8413, burchfield@niu.edu
This is a moderate hike ascending the Lookout Trail over Lookout Rock and then following the East Ridge Trail to Sourwood Gap. Return will be by the Toll Road, the Buck Gap Trail, and the Old Trestle Road to the Lookout Trail. After a moderately steep ascent and a short rock scramble, we will follow the ridge trail over several knobs and then return with an easy walk along the Toll and Trestle Roads. Second meeting place: Parking lot adjacent to McDonald's in Black Mountain off Exit 64 of I-40 at 1:25 PM.

HALF-DAY No. H0704-057 Oct. 28
Blue Ridge Pinnacle 1:00 PM
Hike 4, Drive 60, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Don Walton, 828-654-9904, donwalton@bellsouth.net
This moderate in-and-out hike starts on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Mt. Mitchell, with great views on top. Second meeting place: Folk Art Center lower parking lot at 1:20 PM.

HALF-DAY No. H0704-009 Nov. 4
Ox Creek Road to Rattlesnake Lodge 1:00 PM
Nonmembers, call leader Barry Fletcher, 828-299-4776, hmflet@aol.com
Hike 4.4, Drive 30, Rated C-C
This in-and-out hike will feature the historic Rattlesnake Lodge site. Second meeting place: Folk Art Center lower parking lot at 1:15 PM.

HALF-DAY NO. H0704-434 Nov. 11
Laurel Mountain Trail 1:00 PM*
Hike 5.4 miles, Drive 40, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703
P400 This moderate loop hike will start at FS 1206, go along a ridge trail toward Black Mountain and return via the Laurel Mountain Trail. There should be good views of the Mills River Valley. *Meet at Westgate at 1:00 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at the North Mills River parking area at 1:30 PM.

HALF-DAY NO. H0704-286 Nov. 18
Sycamore Cove Trails 12:30 PM*
Hike 5.7, Drive 70, 1200-ft elevation, Rated B-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Pat Elias, 828-687-1651, patelias@bellsouth.net
P400 A moderate hike in the Pisgah National Forest along several trails, including Thrift Cove and Grassy Road. *Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at entrance to Davidson River Campground parking lot on US 276 at 1:00 PM.

HALF-DAY No. H0704-579 Nov. 25
Pump Gap-Lover’s Leap Loop 1:00 PM
Hike 5, Drive 70, 1200-ft. elevation, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary2@charter.net
We will start at the French Broad River, ascend the Pump Gap Trail to the Appalachian Trail, follow it south past Lover’s Leap, with views of Hot Springs, and return along the French Broad River to the trailhead.

HALF-DAY No. H0704-430 Dec. 2
Green River Gamelands 12:30 PM*
Hike 5 miles, Drive 70, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, belston@cytechusa.com
*Note early start time. We will hike the Long Ridge/Turkey Gut/Stair Step trails to form a five-mile loop. There should be nice winter views of Mt. Tryon and other mountains. Join leader for dinner at Cracker Barrel at the end of the hike. *Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at Cracker Barrel off I-26, exit 53 at 1:00 PM at the NE corner of the parking lot.

HALF-DAY No. H0704-102 Dec. 9
Coontree Loop 1:00 PM
Hike 3.7, Drive 65, Elevation gain 1200 feet, Rated C-B
Nonmembers call leader, Joe Burchfield, 828-298-8413, burchfield@niu.edu
This loop hike has some steep areas up the side of a lovely creek to the ridge on top of Coontree Mountain with wintertime views. The way down includes switch-backs along the other side of the creek. Second meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station on US 276 at 1:40 PM.

HALF-DAY No. H0704-222 Dec. 16
Montreat Loop #3 1:00 PM
Hike 5, Drive 40, 1200 feet ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call hike leader, Gail Lamb 828-350-0450, galmb46@aol.com
We will ascend by the Graybeard Trail to the Old Trestle Road at Pot Cove Gap, then follow a recently cleared and opened section of the Old Trestle Road (not yet on most Montreat trail maps) to Graybeard Falls. We will return to Pot Cove Gap by a short steep section of the Graybeard Trail and then retrace our path to the parking area. There are ten dry-foot stream crossings on rocks and/or logs. Second meeting place: Parking lot adjacent to McDonald's off I-40 at exit 64 at 1:20 PM.

HALF-DAY No. H0704-429 Dec. 23
Hard Times Road to Rocky Cove Road to Bent Creek Road 1:00 PM
Hike 5, Drive 15, Rated C-C
Nonmembers call leader, Laura Stallard, 828-697-1579
P400 We will hike in the Bent Creek area from the Arboretum recreation parking lot in an easy loop including Hard Times Road, Rocky Cove Rd and Bent Creek Road. Second meeting place: Ingles parking lot on NC 191 opposite Biltmore Square Mall at 1:15 PM. From there we will carpool with drivers who have Arboretum member parking privileges.

HALF-DAY NO. H0704-316 Dec. 30
Carl Sandburg Park 1:00 PM*
Hike 4, Drive 50, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Lucy Prim, lucette32@mchsi.com, 828-693-6580
Traverse the same trails that poet/biographer Carl Sandburg enjoyed by climbing Big Grassy Mountain behind his farmhouse. *Meet at Westgate to form carpools and meet hike leader at parking lot of Carl Sandburg Park at 1:30 PM.

HALF-DAY No. H0801-500 Jan. 6
Mountains-to-Sea Trail: US 25 to French Broad River bridge 1:15 PM
Hike 3.2, Drive 15, Rated C-C
Non-members, call leader, Gerry McNabb, 828-274-0057, gerrymcnabb@charter.net
A pleasant winter MST hike through the woods, yet still close to town, from US 25 at Blue Ridge Parkway to the north side of the French Broad River bridge. Walk on a CMC-built bridge. Short car shuttle.