Newcomers are welcome, but non-members MUST call the leader before the hike to determine the requirements. Half-day hikes submitted by Lucy Prim, 32lucette@gmail.com, 828-693-6580. Driving distance is round-trip from Asheville. All hikes assemble at the east end of 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. H0901-295 Jan. 4
Pump Gap, AT Loop *12:30 PM
Hike 5, Drive 70, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary.avl@gmail.com
*Note early start time. From Hot Springs we will ascend on the Pump Gap Trail to the AT. We will then go south on the AT via Lovers Leap with outstanding views of the French Broad River, then hike back to Hot Springs.

HALF-DAY NO. H0901-434 Jan. 11
Laurel Mountain Trail *12:30 PM
Hike 5.4 miles, Drive 40, 700 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703, greggoodman@bellsouth.net
P400 *Note early start time. Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at the North Mills River parking area at 1:00 PM. This 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.

HALF-DAY NO. H0901-381 Jan. 18
Snowball Trail *12:30 PM
Hike 5.5, Drive 50, 900 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Nonmembers call leader, Jorge Munoz, 828-658-0606, jmunoz@buncombe.main.nc.us
*Note early start time. This is a moderate in-and-out hike with a steady climb (some hikers consider it to be steep) to High Rocks (Hawkbill Mtn.). Diverse and centennial trees to be admired all the way on the ridge. Stop for a snack at Snowball Mountain before return. Second meeting place: Craven Gap on Blue Ridge Parkway at 12:50 PM.

HALF-DAY NO. H0901-153 Jan. 25
Cove Creek/Caney Bottom Loop *12:30 PM
Hike 5, Drive 80, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Lee Belknap, 828-698-9394, rivergypsy@sprintmail.com
P400 *Note early start time. Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools, and meet hike leader at the Pisgah Ranger Station off US 276 at 1:10 PM. A pleasant walk through the woods, with streams, waterfalls, and bridge crossings.

HALF-DAY NO. H0901-637 Feb. 1
Destination Center / Folk Art Center / MST *12:30 PM
Hike 5.8, Drive 20, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Don Walton, 828-654-9904, donwalton@bellsouth.net
*Note early start time. The hike starts at the Destination Center Parking Lot at the MST blue blaze access. This includes the new 1.4 mile loop passing by the BRP Headquarters Building, then crossing the BRP near US 74 and heading east on the MST towards the Folk Art Center. We will return to the access trail to complete the loop under the BRP back to the parking lot. Second meeting place: Destination Center Parking Lot on the BRP at 12:45 PM.

HALF-DAY NO. H0901-498 Feb. 8
High Windy *12:30 PM
Hike 6, Drive 40, 1700 feet ascent, Rated B-A
Nonmembers, call leader, Renate Rikkers, 828-298-9988, rerikkers@aol.com
*Note early start time. Meet at Westgate at 12:10 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s in Black Mountain off Exit 64 of I-40. From the grounds of the 12,000-acre Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, we will combine the Carolina Loop Trail with High Windy Trail for a gradual but steady 1700 ft. ascent to the 4370-foot summit of High Windy for rewarding views.

HALF-DAY NO. H0901-638 Feb. 15
DuPont Forest Hooker Falls P.L. #4 - Cannon Creek to Rock Quarry *12:00 PM
Hike 5, Drive 85, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, beckyelston1@gmail.com
*Note early start time. This in/out hike starts off Rich Mountain Road. Meet at Westgate at 12:00 PM to form carpools, and meet hike leader at the Hooker Falls parking lot in DuPont at 12:45 PM.

HALF-DAY NO. H0901-431 Feb. 22
Chestnut Cove to MST to Sleepy Gap to Explorer Trail *1:00 PM
Hike 5, Drive 20, 900 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Joe Burchfield, 828-398-8413, burchfield@niu.edu
*Note early start time. This loop hike begins with a moderately steep climb from the Bent Creek Gap Road to the MST, but is otherwise an easy walk. Second Meeting Place: Ingles parking lot across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 at 1:15 P.M.

HALF-DAY NO. H0901-283 Mar. 1
Montreat Ramble #2 - Lookout Mtn. *12:30 PM
Hike 6, Drive 40, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Marcia Bromberg, 828-505-0471, mwbromberg@yahoo.com
*Note early start time. We begin by hiking up Lookout Mountain, enjoying the views at Lookout Rock, then picking up the East Ridge Trail to Sourwood Gap. This will take us over Boggs Bunion and Brushy Mountain (our high points). From Sourwood we'll take the Old Mitchell Toll Road, then switch to the Old Trestle Road at Long Gap. The last leg of the hike is downhill on the Graybeard Trail to the trailend where cars will be parked to shuttle us back to the trailhead. Second meeting place: Parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s at Exit 64 of I-40 at 12:50 PM.

HALF-DAY NO. H0901-485 Mar. 8
Old U.S. 70 and the Railroad *1:00 PM
Hike 5, Drive 60, 1300 ft ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Gail Lamb, 828-350-0450, galmb46@bellsouth.net
*Note early start time. We will walk up on old old U.S. 70, now blocked off from traffic, to Swannanoa Gap. We will enjoy a view of the valley, railroad and tunnel featured in “The Road” by John Ehle, a book about building the railroad up to Swannanoa Gap. Second meeting place: Parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s at Exit 64 of I-40 at 1:20 PM. Topos: Old Fort, Black Mountain.

HALF-DAY NO. H0901-639 Mar. 15
Pretty Place from the North Carolina side *1:00 PM
Hike 6, Drive 60, 600 ft ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@bellsouth.net.
*Note early start time. We have obtained permission to hike on land that has been protected by a conservation easement. We will drive up a rough road (high clearance vehicles preferred), ford a stream by car, and then hike up old forest roads to enjoy the beautiful view from Pretty Place, and then return via the same route. Topo: Standingstone Mtn.

HALF-DAY NO. H0901-172 Mar. 22
John Rock Loop *12:30 PM
Hike 5.7, Drive 72, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Lucy Prim, 828-693-6580, 32lucette@gmail.com.
P400 *Note early start time. This moderate loop hike, with good views from the top, starts at the Fish Hatchery parking lot. Second meeting place: Fish Hatchery parking lot, off FS 475 at 1:10 PM.

HALF-DAY NO. H0901-046 Mar. 29
Bent Creek Loop #12, MST side *1:00 PM
Hike 5, Drive 15, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Gerry McNabb, 828-274-0057, gerrymcnabb@charter.net.
P400 *Note early start time. This loop hike will pass by Lake Powhatan and ascend to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail via the Sherman Stambaugh Trail. We will then descend on the Sleepy Gap Trail and wander along the Explorer and Pine Tree Trails.