HIKE SCHEDULE
Wednesday Hikes
Third Quarter 2004
Submitted by Paula McNabb, 274-0057 or gcmcnabb@charter.net .
HIKE SCHEDULE
Third Quarter 2004
Hike Ratings
First Letter Second Letter
Distance Elevation Gain
AA: Over 12 miles AA: Over 2,000 ft.
A: 9-12 miles A: 1,500-2,000 ft.
B: 6-9 miles B: 1,000-1,500 ft.
C: Under 6 miles C: Under 1,000 ft.
Also in the hike descriptions, the terms easy, moderate or strenuous reflect the overall trail conditions, the physical challenge and other factors influencing hike difficulty. If you have questions, CONTACT THE LEADER
The meeting place for each hike will be designated by the hike leader and will appear in the hike description. In some cases, a self-organizing meeting place (usually Westgate) is suggested. The leader won’t be there, but will be at the meeting place listed in the body of the hike description. It’s up to individual hikers to decide whether to go first to Westgate. Round trip driving mileage will be listed from the leader’s designated meeting place.
ALL DAY No. W0403-064 July 7
Fletcher Fields &
Spencer Branch Trail 9 AM
Hike 7–8.5, drive 6, rated B-C
Greg Goodman, 684-9703
This will be a woods hike, crossing small creeks, using log bridges. Only meeting place: N. Mills River Picnic Parking.
ALL DAY No. W0403-384 July 14
MST Big Sam Road to
Looking Glass Overlook 9:30 AM
Hike 6, Drive 50, rated B-C
Gerry & Paula McNabb, 274-0057, gcmcnabb@charter.net , cell phone 231-8274.
Hike from Big Sam Road via Graveyard Fields & Skinny Dip Falls to Looking Glass Overlook. Topo: Shining Rock. Reference “Trail Profiles – MST”, page 49. Car shuttle required. Meeting place: Cold Mountain Overlook, 9:30. Asheville group may self-organize at Westgate Shopping Center at 8:30 AM.
ALL DAY No. W0403-242 July 21
Sam Knob – Devils
Courthouse Loop 8:30 AM
Hike 9, Drive 50, ascend 1200 ft., Rated A-B
Bruce Bente 828-692-0116 bbente@cytechusa.com
SB6K From FS 816 we will ascend Sam Knob (6040 ft.) with its 360 degree views, then follow the Flat Laurel, Little Sam and MST, via Devils Courthouse. We then return via the MST across FS 816 and up to the summit of Black Balsam (6214 ft.), then down a short, steep manway to our cars. Only meeting place: Bi-Lo in Pisgah Forest at intersection of US 64 and US 276. Topo: Sam Knob
ALL DAY No. W0403-008 July 28
Bee Tree Gap to Tanbark Tunnel 9:00 AM
Hike 6.5, Drive 30, Rated B-B
Elizabeth Feil, 828-684-8719, hofeil@brinet.com
A moderate hike over Lane Pinnacle with excellent views, interesting rock formations and plants. There are several short but steep climbs (about 900 ft total) and a long descent (2000+ ft). Only meeting place: Folk Art Center, lower parking lot.
ALL DAY No. W0403-089 August 4
AT: Max Patch to Lemon Gap 8:30 AM
Hike 6.2, drive 100, rated B-B
Don Walton, 828-298-5084 (before 9pm)
Very leisurely paced, mostly downhill, car switch hike. Suitable for anyone over 10 years old (those under 18 MUST be accompanied by adult.) Only meeting place: Westgate Shopping Center. Topo: Lemon Gap
All day No. W0403-385 August 11
Fork Mountain – Little East Fork 9 AM
Hike 9, drive 0, rated B-B
Larry Ballard, 891-4318
Eileen McGill, 891-4409, dolphins@ioa.com
Start at Black Balsam to Ivestor Gap, to Little East Fork Trail, to Fork Mountain Trail, to Ivestor/Black Balsam. This is a wilderness area, so must call leader, limited to 10. Only meeting place: Black Balsam Parking Lot.
ALL DAY No. W0403-354 August 18
Hump Mountain/ Yellow
Mountain area 8:30 AM
Hike 9, Drive 130, Rated B-AA.
Adrian Lotherington 350 8065.
We'll hike from Roaring Creek Rd; to Yellow Mountain Gap at which point we join the AT, along an open ridge to Little Hump Mt and on to Hump Mt where we will have lunch on a grassy bald at 5, 587 ft. (Elevation gain 2,400 ft) We return to Yellow Mt Gap and take the Overmountain Victory Loop back to the car park. The fabulous vistas make the drive and moderately strenuous walk very much worth while. Only meeting place: McDonald's at the 25/70 Weaverville exit. Topos: Carver's Gap, White Rocks Mt, TN.
ALL DAY No. W0403-247 August 25
Ivestor Gap Traditional
Blueberry Hike 8:00 A.M.
Hike 6, Drive 70, Rated B-C
Ken & Carol Deal, 828-281-4530, KMCDeal@aol.com
Our annual hike to the picking fields of Grassy Cove Top in the Shining Rock Wilderness. Limit 10 hikers. Call the leaders for reservations. Only meeting place: Westgate. Topos: Big Sam and Shining Rock
ALL DAY No. W0403-386 Sept. 1
Pilot Rock – Laurel Mountain
Trail to Pisgah Inn 8:30 AM
Hike 8.5, drive 20, rated B-A
Mary Swain, 828-863-2125
Hike well-graded Pilot Rock Trail to connector to top of Laurel Mountain Trail, to MST, to Pisgah Inn for lunch. Eat at either the inn restaurant or on the lawn. 2,000 feet elevation gain. Only meeting place: Pisgah Forest Ranger Station.
ALL DAY No. W0403-387 Sept 8
Green Knob – East Fork
Pigeon River 8:30 AM
Hike 9, drive 62, rated A-B
Don Walton, 298-5084, donwalton@bellsouth.net
A new hike for CMC. Beginning near Wagon Rd. Gap we will follow the MST south over Green Knob and Chestnut Knob, with periodic outstanding views, then descend to the East Fork near Dark Prong & follow one of WNC’s most beautiful streams down to US 276. In Wilderness Area, this hike requires limit of ten. Please contact leader for reservation. Predominantly downhill, but with an elevation rise of about 1,900 feet. Car swap. Only meeting place: French Broad Overlook on BRP.
Pre Hike Report: You may want to hike this one! Tom and I scouted this hike today(8/17), it is a special one. It starts out with a bang going uphill for most of the 1900 ft in the first 2 miles. Chestnut Ridge meadow at the top is gorgeous, I had forgotten how pretty this section of the MST is. Then we pick up the East Fork of the Pigeon and see many river scenes on the way down down down 3100 ft to US 276.
ALL DAY No. W0403-249 Sept. 15
Haywood Gap/Buckeye Gap 8:30 A.M.
Hike 9, drive 70, rated A-A
Chuck Rosen, 298-2246
Follow scenic Haywood Gap Stream down on rough trail through the Middle Prong Wilderness area to junction with Buckeye Gap Trail. Climb up onto ridge to more open forest, follow old RR bed much of the rest of the way. Climb about 1500 feet. Wilderness area hike, limited to ten persons – call leader for reservations. Only meeting place: French Broad overlook, unless other arrangements are made with leader.
ALL DAY No. W0403-112 Sept. 22
Ivestor Gap 9AM
Hike 8-9, drive 12, rated A-B
Siro Del Favero, 277-2546
Let us welcome the autumn foliage by ascending Black Balsam Knob and Tennant Mountain on the Art Loeb Trail for a 360° panoramic view. Lunch at Ivestor Gap. Return via Graveyard Ridge Trail to view Dark Prong Falls. Last chance for green foliage. Car shuttle. Only meeting place: Blue Ridge Parkway Cold Mountain Overlook, MP 412.
ALL DAY No. W0403-242 Sept. 29
Sam Knob – Devils
Courthouse Loop 9:15 AM
Hike 9, Drive 75, ascend 800 ft., Rated A-B
Ruth Hartzler 251-0886 ruthmtn@aol.com
SB6K, P400 Note later starting time. Hike in the cool elevations. From FS 816 we will ascend Sam Knob (6040 ft.) with its 360 degree views, then hike through high meadows on the Flat Laurel and Little Sam Trails and the MST via Devils Courthouse (with its wonderful views). We then return via the MST across FS 816 and up to the summit of Black Balsam (6214 ft.), then down a short, steep manway to our cars. Meeting place: Cold Mtn. overlook on BRP. Asheville group may self-organize a car-pool at Westgate Shopping Center at 8:30. Topo: Sam Knob; also Nat’l. Geographic map of Pisgah Ranger District