WEDNESDAY HIKES

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. 

Wednesday hikes submitted by Charlie Ferguson, ccf108@gmail.com . Driving distance is round-trip from Asheville. All Wednesday hikes assemble at Westgate Shopping Center near I-240 exit 3B UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. Some hikes will have second meeting places as described in hike listings.

WEDNESDAY  No. W0701-186  Jan. 3 Little Pisgah Mountain 8:00 AM Hike 9, Drive 80, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Charlie Ferguson, 828-398-0213, ccf108@gmail.com  A pleasant hike, close to home for our coldest month. We値l hike from Hickory Nut Gap through an open meadow to see the view from the summit of Little Pisgah Mtn. Topo: Bat Cave

WEDNESDAY No. W0701-305 Jan. 10 Dupont Forest North Loop 8:00 AM Hike 10, Drive 82, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated A-B Jay Bretz, 828-658-1220, williambretz1220@msn.com . This low-altitude hike will traverse a loop on the northern side of Dupont Forest, from Lake Imaging to Stone Mtn., including Grassy Falls, the Thomas Cemeter and Wintergreen Falls. Second meeting place: Bi-Lo Pisgah Forest at 8:30 AM. Topo: Standingstone Mt.

WEDNESDAY No. W0701-053 Jan. 17 East Fork Pigeon River 8:00 AM Hike 8, Drive 74, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327. tomary2@charter.net  P400 A stroll along one of WNC's most beautiful streams, the East Fork of the Pigeon River, which is often spectacular in the winter. We will ascend to Dark Prong for lunch and then return. Wilderness area, limit 10, so contact leader for reservation. Second meeting place: Big East parking area on US 276, north of BRP at 8:45 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat値. Geo. PRD map

WEDNESDAY No. W0701-333 Jan. 24 Bearwallow Mtn. 8:30 AM Hike 9.2, Drive 30, 1950 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@bellsouth.net  This hike is an old CMC favorite. From Hickory Nut Gap on US 74A, we will hike over Ferguson Peak, then through undulating, open meadows before reaching our lunch spot at the fire tower on Bearwallow Mtn. Extraordinary views down towards the Lake Lure area. Topo: Bat Cave

WEDNESDAY No. W0701-310 Jan. 31 Jones Gap State Park 8:15 AM* Hike 8.5, Drive 94, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Jo Anderson, 828-693-7081, jobob@mchsi.com  Starting at Jones Gap State Park (NOTE: $2 fee per person for park entry), we will hike up the Rim of the Gap Trail with views of the Gap as we ascend. On top, a loop up on to the ridge, then down the Ishi Trail (#8) if doable. It is short, but steep. If it痴 wet or icy we値l go back down Rim of the Gap. *Meeting places: Meet at Westgate at 8:15 AM to form car pools, and meet leader at Jones Gap State Park parking lot at 9:00 AM. Topos: Cleveland, Table Rock; also Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area map

WEDNESDAY No. W0701-439 Feb. 7 Pounding Mill Trail 8:00 AM Hike 8-9, Drive 55, 950 ft. ascent, Rated B-C Greg Goodman, (828) 684-9703 P400 This hike takes the South Mills River Trail to the Pounding Mill Trail and on to Squirrel Gap Trail. Continue onto Pea Gap and then return on the South Mills River Trail. Second meeting place: Boyleston Baptist Church on NC 280 at 8:30 AM. Topo: Pisgah Forest; also, Na値. Geo. PRD map

WEDNESDAY No. W0701-554 Feb. 14 Bent Creek Loop #12: MST - Arboretum 8:30 AM Hike 8.5, Drive 22, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Sherman Stambaugh, 828-254-1736 P400 This hike is a loop on some of the Bent Creek area trails, including Small Creek and a connector trail from the Lake Powhatan area to the MST. We'll then hike north on the MST to Hard Times Road and return to the cars through the Arboretum. Second meeting place: Ingles across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 at 8:45 AM. Topo: Dunsmore Mt.; also Nat値. Geo. PRD map and Bent Creek Trail map

WEDNESDAY No. W0701-327 Feb. 21 Ridgecrest Ramble 9:00 AM Hike 6-7, Drive 40, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Ruth Hartzler, 828-251-0886, ruthmthn@charter.net  A good winter hike, following the Rattlesnake, Rhododendron and Adventure Trails. This moderate hike in the Ridgecrest area offers a number of great scenic overlooks as it meanders along the ridgelines, and includes Rattlesnake, Copperhead and Lookout Mtns. Second meeting place: Parking lot adjacent to McDonald痴 at exit 64 of I-40 at 9:20 AM. Topo: Montreat

WEDNESDAY No. W0701-308 Feb. 28 Ox Creek - Rich Knob 8:00 AM Hike 8, Drive 20, 1850 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Don Walton, 828-654-9904, donwalton@bellsouth.net . From Ox Creek Rd. climb to Rich Knob on the MST via Rattlesnake Lodge. Topo: Craggy Pinnacle

WEDNESDAY No. W0701-545 Mar. 7 Bent Creek #11 - Boundary Trail 8:30 AM Hike 8.5, Drive 25, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Stuart English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@citcom.net  P400 From Bent Creek Gap we will follow the MST to the Bent Creek Boundary Trail, on to Ingles Field Gap, to Ledford Branch Road and down to Deer lake Lodge Trail and the Rice Pinnacle parking lot. Great winter views. Car shuttle. Second meeting place: Ingles parking lot, across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 at 8:45 AM. Topos: Dunsmore Mt., Skyland; also Nat値. Geo. PRD map and Bent Creek Trail map

WEDNESDAY No. W0701-344 Mar. 14 Pulliam Creek in the Green River Gamelands 9:00 AM Hike 6.5, Drive 60, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated C-B Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, belston@cytechusa.com  This pretty in-and-out hike goes along Pulliam Creek for part of the way. We may see kayakers on the Green River. Second meeting place: NE corner of parking lot of Cracker Barrel off Exit 53 of I-26 at 9:30 PM. Topo: Cliffield Mtn; also Trails of the Green River Game lands map

WEDNESDAY No. W0701-049 Mar. 21 Big Creek - Walnut Bottom 8:00 AM Hike 6 or 11, Drive 110, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-B Ashok Kudva, 828-698-7119, ashok.kudva@mchsi.com  900M Follow the sight and sound of a spectacular mountain stream through a beautiful forest to Walnut Bottom. Features to be seen on this hike on a wide roadbed are the Midnight Hole, Mouse Creek Falls and several rapids. A shorter hike will be offered if a minimum of 3 people wish to do it. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck Stop, off I-40 at Exit 24 at 8:30 AM, but call leader first. Topo: Luftee Knob, Cove Creek Gap; also Nat'l. Geo. GSMNP Map

WEDNESDAY No. W0701-280 March 28 Art Loeb Trail/North Slope Trail 8:30 AM* Hike 7.5, Drive 60, 1600 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Ken and Carol Deal, 828-281-4530, cnkdeal@charter.net  P400 We start at the Davidson River Campground and ascend gradually on the Art Loeb Trail to the North Slope Connector. We'll eat lunch at the intersection before we start down the connector to the North Slope Trail. Then we have a lovely, easy stroll along the river to the cars. Leaders will be at the second meeting place. *Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Ranger Station at 9:10 AM. Topos: Pisgah Forest, Shining Rock; also Nat値. Geo. PRD map