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ALL DAYNo. A0503-250 Sept. 4 Douglas Falls – Locust Ridge Circuit (strenuous) 8:00 AM Hike 11, Drive 60, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Mike Ellis, 828-658-1830, michael.f.ellis@gmail.com SB6K This popular diversified hike features beautiful Douglas (Carter Creek) Falls, a climb through a hemlock forest to the MST, and a scenic lunch stop at the BRP Greybeard overlook. Optional climb to Craggy Dome (6080 ft.) during lunch stop. After lunch, we’ll see great views from a high mountain meadow leaded with ripe blueberries, and then bushwhack down Locust Ridge. Topos: Montreat, Craggy Pinnacle

ALL DAY No. A0503-473 Sept. 4 Mt. Mitchell – Maple Camp Bald loop (strenuous) 8:30 AM Hike 8.5, Drive 70, 1600 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Ruth Hartzler, 828-251-0886, ruthmtn@aol.com SB6K Note later start time. We’ll do a strenuous loop with great views, starting at Mt. Mitchell, following the MST/Mt. Mitchell Trail and Buncombe Horse Range Trails, stopping at Maple Camp Bald, then taking the Big Tom Gap Trail 191-A up to the Crest Trail, and returning via Big Tom and Mt. Craig. Two steep ascents make this hike strenuous. Second meeting place: Craven Gap at 8:45 AM Topo: Mt. Mitchell; also PNF South Toe River, Mt. Mitchell & Big Ivy trail map.

ALL DAY No. A0503-337 Sept. 11 Shining Rock from Black Balsam 8:30 AM Hike 11, Drive 65, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Lenny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, lsberns@worldnet.att.net SB6K, P400 Note later starting time. This hike was cancelled twice in 2004--the third time’s the charm! We will take the Art Loeb Trail from FS 816 to Shining Rock (6040’), climbing Black Balsam (6214’), Tennent Mtn. (6040’) and Grassy Cove Top (6040’) along the way. This will be your chance to bag four SB6K peaks while enjoying beautiful views covering the area from Pilot Mtn. to Cold Mtn. We’ll return via the Ivestor Gap Trail to get a different perspective on the same area. Wilderness area hike limited to 10 people. Please contact hike leader to reserve your place. Second meeting place: BRP Cold Mtn. overlook at 9:10 AM. Topos: Shining Rock, Sam Knob; also Natl. Geographic map of Pisgah Ranger District

All-day hikes submitted by Bruce Bente 692-0116, bbente@cytechusa.com . Driving distance is round-trip from Asheville. All Saturday and Sunday hikes assemble at Westgate Shopping Center near I-240 UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

HALF-DAY No. H0503-172 Sept. 4 John Rock Loop 1:30 PM Hike 57, 1200 ft elevation, drive 40, Rated B-B Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary@charter.net P400 This moderate in-and-out hike on the Butter Gap Trail starts at the Fish Hatchery. Second meeting place: Fish Hatchery at 2:00 PM.

HALF DAY No. H0503-466 Sept. 11 Buck Spring Lodge Site 1:30 PM Hike 4.4, drive 30, Rated C-C Don Walton, 828-654-9904, 828-713-9375 walt7258@bellsouth.net We will visit the Buck Spring Lodge site to look at the site cleared by CMC last fall, including a two-mile hike to the source of water for the lodge. We will look at the spring house and the hydraulic ram water system, including the remains of the dam to provide the thrust for the ram.

Half Day hikes submitted by Paula Robbins 828-687-1651 paularww@bellsouth.net and Pat Elias 828-281-3253 patelias@bellsouth.net . Leaders: Mail please mail your sign-up sheets. Meet at Westgate unless otherwise noted.

WEDNESDAY No. W0503-326 Sept. 7 Tanyard Gap, Lover's Leap, Pump Gap Loop 8:30 AM Hike 7, Drive 72, Ascend 2000 ft., Rated B-A Jay Bretz, 828-658-1220, williambretz1220@msn.com Start at Tanyard Gap to Lover's Leap. Great views of the French Broad and Hot Springs. Return via Silvermine and Pump Gap Trails, back to Tanyard Gap. Second meeting place: Rose's Department Store parking lot in Weaverville, across from McDonald's, exit 25/70 at 8:45.

WEDNESDAY. No. W0503-247 Sept. 14 Ivestor Gap Blueberry Hike 8:30 AM Drive 75, hike 6, rated B-C Ken and Carol Deal KMCDeal@aol.com or 281-4530 for reservations. . P400 Our traditional hike to the picking fields of Grassy Cove Top in the Shining Rock Wilderness. Limit 10 hikers. Call for reservation. *Meeting Places: Meet at Westgate at 8:30AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Cold Mtn. overlook, BRP M.P. 412, at 9:15AM

Wednesday Hikes are submitted by Paula McNabb, 828- 274-0057 gcmcnabb@charter.net and Ann Gleason, 828-859-9387, cowbonetail@yahoo.com . The meeting place for each hike will be designated by the hike leader and will appear in the hike description. Driving mileage will be listed, round trip, from the first designated meeting place.

ALL DAY No. A0503-044 Aug. 21 Lost Cove 8:00 AM Hike 7.5, Drive 140, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Les Love, 828-658-1489 This hike in the Wilson Creek area features spectacular waterfalls and the best swimming anywhere. Bring your bathing suit. Be prepared for several wet-foot stream crossings. Optional supper at Little Siena. Second meeting place: parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s at exit 64 of I-40 at 8:20 AM. Topo: Grandfather Mtn.; also USFS Wilson Creek map

ALL DAY No. A0503-472 Aug. 28 Sam Knob – Little Sam Loop 8:00 AM* Hike 10, Drive 75, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Tom Bindrim & Joan Lemire, 828-273-3880 SB6K, P400. Everyone has been to Sam Knob. How many of you have been to Little Sam Knob? Today we do both, using some MST, Little Sam and Sam Knob trails, and some off-trail. Hopefully great scenery. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leaders at Cold Mtn. O/L (BRP M.P. 412) at 8:40 AM. Topo: Sam Knob; also USFS Shining Rock & Middle Prong Wildernesses map and Nat’l. Geographic PRD map

ALL DAY No. A0503-470 Aug. 7 Fork Mtn. – Birdstand Mtn. 8:00 AM (moderate) Hike 9, Drive 85, 550 ft. ascent, Rated A-C Larry Modlin, 828-251-5092, lmodlin@warren-wilson.edu P400 For the P400 fans, here is a chance to bag a remote trail from the Black Balsam parking lot down to NC 215. Be prepared for a 3200 ft. descent, with only a short climb up Birdstand Mtn. There will be a wet-foot crossing of the West Prong of the Pigeon River at the end of the hike. Car shuttle. Topos: Shining Rock, Sam Knob; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map and USFS Shining Rock & Middle Prong Wild. map

Post Hike Report: Five intrepid hikers undertook the hike down Fork Mountain, over Birdstand Mountain and accross the West Fork of the Pigeon River in a cold, foggy rain that lasted all day. While clear in Asheville, at the start of the hike at the parking lot on RT816 (Black Balsam), visability was about 30 feet with a cold rain. Wasting no time, hoping to walk into the sunshine at lower elevations, the group started at a fast clip. The first 1.7 miles was on the roadway leading to Ivestor Gap, with water running underfoot at every step. The trail off to the left of the roadway is unmarked as it is in the wilderness and difficult to spot. The next 3 miles is up and down, sometimes short steep sections, always through dense underbrush which had not been cut back until the scouting party went through in July. The final 3 miles is steeply down what would normally be very well made switchbacks, except that they were running water and very muddy. It is doubtful that anyone remained erect the whole way. The trail dropped over 2000 feet in that short distance, coming down to parallel the Pigeon. There is no apparent correct place to cross the Pigeon, so when we scouted, we crossed a reasonable (over the knee on a dry day) spot and intersected with the trail, marking the spot with tape. The trail historically crossed the Pigeon over a footbridge, long ago washed away. This is the probable reason the trail is so little used today. The beginning and end, in either direction, are difficult to locate and the walk is difficult either way, with a 3300 foot decline/incline and a 700 foot incline/decline. It is also very easy to get lost in the area as it intersects with trails up from the scout camp over Hightops, as well as another trail over back to the little East Fork of the Pigeon, all unmarked. Here is a trail that clearly offers great challenge, great views on a clear day, but should be blazed all the way, wilderness or not.

HALF DAY No. A0503-403 Aug. 21 Dupont Forest: Fawn Lake P.L. #5 12:30 PM* Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, belston@cytechusa.com Hike 6, Drive 90, Rated B-C *Note early start time. A moderate loop hike covering portions of six different trails and featuring Reasonover Creek. There is one “boots-off” creek crossing--bring suitable footwear and a towel. *Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at side parking lot of Pisgah Forest Bi-Lo at 1:00 PM.

Post Hike report: On a hot and humid day we had a delightful walk thru the woods and at the "boots off" stream crossing the water felt great. We also investigated the future new log bridge crossing which will eliminate the need for "boots off" on subsequent hikes. Becky Elston

HALF-DAY No. A0503-465 Aug. 28 Sam Knob Loop 1:30 PM Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@cytechusa.com Hike 5-6, Drive 70, Rated C-C SB6K, P400 This will be a loop hike from the Black Balsam parking lot. The route will include Sam Knob (6040’) and hiking in beautiful high-altitude open meadows. Possible blueberry sightings.

Post Hike report: Ten hikers enjoyed a loop hike in the high meadows around Black Balsam. We started from the Black Balsam parking lot, hiked up to Sam Knob for a snack break, then went down to and across Flat Laurel Creek. Turning left, we followed the old railroad grade (Flat Laurel Creek trail) back to the parking lot.

The weather was interesting to say the least. It was cloudy, with heavy clouds that occasionally blew past us and all around. Light rain fell off-and-on with the strangest weather occurring while we were on the summit of Sam Knob...for a couple of minutes, big clumps of snow mixed with rain fell on us while we watched in amazement. The temperature at the time was about 65. Just another saga of the weird weather this summer.

WEDNESDAY. No. W0503-476 Aug. 17 South Mills River, Mullinax Tr., Laurel Creek Tr. 8:15 AM Hike 9, drive 50, rated B-C Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703 P400 Loop hike. S. Mills River to Mullinax Trail, to Laurel Branch Trail, then to Bradley Branch, then back by Pea Gap to cars. Bring sandals to cross creeks, one of which may be knee-deep. Second meeting place: Boyleston Baptist Church on NC 280 at 8:45 AM. Ed Hauschild will assist in leading.

WEDNESDAY. No. W0503-357 Aug. 24 Pisgah Ridge Loop 8:30AM* Hike 8.5, Drive 70, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Kathie Giddings, 828-696-9808, kmgiddings@highstream.net P400 Starting at the Graveyard Fields parking lot, we will follow the Pisgah Ridge trail to the MST and lunch at a beautiful overlook. Then we will continue on the MST to Graveyard Fields, follow a trail to one of the Yellowstone Falls, then on to Skinny Dip Falls. *Meeting Places: Meet at Westgate at 8:30AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Cold Mtn. overlook, BRP M.P. 412, at 9:15A.M.

Post Hike report: Twenty two hardy hikers got together to enjoy a great day of hiking .The Pisgah Ridge Loop is a beautiful hike, and the weather did cooperate to some degree. No RAIN. But the cloudy conditions prevented us from enjoying the beautiful views. One consolation was the folks did get to snack on berries along the way, and hopefully had a good visit with each other. Special thanks to Ray Sanow and Greg Goodman for their assistance.

The Multi-Club Event for 2005 has been cancelled due to extremely low turnout. All registrants have already been notified of the cancellation and their checks have been returned. The purpose of this email is to inform other interested parties of the cancellation and ask them to spread the word to club members who may have been considering attending the event without registering in advance.

The decision to cancel was a difficult one considering the history of the event and the amount of effort that had been expended in the planning of the event by both NBATC and many other parties, but also a very easy and quite obvious one considering the low turnout. The expectation of people to come to the event and meet, hike, camp and socialize with people from the other clubs could just not have been met due the low turnout.

The general feedback that we have received from several clubs is that with the Regional Partnership Meetings and The Biennial Meeting in the same year there was just too little need and time for yet another meeting. David A. Helms

September 16 – 17 – Do your feet a favor…Get fit with Phil. If you’re a hiker or just spend a lot of time on your feet, you know how important a good fitting pair of shoes is. If you have hard to fit feet, that great fit can be very elusive. Here’s an opportunity to have your feet assessed by a master boot fitter and other highly trained fitters. A boot camp is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, September 16 and 17, at the Mast Store in Waynesville. Friday night is an introductory “fit feet seminar” featuring Phil Oren, the developer of the Phil Oren FitSystem. The seminar is FREE and helps explain the steps to achieving a great fitting pair of boots or shoes. The seminar begins at 6 p.m. and is held at the Waynesville store. On Saturday, fit sessions are scheduled beginning at 10 a.m. There is a $20 fee for the session, and all participants receive a goodie bag filled with socks, shoecare products, coupons, and informative literature. To reserve your spot, call Mast Store On-Line at 866-FOR-MAST.

CMC FONTANA 2005 HIKING WEEKEND

Rev. 2 rev. 8-19-05

In response to popular demand, CMC has scheduled a weekend hiking trip to the Lake Fontana area over the weekend of October 1-2, 2005.

We will stay in Fontana Village or nearby campgrounds on Friday and/or Saturday nights, and will hike nearby trails on Saturday and Sunday, including some in the Great Smoky Mtns. Natl. Park. As of 8/19, 25 people have made reservations to attend.

Details of the trip are:

Lodging:

Make your reservations directly with Fontana Village (1-800-849-2258), and ask for the CMC discounted rate.

Fontana Village offers a range of accommodations. They have quoted the following rates for

CMC attendees:

•hostel-type beds: (bare bed frames, no mattress, with kitchen) (approx. $15/night)

•Camp Cabins: 2BR, 1BA, with kitchen (without bed linens or kitchen utensils) ($43/night/cottage)

•Dogwood Cottage: 2BR, 1BA with kitchen (with bed linens and kitchen utensils) ($58/night/cottage)

•Renovated Dogwood Cottage: 2BR, 1BA with kitchen (with bed linens and kitchen utensils) ($68/night/cottage)

•Laurel Cottage: 2BR, 1BA with kitchen, with bed linens, utensils, TV, air cond.) ($75/night/cottage)

Azalea Cottage: 2 or 3 BR, 2BA with kitchen, bed linens, utensils, TV/VCR, air cond. ($145/night/cottage for 3BR)

•Fontana Inn: 2 double beds ($68/night/room)

•Campground with hookup ($18/night/campsite)

•Campground w/o hookup ($13/night/campsite)

CMC will have use of the swimming pools and other Fontana Village facilities. Mountain bikes and horses are available for rental. Fontana Village has an indoor swimming pool, free for people staying at the Village. Bring your swim suit!

Please look at their website www.fontanavillage.com for more information.

Campgrounds are also available, as follows:

•Fontana Village Campground next to Little Tennessee River (see rate schedule above)

•Cable Cove Campground five miles north of Fontana Village (approx. $8 / night/campsite)

Check-in at Fontana Village:

We will have a CMC table set up in back of the Fontana Village registration counter.

This table will have sign-in sheets for each of the planned hikes (The hikes that people sign up for will be the ones hiked)

Please sign in and make your hike selections after you register.

Our central “Information Center” will be Bruce Bente’s cottage. The cabin number will be posted at the CMC table by the registration counter.

Meals:

Friday:

A number of people are going over earlier on Friday to do some early hiking and to explore the area. We will get together Friday for supper at the Fontana Village Inn restaurant. CMC invites anyone who will be at Fontana by 6 PM to join us.

Meals are available at the Fontana Village restaurant in the Lodge (breakfast $8.95; lunch $7.95, supper entree $13-15). New for 2005: The restaurant is under new management and has upgraded its menu. It also has a full liquor license to serve beer, wine and cocktails.

The Fontana Village restaurant will prepare box trail lunches for $7.95 with advance notice. If you want a box lunch, tell Bruce Bente so he can place an order with the restaurant.

Saturday:

We will make supper reservations at the restaurant in the Lodge for 7 pm Saturday night, so CMCers can eat together and exchange stories about the day’s hikes. (See note above about Friday night supper.)

For a nice Sunday night supper on the way home, the historic Jarrett House in Dillsboro is recommended. Meals are served family-style and the food is good and plentiful. Take US 74 north to the US 23 South exit, go one mile, then turn left at the first traffic light and Jarrett House is immediately to your left.

Hiking:

NOTE: This list is preliminary only and will be revised as plans progress. Check at the CMC table on Friday to learn of any additional changes.

Saturday 10/1 strenuous hike Haw Creek, Tali Gap, Little Fork. Leader: Dave Wetmore.

Come see the other copper mine, the one off Haw Creek. Many know of it, but few have ever been there. If time permits, we will return via the larger group of mines on Little Fork. Some moderate bushwhacking. Ferry trip across Fontana Lake.

Saturday 10/1 moderate hike AT from Yellow Creek Gap to Fontana Leader: Bruce Bente.

7.5 mls, 800 ft. ascent, 2000 ft. descent. Climb Yellow Creek Mtn. and down the ridge towards Fontana Lake. Car shuttle.

Saturday or Sunday strenuous hike Shuckstack – Lost Cove – Lakeshore Trail loop 13 mls

This hike goes 3.5 miles north on the AT from the trailhead just over Fontana Dam, to the magnificent view of Lake Fontana and the surrounding mountains from the summit of Shuckstack. After Shuckstack, descend on Lost Cove trail and return to cars via Lakeshore Trail.

Saturday 10/1 Easier hike Twentymile loop trail from Twentymile trailhead 6.5 mls.

Sunday 10/2 10 am at Marina, returning about 4 pm A local historian will lead a boat excursion to the head of Hazel Creek and a hike around the abandoned townsite of Proctor and the Proctor Cemetery. Afterwards, the boat will travel to the head of Eagle Creek and will hike around the abandoned Ecoah Branch copper mine. Cost is $10. This excursion was very popular when we did it in 2003. This year there will be a limit of 35 people on the trip (25 in the big boat and 10 on a second smaller boat if needed.)

In addition, Fontana Village has 20 miles of trails around the village for those who want to hike nearby on their own. A trail map will be available at the CMC table next to the registration counter.

Transportation:

The driving time to Fontana Village from Asheville is about 2 hours via I 40 - US 23/74 - US 19/74 - NC 28. It’s all 4-lane divided highway except the last 18 miles of NC 28.

Ferry service across Lake Fontana is available from the Marina, near Fontana Dam. The 20-minute ride across to the hike trailhead will cost about $10-15 per person (round trip), depending on the number of passengers and the time of return.

The Marina opens at 8:00 am, and the last scheduled pickup for return is 3:30pm. However, they will pick up as late as 5:30pm, for an extra charge of $40/boat for overtime.

Misc :

For anyone wishing to learn more about the Fontana area, you are invited to look at the following websites:

www.fontanavillage.com

www.worldisround.com/articles/9485

http://aam.wcu.edu/hogue/index.html

http://aam.wcu.edu/livingston

www.ncroads.com/nc200+/nc288.htm

http://toto.lib.unca.edu/findingaids/photo/austin_brooks/pages/ab639b.htm

www.appalachianhistory.com

www.trails.com/advancedfind.asp?keyword=fontana%20village&state=nc