E-newsletter Hike news

Big East to Shining Rock via Old Butt 7:30 AM
Hike 8.5, Drive 60, 3200 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA+

SB6K, P400 Note early start time. We will hike from the Big East parking lot up the steep Chestnut Ridge trail over Dog Loser and Old Butt knobs to lunch at Shining Rock (6040 ft.) with its exceptional views. We’ll return via a steep descent to the North Fork of Shining Creek. Wilderness area hike limited to ten people; please contact leader for reservations. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

*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 hike leader for dinner at Cracker Barrel after the hike. *Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools; meet the leader at Cracker Barrel off I-26, exit 53 at 1:00 PM at the NW corner of the parking lot.

*Note early start time. A leisurely paced annual hike. Bring a little gift (wrapped, please) and receive one too. Where we go will depend on the weather. *Only meeting place: Ingles Parking lot across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 off I-26. Suitable for anyone over 10 years of age. (Those under 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult.)

WEDNESDAY No. W0504-492 Dec. 7
Cookie Hike in the Arboretum Area 9:00 AM* Hike 7-8, Drive 12, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-C Ken &Carol Deal, 828-281-4530, KMCDeal@aol.com Note later start time.
CMC’s traditional cookie hike transplanted to a new spot. Bring a few homemade goodies along to share. We will hike on trails constructed by the CMC in the Arboretum, and cover some trails in the Lake Powhatan area also. Bring your membership card for the Arboretum if you have one. There is a $6 parking fee otherwise. Second meeting place: Ingles parking lot across from Biltmore Square at 9:15 AM. Topo: Asheville; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

Pine Mt. Loop II 9:00 AM* Hike 9, Drive 20, 1850 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@cytechusa.com P400 Note later start time. Last April we visited the absolutely beautiful Pine Mt. (the one with the BRP tunnel) from the Mills River Side. Today we’ll do it from the Bent Creek side. Some off–trail. Topos: Enka, Dunsmore Mt.; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

ALL DAY No. A0504-275 Nov. 27
Rich Mtn., Roundtop Ridge, Pump Gap, AT 8:00 AM
Hike 11, Drive 70, 2300 ft. ascent, Rated AA-A

From Tanyard Gap we will hike north on the AT to Rich Mtn. for good views, then down beautiful Roundtop Ridge, then up Pump Gap Trail to the AT and north to Tanyard Gap. Bordering on AA-AA with solid climbs up Rich Mtn. and Pump Gap trail. Topo: Hot Springs

With the weather forecast rain, 8 intrepid hikers, armed with raingear, set off for Tanyard Gap. Going north (and up) we ascended the 3 miles to Rich Mtn., which was very windy but with good views of mountains from the Roans to Max Patch under glowering clouds. We then descended the Round Top Ridge trail (new to 6 of the hikers), with views of Hot Springs and the Bluff Mtn area. This hike takes you through Hot Springs, but we resisted the temptation of beer and hot baths and went on to lunch at the Silvermine Picnic Ground. What, then, did we see? The clouds clearing, blue sky. This cheered us as we worked our way up the Pump Gap Loop and onto the AT before finishing back at Tanyard Gap. This hike turned out to be just under 12 miles and with almost 3000 ft of up and of down. We did it in 6 hours with a half hour of lunch. Once again, if Tom Sanders is the leader, it won't rain! (Famous last words -- next time will probably be a hurricane). Tom Sanders

ALL DAY No. A0504-409 Dec. 4
Jones Gap/El Lieutenant Loop 8:00 AM* (strenuous)

Starting at Jones Gap St. Park (NOTE: $2 entry fee per person), we will hike up the Jones Gap Trail along the Middle Saluda River, then the Bill Kimball Trail up through the boulders and forest, climbing over the granite face of El Lieutenant. We’ll continue on the Kimball trail, walk a short portion of US 276 to our return loop on the Tom Miller and Jones Gap Trails. *Meet at Westgate to form carpools and meet leader at left side of Ingles parking lot (H’ville) at 8:40 AM (I-26 to exit 53, right on Upward Rd. 1 mile to Ingles at US 176); also Jones Gap St. Park parking lot at 9:00 AM. Topos: Cleveland, Table Rock; also Mountain Bridge Wilderness map

Hike: Jones Gap/ El Lieutenant Loop Hike # Ao504-409
Date: 12-5-05 Ascent: 2260 Hike Miles: 9 Drive:
80
Leader: Ann Gleason

The weather report looked bad but 5 veteran hikers were there at the 2nd meeting place when I got there.
We got on the trail by 9:30 taking the Jones Gap Trail (#1) which follows the old Solomon Jones Toll Road built in the mid 1800's as a short cut to Brevard via Ceasar's Head. It follows the rushing Middle Saluda River most of the way as it steadily rises towards the Gap. We decided to reverse our approach to El Lt. after finding the Cold Spring Branch bridge was out.
We then continued up the Jones Gap Trail until taking the Tom Miller Trail (#2) to the Raven Cliff Parking lot. From there we headed back onto the South wall of Jones Gap on the Coldspring Branch Trail (#3) to the Bill Kimball Trail (#5) which followed the high ridge
with distant views of Mt Pisgah before dropping over the dramatic granite face of El Lieutenant. WE decended and took the switch backs down the Lietenant and back down to the valley floor where we picked up the Coldspring Branch trail for a short distance and
forded the Branch on rocks,logs or in the water. After the river crossing we then picked up the Jones Gap trail again(#1) and hiked back to our cars at the start.

P400 *Note later start time. This new CMC loop hike will start from Cathey’s Creek Rd. and follow an overgrown forest road to the Art Loeb Trail, with lunch at the Butter Gap shelter. We’ll return via a no-name trail for variety. Nice winter views. Second meeting place: Bi-Lo in Pisgah Forest at 9:00 AM Topos: Rosman, Shining Rock

Had beautiful weather in the morning, nice and sunny with temps in the high 50s to low 60s. Good views of Cedar Mtn., and Stone Mtn. We stopped for lunch at the Butter Gap shelter. Total time of hike ,4 hours, 45 min. The trail up is a easy climb along a forest service road where the trail into the woods starts at the far back corner where the road dead ends. This no name trail, 1/8 mile leads to the Art Loeb / Butter Gap trail leading to the shelter. The return trail from the shelter leads just below Stone Mtn and follows Cedar Rock Creek and an old road bed down hill thru the woods. Note: this section of trail is not on the Nat. Geo. Pisgah FS Map. We had a good time !!!!! Many Thanks, Chip Miller

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.

This moderate hike is on a well-graded trail, on the small creek trail to an unnamed connector trail to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Just what you need after Thanksgiving! *Second meeting place: Ingles Parking lot across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 off I-26 at 1:40 PM.

*Note early start time. Drive to Yellow Gap Parking area, then hike in-and-out along FS 5015 to Bradley Creek to view scenery and results of clear-cutting. *Meet at Westgate at 1:00 PM to form carpools; meet leader at the North Mills River parking area at 1:30 PM.

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

WEDNESDAY No. W0504-491 Nov. 30
Christmount Watershed hike 8:40 AM* Hike 7, Drive 40, 1750 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Tommie Boston, 828-686-5029, Tambee@aol.com Strenuous hike! This new CMC hike will explore part of the Swannanoa & Miami Mtns. on the grounds of Christmount Christian Assembly, and will include some challenging climbs. *Meeting places: Meet at Westgate at 8:40 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s at exit 64 of I-40 at 9:00 AM. Topo: Black Mtn.

On a beautifully clear and cool Wednesday, eleven able hikers and one disabled leader attacked the strenuous 1800' elevation climb to the Christmount watershed. We began at the Ridgecrest Boys Camp boundary and ascended 1000' to Jobs Peak, then another steep 500' to Evans Knob. Visibility from the ridge showed off all the mountains in the Craggies, Blacks, and Swannanoas. The remaining 300' gain took us over three peaks of Miami Mountain and our last descent down Rocky Knob in Christmount. A furry white canine (Derby) joined us at the trailhead and guided us patiently all the way to Christmount. We thanked him for his efforts by chauffering him back home to Ridgecrest. The hike lasted four hours and was under five miles in length.

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.