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Bernard Elias is in Mission/St. Joseph's Hospital with pneumonia. He collapsed in his home on Monday evening, Jan. 10, and called 911 . He was taken to the ER for treatment and was admitted to a room in the St. Joseph side, room 924 for now, for a probable stay of 4 days or so. I visited him today and he seemed to be feeling much better but his treatment continues. Gerry

Save the date! We will based at a private campground in Townsend, just outside the Smokies. Saturday: We will all hike from the Abrams Creek entrance of the park. Two different levels of hikes will be offered; a moderate hike of 6 to 9 miles and a challenging hike of over 12 miles. Sunday: Two or three hikes will be offered from the Cades Cove and Abrams Creek entrances. You may prefer to tour Cades Cove. Participants must bring their own camping equipment. More information later - for now, just save the date. Danny Bernstein - danny@hikertohiker.org

The CMC has agreed to organize hike leaders for the ATC Conference Hikes on our section of the AT, from Spivey Gap to Max Patch Road. This has been broken into 9 hikes, ranging from 6 to 13 miles in length. Each hike will be given from 2 to 4 times over the 7 day conference, July 2 to July 8, 2005. One leader is required per hike with a car shuttle, and 4 per hike with a key switch. We need hike leaders for this conference just for the AT hikes (there are four other hikes in our area that Bruce Bente is in charge of).HELP!!

Hike leaders will be responsible for meeting their group at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City at 7 or 8 AM, organizing the cars/drivers, leading the way to and from the trailhead, and of course, not losing anyone along the trail. Detailed driving and hiking instructions and maps will be provided to all hike leaders well before the conference. A surveillance hike should be made to familiarize yourself with the driving & hiking directions. I will be glad to help you with these during the months of May and June.

Following is the hiking schedule for the ATC Conference CMC Section AT Hikes. Please let me know which hikes you will be able to lead (all of one particular section, or only one day).

Lemon Gap to Max Patch Rd, 6.6 July 3* July 6* July 8+ *Rusty Breeding, +Susan Cox

Again, please let me know which of the above hikes you will be able to lead. I will be glad to answer any questions you may have. Thanks, Jack Fitzgerald, 828-685-2897, suejackfitz@bellsouth.net .

ON Saturday, Nov. 6, 2004, the annual meeting of the Carolina Mountain Club was held at the Grove Park Inn in at Asheville, NC. One of the purposes of this diner meeting was to honor the American Hiking Society”2003 Volunteer of the Year” award for the state of North Carolina, our own Tower’s Resident, Ed Dunn.

At the age of 86, he volunteered 430 hours as a member of Appalachian Trail Maintenance and Construction Crew. That’s almost 54 eight-hour workdays. He has stood on the peak of every mountain east of the Mississippi River that is 6000 feet or higher.

Last May he received the “President’s Call to Service Award”. This award from President George W. Bush recognized his more than 4000 hours of service for the preservation of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

Another award was from J.C.Penny, to honor his many hours of service to “Meals on Wheels” in the Asheville area.

He graduated from the medical school of Washington University, St. Louis, MO. and began his career with the Fort Yukon Missionary Hospital operated by the Episcopal Church, on the Arctic Circle, north of Fairbanks Alaska. The majority of his career has been spend serving our country’s veterans at the Asheville, NC Veteran’s Hospital.

The oldest of four children, his adopted daughter, Donna, is an Athabascan Indian who was raised in the “lower 48” and presently resides in Asheville. Another daughter Adair, is Human Resources Director for Wesley Woods, Inc. Son Michael, and youngest daughter Susan both live with their families in Seattle, Washington.

The Mountains to Sea Foot Bridge is starting to be installed at the North Fork of the Catawaba River. The current estimated completion date is March or April.. http://www.ncmst.org/catawbabridge.htm

The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Working Group and the Save Our Hemlocks Action Team invite you to attend the 3rd Symposium on Hemlock Woolly Adelgid in the Eastern United States, February 1-3, 2005, Renaissance Hotel, Asheville, North Carolina.

Join us in Asheville for a two and one-half day conference on the biology, impacts, research and technology development, and management of hemlock woolly adelgid in the Eastern United States.

If you are interested in presenting a talk or poster, contact Fred Hain at fred_hain@ncsu.edu with a preliminary title. Please be advised that most volunteer presentations will probably be assigned as a poster since the program for oral presentations is almost full with invited papers.

At the Renaissance Asheville Hotel, One Thomas Wolfe Plaza, Asheville, North Carolina 28801, a block of rooms is being held at the Federal Government per diem rate of $81.00 plus tax. To make your reservation, call the Renaissance at 828-252-8211 or 1-800-468-3571 and mention the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Conference. This room block will be held until TODAY!! January 10, 2005. After that date, the hotel will accept reservations on a space available basis.

2005 SMOKIES ALL TAXA BIODIVERSITY INVENTORY GRANTS AVAILABLE -- Discover Life in America, Inc. (DLIA) invites proposals for research in support of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park's All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (GSMNP's ATBI). $52,500 is allocated for the upcoming (2005) field season. Proposals for collecting expeditions to GSMNP and for identification of georeferenced specimens are especially encouraged. In addition, for 2005, high priority will be given to proposals for a pollinator workshop, specific taxonomic working group (TWIG) products (e.g., revisions, database-driven species web pages, identification guides, keys, and other primary literature), bioblitzes, workshops, previously uninventoried taxa, and proposals of $5,000 or less.

Diamond Brand Outdoors Winter Clearance Sale

25% off original retail prices for all in stock inventory January 15, 16, and 17th 2005 only. This applies to our Arden and Asheville location. Frugal Backpacker will also be part of this and is open the 15th only. This will be our largest discount applied to the whole store you will see in 2005.

2005 Guided Hikes and Walks Sponsored by the Swannanoa Valley Museum ³Bringing History to Life...²

Dear Hiking Friends, I thought your members might be interested in knowing about the annual program of Guided Hikes and Walks sponsored by the Swannanoa Valley Museum, located in Black Mountain. These hikes are led by local historians and naturalists who share the history of the sites visited, making the events really quite special. We do charge a small fee, less for members than non-members of the museum, because the hikes generate a portion of our operating funds. I am taking the liberty of cutting and pasting below our brand new 2005 schedule, the first hike of which is this Saturday, and we still have some room. Thanks and Best regards, Jill Jones, Administrator Swannanoa Valley Museum

Jan. 8: Swannanoa Creek, led by Robert Goodson. Swannanoa Creek, earlier identified and mapped as Davidson¹s Mill Creek, was the site of a Civil War skirmish known as the Battle of Swannanoa Gap. The hiking route will pass a Civil War era grave and will also follow the roadbed of the first stagecoach route across the gap and into the valley. Meet at 9 a.m. at Black Mountain Savings Bank, 200 E. State St., Black Mountain. Partial day hike, bring lunch and dress for the rigors of cold weather hiking. Limit 20 hikers. Cost: $5 for members, $15 for non-members.

Jan. 29: Upper Catawba Falls, led by Arthur Joe Hemphill and John Buckner. This historic area was traversed by early settlers who had to dismantle their wagons to cross the falls. Hikers will cross private property (with permission) to reach the magnificent upper falls. Meet at 9 a.m. at Black Mountain Savings Bank, 200 E. State St., Black Mountain. All day hike, bring lunch and dress for the rigors of cold weather hiking. Limit 20 hikers. Cost: $5 for members, $15 for non-members.

Feb. 12: NEW! Fall Branch Falls, led by Wendell Begley. Bring your camera to capture the beauty of this scenic fall on a tributary of the North Fork of the Swannanoa River. It is believed to be the highest free-falling waterfall in the Swannanoa Valley. Meet at 10 a.m. at Black Mountain Savings Bank, 200 E. State St., Black Mountain. Partial day hike, bring lunch and dress for the rigors of cold weather hiking. Limit 20 hikers. Cost: $5 for members, $15 for non-members.

March 5: NEW! Hike to Mitchell Falls, led by Wendell Begley. A Very Special Event! In 1857, Dr. Elisha Mitchell set forth on what was to be a fatal journey to prove definitively that ³his² mountain was the highest in Eastern North America. He never reached his destination, the home of his mountain guide, Big Tom Wilson, on the Cane River. Days later, after a search involving hundreds of men, his body was found in a pool at the bottom of a falls. Relive this dramatic moment in history with direct descendents of search party members Jesse Stepp, Fred Burnette, and Big Tom Wilson who will be on hand to tell their ancestors¹ stories. This gentle, uphill walk will follow an historic trail. Meet at 8 a.m. at Black Mountain Savings Bank, 200 E. State St., Black Mountain, to carpool to the site of Big Tom Wilson¹s place on the Cane River. Full day event. Bring lunch and dress for the uncertainties of spring weather. Raingear advised. Limit 20 hikers. Cost: $50 for members, $75 for non-members.

April 16: Wildflower Hike, led by Harriet Styles. Delight in the early spring wildflowers you¹ll discover on this hike in the mountains off Highway 9, and learn about the many species from this knowledgeable naturalist. Meet at 10 a.m. at Black Mountain Savings Bank, 200 E. State St., Black Mountain. Partial day hike, bring lunch and dress for the uncertainties of spring weather. Raingear advised. Limit 20 hikers. Cost: $5 for members, $15 for non-members.

May 7: NEW! Hike to headwaters of the Catawba River, led by John Buckner & Roger Hibbard. Explore the headwaters of the Catawba River via what is believed to have been the first route into the valley, through Fortune Fields. Meet at 10 a.m. at Black Mountain Savings Bank, 200 E. State St., Black Mountain. Partial day hike, bring lunch and dress for the uncertainties of spring weather. Raingear advised. Limit 20 hikers. Cost: $5 for members, $15 for non-members.

June 11: Old Toll Road and Rocky Knob, led by John Buckner. This hike will explore the upper section of the Mt. Mitchell Railroad and Old Toll Road, with an excursion to the Old Camp Rock used by early hunters. Meet at 9 a.m. at Black Mountain Savings Bank, 200 E. State St., Black Mountain. All day hike, bring lunch and wear sturdy hiking shoes. Raingear recommended. Limit 20 hikers. Cost: $5 for members, $15 for non-members. July 4: Fireworks Hike, led by Wendell Begley and John Buckner. Enjoy a tradional All-American picnic at the summit of Sunset Mountain, then watch the Black Mountain fireworks display from the mountain¹s vantage point. (Date will depend on schedule of fireworks show.) Meet at 6 p.m. at Black Mountain Savings Bank, 200 E. State St., Black Mountain. Picnic included. Bring raingear, lawn chair and flashlight. Limit 20 hikers. Cost: $10 for members, $20 for non-members.

Aug. 6: Old Toll Road Caravan, led by Arthur Joe Buckner. Third annual tour up the historic Old Toll Road will culminate in a picnic at the site of Camp Alice. If you haven¹t been on this before, don¹t miss it this year. Meet at 7 a.m. at Black Mountain Savings Bank, 200 E. State St., Black Mountain. All day event. Food and snacks are provided. Raingear recommended. Limit 16 vehicles carrying a driver and at least 3 passengers each. Cost: $75 for members, $100 for non-members. Drivers free.

Sept. 17: Hike to Craggy Dome, led by Robert Goodson and Wendell Begley. Go into part of the Craggy Gardens scenic area that is seldom visited. Blueberries grow wild on this bald and will be ripe at the time of the hike. Meet at 10 a.m. at Black Mountain Savings Bank, 200 E. State St., Black Mountain. Partial day hike, bring lunch and wear sturdy hiking shoes. Raingear recommended. Limit 20 hikers. Cost: $5 for members, $15 for non-members. Oct. 8: Hike to Potato Knob, Rainbow Gap and Clingman¹s Peak, led by Wendell Begley. This hike will travel along the remote and high elevation of the southern end of the Black Mountain range, one of the most scenic portions of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Enjoy spectacular views of Mt. Mitchell, the Toe River Valley, Cane River Valley and North Fork Valley. The historic trail to Mt. Mitchell runs through this area. Meet at 9 a.m. at Black Mountain Savings Bank, 200 E. State St., Black Mountain. All day hike, bring lunch and dress for the rigors of cold weather hiking. Limit 20 hikers. Cost: $5 for members, $15 for non-members.

Nov. 19: NEW! Hike: Portions of old railroad grade and southern end of Old Toll Road, led by John Buckner and Roger Hibbard. Enjoy great views of the Swannanoa Valley on this hike along two historic roadbeds. Meet at 10 a.m. at Black Mountain Savings Bank, 200 E. State St., Black Mountain. Partial day hike, bring lunch and dress for the rigors of cold weather hiking. Limit 20 hikers. Cost: $5 for members, $15 for non-members.

The museum¹s Guided Hikes and Walks are led by area historians and naturalists, who in addition to guiding safe and interesting hikes also offer interpretation and education about the history and environment of the sites. All proceeds go to support the museum. Hikers will be required to sign a Liability Release form before each hike begins. Except where noted above, hikers should bring their own food, drink and gear. A rain poncho is always appropriate, as is sturdy footwear, including wool socks in winter. Memberships are available at each event.

CMC has grown substantially over the past few years and taken on more responsibilities. We have more members than any time in the recent past. We maintain over 400 miles of trail with more section maintainers and trail crews than ever before. We offer over 175 hikes per year, again more than ever before, and we have accepted education and training as a new mission. We’ve made these changes without significantly changing our by-laws. While this has not caused problems, at its January 3 meeting the CMC Council agreed that it was time to take a look at our by-laws and decide whether they needed changing to reflect the changes that have occurred in the Club. It appointed a committee to be chaired by Lenny Bernstein to carry out this task. If the Committee decides that the by-laws need changing, those changes will be presented to the Club membership for approval at our Annual Meeting next Fall. If you would like to be a member of this committee, please contact Lenny Bernstein by phone (828-236-0192) or e-mail (Lsberns@worldnet.att.net ).

A copy of our current by-laws can be found on the CMC website at www.carolinamtnclub.org/data/CMC-bylaws.pdf . You can also find them by following the links to financial data and then to financial and other data. If you have suggestions for improving the by-laws, please contact Lenny Bernstein.

If you haven’t already done so, please pay your 2005 dues. All members who joined before October 1, 2004 are required to pay 2005 dues.

As agreed at the Club’s Annual Meeting on November 6, effective January 1, 2005, CMC dues are $20 per year for individuals and $30 per year for families. Please also consider becoming either a Silver member ($50 per year) or a Gold member ($75 per year), or making a contribution to support our trail maintenance and education functions. All payments above basic membership are tax deductible. Please send your dues payments and contributions, along with your name, address, home, work and cell phone numbers, and e-mail address to: CMC P.O. Box 68 Asheville, NC 28802

If you have questions about your dues payment status, either check the membership data base on the CMC website, or contact Lenny Bernstein by phone (828-236-0192) or e-mail (Lsberns@worldnet.att.net ). Many thanks.