CMC Weekly Hike News

11/19/03

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Looking Ahead....

All Day Sunday

ALL DAY No. A0304-272 Nov. 23 Deep Creek - Kephart's Last Stand 7:30 AM Hike 13.5, Drive 135, 2160 ft. ascent, Rated AA-AA Danny Bernstein 828-236-0192 danny@hikertohiker.org This lovely hike starts at the Deep Creek entrance of the Great Smoky Mtns. Natl. Park, outside of Bryson City. The trail follows Deep Creek past a waterfall, campground and mixed woodlands to Campsite #57, Horace Kephart's last permanent campsite. Next a short, steep section of the Martin Gap Trail and then we go downhill on the Indian Creek Trail where we will enjoy another waterfall. Some rockhopping may be needed for a dry creek crossing. Second meeting place: Rest area on US 23/74 near Waynesville at 8:00 AM. Topos: Bryson City, Clingman's Dome

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 Sunday

HALF DAY No. H0304-297 Nov. 23 Sams Gap South 12:30 PM Hike 5, Drive 50, Rated C-B Neal Andreae 828-698-2546 nandreae@gowebway.com Note early start time. An AT hike from Sams Gap to Hog Back Ridge shelter & return. An opportunity to check out the relocation under I 26 & an AT parking lot!

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

All Day Wednesday

ALL DAY Nov. 26 NO HIKE SCHEDULED. HAPPY THANKSGIVING

ALL DAY No. W0304-289 Dec. 3 MST: Glassmine Falls Overlook to Stepps Gap 8:30 am Hike 7, Drive 70, Rated B-A Tom Sanders 252-6327 mel&tgs@main.nc.us Features 2 peaks over 6000, Blackstock Knob and Mt. Gibbes. This route has been worked out by Cave Dog and Tom, with a shortcut bushwhack off the MST around the North of Potato Knob and on to Clingmans Peak and Gibbes. Close to 2000 ft ascent. Car shuttle. Topos: Mt.Mitchell and Montreat. Meeting place: Westgate Shopping Center

ALL DAY No. W0304-288 Nov. 19 Kanuga Conference Center 9 am Hike 8.5. drive 16, rated B-C Fred Chaffee, 828-692-8937 Renewing our the traditional pre-Thanksgiving hike over well-maintained trails including the Doug Stirling trail to Wolf Mtn. overlook, and Long Rocks to the Jim Redd trails, with lunch on scenic Eagle Rock, overlooking Pinnacle Mountain. A pleasant moderate loop hike over varied terrains. First meeting place: parking lot rear of Mountain Bank, corner of White St. & Rt. 25 south, Hendersonville. Second meeting place: Kanuga Conference Center, lower parking lot (rear of Inn ) 9:15.

Wednesday Hikes are submitted by Kenneth & Carol Deal, 828- 281-4530, KMCDeal@aol.com and Paula McNabb, 828- 274-0057 gcmcnabb@charter.net. 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.

Adopt-A-Trail (Section) Maintainers Needed!

We currently have several sections on the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) that would love to have a caring individual who can adopt a section of their very own. As a trail maintainer, you would be the MST's most important advocate and protector. In this role, you would become familiar with trail maintenance techniques so that you understand the big picture as you perform the simple, recurring maintenance and repairs necessary to keep the trail in good repair. One your most important duties would be the "eyes" and "ears" of your section. The section supervisors are responsible for all of the "heavy duty" work and should be contacted to perform trail work you would not feel comfortable doing.

If you are interested please contact me or any of the following and we will explore finding just the right section of trail for you. Don Walton, walt7258@bellsouth.net , 828-298-5084, Stan Smith, ssmith111728@aol.com , 828-456-3042, D.R. Kulp, kulpdr@juno.com , 828-692-0783, Les Love, leslove@aol.com , 828-658-1489, Jorge Munoz, jmunoz@buncombe.main.nc.us , 828-658-0606.

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Looking Back......

All Day Sunday

ALL DAY No. A0304-271 Nov. 16 Chestnutwood Mtn. 8:00 AM Hike 8.5, Drive 70, 1900 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Don Gardner 828-754-4067 gardog3@charter.net We'll do our major climbing before lunch on this pleasant hike past streams, two nice cascades, a glimpse of the Black Mtns, and a 20 year old timber harvest in the Grandfather District. Some challenging bushwacking and hiking on overgrown trails. Short car shuttle. Topo: Old Fort

Post Hike Report: 8 hikers enjoyed an interesting hike in the Mackay Mtn. area, east of Old Fort. We did an 8-mile one way hike up Hickory Branch, then along the ridgeline to the summit of Chestnutwood Mtn. for lunch. Then down on overgrown logging roads and along Paddy's Branch to our waiting car. A lot of bushwhacking, and a confusing maze of old logging roads to pick our way through. Fortunately, we had Tom Bindrim on the hike to keep us on the right route. The weather cooperated with cloudy skies for the entire hike, with rain starting only after we got back into the cars. Bruce Bente

ALL DAY No. A0304-270 Nov. 9 Cedar Rock Mtn. - John Rock 8:30 AM Hike 8-9, Drive 80, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Barbara Passmore 828-230-2670 bpsss354@aol.com Note later starting time. A moderately paced hike from the Pisgah Fish Hatchery to lunch on the rock face of Cedar Rock Mtn. with its great views .Then return via Cat Gap and more great views from John Rock as we return on the John Rock and Horse Cove Trails. Second meeting place at Fish Hatchery parking lot at 9:15 AM. Topo: Shining Rock. Also Nat'l. Geographic Pisgah Ranger District map.

Post Hike Report: I loved being the leader on this hike and on this day. The weather was just as I like it-cool/cold AND sunny. Many of the persons on the hike are my trustworthy and beloved friends. The two newcomers from Ohio were prompt and impressively strong. Cedar Rock was monumental, moss-covered and ages-old. As usual, John Rock offered an always-new lesson in relativity. The surrounding mountain undulations were as they always are, and I love them in their seemingly changeless existence. Finishing a hike is always a great moment for me because I love to pretend that I am an athlete. The goodbyes were warm, cordial, and promising. I feel good about everything concerning this hike EXCEPT the post-hike report which OBVIOUSLY violates: "Less talk, more walk" Barbara

Half Day Sunday

HALF DAY No. H0304-296 Nov. 16 MST: Parkway HQ to Folk Art Center 1:00 PM Hike 5, Rated C-C Anita & Richard Walkey 828-681-2967 walkey@juno.com Note the early start time. This easy in & out hike begins at Parkway Headquarters. Suitable for anyone over 10 years old. (Those under 18 MUST be accompanied by adult.) NOTE: Only meeting place will be the Blue Ridge Parkway Headquarters parking area.

Post Hike Report: Sunday's half day hike attracted 7 hikers. We had some old veterans, and some new faces. The treat of rain kept the numbers down. A lot of the hikers learned where the Parkway Headquarters is located, and it's proximity to the MST. There was lots of talk and information shared. It took us an hour and a half to get to the Folk Art Center, where we took a break. Coming back we got a little damp, but no one seemed to mind. The trail was in great shape, and offered a few challenging spots for all. This is a nice Fall or Winter hike. Close in and a tad challenging for beginners. Richard and Anita Walkey

HALF DAY No. H0304-295 Nov. 9 Pump Gap Loop 1:00 PM Hike 4, Drive 80, Rated C-B Jorge Munoz 828-658-0606 jmunoz@buncombe.main.nc.us Note the early start time. From Silvermine trailhead in Hot Springs we have a good climb to the ridge where we will visit an old mountain cemetery, cross the AT and return on Pump Gap Trail. There is beautiful vegetation & scenery to enjoy beside good company.

Post Hike Report: We have been doing this hike under the assumption that is a four miles hike. Since I had walked this trail recently cutting blowdown trees I gathered that it was more like five miles and so I warned the hikers at Westgate. That was the reason for a early meeting time. The next day, Paula Robbins with her usual efficiency found out that the distance was 5.5 miles. It should be also a AB category hike. We were a group of ten with only three ladies, unusual but quite cohesive so could pick a sustainable pace that took us first through loose rocky trail until the second crossing of the creek. From the fork and up was steeper climbing though on better trail that took us almost to the ridge and the mountain cemetery. Unlike most other mountain cemetery, this one is not maintain by relatives. (All gone?) Though some cutting has been done it is being taken over by growth. The great majority of small headstones testifies for the great number of infant mortality, most of them did not make it through the first year. It is dying proof of hard times and a monument to the early settlers. Our trail was a soft carpet of diverse autumn colors that crossed the AT on the ridge providing for refreshing and invigorating breeze and the contrast of tall naked trees against a the vast, blue sky. Both AT and Pump Gap trails are well blazed at the crossing. The yellow blazing, done four years ago, on this section of the "Pump" , done by Felix Metzner , our senior worker still stands out nice and clear in yellow. The water bars, steps and four bridges all done in locust sturdy and rebar will be there for eighty more years so I do not have to worry about. I counted four small blowdown trees on the way up to the ridge, all stepovers. Two 8" pines at the lowest part of the loop, alongside the creek and right after crossing the second crossing of the AT a 18" old oak laying on the Pup Gap Trail unobtrusive. Though we started our hike at 2.00 P.M. we got back to the vehicles at 5.15 P.M. with less than one hour of daylight as recommended. The spirits were light and happy as we finished. Lots of compliments reflected the joy, exercise and cohesion of the group. It makes the leading worth it. Jorge

All Day Wednesday