CMC Weekly Hike News

12//03/03

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Looking Ahead....

All Day Sunday

ALL DAY  No. A0304-275  Dec. 7 (strenuous)Rich Mtn., Roundtop Ridge, Pump Gap, AT 8:00 AM Hike 12, Drive 70, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated AA-A Tom Sanders 828-252-6327 mel&tgs@main.nc.us  A new hike for the CMC. From Tanyard Gap we will hike north on the AT to Rich Mtn, with good views, then down beautiful Roundtop Ridge (never hiked by CMC in memory), then up Pump Gap Trail to the AT and north to the trailhead. Bordering on AA-AA with solid climbs up Rich Mtn. and Pump Gap Trail. Topo: Hot Springs

ALL DAY  No. A0304-276  Dec. 7 (moderate) AT: Streets Gap to Big Bald 8:00 AM Hike 9, Drive 70, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Joanne Tulip 828-299-3495 joanne_flower@yahoo.com  Big Bald is one of the crown jewels of our section of the AT, with views of the Blacks, Smokies and other ranges in WNC and Tennessee. The first 0.6 miles climbs up to Streets Gap, then follows the AT to Big Bald. If we're lucky, the forest will be coated with rime ice. Topo: Sams Gap and Bald Creek

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. H0304-102   Dec. 7 Coontree Loop 1:00 PM Hike 3.7, Drive 70, Rated C-B Paula Robbins 828-281-3253 paularww@bellsouth.net  Note early start time. Starting from Coontree parking area this moderate hike goes along Coontree Creek & over Coontree Mountain. Hike is steep in places. Second meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station new parking lot at 1:45 PM.

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   No. W0304-290   Dec. 10 Shut-In - (MST) and Bent Creek 9 am Hike 7-8, drive 0, rated B-B Siro Del Favero, 828-277-2546 From the French Broad Overlook we will embark on a brisk hike through Bent Creek via Shut-In, Cascades, CMC extension, CMC, Wesley Branch, and Old Mill Trails back to the overlook. Estimated total ascent: 1,000 feet. Meeting place: French Broad Overlook on the Parkway.

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.

Wednesday All Day Hike Scheduler Needed

"With the lst quarter of "04, we find we've been scheduling Wednesday hikes for 5 years, and think it's about time that we let someone else have the opportunity".  Ken & Carol Deal

We sincerely appreciate the years of dedication that Ken and Carol have made faithfully scheduling the Wednesday All Day Hikes. Paula McNabb will be continuing alternating every other schedule but we will need a new scheduler starting the 3rd quarter of 2004. Please start thinking about who will be inspired to come forward and help with this important rewarding duty. Don Walton  

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. A0304-273  Nov. 29 Boogerman Trail 9:00 AM Hike 8, Drive 90, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Jorge Munoz 828-658-0606 jmunoz@buncombe.main.nc.us ote later starting time. A lush forest with giant old-growth Tulip trees and remnants of pioneer life make this a favorite loop hike in the Cataloochee area of the Smokies. If we're lucky we may spot one of the elk that have been introduced into this valley. Topos: Cove Creek Gap, Dellwood