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ALL DAY No. A0304-277 Dec. 14 Bent Creek Loop #2 8:30 AM Hike 9-10, Drive 20, 1600 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Ruth Hartzler 828-251-0886 ruthmtn@aol.com Note later starting time. A nice Bent Creek loop originated by Tom Bindrim, starting at the Hardtimes trailhead. We will hike part of the MST, a little easy off-trail (about one-third mile), the Lower Sidehill Trail, and stroll past Lake Powhatan. A great close-in, cool weather hike. Topos: Dunsmore Mtn., Skyland

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. H0304-299 Dec. 14 Christmas Party Hike Noon Hike 4-5, Drive 50, Rated C-C Diane Hankins 828-298-2870 (before 9 PM) Note early start time. Leisurely paced annual hike. Bring a little gift (wrapped, please) & receive one too. Where we go will depend on the weather. Only meeting place is the Ingles parking lot across from Biltmore Square Mall. Suitable for anyone over 10 years old. (Those under 18 MUST be accompanied by adult.)

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 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.

ALL DAY No. W0304-291 Dec. 17 Wagon Rd. Gap to Pisgah Inn, annual Cookie hike, 10 am Hike 6, drive 0, rated B-C Fred Chaffee, 828-692-8937 Note later start. An easy traditional hike to the Pisgah Inn. Lunch on the back porch of the Inn's motel for a pre-Christmas celebration. Bring a few homemade goodies to share. The leader will provide info on the historical significance of our cookie hikes, which began in Dec. '88. A portion of hike will be on a trail at the base of Frying Pan Mtn. to the lower campground at the Inn. A side trip up Frying Pan Mtn., may be included. In case of dubious weather, call the leader the day before the trip. Meeting point: Cold Mountain Overlook at Wagon Rd. Gap on the Blue Ridge parkway at Hwy. 276.

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.

There is in fact a barrier on the NC side of the access to Street Gap in the form of a gate. It should have a Forest Service lock as well as a private landowner lock to allow dual access, both for Forest Service employees and CMC volunteers. The landowner was having trouble with unwanted access and decided to install a gate to protect his property. Anyway, it is expected the gate will remain unless the landowner decides to remove it and any work being done in the area will be granted access. Hiking trips conducted by the Carolina Mountain Club are expected to do as was done this last time, go through Tennessee to gain access. Let me know if you have any questions! Derek Ibarguen Natural Resource Recreation Manager U.S. Forest Service Appalachian Ranger District (828) 682-6146

"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

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.

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

Post Hike Report: This was a new hike for the CMC and turned out to be great. We began at Tanyard Gap and went north on the AT to Rich Mtn. On the higher levels there were 1-2 inches of snow, creating a winter wonderland on the trees. We then descended 3.5 miles on the Roundtop Ridge Trail, which has beautiful views of the mtns around Hot Springs. We went through Hot Springs, lunching at a Camp Ground, near the Pump Gap Trailhead. We then ascended the Pump Gap Loop Trail and then the AT to Tanyard Gap. There were 6 of us. We were impressed with the winter beauty, the fine views, and the diversity of flora on this hike.

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

Post Hike Report: 7 hikers had a good time in great weather on this hike, although it didn't start off as expected.When our leader didn't show up by 8:00 (there was a misunderstanding about the meeting time), the rest of us decided to do the scheduled hike ourselves, from Streets Gap to Big Bald via the AT. What we did not know is that the residents at the end of the paved road where the gravel road continues up to Streets Gap have become very unfriendly--one resident let us know that he did not want us to park nearby, and then we discovered that the access road to the AT now has a POSTED - NO TRESPASSING sign on it. So we changed our plans quickly and drove to Sams Gap with its fine new AT parking lot.

We hiked north on the AT through Streets Gap and about a mile beyond, through a fantastic display of rime ice and hoarfrost covering the trees, with about an inch or two of powdery snow on the trail. The views of Big Bald and surrounding mountains from the open field south of Streets Gap were exceptional. Lunch was on snow-covered logs, surrounded by the icy beauty. There wasn't enough time to get to our intended destination of Big Bald on this hike, but the intended hike leader has scouted out a driving route to a trailhead on the Tennessee side (and gotten permission from a nearby homeowner to park there), so CMC will reschedule this hike a year from now.

Many photos were taken to record the day for posterity. To share the scenery with us, take a look at the CMC website and at Larry's photo album at http://community.webshots.com/album/103840831Vgirvf

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.

Post Hike report: Eight people, including three potential new members, hiked the Coontree Loop on Sunday afternoon, December 7. This is an excellent short winter hike, with good view from the top of the ridge. The uphill is fairly steep and provides a good workout. The trail passes through some rhododendron and laurel thickets and often runs along or crosses a lovely stream. Despite the cool air temperature, the sun kept us quite warm during our snack stop at the crest of the ridge.

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

Post Hike report: The Blue Ridge Parkway was closed so that the group of 10 was unable to do the planned hike largely on the MST over Blackstock and Mt. Gibbes. Instead we improvised a Pump Gap Ramble. Starting to the South of Tanyard Gap we did a figure 8, going first on a manway along a ridge to where the Pump Gap Loop crosses the AT. We then did the entire Pump Gap Loop, crossing the AT again and coming along a woods road that constitutes most of the Mill Pond Bicycle Trail. The total was about 8 miles, and we lunched at Pump Gap.