CMC Weekly Hike News
12//17/03
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Looking Ahead....
All Day Sunday
ALL DAY No. A0304-278 Dec. 21 Kitsuma Peak 9:00 AM Hike 8, Drive 60, 1600 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Lenny and Danny Bernstein 828-236-0192 lsberns@worldnet.att.net Note later starting time. Our hike up Young's Ridge offers great views of Greybeard, Green Knob and the Mt. Mitchell area. Also there's a grandstand view of the Swannanoa valley from our lunch spot. Second meeting place: McDonald's in Black Mtn.(exit 64) at 9:20 AM. Topos: Old Fort, Black Mtn.
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. H0304-300 Dec. 21 MST from Craven Gap or Ox Creek 1:00 PM Hike 6, Drive 14, Rated B-C Ruth Hartzler 828-251-0886 Ruthmtn@aol.com Note early start time. Depending on where BRP is open we will either start at Craven Gap or Ox Creek. Only meeting place will be the Folk Art Center back parking lot.
Half Day Dec. 28 No Hike Scheduled Happy Holiday!!!
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. W0304-291 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.
ALL DAY DEC. 24 NO HIKE SCHEDULED. HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE.
ALL DAY DEC. 31 NO HIKE SCHEDULED. HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE.
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 Hikers:
Unfortunately there is an error in the Wednesday CMC 1st quarter hike schedule. Two identical alternate hikes are listed on the same days. Boyd Brasington is doing Penny Rock or Leader's Choice on January 21st. Please cross out the Tom Sanders hike listed on the same day. Tom Sanders is doing the Hot Springs Area Ramble on March 17th. Please cross out the Boyd Brasington hike listed on the same day. Ken & Carol
Official answer to last Sunday's Streets Gap access questions
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
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. A0304-277 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
Post Hike Report: With weather radio and in-hand, our intrepid hike leader traveled to Westgate in rainy, cold, icy weather. Alas, she spent 15 minutes in her car until the designated start time. When no one arrived, she gratefully returned to her warm, dry, cozy home. Ruth
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.)
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.