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ALL DAY No. A0403-134 Oct. 3 The Blacks Beyond 6000 7:30 AM (strenuous) Hike 13, Drive 123, 6000 ft. ascent, Rated AA-AA+ Don Gardner 828-754-4067 gardog3@charter.net SB6K Note earlier starting time. This is your chance to bag eight peaks over 6000 ft. in this very strenuous hike. The initial climb is 3100 ft., and there’s much more climbing in the ups and downs between peaks. The hike is great fun with incomparable views, but do not consider this unless you are in top shape. Bring extra water. Participants should phone the leader beforehand. Second meeting place: Ingles on Burnsville bypass at 8:15AM. Topos: Celo, Mt. Mitchell; also PNF South Toe River Trail Map

ATTENTION ALL HIKERS--The infamous "Death March" is coming up on October 3, 2004. This is a great opportunity to achieve many of those tough to get 6,000 foot peaks. We will attain seven(7) of those peaks on this hike--Celo, Gibbs, WinterStar, Potato Hill, Balsam Cone, Mt. Craig and Mt. Mitchell. As hike leader for this hike I NEED YOUR HELP. The logistics for this hike are challenging due to the starting point (Bowlen Creek trail in Pensacola--outside of Burnsville) and ending at the Mt. Mitchell parking lot. For this reason, I need to know as soon as possible who plans to participate on this hike so we can work out the car park and transit arrangements in advance of the hike. Please call me at 828-754-4067 (home), 828-757-5221 (work) or email me at gardog3@charter.net

We will meet at 7:30 AM at Westgate, and depending on the number and logistics worked out in advance, will determine our approach to the travel and parking logistics. We will have a secondary meeting place at 8:15 AM at the Ingles located in Burnsville.

This hike will provide a tremendous workout for everyone hiking with a long initial climb and then a lot up and down between the peaks. The views are spectacular. You will definitely feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of the hike. I look forward to having a large group for this hike and please call or email at your earliest opportunity. Thank You. Don Gardner

ALL DAY No. A0403-339 Oct. 3 AT: Garenflo Gap – Hot Springs (moderate) 8:30 AM Hike 7, Drive 85, 1100 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Chip Miller 828-654-9331 backpacker54nc@att.net Note later starting time. This AT sequence hike offers nice variety, with a beautiful hardwood forest, Deer Park shelter and moderate climbs and descents. Short car shuttle. Topos: Lemon Gap, Spring Creek, Hot Springs

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. H0403-383 October 3 Dupont State Forest – Fawn Lake P.L. #2 11:30 AM Hike 6, Drive 25, Rated B-C Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, abbybail@tds.net Note early start time. We will hike the Reasonover Trail loop. CAUTION: There is one stream crossing requiring boots off, a towel and appropriate footwear, if desired. Hikers to form carpools at Westgate and meet hike leader at Cracker Barrel off exit 53 of I 26, NW corner of parking lot, at 12:30 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.

WEDNESDAY No. W0404-277 Oct. 6 Crabtree Bald 8:30 AM Hike 7.4, Drive 65, 2355’ ascent, rated B-AA Jay Bretz 828-658-1220 Williambretz1220@msn.com This trail takes us through pasture and woods to the 5320’ summit of Crabtree Bald with views of all the 40 mountain peaks in WNC that are over 6000’. Fairly strenuous but gradual climb. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck Stop on NC 209, exit 24 off I 40 at 9:00 AM.

ALL DAY No. W0403-242 Sept. 29 Sam Knob – Devils Courthouse Loop 9:15 AM Hike 9, Drive 75, ascend 800 ft., Rated A-B Ruth Hartzler 251-0886 ruthmtn@aol.com SB6K, P400 Note later starting time. Hike in the cool elevations. From FS 816 we will ascend Sam Knob (6040 ft.) with its 360 degree views, then hike through high meadows on the Flat Laurel and Little Sam Trails and the MST via Devils Courthouse (with its wonderful views). We then return via the MST across FS 816 and up to the summit of Black Balsam (6214 ft.), then down a short, steep manway to our cars. Meeting place: Cold Mtn. overlook on BRP. Asheville group may self-organize a car-pool at Westgate Shopping Center at 8:30. Topo: Sam Knob; also Nat’l. Geographic map of Pisgah Ranger District

Wednesday Hikes are submitted by Paula McNabb, 828- 274-0057 gcmcnabb@charter.net and Ann Gleason, 828-859-9387, cowbonetail@yahoo.com . 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.

SATURDAY No. A0403-375 Sept. 25 AT: Sams Gap to Rice Gap 9:00 AM Hike 7.5, Drive 60, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Neal Andreae 828-698-2546 nandreae@gowebway.com Note later start time. We’ll have an opportunity to look at the AT relocation around the new I 26 at Sams Gap, then hike an in-and-out trip in the beautiful open forest from Sams Gap to Rice Gap. We’ll have lunch at the Hog Back Ridge shelter and see the new closer water source at this shelter. Topo: Sams Gap

Post Hike Report: Eight women and one man (the fearless leader) had a pleasant in-and-out hike on the AT south from Sams Gap to Rice Gap, with lunch at the Hog Back Shelter. about 7.5 miles and 1600' ascent. The weather was perfect--cool with a whiff of fall in the air. This section of the AT is always enjoyable, through open woods along the TN-NC state line. The hurricanes were merciful on this part of the AT, with only 6 small blowdowns that were easy to go around. Bruce Bente (replacement leader)

ALL DAY No. A0403-376 Sept. 26 Mt. Le Conte via Rainbow Falls and Bullhead Trails 8:00 AM Hike 14, Drive 180, 3000 ft. ascent, Rated AA-AA Carroll Koepplinger 828-667-0723 carrollkoepp@cs.com SB6K, 900M From Cherokee Orchard near Gatlinburg, Carroll will lead us up the Rainbow Falls Trail, named after the falls we pass, then to the summit of 6593 ft. Mt. Le Conte. We’ll enjoy the spectacular view from Cliff Top, perhaps seeing some of the deer that graze in this area, and then return via the Bullhead Trail. A beautiful hike over good well-graded trails. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck Stop, Exit 24 off I 40 at 8:30 AM. Topo: Mt. Le Conte

Post Hike Report: A long but great day! Danny, Paul & myself enjoyed a great hike up Mt Leconte via the Rainbow trail and returning on the Bullhead trail. Left Westgate at 8:00 am and returned at 9:45 PM after enjoying an excellent trout dinner in Gatlinburg. Enjoyed excellent weather with fairly clear and good views from Cliff Top while basking in the sun for about one-half hour less than we would like to have. Not many flowers remained in bloom but fall colors were very apparent. A large group of sourwoods that were a brilliant deep red with sunshine enhancing their glorious colors. We began the hike at 10:05 am and returned at 6:05 p.m. This is a 14 mile hike with an accumulated elevation climb of approximately 4,200 ft. Almost all of the climb is on the Rainbow trail which is 7 miles to the lodge. As we reached the Bullhead trail to continue to the top two young ladies were coming off the Rainbow trail behind us. Neither of them had any backpacks but each had a water container. They asked us how much further to the falls? When we informed them that they passed them about three and one-half miles back they were flabbergasted as they had planned to hike to the falls (which are 2.7 miles from the parking lot) and return. We persuaded them to go all the way to the lodge (for water & the experience, which neither had been to). This was a prime example of someone not knowing were in the hell they're going. The question among ourselves was: how can you miss the falls when you go right by them???? The girls apparently made it down on the Bullhead trail as they passed us during a break and we didn't see any bodies along the way! Carroll

HALF-DAY No. H0403-382 September 26 Three Tree Ridge 1:30 PM Hike 3, Drive 65, 700 ft. ascent, Rated C-C Lewis and Jane Blodgett, 828-274-7863 From Lake Logan Center we will hike the Gazebo Trail, a steady though not steep ascent on an old logging road to the end of the ridge. There are good views of the lake and surrounding peaks.

ALL DAY No. W0403-112 Sept. 22 Ivestor Gap 9AM Hike 8-9, drive 12, rated A-B Siro Del Favero, 277-2546 Let us welcome the autumn foliage by ascending Black Balsam Knob and Tennant Mountain on the Art Loeb Trail for a 360° panoramic view. Lunch at Ivestor Gap. Return via Graveyard Ridge Trail to view Dark Prong Falls. Last chance for green foliage. Car shuttle. Only meeting place: Blue Ridge Parkway Cold Mountain Overlook, MP 412.

ATTENTION ALL HIKERS--The infamous "Death March" is coming up on October 3, 2004.

This is a great opportunity to achieve many of those tough to get 6,000 foot peaks. We will attain seven(7) of those peaks on this hike--Celo, Gibbs, WinterStar, Potato Hill, Balsam Cone, Mt. Craig and Mt. Mitchell. As hike leader for this hike I NEED YOUR HELP. The logistics for this hike are challenging due to the starting point (Bowlen Creek trail in Pensacola--outside of Burnsville) and ending at the Mt. Mitchell parking lot. For this reason, I need to know as soon as possible who plans to participate on this hike so we can work out the car park and transit arrangements in advance of the hike. Please call me at 828-754-4067 (home), 828-757-5221 (work) or email me at gardog3@charter.net

We will meet at 7:30 AM at Westgate, and depending on the number and logistics worked out in advance, will determine our approach to the travel and parking logistics.We will have a secondary meeting place at 8:15 AM at the Ingles located in Burnsville.

The CMC Education and Training committee is organizing a Wilderness First Aid Course on Nov. 13 and 14, 2004. This is a 16 hour course, led by professional trainers and held at Warren Wilson College. CMC offered it two years ago and it was a great success. To stay certified, you should take the course every two years. (Hopefully, you don't need to use the information too much. So they feel that the course needs to be taken every two years. This will be my 5th time taking it and I learn something new each time.) The cost to the participant is $75, which is not the full cost of the course. CMC is also contributing to the costs. **This is the last year, CMC will contribute to the costs.** All participants must be members, We only have room for 30 people. I know that the course is a long time from now. However I encourage you to sign up now with all your details (name, address, telephone number, email) *and* a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check for $75 made out to Carolina Mountain Club. Send it to me Danny Bernstein 36 Sunset Summit Asheville, NC 28804

An electronic version of the CMC hike sign-up sheet has now been added to the CMC website. To open it, click carolinamtnclub.com/data/CMC Sign-up Sheet.pdf This will be helpful to the hike schedulers, and also for the hike leaders if they don't receive the sheet mailed by the scheduler. (Recently, the mail got lost and one of the hike leaders did not receive his copy.)