CMC Weekly Hike News
1`/03/04
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Looking Ahead....
All Day Saturday & Sunday
ALL DAY No. A0404-093 Nov. 7 Graybeard Mountain 8:00 AM (strenuous) Hike 10-11, Drive 35, 2700 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA Paul Benson 828-251-1909 pdbenson@charter.net An exciting ridgetop manway along the middle mountain is our path to the summit. Return to Montreat via Walker Knob and Pot Cove Gap. There’ll be good views, a delightful hike and a good workout. Fairly strenuous, including a very steep first mile. Second meeting place: McDonalds at exit 64 of I 40 at 8:15 AM Topo: Montreat
ALL DAY No. A0404-397 Nov. 7 Bad Fork – Chestnut Cove Overlook (moderate) 8:45 AM Hike 9.5, Drive 5, 950 ft. ascent, Rated A-C Kathie Giddings 828-696-9808 kmgiddings@juno.com P400 Note later starting time and different meeting place. This is an in-and-out hike, beginning at the Trace Ridge trailhead. We will hike up Bad Fork to the BRP (a steep 700’ ascent for the second mile). Chestnut Cove Overlook provides a beautiful view during lunch. Only meeting place: N. Mills River Recreation area parking lot at 8:45 AM. Asheville group to self-organize a carpool at Westgate to depart at 8:00 AM. Topo: Dunsmore Mtn; also Nat’l. Geographic Pisgah Ranger District and MST Profiles, pgs. 55-56
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. H0404-280 Nov. 7 North Slope-Art Loeb Loop 1:00 PM Hike 6, Drive 55, Rated B-C Neal Andreae, 698-2546 NAndreae@gowebway.com P400 Note earlier start time. Begin and end at Davidson River Camp Ground. We will hike counter-clockwise along the river, then follow Shut-in Ridge and Neil Gap. Hikers to form car pools at Westgate at 1:00 PM and meet hike leader at the Davidson River Campground, Route 276 in Pisgah Forest National Forest 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. W0404-406 Nov. 10 Pink Beds to Clawhammer and Return 8:30 AM Hike 8, Drive 86, 2300 ft ascent., Rated B-A Ruth Hartzler 828-251-0886 ruthmtn@aol.com P400 We will climb from the Pink Beds (FS 477) to Club Gap. Then we take the Black Mt. Trail, climbing through Buckhorn Gap and along the ridge to the overlook at Clawhammer Mt. for lunch and 180° views. Second meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station at 9:00 AM.
WEDNESDAY No. W0404-002 Nov. 3 MST: Balsam Gap to Mt Mitchell Rd via Blackstock Knob 8:30 AM Hike 5, drive 55, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated C-B Elisabeth Feil, 828-684-8719 hofeil@brinet.com Only meeting place: Folk Art Center, lower parking lot. This moderate car switch hike is one of the great trails our crews have created. It includes part of the old Mitchell Trail above 6000 ft. Total elevation gain is about 1200’. Let’s hope for good weather to enjoy the outstanding views.
Post Hike Report: The weather report sounded bad, but eight hardy souls came to join me on my hike. We hiked in light fog for most of the time. Eventually it started to drizzle a little and when we came into the open area, it rained - not too badly, but steady. There are bears in them woods! We saw several droppings, seemingly from the same animal, in different stages of decay. The rocks were predictably slippery and forced us to tread carefully. Views were scarce, but we got a good look at Potato Knob from below and saw the Seven Sisters and Blue Ridge Pinnacle off and on in the drifting clouds. Everyone was awed by the effort that must have gone into creating this trail. Thanks to the trail crew that cleared the obstacle course. All of us had a great time. Elisabeth Feil
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.
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Looking Back......
ALL DAY No. A0404-395 Oct. 29-31 Backpack (GSMNP Tremont area) 9:00 AM Hike 37.8, Drive 200, 6000 ft. ascent, Rated AA+-AA+ Don Gardner 828-754-4067 gardog3@charter.net 900M This backpack trip is designed to hike trails in the western part of GSMNP that are too far to be covered by a daytrip from Asheville. We will start and end at Tremont (GSMIT), hiking Friday, Saturday and Sunday, staying at Backcountry campsites. NOTE: Hikers must make reservations with Don Gardner as soon as possible but no later than Oct. 1. Don will communicate with participants before the backpack to discuss the trails to be hiked. Topos: Thunderhead Mtn., Cades Cove; also Natl. Geographic map of GSMNP
Post Hike Report: To the entire backpack group, thank you for an absolutely outstanding weekend. I am really privileged to hike with such a great group of folks and I am glad to have you as my friends. I can't imagine a much better time (notwithstanding Lynn Camp Prong trail--absolutely the worst trail I have been on since I started hiking). I learned a great deal from this weekend. To Linda E, thanks for the backpack positioning, tightening lesson. To Linda B, thanks for the "toe condom" lesson. To everyone, thanks for the food variety lesson. And the high intensity forehead light. And the variety of camping gear from which to reassess what I carry and what I choose to leave home. I am going to work up several backpacks for 2005. I will scan them and email them in jpg files and let you all assess them and give me feedback. I would like to plan on a couple this next year for Bruce to get on the calendar, if he is willing to do so. If you all have any ideas, let me know and I will try to work them up. I would like to continue to concentrate on the Smokies in order to get the mileage for the 900m patch. Thanks again to all for a fabulous weekend. Don
SATURDAY No. A0404-396 Oct. 30 Pilot Rock – Thompson Ridge 8:00 AM Hike 8.5, Drive 80, 2000’ ascent, Rated B-AA Lenny Bernstein 828-236-0192 lsberns@worldnet.att.net P400 We will hike up the well-graded Pilot Rock trail to our lunch spot near the Pisgah Inn, and then down the Thompson Ridge trail. We expect good views. Short car shuttle.Topos: Dunsmore Mtn., Cruso; also Nat’l. Geographic map of Pisgah Ranger District
Post Hike Report: Five of us parked at the Thompson Ridge Trailhead, then walked about 3/4 mile along Yellow Gap Road to the start of the Pilot Rock Trail. After a short lead-in the trail climbs steadily for 3 1/2 miles and 2000 feet to the top of Little Bald Mountain. Along the way there is a short side trail, which was built to give rock climbers access to Pilot Rock. Since this trail is now on the Pisgah Ranger District map, it is a P400 requirement, so we took half hour to walk out to the base of the rock and back. The trail was well-blazed in blue, but hard to follow since it didn't always go in what looked like the natural direction. But the P400 baggers got their half mile.
As we climbed the trees got more bare and the views got better. Toward the top we got clear views of Mt. Pisgah. The Pilot Rock Trail ends at the MST, 1200 feet after the top of Little Bald. From there is a short walk to the Pisgah Inn, where we had lunch. The route back took us back along the MST and Pilot Rock Trail, over Little Bald, and down to the junction with the Thompson Ridge Trail. The junction, which had been very obvious on the way up, was not on the way down, and two of us, including the Leader, missed it. He discovered that error about a quarter mile down the mountain and had to climb back up where he was greeted with an appropriate amount of derision.
The top end of the Thompson Ridge Trail is very steep, and when covered with oak leaves, very slippery. We dropped a thousand feet in what seemed like less than a mile. When we could stop concentrating on our footing, the views were outstanding, including a clear view back to the Pisgah Inn and a little to the west to Fryingpan Mountain. At the bottom of the steep drop, we crossed Thompson Creek after which the grade became more gentle. We ambled along enjoying the Fall colors and another stream crossing, with a lovely cascade, before returning to Yellow Gap Road and our cars.
Bruce Bente, who was on the hike, told us that this was a new hike for CMC, but given how interesting it is, it should be come part of the Club's regular repertoire. The only thing I would do differently is schedule it a bit earlier in the Fall, when there is more color at the higher elevations and the leaves are less slippery coming down hill. Lenny Bernstein
ALL DAY No. A0404-103 Oct. 31 Coon Tree – Bennett Gap – Avery Creek Loop 8:00 AM Hike 10, Drive 68, 2650’ ascent, Rated A-AA John Pawcio 828-299-8126 jpawcio@tycovalves.com P400 This hike will combine late leaf colors with fine views on the Buckwheat Knob Trail and along beautiful Avery Creek. Fairly strenuous with two solid uphill climbs. Second meeting place: PNF Ranger Station at 8:30 AM. Topos: Pisgah Forest, Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geographic Pisgah Ranger District map
Post Hike Report: Sunday morning greeted eight CMC hikers with balmy, almost summer like weather, for this late October hike. This trails offers a great workout and with most of the leaves down, some spectacular views of Looking Glass Rock. Blow downs were few in number as this area was mostly spared from September’s tropical storms. Great camaraderie with friends not seen for too long a time….John
Half Day Sunday
HALF-DAY No. H0404-344 Oct. 31 Pulliam Creek in the Green 12:30 PM River Gamelands Hike 6.5, Drive 40, 900’ ascent, Rated B-C Becky Elston, 828-749-1886 abbybail@tds.net Note early start time. A pretty in-and-out hike, partially along Pulliam Creek. After we cross the creek, we will see views of the Green River and the famous "Narrows." We will stop at a great spot on the Green River for a snack. Hikers to form carpools at Westgate and meet hike leader at 1:00 PM on the NW corner at Cracker Barrel, Exit 53 (old exit 22 off I-26). Hikers are welcome to join leader after hike for dinner at Cracker Barrel.
All Day Wednesday
WEDNESDAY No. W0404-405 Oct. 27 MST: Mills River Overlook to Pisgah Inn, and return 8:30 AM Hike 9.2, Drive 30, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Ken & Carol Deal 828-281-4530 KMCDeal@aol.com P400 We will start at the Mills River Overlook and follow the MST across Little Pisgah, past the site of the old Buck Spring Lodge, to the Pisgah Inn. We plan to eat lunch at the Pisgah Inn so lunch break will be longer than usual. There are 2 steep climbs, with switchbacks. We’ll retrace our steps back to the Mills River Overlook after lunch.
Post Hike Report: On October 27th, nine of us started from the Mills River Valley Overlook, heading for the Pisgah Inn on the MST. The trail was in great condition because of the hard work of the CMC trail crews after the hurricane. We hiked through some fog and mist going up Little Pisgah, but most of the day was sunny, with beautiful colors from the autumn leaves. We had lunch at the Pisgah Inn and returned to our cars at the overlook. A great day. Ken & Carol
WEDNESDAY No. W0404-404 Oct. 20 AT: Lemon Gap to Garenflo Gap 8:30 AM Hike 7.4, drive 125, 1720’ ascent, rated B-A Curt Holladay, 828-692-9477 caholady@bellsouth.net We will start the hike northbound on the AT at Lemon Gap and climb about 700’ up to the Walnut Mt. Shelter. The trail descends 600’ to Kale Gap through open forests and begins to ascend through Catpen Gap to the summit of Bluff Mt. (4686’). It is all downhill from Bluff Mt. to Garenflo Gap about three miles. Car shuttle.
Post Hike Report: Eight of CMC's finest and a guest met at Westgate and then drove to Lemon Gap via I-40 and Max Patch Rd. The two drivers volunteered to drive their cars around to Garenflo Gap and hike back south to meet the group, then hike out with the group, saving about an hour and a half driving time. This generous act was appreciated by all. The hike got underway with a moderate climb up Walnut Mountain to the shelter in heavy overcast, foggy weather. From there the trail goes down to Kale Gap and starts back up on a nice grade a thousand feet to the summit of Bluff Mountain. We had lunch on the somewhat wet rocks on Bluff Mountain and dreamed what it would have been like on a sunny day. Having earned the satisfaction of climbing to the top, we eagerly looked forward to the three plus miles down hill to the cars. We met our heroic drivers about a mile or so down the mountain and continued without any problems to the cars at Garenflo Gap. The hike had taken approximately five hours. There were several trees down across the trail left by the recent storms. For that day, Asheville was the promised land as the sun shined brightly as we drove back into town.
HikingNews....
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