CMC Weekly Hike News
11/10/04
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Looking Ahead....
All Day Saturday & Sunday
No hike scheduled Nov. 14
No hike is scheduled since the Wilderness First Aid Course is being held this weekend. Anyone wishing to hike should assemble at Westgate at 8:00 AM and select your own hike.
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. H0404-391 Nov. 14 North Mills River Area 12:45 PM Hike 4-6, Drive 50, Rated B-B Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703 P400 A hike in the North Mills River area (or leader’s choice) along the old lumber road toward Fletcher Field Trail. Hikers to form carpools at Westgate and meet hike leader at the North Mills River Picnic Area at 1:30 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.
All Day Wednesday
No. W0404-270 Nov. 17 Cedar Rock Mtn.- John Rock Loop 8:00 AM Hike 8, Drive 80, Rated B-A Tom Sanders 828-252-6327 mel&tgs@main.nc.us P400 This trip features two of the spectacular rock summits in the Pisgah Forest, with great views from both. Starting at the Fish Hatchery we’ll have our major climb up to Cat Gap and then on to Cedar Rock for lunch. We’ll return via John Rock. Second meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station on US 276 at 8:30 AM. Topo: Shining Rock.
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. A0404-093 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
Post Hike Report: A lucky 13 hikers had perfect weather on beautiful trails. The clear blue skies let us take advantage of the amazing long-range views on the summits of Graybead and Walker Knob. There were a few blow-downs on West Ridge which added to the challenge of the very strenuous uphill climb; it is truly a ridge top trail - no switchbacks. The return loop along the beautiful creek added nice variety. Paul
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
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
Post Hike Report: Sunday we did the shorter North Slope Loop. One leader and eleven sweeps enjoyed the wonderful weather and easier trek along the ridge and river. All were astonished when realizing how high and powerful the Davidson River was to damage the bridge to the camp ground. Neal Andreae
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.
Post Hike Report: It was one of those great late fall days with clear blue skies, crisp air, and just a hint that the next few months would provide less enticing weather. So, sixteen hikers were waiting at the Pisgah Forest Ranger Station, plus five from Asheville bringing the total to twenty-one, including one new hiker. We piled into cars at the ranger station to keep the number of vehicles to a minimum, due to limited parking at the Club Gap trailhead. After several recounts, all were accounted for, and we noted that the leader's math degree was not an asset. We scrambled up to Club Gap. On the way up, one hiker turned back. Then, a second hiker graciously offered to accompany the first, and a third lent car keys. The remaining nineteen turned onto the Black Mountain Trail. Crunching leaves made conversation difficult and footsteps slippery. Mountain views along the ridgeline to the right and left offered shades of prussian blue, cobalt blue, and manganese blue not found in summer. After a snack at the Buckhorn Gap shelter, we were fortified for the climb out of Buckhorn Gap to the top of Clawhammer Mountain. The 180 degree views of Looking Glass Rock and mountain ridges beyond made the climb worthwhile. The leader was happy to share one of her favorite hikes with a great group of hikers. Ruth
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
HikingNews....
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