CMC Weekly Hike News
11/24/04
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Looking Ahead....
All Day Saturday & Sunday
SATURDAY No. A0404-398 Nov. 27 Sunburst - Green Knob-Haywood Gap Trail 8:00 AM Hike 7, Drive 95, 2000’ ascent, Rated B-AA Dave Wetmore 828-884-7296 dwetmore@citcom.net P400 We will start with an initial very steep mile to Green Knob and its spectacular views, then do a short bushwhack down to the Grassy Ridge Branch Trail. We return on the seldom-hiked lower Haywood Gap Trail. Wilderness area hike limited to ten people. Please contact leader to reserve your place. Topo: Sam Knob; also Nat’l. Geographic Pisgah Ranger District map
ALL DAY No. A0404-399 Nov. 28 Cedar Rock Circuit via Butter Gap 8:00 AM Hike 9, Drive 70, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Tom Sanders 828-252-6327 mel&tgs@main.nc.us P400 This great loop hike begins at the Pisgah Forest Fish Hatchery and ascends along a beautiful stream and Picklesimer Fields to Butter Gap. We will circle around Cedar Rock Mtn. and then to the summit for the spectacular views at our lunch spot. We’ll return to the Fish Hatchery by way of Cat Gap Trail. Second meeting place: Fish Hatchery at 8:45 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; Nat’l. Geographic Pisgah Ranger District map
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. H0404-286 Nov. 28 Thrift Cove, Grassy Road, Sycamore Cove Trails 1:00 PM Hike 6, Drive 70, Rated C-C Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327 Mel&tgs@main.nc.us P400 This is a brisk and diversified post-Thanksgiving stretch on several trails near the Pisgah Visitors Center. There are several variations on this, depending on how we feel. Lots of woods, some views. We start up and finish going down. Map: Nat’l Geographic Pisgah Ranger District
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
WEDNESDAY No. W0404-407 Nov. 24 Dill Falls 8:30 AM Hike 5 miles, Drive 27, Rated C-C Larry Ballard 828-891-4318 leballard@cytechcis.net and Eileen McGill 828-891-4409 dolphins@ioa.com Hikers to form carpools at Westgate and meet leader at side parking area of the Pisgah Forest Bi-Lo at 9:00 AM. We will hike to Dill Falls, a magnificent 70’ water fall. We will hike up the west side of Tanasee Creek from the point where Charles Creek Rd crosses the creek. There will be two stream crossings that require wading.
WEDNESDAY No. W0404-377 Dec. 1 Bent Creek Ramble to Sleepy Gap 9:00 AM Hike 7-8, Drive 20, Rated B-C Gerry McNabb, 274-0057 gcmcnabb@charter.net P400 An easy hike from the Bent Creek Rd parking area on several trails in the Lake Powhatan area. If trail conditions allow, we’ll climb the Stambaugh Trail to Sleepy Gap at the Parkway and return in a loop.
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 Saturday & Sunday
ALL DAY No. A0404-224 Nov. 21 Table Rock – Pinnacle Loop 8:00 AM Hike 9.5, Drive 120, 2000’ ascent, Rated A-A Linda Beja 828-293-3849 lrbeja@earthlink.net This is a great hike with good views. We’ll start from the parking lot at Table Rock State Park on SC 11. Our first objective will be the Drawbar Cliffs near Pinnacle Mtn. with a spectacular view of SC. We will then hike to Table Rock and lunch before returning to our cars. $2 parking fee. Asheville group to form carpools at Westgate and meet the leader at Table Rock State Park at 9:15 AM. Topo: Table Rock, SC
Post Hike Report: Seven hikers enjoyed traveling several weeks back in time on this hike. The views of the foliage in the valleys were spectacular, and there were a great number of scarlet-leaved trees along the trail. Some rain in the afternoon gave everybody a chance to practice their wet rock walking techniques. It was the kind of thing you’re glad you did once it’s over.Dave
Half Day Sunday
HALF-DAY No. H0404-325 Nov. 21 Rich Mtn. from Tanyard Gap 12:30 PM Hike 5.4, Drive 72, Rated C-A Elisabeth Feil 828-684-8719 hofeil@brinet.com Note earlier start time. This in-and-out hike on the AT near Hot Springs rewards us for our 1600-ft. climb with a superb view from the fire tower.
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.
Post Hike Report: Nine of us did this wonderful hike on a beautiful day. Setting out from the Fish Hatchery, we went up Cat Gap Loop and MST to our lunch spot on Cedar Rock Mtn. It was warm and perfectly clear, so the views of the Balsam Mtns were unparalleled. We then went back along the MST and across to John Rock. Though clouds had gathered, visibility there was perfect. We had 2 new hikers, and they must have been impressed with the great hikes possible thru the CMC. Tom Sanders
HikingNews....
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Linville Gorge Trail group Forms
I moderate a "Yahoo group Linvillegorge" and invite CMC members
with special interest in this enchanted Wilderness to join. This group is
focused exclusively on Linville. Members provide updates on trail and road
conditions, discuss USFS policies and management issues, Contribute to a GPS map
of unpublished trails, suggest NEW trails, report incidents such as fire, flood,
car break-in, vandalism, littering and unauthorized trail building. The group
intends to support the Adopt-a- trail program but is not affiliated with the
USFS. Photos and personal adventures are welcome. Go to Yahoo Groups:
Linvillegorge. Bob Underwood