CMC Weekly Hike News
12/01/04
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Looking Ahead....
All Day Saturday & Sunday
ALL DAY No. A0404-076 Dec. 5 Craggy to Little Snowball 8:00 AM (strenuous) Hike 8.2, Drive 18, 2650’ ascent, Rated B-AADon Walton 828-298-5084 walt7258@bellsouth.net From Bee Tree Gap at Craggy Gardens, hike a short distance on the MST, and then the Snowball Trail over High Rocks (Hawkbill Mtn.) to the site of the Little Snowball Tower. The Tower was removed years ago and the trees cleared recently for great views of the mountains. If the BRP is closed, we will drive in from the Barnardsville end of the road. Topo: Craggy Pinnacle; also MST Profiles page 65
ALL DAY No. A0404-400 Dec. 5 Ferrin Knob via Spencer Branch and Trace Ridge (moderate) 8:30 AM Hike 8-9, Drive 42, 1500’ ascent, Rated B-A Barbara Passmore 828-667-8684 bpsss354@aol.com P400 Note later start time. Another moderate Ferrin Knob hikes, but designed to cover some seldom-hiked trails for P400 aspirants. We will hike past the Henderson-ville Reservoir, ascend on Spencer Branch and Spencer Gap Trails, to our lunch spot atop 4064’ Ferrin Knob, the former site of a fire tower. Return via the MST and the Trace Ridge Trail. Second meeting place: Trace Ridge Trailhead at 9:00 AM. Topo: Dunsmore Mtn.; also Nat’l. Geographic Pisgah Ranger District map of Pisgah Ranger District
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. H0404-392 Dec. 5 Christmount 1:30 PM Hike 4-5 miles, Drive 4, Rated C-B Tommie Boston 828-686-5029 (Cell phone for leader after 12:45 PM is 828-273-2638) Tambee2@aol.com This hike has two strenuous up-hill climbs, but a nice winter view atop Glade Mountain. Hikers to form carpools at Westgate at 12:45 and meet hike leader at 1:30 PM at McDonald’s in Black Mountain, Exit 64 off I-40 East.
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. W0404-408 Dec. 8 South Mills River Loop 8:00 AM Hike 9, Drive 30, rated A-C Greg Goodman 828-684-9703 P400 Hikers to form carpools at Westgate and meet leader at Pisgah Ranger Station on US 276 at 8:30 AM. We take the South Mills River trail to Wolf Ford and on to Squirrel Gap and Horse Cove, then the trail to Funnel top Road and back to the cars.
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
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
Post Hike Report: Six of us set off on a cold, overcast day from the Fish Hatchery, but confident in the weather forecast that it would be a great day. It was. By 10:00 the sun was out as we walked along the Butter Gap Trail, and the rest of the hike turned out to be exceptional. Reaching the Art Loeb Trail we went around Cedar Rock Mtn., which looked beautiful, and had a lunch on top, with perfect visibility. Return via Cat Gap Loop. Great day! Great hike! Tom Sanders
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
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.
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
Joe Cirvello’s trip to Nepal, etc.
Revised 12/01/04
Joe Cirvello is on an extended trip around the Orient, and has been sending occasional e-mails describing his trip. The following items are from his e-mails.
10-12 Departure from GSP to Kathmandu, Nepal, via Atlanta, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Bangkok.
e-mail of 11-5:
Hello everyone! Am now in hotel in Kathmandu. I finished my 15 day trek yesterday and took the world's most exciting plane ride to Kathmandu. It takes off downhill high in the mtns. on a short airstrip, and soars into space heading towards a mtn. like jumping off on a hang glider.
The trek in the Everest region (Khumbu) was much harder than I anticipated because of altitude. I wonder if Ray Sanow found it as difficult to hike at those altitudes as I did. I quickly learned that one must put one foot in front of the other in a very slow and deliberate manner. The body isn't getting adequate oxygen and you simply must go very slowly. And you don't get very far before you begin hearing and seeing the Rescue Helicopters taking away people with Acute Mtn. Sickness, which causes pulmonary or cerebral edema and can kill you if you don't descend . People were being affected at around 12000 ft. From then on, I was seeing the helicopters daily. It costs about $2000 for a rescue, and your normal health insurance doesn't cover it. I was lucky and had no altitude sickness, but I did get the common "Khumbu Cough" and still have it. Met trekkers from many countries, but not many from USA, and most are with groups.
The beauty of the mtns. and valleys takes your breath away, like the altitude, but everyone gets tired of going to sleep and waking up in a tiny, freezing cubicle; going to bathroom in a tiny freezing outhouse with a hole in the floor; wearing dirty, smelly clothes every day; and not having a shower for a couple of weeks (because of the cold). It gets old fast.
I'm glad I did it for the beauty, but there were many times when I could barely make my legs move up and up and up, and I kept wondering why I was doing it. But I made it up to 18,222 ft.!! And had spectacular views! And I must have seen a ton of Yak poop and pee along the trails. I should mention that the porters that most groups use are amazing in their ability to carry incredible loads, sometimes with only flip-flops on their feet, and they pass you with ease.........and they are just skinny little guys!
I was extremely fortunate to be in the mtns. during a major annual festival at a famous Buddhist monastery. I altered my plans in order to get there in time, and it was a lifetime experience.....hope my slides turn out!
Am now taking a few days to relax in Kathmandu..... among the hordes who want to sell me something. The hot shower was heavenly, I got my smelly clothes cleaned, and I am WARM! Next I will go to a different part of Nepal, where I hope I do not encounter the Maoists, and when I am ready, I will go to India and leave Bombay on Nov. 26 for Bangkok/Cambodia, then to Hong Kong, and will be back in NC Dec. 14.
e-mail of 11-6:
Yesterday i went to a famous place here in Kathmandu and watched human bodies being put on a funeral pyre and cremated along a sacred river that runs down into the Ganges. It is a strange experience that I cannot describe.
Tomorrow I am going to a city called Pokhara for a couple of days, then down into India where I expect to be hassled to death.
e-mail of 11-8:
Wednesday I am leaving Pokhara to go to India and my first stop will be the Taj Mahal....of course! Getting there from here is going to be a bit of an adventure, and am hoping all my connections work out. After that I’ll play it by ear.
e-mail of 11-14:
Hi........left Nepal a few days ago; two bumpy, crowded bus trips, a night in a
mosquito-infested room (began taking Malaria med. prior to leaving Nepal)
followed by the Train Ride From Hell, which lasted 15 hours. On the train you
sleep on a plastic covered bench with no cover or pillow, and after dark it
became surprisingly cold. Of course, locals brought blankets and pillows. So I
had to wear everything I had left (mailed back most stuff after trekking) and
try to improvise a pillow. Fortunately, I brought a padlock with me and there is
a place under the bench to which you can lock your bag. The train was due to
arrive in Agra, India at 5 a.m., and of course, it's up to you to wake up in
time to get off the train.....and with all the noise, you cannot hear an alarm
if you have one. If not for my earplugs, I would not have gotten ANY sleep. Met
a nice guy from Nepal who offered to wake me in time to debark. Turned out that
train didn't arrive until after 8a.m.
At station, Tourist Info Office closed. Outside, I was swamped by Rickshaw guys.
Anyway, I got to a cheap hotel with a rooftop place to eat with terrific views
of the Taj Mahal......my reason to be here. Spent a few hours there and it is
exquisite!! Am learning the ropes here in India and enjoying it.....so far.
Tomorrow I catch bus to Jaipur.
e-mail of 11-15:
Some things
I wanted to mention but forgot........at the train station in India men are
sleeping on the floor and cows are wandering around on the platform, since they
are sacred they go where they want.....and plop where they want. Outside the
station there was a place with open air urinals, no concealment at all. Here in
Agra, in the old section where I am staying, cows are strolling on every street,
with an occasional pig, and the streets are jammed with motorscooters,
motorcycles, pedal rickshaws, motorized rickshaws, bicycles, you name it. They
all drive like maniacs, and horns blow continuously.
I happen to be in Agra during a major festival called Diwali, which goes on for about 5 days, and the major purpose seems to be to explode as many kinds of fireworks as you can, every minute. And since there is apparently no law about fireworks, many of them sound like mortor shells exploding near your feet. Periodically, I check to see if my eardrums are bleeding. The people love it though, and last night when I got back to town after dark, the whole city was lit up just like an American town at Xmas (I mean with Xmas lights).
I have long
ago learned the importance of always carrying toilet paper, and that the rolls
with Chinese writing on them are nearly useless; also they have imitation
perforations, which I didn't think possible, so they will NOT tear on the
perforations. Also a good idea to carry a flashlight because the power is
always going off.
One last thing, but a very nice one. Since the emperor built the Taj Mahal as a
memorial to his love for his dead wife, someone described the Taj as: "A
resplendent, immortal teardrop on the cheek
of time."
e-mail of 11-18:
Am now in a village called Pushkar. Came here because the guidebook told of the annual "Camel Fair" here and called it one of the incredible sights of the world, which can only be seen here and on the correct date. By luck, or Karma, I happened to be in the area and so I got to see it this morning. First I hiked up a small mountain for a wonderful view of Pushkar and the lake it surrounds. Then went down and over to the camels. It is a gathering of hundreds of camels to be sold or traded. I walked into the middle of it and was the only Westerner, because it was still a little early for the tour
groups. This part of India is desert, and so I was walking in sand. I tried talking to some of the camel owners/traders, but no English. So I just walked, stopped and watched, and walked some more. It was a fascinating experience!
Other tidbits: a couple of days after I left Kathmandu, the Maoist insurgents exploded their biggest bomb yet in that city! Soldiers boarded my bus a couple of times looking for Maoists. And while in Agra I debated going to New Delhi but decided to skip it cause of crowds/pollution etc. and then read that there was a stampede of people at the Delhi main railroad station because hordes of people were trying to get trains home for a holiday......3 or 4 people trampled to death.
Young Indians call me "Uncle" apparently due to my grey beard and age. I kind of enjoy it.
Indian food is terrific!!!!! Have been gaining weight since I stopped trekking, but really enjoying the different foods..........and am finding solace and comfort every day in chocolate.......
Just got my bus ticket and will leave for Udaipur tomorrow (Friday). Am enjoying hearing from those who feel like writing...........
e-mail of 11-25:
Have had difficulty finding any computers lately. Am now in Bangkok airport and will fly to Cambodia this afternoon. They are now trying to locate my checked bag! Been up since 1a.m. for a 5 a.m. flight from Bombay to here. In Cambodia will give another update, assuming a computer is available. Happy Thanksgiving? Lost track of all that....