CMC Weekly Hike News

12/22/04

__________________________________________________________________________________

Looking Ahead....

Christmas Day hike

What are you doing on Christmas Day? Let's start a new tradition. If you want to skip the relatives and the 4,000 calorie meal, come hiking. Tom Bindrim is leading an 8 mile hike with about 1100 feet of altitude gain, suitable for everyone. We will meet at Westgate at 9 A.M. on Christmas morning. An early dinner afterwards, for those who want it. Please, if you are planning to come, let me know - Danny Bernstein (236-0192 danny@hikertohiker.org

All Day Saturday & Sunday

ALL DAY No. A0404-401 Dec. 26 Laurel Mtn.- Pilot Cove 9:00 AM Hike 7-8, Drive 70, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Joanne Tulip 828-299-3495 tulipinnc@aol.com P400 Note later start time. We’ll hike up Laurel Mtn. trail to Sassafras Gap, then bushwhack down to the upper Slate Rock Creek trail. We’ll descend on the Pilot Cove loop trail. Great views of Pilot Rock and surrounding mountains. Short car shuttle. Topo: Dunsmore Mtn.; also 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. H0404-035 Dec. 26 Looking Glass Rock 12:30 PM Hike 6.2, Drive 70, 1700 ft. ascent, Rated C-B Rusty Breeding, 692-0359 bree@planetusa.net P400 Note early start time. A moderately difficult well-graded trail leads to the top of this interesting mountain. There are excellent viewpoints along the way. Hikers to form carpools at Westgate and meet hike leader at Pisgah Ranger Station new parking lot on US 276 at 1:15 PM.

Half Day hikes submitted by Paula Robbins 828-687-1651 paularww@bellsouth.net and Pat Elias 828-281-3253 patelias@bellsouth.net . Leaders: Mail please mail your sign-up sheets. Meet at Westgate unless otherwise noted.

All Day Wednesday

WEDNESDAY No. W0404-410 Dec. 22 Young’s Ridge Trail 9:00 AM Hike 4.5, Drive 50, rated C-B Diane Hankins, 828-298-2870 (before 9 PM) Only meeting place: Oteen Ingles (near VA hospital on Tunnel Rd.) parking lot at the post office flag pole. A leisurely paced up and back hike from Old Fort picnic area; possibly a short trip to Andrews Geyser after the hike. Suitable for anyone over 10 years old (those under 18 MUST be accompanied by adult).

WEDNESDAY No. W0404-402 Dec. 29 Tom & Joan’s Meadow Phone leader for time Hike 9-10, Drive 70, ascent 2100, Rated A-AA Tom Bindrim & Joan Lemire 299-1572 P400 This will be a hike from Camp Daniel Boone up Fork Mtn. to a place very special to Tom & Joan. Wilderness area hike limited to ten people. Please contact leader to reserve your place. Wear blaze orange: Bear and Boar season. Topos: Sam Knob and Waynesville: also Nat’l Geographic map of Pisgah Ranger District.

ALL DAY. No.W0501-327 Jan. 5 Ridgecrest Ramble 8:30 AM Hike 6-7, Drive 40, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Joanne Tulip 828-299-3495 tulipinnc@aol.com A good winter hike, following the Rattlesnake, Rhododendron and Adventure Trails. This moderate hike in the Ridgecrest area offers a number of great scenic overlooks as it meanders along the ridgelines, and includes Rattlesnake, Copperhead and Lookout Mtns. Second meeting place: McDonald’s at exit 64 of I40 at 9:20 AM. Topo: Montreat

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.

_________________________________________________________________________

Looking Back......

All Day Saturday & Sunday

ALL DAY No. A0404-276 Dec. 19 AT: Streets Gap to Big Bald 8:00 AM Hike 9, Drive 70, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Tommie Boston 828-686-5029 (828-273-2638 from 7:15–8:00 AM on day of hike) tambee2@aol.com Big Bald is one of the crown jewels of our section of the AT, with views of the Blacks, Smokies and other ranges in WNC and Tennessee. The first 0.6 miles climbs up to Streets Gap from the Tennessee side, then follows the AT to Big Bald. If we’re lucky, the forest will be coated with beautiful rime ice. Topos: Sams Gap, Bald Creek

Post Hike Report: Road conditions prevented hikers from driving safely to the TN trailhead for the Big Bald hike. Instead, four winter enthusiasts opted to hike in Pisgah Forest at lower elevations. We enjoyed the quiet serenity of gentle snow on nine miles of the Laurel Mountain Trail. Big Bald on the AT would have been majestic in the snow, but the club will have to wait for safer road access. Tommie Boston

SKI TRIP Dec. 17-20 Carroll Koepplinger 828-667-0723 carrollkoepp@cs.com Carroll will lead a ski trip to Snowshoe Ski Resort in West Virginia, a seven-hour drive. Plans are to leave Friday morning (time to be determined) and return Monday Dec. 20. Contact Carroll for more information. Those wishing to go on the trip must contact him by Dec. 1 so he can make arrangements.

Post Hike Report: The first time ever CMC ski trip was, by all accounts, a success! Eight members, Ruth, Linda, Marilyn, Marianne, Don, Paul, Bruce and myself had a full weekend of skiing, fellowship and a very enjoyable four days. We left Fri. Dec. 17th at 8:30 AM from the ski leaders (read hike leader here) home for the 362 mile journey to Snowshoe Ski Resort in West Virginia arriving at 4:00 PM to check in and unload our ski equipment & luggage at the lodge unit. Excellent skiing all day Saturday. Sunday AM arrived with snow falling throughout the night with much colder temperatures. By late Sunday morning with several inches of new snow and winds increasing and temperatures falling most left the slopes early except for a hardy few. By Sunday evening & Monday morning the temperatures had fallen to below zero with winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour. Needless to say that our plans to ski a few hours that day were canceled. When I suggested no skiing due to the extreme weather low and behold there was no opposition. This was undoubtedly the most extreme winter weather many of the members had experienced. It brought back memories of my many years living in Minnesota where this type of weather was not unusual. Now I know why I live in the South! The hot tub facilities were enjoyed by several of the members. A few of the members took ski lessons which gave them additional confidence and skills. Lounging around the living area with the fireplace going full blast (along with a few libations) was very relaxing for all and the friendship & fellowship was rewarding. A big thanks goes to Ruth for coordinating the food for breakfast and lunches. We arrived back at the trail head in Asheville at 6:00 PM Monday evening. We all look forward to the next CMC ski trip with what I'm sure will include more participants. Carroll

Half Day Sunday

HALF DAY No. H0404-299 Dec. 19 Christmas Party Hike Noon Hike 4-5, Drive 50, Rated C-C Diane Hankins, 828-298-2870 (before 9 PM) Note early start time. A leisurely paced annual hike. Bring a little gift (wrapped, please) and receive one too. Where we go will depend on the weather. Only meeting place: Ingles Parking lot across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 off I-26. Suitable for anyone over 10 years of age. (Those under 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult.)

All Day Wednesday

WEDNESDAY No. W0404-409 Dec. 15 Jones Gap/El Lieutenant loop 8:00 AM Hike 10, Drive 80, 1650 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA Ann Gleason 828-859-9387 cowbonetail@yahoo.com Hikers to form carpools at Westgate and meet leader at the Cracker Barrel parking lot (north side) next to Upward Rd., at exit 53 of I 26, at 8:30 AM. Additional meeting place: Jones Gap St. Pk. At 9:00 AM. NOTE: $2 fee per person for park entry. Starting at Jones Gap State Park, we will hike up the Jones Gap Trail along the Middle Saluda River, then the Bill Kimball Trail up through the boulders and forest, climbing over the granite face of El Lieutenant. From there, we continue on the Kimball Trail, walk a very short portion of US 276 to our return loop on the Tom Miller and Jones Gap Trails. Topos: Cleveland, Table Rock; also trail map of Mountain Bridge Wilderness and Recreation Area.

Post Hike Report: We had 7 good hikers show up, braving the cold snap. The day was clear, windless and cold but perfect for hiking and we had Jones Gap Park to ourselves. Everyone was peeling jackets and layers off after the first few miles of gradual ascent up the Jones Gap Trail. The steep ascent and climb around the face and up through the rocks of the granite cliff face called El Lieutenant was dramatic, with great views across the Gap into North Carolina . The heavy fall rains had us crossing a dozen or more streams and rivulets and the recent freeze kept the ground from turning to mud. We climbed 2000 feet from the valley floor to the ridge of over El Lieutenant where we had a warm sunny lunch spot on the ridge, with views towards the back of the Ceasars Head Ridge to the south and towards Shining Rock to the north. From there we hiked upward another 200 feet along the ridge, then steeply downward back into the Gap for the 5 miles return trip along the beautiful Saluda River and past two waterfalls down the Jones Gap Trail to the car.

HikingNews....

_____________________________________________________________

Anyone have Gerry McNabb’s whistle?

He loaned it to a sweep this past quarter on either a half-day or Wednesday hike and forgot to retrieve it. Now he can’t remember who the sweep was. If you have his blue aluminum whistle on a pale blue lanyard, give him a call at 274-0057, It was a gift and he would like to have it back.

Snow News is Good News!

Winter Trails® Day will be January 8, 2005 at more than 100 locations around the country. The event, now in its 10th year, offers people the chance to try snowshoeing and cross country skiing, and to discover the great fitness and social benefits with these easy-to-learn winter sports. Winter Trails is a program of American Hiking Society and SnowSports Industries America and is a part of SIA’s Winter Feels Good. Log on to www.WinterTrails.org to find an event near you!

Orange You Glad You Look Good in Orange?

We all enjoy walking off the holiday pie on a beautiful autumn hike when the air is crisp but do be aware that hunting season may now be open in your neck of the woods. Check with your state’s Department of Natural Resources or Dept. of Fish & Wildlife for specific dates.

Across much of our country rifle season opened after Thanksgiving, so be sure to wear “hunter orange” when hiking through wooded areas. Wearing an orange hat, vest, and/or pack cover can help alert hunters to your presence and increase your level of safety. Having that same orange item in your pack even when it’s not hunting season is helpful if you’re ever lost and need to get found or want to mark a tree when going off-trail for a spell. It doesn’t need to be high-tech; it doesn’t need to be expensive; it just needs to be high-visibility orange.

NYC and DC Adventure Travel Events

Just in time to kick off the new year and make those next adventure-travel vacation plans, American Hiking Society will be exhibiting at the Adventures in Travel Expos in both New York City and Washington, DC, to help you find one that’s just right for you. The New York show is the weekend of January 14-16 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The Washington, D.C show is the weekend of January 28-30 and is at the Washington Convention Center. Public hours for both shows are Saturday from 10-6 and Sunday from 11-4.

The Expo’s 500 exhibitors will feature over 70 seminars, personal appearances and book signings by well-known adventurers and explorers, practical demonstrations by outfitters and leading photographers, and activities such as rock climbing walls and adventure courses.

Adventures in Travel is proud to support American Hiking and is offering our members a $5 discount on admission. To receive your discounted pass, please log onto www.adventureexpo.com , click on the show you wish to attend and then click on the REGISTER FOR TICKETS icon. Below your name enter the special American Hiking coupon code “NYAHS” for the NYC show or “DCAHS” for the DC show. (These codes go into effect 3-4 weeks prior to each show.) So don’t just sit there...lace up your boots and capture the adventure!