CMC Weekly Hike News

12/29/04

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Looking Ahead....

All Day Saturday & Sunday

NEW YEARS DAY No. A0404-281 Jan. 1 Green River Gamelands 8:30 AM breakfast, 9:30 AM hike Hike 8, Drive 20 (from Hendersonville), 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Bruce Bente 828-692-0116 bbente@cytechusa.com This annual hike begins with breakfast at the Cracker Barrel in Hendersonville (exit 53 on I 26), followed by a pleasant loop on trails around the Green River Gamelands. We’ll hike down to and along the Green River, with a late lunch at the big rocks, and then hike up and out on the Pulliam Creek trail. Short car shuttle. Topo: Cliffield Mtn., and Map of the Green River Gamelands Trails

ALL DAY No. A0404-402 Jan. 2 Tom & Joan’s Meadow phone leader for time Hike 9-10, Drive 70, 2100 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA Tom Bindrim & Joan Lemire 828-299-1572 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 hike leader to reserve your place. Topos: Sam Knob & Waynesville; also Nat’l. Geographic 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. H0404-393 Jan. 2 Turkey Pen Ramble 1:30 PM Hike 6, Drive55, Rated C-C Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@cytechusa.com P400 This is a moderate hike starting at the Turkey Pen parking lot, close to Asheville. We will cross the S. Mills River suspension bridge, then do a loop hike through Pea Gap and incorporating parts of different trails. Second meeting place: Turkey Pen parking lot at 2:00 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. W0404-402 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

ALL DAY. No. W0501-035 Jan.12 Looking Glass Rock 8:45 AM* Hike 6.2, Drive 70, Rated B-B Chuck Rosen 828-298-2246 P400 Moderate and popular hike in the Pisgah Forest. We have a 3.1 mile climb up to the 3,969 ft. summit (elevation gain 1,369 feet), with magnificent views of Pisgah Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. We will stop at the North Face viewpoint on our descent for another wonderful view. *Meet at Westgate at 8:45 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Ranger Station parking lot on US. 276 at 9:30 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......

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

Post Hike Report: Nine hikers, including a new guest, gathered together to enjoy Christmas Day the best way possible - by hiking. We did a nine to ten mile loop in Bent Creek, similar to the one Ruth led two weeks ago. The day started cold and topped out in the thirties with blue skies. On the Homestead loop trail, we saw a lone golden-crown kinglet hovering around. For most of the day, we had Bent Creek to ourselves but by early afternoon, several walkers and bikers were on the trail. On the mid-afternoon break, we saw a possum on top of a tree, probably scared out of his wits by dogs. We dubbed it "the possum in a pear tree". We finished the hike at 4 P.M. and five of us headed for China Palace for our Christmas dinner. Danny Bernstein

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

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.

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. W0404-409 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....

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2005 SORUCK (Southern RUCK)

An Appalachian Trail Get-Together Sponsered by the AT-L email list www.backcountry.net Martin Luther King Weekend - January 14-17, 2005 (Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon) On the Appalachian Trail at milepost 134.1 Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) Route 19, Wesser, NC Important Stuff We Need Volunteers Directions Facilities Lodgings/Reservations Presentations/Displays Weekend Schedule

CMC Member needs ride to Hikes

Retired 76 yr. old member for 16 years seeking a ride on Wednesday to trailhead (moderately rated hikes). Willing to share driving expenses. Live in Druid Hills, Hendersonville. Call Fred Chaffee at: 828-692-8937.

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!