CMC Weekly Hike News
03/02/05
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Looking Ahead....
All Day Saturday & Sunday
ALL DAY No. A0501-421 Mar. 6 Canebrake Trail (strenuous) 8:00 AM* Hike 10, Drive 95, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA Bruce Bente 828-692-0116 bbente@cytechusa.com We’ll start the hike at the Frozen Creek Rd. parking lot in Gorges State Park, and hike down the Canebrake Trail to our lunch spot at the Foothills Trail pedestrian bridge where the Toxaway River enters Lake Jocassee. *Meeting places: Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Bi-Lo parking lot in Pisgah Forest at 8:30 AM. Topo: Reid; also Gorges State Park map
ALL DAY No. A0501-422 Mar. 6 Big Laurel–Pump Gap 9:00 AM (moderate) Hike 7, Drive 70, 2400 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA Amy Treverton 828-298-1882 athikerbabe@yahoo.com Paul Benson 828-251-1909 pdbenson@charter.net Note later start time. This will be a new hike for CMC. Starting at Hurricane, we’ll hike the Big Laurel Creek trail down to the French Broad River, then up Pump Branch to Pump Gap, and the AT past Lover’s Leap before ending at the hot tubs in Hot Springs. Nice scenery along the creeks and river. Bring your swimsuit and plan on stopping at either the hot tubs and/or supper. Car shuttle. Topo: Hot Springs
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. H0501-040 Mar. 6 Mountains-to-the-Sea Trail in Marion 1:00 PM Hike 4.8, Drive 60, 1500 ft ascent, Rated C-B Don Walton, 828-654-9904 DonWalton@bellsouth.net Note early start time. We will spot cars, then hike along the MST from Woodlawn Picnic Area down to the North Fork of the Catawba River, where we will see the recently completed footbridge spanning the river. This bridge cost about $200,000 and is the largest foot bridge on the MST. If we are lucky the rare Turkey Beard flower will be out. We will go out on the Forest Service road to Creek Road. Second meeting place: McDonalds at exit 64 of I-40 at 1:20 PM. Topo: Little Switzerland
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
ALL DAY No. W0501-290 March 9 Shut-In – (MTS) and Bent Creek 8:30 AM* Hike 7-8, Drive 0, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Siro Del Favero, 828-277-2546 From the French Broad Overlook we will embark on a brisk hike through Bent Creek via Shut-In, Cascades, CMC extension, CMC, Wesley Branch, and Old Mill Trails back to the overlook. *Only meeting place: Ingles parking lot on NC 191, across from Biltmore Square.
ALL DAY No. W0501-441 March 16 AT: Up and Down Snowbird 8:30 AM Hike 9.4, Drive 100, 2700 ft ascent, Rated A-AA Curt Holladay, 628-9477, caholady@bellsouth.net Start at the Waterville School Rd, hike northbound on the AT up a pretty well graded slope 4263 ft elevation to the to top of Snowbird Mt. We will have lunch, rest and hopefully have a relaxed descent back down. Nothing like a stiff hike to welcome in the Spring!
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. A0501-420 Feb. 26 AT: Allen Gap to Tanyard Gap 8:30 AM Hike 8.8, Drive 80, 2100 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA Joanne Tulip 828-299-3495 tulipinnc@aol.com Note later start time. Great views from Rich Mtn. tower, a visit to Spring Mtn. shelter and one of the prettiest sections of the AT in our area highlight this pleasant winter hike. Car shuttle. Topo: Hot Springs
Post Hike Report: Nine members enjoyed a sunny winter hike. The six who started from Allen Gap had a good work out with a steady climb to Rich Tower. We had a snack break at Spring Mtn. Shelter where the three who started from Tanyard Gap were having lunch and waiting to exchange the key. The Allen group climbed on to lunch at Rich Tower. Views from the stairs of the tower were exceptional. Both groups noticed the shag bark hickory trees along the trail in two areas. The Tanyard group finished first and moved the car to wait at Tanyard Gap for the other group. The key swap was a success. Joanne T
ALL DAY No. A0501-255 Feb. 27MST: NC 80 – Black Mtn. Campground 8:30 AM Hike 8, Drive 90, 700 ft. ascent, Rated B-C Tommie Boston 828-686-5029 (828-273-2638 30 min. or less before departure) tambee2@aol.com For variety, we’ll reverse the direction in which this hike was last done. Expect good winter views as we hike south on the MST from Buck Creek Gap at NC 80 to Black Mtn. Campground, crossing a couple of times over the section of the BRP that is now closed due to hurricane damage. Car shuttle. Only meeting place: the back parking lot at the Folk Art Center. Topos: Old Fort and Celo; also PNF South Toe River, Mt. Mitchell & Big Ivy trail map.
Post Hike Report: The all day Sunday hike by 11 hardy souls covered the Mountains to the Sea section beginning at Highway 80 as it crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Black Mountain Campground, the current treminus for trail maintenance by the CMC. This section crosses the Parkway three times at road level and once over the top of a tunnel. It is in sight of one of the major earthslides crippling the Parkway this year. The actual climb was 1250 feet with a descent of 1500 feet. There were a significant number of troublesome blowdowns on this section, at least two of which were on top of reversal points for switchbacks, leading to a lot of tramping around to find the real trail. The trail is extremely well graded with numerous switchbacks and ever changing terrain and canopy, but few long distance views. Unfortunately, the last 1.5 miles are on an active dirt roadway entering the campground. If the blowdowns were cleared, this would be a relatively easy and quite beautiful intermediate hike. Larry Modlin
ALL DAY No. A0501-049 Feb. 20 Walnut Bottom 8:00 AM Hike 11.6, Drive 110, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-B Marianne Newman 828-454-1036 marianneln@msn.com 900M For a change, this time we’ll do this hike in the winter, following a spectacular mountain stream through a beautiful forest to Walnut Bottom. Features to be seen on this hike are the Rock House, Mouse Creek Falls and Dead Man’s Curve. *Meeting places: Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet the leader at Pilot Truck Stop at exit 24 off I 40 at 8:30 AM. Topos: Waterville, Cove Creek Gap and Luftee Knob; also Nat’l. Geo. Map of GSMNP
Post Hike Report: A small group of optimists had a lovely day hiking along Big Creek to Walnut Bottom. The few spatters of rain we encountered didn't interfere with our enjoyment of the woods and streams. A brief but steep bushwhack in search of Rock House led us to a fine rock shelter, but not one that matched the official description. Two lovely surprises were the newly resurfaced trail (no more rocks, at least until the horses chew things up again) and the otter we watched running along the creek bank at lunchtime. Marianne Newman
Half Day Sunday
HALF DAY No. H0501-434 Feb. 27 Laurel Mountain Trail 12:45 PM* Hike 5.4, Drive 40, Rated C-C Greg Goodman 828-684-9703 This in-and-out hike will start from FR-1206 and go along some old logging roads with moderate ascents up Black Mountain to Rich Gap, where there will be nice views of the North Mills River Valley. *Meet at Westgate at 12:45 PM to form carpools, and meet the leader at the North Mills River Recreation Area at 1:30 PM.
All Day Wednesday
ALL DAY No. W0501-440 March 2 Mountains-to-Sea from French Broad Overlook 9:00 AM Hike 8, Drive 25-50, Rated C-B (subject to change) Elisabeth Feil, 828-684-8719 hofeil@brinet.com A nearby winter wandering with Elisabeth. We’ll decide what looks best, depending largely on how far the Parkway is open. This may be a car shuttle. Hike may be strenuous. Second meeting place: French Broad Over-look on Blue Ridge Parkway at 9:15 AM.
Post Hike Report: It was a cold and windy morning... 24 ° F at Westgate. Even the most avid hikers preferred to stay in their warm homes. And I returned to mine and enjoyed another cup of coffee and the paper. Elisabeth Feil
ALL DAY No. W0501-399 Feb. 23 John Rock-Cedar Rock Loop 8:00 AM* Hike 10, Drive 80, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Brad Van Diver, 828-669-2740 bravandi@cs.com P400 A lovely winter hike. Beginning at the fish hatchery, we first skirt the eastern side of John Rock to Cat Gap, then follow the Art Loeb Trail through Sandy Gap, and then pass the stunning white cliffs of Cedar Rock. We'll continue to the shelter at Butter Gap for lunch, then return to our starting point via Grogan Creek and Picklesimer Fields. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Fish Hatchery at 8:30 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat'l Geographic Pisgah Ranger District Map.
Post Hike Report: Twenty hikers attended, including the leader, and the weather was absolutely perfect, with temperatures between 40 and 60 F, and sunny. Where the Art Loeb trail touches the base of Cedar Rock, with its stunning white-weathered cliffs, the leader gave a short lecture on the geology of "plutons" and the origin of Looking Glass Rock, John Rock and Cedar Rock, pointing out that these three are part of a single large pluton of granitic rock emplaced during the Devonian geologic period, 350-400 mya. We paused for lunch at Butter Gap Shelter, and later, at Butter Gap, Tom Bindrim told us about coming over Cedar Rock on the old (now relocated) Art Loeb Trail which included a cliff descent by cable. We made it back to the cars at the Fish Hatchery at 2:15 pm. Great trip!
HikingNews....
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Join New CMC Hike Information Message Center!
The CMC is starting a Hike Information exchange system on www.Yahoo.com which can be used to exchange information relating to hiking. This group system is intended to help coordinate off schedule hiking activities that benefit the club and it's members. For example, a hike leader may need to scout a hike but cannot find anyone to go along or maybe someone needs directional help to adequately hike a trail.
The email address used to communicate is cmchikeinfo@yahoogroups.com . The address to use to join is: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cmchikeinfo/ You have to be a yahoo member (free) to join. When you join you will need to provide your name in the setup in the "Real Name" field. This is desirable for people to know who you are. If you have any questions please contact me. Don Walton
HIKE LEADER SURVEY COMPILATION
Forty people handed in completed surveys. Two of them didn’t do the back side. Almost never do percentages add up to 100%. . Seventy-five percent of the respondents signed their names. Of those adding comments, 82% signed their names. Italicized choices were generated during the compilation phase The hikers are a minority subset of the Club members. The leaders are a minority subset of the hikers. The leaders who took this survey are a minority subset of the leaders. Generalizations on these data are risky. In the broader context, there were 181 hikes in 2004, with 81 leaders. Forty-two percent of the leaders led only one hike. In 2003 there were177 hikes and 71 leaders. —Dave Wetmore
1. How many years have you been a hiker?
Less than five years 7% Five to ten years 14% More than ten years 75%
2. How many years have you been leading hikes?
Less than five years 27% Five to ten years 27% More than ten years 40%
3. How many hikes do you lead a year?
Less than four 55% Four to Six 30% Six or more 7%
(In 2004, 78% of all the leaders led less than four hikes, 15% led four to six hikes and 3% led six or more hikes.)
4. What do you think about the number of hikes you lead each year?
I’m leading about the right number. 68% I’m leading too many 0% I’d lead more if I was asked 23%
5. I prefer to lead hikes in the (check all that apply)
Winter 20% Spring 25% Summer 15% Fall 48% Any Season 43%
6. I prefer to lead hikes
in the Blacks 10% in the Craggys 13% in the Shining Rock area 15% in the Smokies 5% Green-River and DuPont area 2% Bent Creek 2% Mills River 2% Pisgah Forest, south of Parkway 2% no geographical preferences 58%
7. I like to lead (check all that apply)
Half-day hikes 48% All day hikes 85% Backpacking Trips 5% Easy Hikes 15% Moderate Hikes 80% Hard Hikes 38%
8. I prefer to lead
Wednesday Hikes 45% Saturday Hikes 12% Sunday Hikes 60% No preferences 12%
9. I consider myself to be knowledgeable in the following areas (check all that apply)
People/Leadership Skills 65% First Aid Skills 32% Route Finding 45% Tree/Plant Identification 30% Area History 25%
10. I would like to improve my knowledge in the following areas (check all that apply)
People/Leadership Skills 25% First Aid Skills 22% Route Finding 45% Tree/Plant Identification 60% Area History 60%
11. I first found out about the CMC from
Friends 62% CMC Web Site 2% Let’s Go 0% Newspaper 25% ATC Conference 2%
12. The major reasons I joined the CMC are
to learn the area 65% to enjoy nature 82% to get exercise 70% to meet new people 62% to gain hiking skills 35% other 2% Maintenance 2%
13. Can you think of anything the Club can or should do for hike leaders?
“Hold a workshop. Cover all types of hikes (half-day, all day, backpacks, etc.). I would be willing to help.”
“Make mentoring available”
“Tee shirt or sweatshirt with “Hike Leader””.
“Provide a system of mentoring.”
“Encourage us in any way possible”
“Loads, call and ask me.”
“No”
“Mentors for newcomers”
“Need greater flexibility re: dates of hikes to lead”.
“Massages”
“Establish a list of hike leaders willing to fill in for a scheduled leader.”
“Give them whistles and a clear set of calls to control hikers they can’t see.”
“I think the idea of slow, moderate hikes is excellent. Such hikes attract a large following of people”
“Have a workshop for potential leaders. Ask potential leaders to scout hikes.”
“Sponsor a map and compass course”
“I think a workshop would be a great idea. We’ve led several hikes but I still feel like a novice.”
“Mentor! Train!”