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Map-Reading Course Apr. 2 Dave Wetmore and Tom Bindrim 828-884-7296 dwetmore@citcom.net Attendees must bring a compass and a Forest Service edition of the Dunsmore Mtn. topo map. The map can be bought either at the Pisgah Ranger Station near Brevard or at the Forest Supervisor’s office in Asheville on Zillicoa St., across Broadway from the UNCA Botanical Gardens. There will be a short informal class, followed by a practical exercise. Please contact Dave Wetmore for information on the meeting time and to register. You must register before the course, as we need to know the number going. No walk-ins please. Topo: Dunsmore Mtn.

ALL DAY No. A0502-427 Apr. 3 Soapstone Ridge 8:30 AM (strenuous) Hike 10, Drive 90, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated A-B Stuart Tauber 828-254-0824 sdtauber@charter.net P400 Note later start time and that this is the first day of DST. This new CMC hike will begin at the gauging station and follow a mild bushwhack up Soapstone Ridge to the Alternate MST. We’ll follow the AMST to the Black Mtn. Trail to our lunch spot at Buckhorn Shelter, and then take the Buckhorn Gap trail down to the S. Mills River trail back to our cars. The leader may make some revisions to the route depending on the group and weather. Expect a fast-paced hike. Topos: Pisgah Forest, Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geographic Pisgah Ranger District map

ALL DAY No. A0502-428 Apr. 3 Cane River Gap to Little Butt 9:00 AM (moderate) Hike 7.5, Drive 50, 2200 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA Les Love 828-658-1489 lesrlove@aol.com Note later start time and that this is the first day of DST. This hike begins with a 1200 ft. ascent to the ridgeline, then along the top of the ridge with a few gradual ups-and-downs. After reaching Big Butt, we’ll follow the narrow ridgeline with its views to our lunch spot at Little Butt, which has a great view of the Black Mtns. across the valley. Return via the same route. Topo: Mt. Mitchell

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 No. H0501-297 Apr. 3 Sam’s Gap to Hog Back Ridge Shelter and return 1:30 PM Hike 5, Drive 50, Rated C-C Jane and Lew Blodgett, 828-274-7863 This moderate in-and-out hike on a section of the Appalachian Trail is easily accessible off the new portion of I-26. Early spring wild flowers should be in bloom.

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 No. W0502-454 Apr. 6 Porter’s Creek Trail (GSMNP) 8:30 AM Hike 4.5, Drive 164, 700 ft. ascent, Rated C-C Diane Hankins, 298-2870 (before 9 pm). 900M Note later start time. All day trip to one of the premier wildflower trails in the National Park. Very leisurely paced up and back. We’ll take time to identify the flowers we see along the way. Suitable for anyone over 10 years old (those under 18 MUST be accompanied by adult). Group Limited to first 15 who call beginning on March 24. Only meeting place is Westgate Shopping Center. Topo: Mt. Le Conte; also Nat’l. Geographic GSMNP map

WEDNESDAY No. W0502-164 Apr. 13 Hawkbill Creek-Little Snowball Loop 8:00 AM* Hike 8-9, Drive 50, 2235 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA Tom Bindrim, 828-299-1572 Beaucoup wildflowers if our timing is right, cascading water, pick some ramps, nice scenery from Hawkbill Rock and Little Snowball, some off-trail, moderately paced. *Only meeting place: Rear parking lot at Folk Art Center at 8:00 AM. Topo: Craggy Pinnacle

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.

SATURDAY No. A0501-425 Mar. 26 Mt. Cammerer via Low Gap Trail 8:00 AM Hike 11.2, Drive 135, 2300 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA Chip Miller 828-654-9331 backpacker54nc@bellsouth.net 900M From Cosby Campground, we will hike an in-and-out route, following the Low Gap trail to its end at the AT, and then following the AT and Mt. Cammerer side trail to the summit of Mt. Cammerer. Expect spectacular views from our lunch spot at the Mt. Cammerer lookout. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck Stop at exit 24 off I 40 at 8:30 AM. Topos: Hartford, Luftee Knob; also Nat’l. Geographic GSMNP map

Post Hike Report: We had a sunny Saturday for this hike up to Mt. Cammerer lookout tower. This small group of 4 arrived at Cosby Campground around 9:45am & found pleasant temperatures in the low to mid 60s with a slight breeze. Great views from the tower. Max Patch, Mt. Sterling fire tower, Snowbird and I-40 in the valley below. The mountains to the west still had some snow cover (on top in the shaded areas). On our way down Low Gap trail we met up with a park ranger on patrol. This was a first for me. I have never seen a ranger out in the back country on patrol with a daypack before. It was a beautiful day and we had a great hike ! Chip Miller

ALL DAY No. A0501-426 Mar. 27Colbert Ridge, Crest, Horse Range Trails 7:30 AM Hike 12.7, Drive 120, 4000 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA+ Don Walton 828-654-9904 donwalton@bellsouth.net Note early start time. This strenuous hike will start in the Carolina Hemlocks Campground area and climb up Colbert Ridge Trail to Deep Gap. We’ll take the Black Mtns. Crest Trail via a short connector to the Buncombe Horse Range trail, and then do the long descent back to our cars. Be sure you are in good physical shape before attempting this hike. Short car shuttle. Second meeting place: Ingles on Burnsville bypass at 8:15 AM, but call leader first. Topos: Celo, Mt. Mitchell; also PNF South Toe River, Mt. Mitchell & Big Ivy trail map

Pre Hike Report: The hike was scouted last Sunday by Stuart Tauber, Joann Tulip and myself. Also please note that the hike leader will be Stuart Tauber. Due to the condition of the trails and up to 3 ft of snow on the Mt. Mitchell Crest, the hike will be changed to the following:

ALL DAY No. A0501-461 Mar. 27Colbert Ridge, Crest, Potato Hill 7:30 AM Hike 10.3, Drive 99, 4700 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA+ Stuart Tauber 828-254-0824 sdtauber@charter.net Note early start time. This strenuous hike will start in the Carolina Hemlocks Campground area and climb up Colbert Ridge Trail to Deep Gap. We’ll take the Black Mtns. Crest Trail to the top of Potato Hill. There are spectacular views of the Roans, Grandfather Mt., Bald Knob and other mountains. Be sure you are in good physical shape before attempting this hike. Short car shuttle. Second meeting place: Ingles on Burnsville bypass at 8:15 AM, but call leader first. Topos: Celo, Mt. Mitchell; also PNF South Toe River, Mt. Mitchell & Big Ivy trail map

Post Hike Report: Only one hiker, Leonard Aubrey showed up in addition to Joanne and myself. At 7:30 a.m. on that Sunday morning it was raining and the wind was picking up at greater than 25 mph. After I described what the hike would be with some description of our are scouting trip Leonard had no enthusiasm to proceed on the hike with the weather we had and the weather report for the day. Since he had come from Hendersonville, I offered a replacement hike namely, the Mountains to Sea trail from Craven Gap to Lane Pinnacle that would give us some outlet should the weather become increasingly bad. He was pleased with that option since he had never made that trek. Accordingly, we left Westgate at 7:45 a.m. and drove to Bull Gap to place a car before returning to Craven Gap. The rain continued but at a tolerable pace without making the trail too treacherous. As we passed through Bull Gap on the way to Rattlesnake Lodge, the intensity of the wind increased and the rain became more driving so that by the time we reached Rattlesnake Lodge the sky was threatening and the thunder was intermittent. Not only was there no enthusiasm to proceed but I thought the risks of walking along the ridge to the pinnacle should not be taken. We had a brief snack and described something of the history of Rattlesnake Lodge using the sign that the CMC had placed to Leonard. As we returned toward Craven Gap, the rain picked up and I was pleased to see the new trail work that had been done on the approach out of Bull Gap. The new stairs are a great help in an area that has been so badly hurt by the winter hurricanes. The wisdom of placing a car at Bull Gap was enjoyed as we drove back to Craven Gap to end this replacement hike. The hike had started at 8:30 a.m. at the trailhead at Craven Gap and ended on our return there at 12:05 p.m. Stuart

HALF DAY No. H0501-437 March 27 Fletcher Creek-Spencer Branch 1:00 PM Hike 6, Drive 60, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Ruth Hartzler,828-251-0886 ruthmtn@aol.com P400 Note early start time. This is a moderate hike on the Fletcher Creek and Spencer Branch Trails starting from the Trace Ridge Trailhead. The trails follow gurgling streams through beautiful woods. We will enjoy an interesting beaver dam. There are several easy stream crossings. Second meeting place: Mills River Recreation Area parking lot at 1:30 pm.

Post Hike Report: Hike day dawned damp, dark and drizzly. Weather.com promised clearing by afternoon. As the clock ticked, the drizzle continued and weather.com continued to promise clearing. The leader dutifully packed for rain and drove to Westgate. As the clock ticked, the drizzle continued darkly. The leader sat in her car, staying dry, waiting, and watching car after car drive to Earth Fare. "No one is going to show, and I still have to drive to North Mills!" More drizzle and more lonely waiting. A car drives up, but the driver does not get out. She rolls down her window. "Are you the leader? Are you going?" "Yes" to both questions. "Hop in!" The newcomer reports that the sun is shining west of Asheville. Surely, weather.com will stand by its promise. Another car drives up. The group is now three and we head for North Mills, where a forth hiker is waiting.

We drive to the Trace Ridge Trailhead. It's still damp, dark and drizzly. We don poncho's and rain coats, and head down the Hendersonville Reservoir Road. We can see and hear the North Mills River to our left, and the drizzle does not dampen the conversation. We turn up Fletcher Creek Trail, gaining some elevation, then turn up Spencer Branch Trail. The trail follows Spencer Branch, which has a romantic aura in the mist. We stop at a large Beaver Lake, with a beaver lodge on its edge. After enjoying a short respite, we return down the trails as the drizzle turns to rain. Conversation in the car on the way back to Westgate was interesting, as we looked forward to hot soup for dinner. We proved, again, that hiking is fun almost any day. -- Ruth

ALL DAY No. W0501-375 March 30 AT: Sams Gap to Rice Gap 9:00 AM Hike 7.5, Drive 60, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Pat Elias, 828-687-1651 patelias@bellsouth.net Note early start time. An in-and-out hike in the beautiful open forest from Sams Gap to Rice Gap. We'll lunch at the Hog Back Ridge shelter. Topo: Sams Gap

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