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ALL DAY No. A0502-443 Apr. 10 Pine Mtn. Loop 8:00 AM Hike 9-10, Drive 50, 2200 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA Tom Bindrim & Joan Lemire 828-299-1572 P400 From North Mills River area, we’ll ascend Seniard Mtn. to Double Head and Pine Mtn. (the one with the BRP tunnel) and return through Bent Creek Gap, Bad Fork Hollow and Wash Creek. Some off-trail hiking. 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 No. H0502-101 Apr. 10 Lower Big Laurel Creek Wildflower Stroll Noon Hike 6, Drive 60, 200-ft ascent, Rated B-C Diane Hankins, 828-298-2870 (before 9 PM) Note early start time. Leisurely paced in-and-out hike along Lower Big Laurel Creek to the site of Runion, an early 1900s settlement. Suitable for anyone over 10 years of age (those under 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult). We’ll take time to identify the flowers we see. Long pants suggested (poison ivy sprouts early).

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.

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 No. W0502-455 Apr. 20 Lower Mt Cammerer Trail 8:00 AM Hike 8, Drive 120, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-C Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327 mel&tgs@main.nc.us This moderate in and out hike from the Cosby Camp Ground area of the Great Smokies hopefully will coincide with yellow Trillium, Showy Orchis and Dwarf Iris which thrive here in late April. In any event, Lower Cammerer is a beautiful trail with a gradual incline up and then down. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck stop at Exit 24 of I-40 at 8:30 AM Topo: Hartford

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.

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.

Post Hike Report: Map Reading course Do you know where you are on the trail? Do you know where you have been and most importantly do you know where you are going? On the map reading course led by Dave Wetmore and Tom Bindrim, these were not philosophical questions but practical ones. Eight students - all leaders - met to learn how to answer these questions. Becky Johnson from the Smoky Mountain News also attended. Armed with compasses and a Forest Service edition of the Dunsmore Mtn. topo map, we met at Earthfare for a classroom lecture. Dave and Tom had prepared class notes where we dissected contour lines, ridgelines, grades, creek, gaps and draws. Tom emphasized that our club motto was "Let's Go" but when you think you are lost, the most important thing is to "stop and think". Then it was time to get some practical experience. We were divided into two groups alphabetically and we went out to Bent Creek. I ended up in Dave's group but both groups did the same mini hike. As we walked, Dave kept posing questions and sometimes told us that we had our head in the map too often and we were not looking at our compasses enough. We stopped often and tried to predict what the trail ahead would look like. Would it be steep? Where would the creek cross? As we kept all those balls in the air, the weather deteriorated to rain, snow and a little sleet. Our paper maps were hard to handle with thick gloves and were falling apart. Tom had shown us his system of map preservation which I will use for topo maps. When we got back to the cars, we decided that the course had been definitely worthwhile. I learned a lot of vocabulary and principles. I hope that Dave and Tom run the course again for others and run a more advanced one for us. Danny danny@hikertohiker.org

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

Post Hike Report: Four of us showed for the hike to Little Butt. We knew there would be some snow, but had no idea it would be so deep for the beginning of April. Drifts were above our knees and the snowfall was over 12". It was 33 degrees when we left the car at the gap and got colder as we went up, with 30 mph winds and gusts up to 60 mph. We only made it to the climb up Big Butt, found a sheltered area, hunkered down for lunch, then made our way back for an early return. Temps. were in the high 50s when we got back down in the valley. An invigorating spring adventure! Les

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. H0501-297 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.

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

This tent is for the super lite Backpackers!!

Big Agnes Seedhouse Superlight 2 person tent

Item: TSH2SL
MSRP: 299.94

You save 74.98
You save 25.00%

Quantity Instock: 5

$224.96

    Wonder why we called our company Big Agnes? The answer you receive depends on who you talk with and the mood we're in. Honestly, it's either a rocky peak in the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness Area outside Steamboat Springs, a laid back mountain town mama or dependable backcountry gear. We think it represents a little bit of each and everything in between.

    We've spent a lot of time in the local backcountry so we feel downright connected to it. We name our products after local history, places, peaks and rivers which is always a fun process. It brings back memories of trips both successful and epic and hopefully inspires you to come explore.

    From the Cross Mountain, named after a Yampa River canyon known for classic Class IV/V whitewater to the Encampment, one of the country's most scenic wilderness river runs, to more obvious names like the Divide Series, we think ours are some of the funkiest product names around.

    Right in our backyard, Two Track trail is where we run and ride all summer. The spring runoff around here is pretty spectacular so we couldn't resist including a couple of our favorite creeks like Sarvis, Deep, Mad and Lost Dog. Drive up Seedhouse road past Hinman park to the trailhead for Mt. Zirkel, the highest peak around, or hang a left to Mica Basin and camp by the lake or hike towards Big Agnes and over to Pomer Hoit.

    Given the long history of mining and exploration in the area, there are some pretty wild stories that took place far from town. Take the outlaws that narrowly escaped a posse that spotted their campfire on Horse Thief peak or the boom and bust tale which unfolded on Farwell Mountain - named after John Farwell who built an extensive but ill-fated water ditch to power his hydraulic mining operation. http://www.bigagnes.com/

    Along the way, we've accumulated a few good stories of our own but we'll save those for some other time...

Big Agnes Seedhouse Superlight 2 person tent

New for 2004 we offer a pair of Superlight Series (SL) tents made with crazy light yet durable fabric. Gram counting geeks who like to swill their adventures in big gulps but still want enough room to read at night will rejoice. Solo travelers, distance hikers, touring cyclists and other lightweight disiples will find what they're searching for in the 2.5 pound SL 1 while two can sleep in the SL 2 while only adding ounces to their loads. Purchase our separate foot print that attaches to the fly and eliminates the tent body for the fast and light minded. Fast Fly footprint optional on all models and highly recommended.

Item	Trail Wt.	Packed Wt.	Fast Fly Wt.	Packed Size	Floor Area	Vestibule Area	Head Height
tent	3lb 3oz	3lb 11oz	2lb 7oz	6.5" x 16"	28 sq ft	5.5 sq ft	38"
footprint	6.5oz		2lb 7oz		28 sq ft	5.5 sq ft

Trail Weight: 3lb 3oz
DAC Featherlite Poles 8.84mm
Plastic clips attach the tent body to the pole frame for quick and easy set-up
Fly is made of 30D, 1.94oz High-Tenacity nylon rip stop, 246 thread count, polyurethane and silicone coating
Floor is a seamless, 30D, 1.94oz High-Tenacity nylon rip stop, 246 thread count, polyurethane and silicone coating
Tent walls, 20D 1.6oz woven nylon mesh
Excellent cross ventilation with full mesh tent walls
D shaped mesh door
13 7000 series, angle aluminum stakes included
All seams on tent body and fly are sealed with seam tape
YKK waterproof zippers

Excursion Leaders needed for Southern ATC Biennial 2005

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