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ALL DAY No. A0503-193 Aug. 7 MST: Bearpen Gap to NC 215 via Mt. Hardy (strenuous) 8:30 AM* Hike 9, Drive 85, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated A-B Carroll Koepplinger, 828-667-0723, carrollkoepp@bellsouth.net SB6K, P400 *Note later start time. This MST hike leads through a beautiful forest of spruce, birch, rhododendron and maple with mosses and ferns lining the forest floor. A special feature is a short side trip up 6110 Ft. Mt. Hardy, with first-rate views on its north side. Partly through the Middle Prong Wilderness, so limited to ten. Phone leader for reservation. Second meeting place: Cold Mtn. O/L on BRP (M.P. 412) at 9:10 AM. Topo: Sam Knob; also USFS Shining Rock & Middle Prong Wildernesses map and Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

ALL DAY No. A0503-470 Aug. 7 Fork Mtn. – Birdstand Mtn. 8:00 AM (moderate) Hike 9, Drive 85, 550 ft. ascent, Rated A-C Larry Modlin, 828-251-5092, lmodlin@warren-wilson.edu P400 For the P400 fans, here is a chance to bag a remote trail from the Black Balsam parking lot down to NC 215. Be prepared for a 3200 ft. descent, with only a short climb up Birdstand Mtn. There will be a wet-foot crossing of the West Prong of the Pigeon River at the end of the hike. Car shuttle. Topos: Shining Rock, Sam Knob; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map and USFS Shining Rock & Middle Prong Wild. map

ALL DAY No. A0503-471 Aug. 14 Wagon Rd. Gap - Bridges Camp Gap – Big East 8:00 AM Hike 11, Drive 70, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary@charter.net P400 We will hike from Cold Mtn. overlook up to Green Knob (Penny Rock) and to Bridges Camp Gap on the MST, then drop down to the Big East Fork Trail along the Pigeon River to Big East. Short car shuttle. Second meeting place: BRP Cold Mtn. overlook (M.P. 412) at 8:40 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map and MST Trail Profiles, pg. 50-51 ALL DAY NO. A0503-044 Aug. 21 Lost Cove 8:00 AM Hike 7.5, Drive 140, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Les Love, 828-658-1489 This hike in the Wilson Creek area features spectacular waterfalls and the best swimming anywhere. Bring your bathing suit. Be prepared for several wet-foot stream crossings. Optional supper at Little Siena. Second meeting place: parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s at exit 64 of I-40 at 8:20 AM. Topo: Grandfather Mtn.; also USFS Wilson Creek 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. A0503-054 Aug. 7 John Rock via the Old Horse Cove Trail 1:30 PM Hike 4, Drive 40, Rated C-B, Elevation gain, 1300 ft. Laura Stallard, 828-697-1579 P400 This moderate in-and-out hike begins at the Fish Hatchery at the opposite end of the parking lot from the Wildlife Visitor Center onto the Horse Cove side of Cat Gap Trail (orange blaze). The John Rock Trail starts at a right hand junction off Cat Gap Trail. Second meeting place: Fish Hatchery at 2:00 PM.

HALF DAY No. A0503-112 Aug. 14 Black Balsam Knob, Tennent Mtn. via Art Loeb, Shining Ledge Trails 1:00 PM* Hike 5, Drive 70, Rated B-B Paula Robbins, 828-281-3253, paularww@bellsouth.net P400 *Note early start time. This moderate loop hike begins at Forest Service Road 816 off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Second meeting place: Pisgah Inn parking lot near Convenience Store.

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. W0503-475 Aug. 10 Hump Mountain/ Yellow Mountain Area 8:30 AM Hike 9, Drive 130, Ascend 2400 ft., Rated B-AA Adrian Lotherington, 828-350-8065. We will hike from Roaring Creek Road to Yellow Mountain Gap at which point we join the AT, along an open ridge to Little Hump Mt and on to Hump Mt where will have lunch on a grassy bald at 5587 ft. We return to Yellow Mt Gap and take the Overmountain Victory Loop back to the car park. The fabulous vistas and meadows full of flowers make the drive and moderately strenuous walk very much worth while. ONLY MEETING PLACE. Rose's car park, across from McDonalds at the 25/70 Weaverville exit. Topos: Carver's Gap, White Rocks Mtn.

WEDNESDAY. No. W0503-476 Aug. 17 South Mills River, Mullinax Tr., Laurel Creek Tr. 8:15 AM Hike 9, drive 50, rated B-C Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703 P400 Loop hike. S. Mills River to Mullinax Trail, to Laurel Branch Trail, then to Bradley Branch, then back by Pea Gap to cars. Bring sandals to cross creeks, one of which may be knee-deep. Second meeting place: Boyleston Baptist Church on NC 280 at 8:45 AM. Ed Hauschild will assist in leading.

WEDNESDAY. No. W0503-357 Aug. 24 Pisgah Ridge Loop 8:30AM* Hike 8.5, Drive 70, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Kathie Giddings, 828-696-9808, kmgiddings@highstream.net P400 Starting at the Graveyard Fields parking lot, we will follow the Pisgah Ridge trail to the MST and lunch at a beautiful overlook. Then we will continue on the MST to Graveyard Fields, follow a trail to one of the Yellowstone Falls, then on to Skinny Dip Falls. *Meeting Places: Meet at Westgate at 8:30AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Cold Mtn. overlook, BRP M.P. 412, at 9:15A.M.

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.

ALL DAY No. A0503-469 July 24 MST: Craggy Gardens to Bull Gap 8:30 AM* Hike 8.7, Drive 40, 1650 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Jorge Munoz, 828-658-0606, jmunoz@buncombe,main,nc.us *Note later meet time. This pleasant hike on the MST will start at the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center and feature Lane Pinnacle and the Rattlesnake Lodge site. Car shuttle. Second meeting place: Craven Gap at 8:50 AM. Topos: Montreat, Craggy Pinnacle; also MST Trail Profiles, pg. 63-65

SATURDAY No. A0503-243 July 30 Forney Creek Circuit to Fontana Lake 8:00 AM Hike 10, Drive 145, 800 ft. ascent, Rated A-C Ray Sanow, 828-231-7669, raysray@charter.net 900M This is your chance to go hiking and swimming on the same day. This moderate hike begins at the end of the Road to Nowhere, through the tunnel, then continues along the Lakeshore Trail and along cascading Forney Creek to our lunch spot at the Fontana Lake shoreline. Second meeting place: Rest stop beyond Waynesville on US 23/74 at 8:30 AM. Topo: Noland Creek

Post Hike Report: Only two hikers showed up and none at the second stop. Since one of the hikers was with me on the scout, we decided to do something else. We went up to Parkway and parked at Rough Butt Bald and hiked in about three miles and then back out. We got wet at the end but we were back to Westgate by 2 PM. Very disappointing after scouting it and all a few weeks ago.

ALL DAY No. A0503-357July 31 Pisgah Ridge Loop 8:30 AM* Hike 7.5, Drive 70, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Becky Smucker, 828-298-5013, bsmucker@charter.net P400 *Note later start time. We’ll do a scenic circle of the entire Graveyard Fields area, using the Pisgah Ridge Trail and MST to lunch at a beautiful overlook. Then we’ll follow the Graveyard Ridge Trail, with a side trip to one of the Yellowstone Falls. Second meeting place: BRP Cold Mtn. overlook (M.P. 412) at 9:10 AM. Topos: Shining Rock, Sam Knob; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map and USFS Shining Rock & Middle Prong Wild. map

Post Hike Report: Ten hikers braved the iffy weather forecasts to drive through the clouds to Graveyard Fields parking area. This was a hike that affords wonderful long-range views on a clear day, and although we didn’t get much of that, the cloudy conditions made the day deliciously cool and comfortable. The first part of the hike consisted of unmapped loops (now mapped by Dave Wetmore) that criss-cross the Parkway several times. The terrain was lovely on these segments and the blueberries were excellent, even by the standards of some of us die-hard berryheads. We climbed about 1200’ to a rocky outcropping on the MST above Graveyard Fields where we had lunch and watched the clouds roll in over the ridge. On the way down we experienced the greatest disappointment of the day when one of us slipped and fell, but the scrapes were so superficial that the six of us who had had Wilderness First Aid training were not able to put our great knowledge to use. It started to rain just as we reached the point where we might have extended the hike to Skinny Dip Falls, so we just completed the loop and returned to our cars. We were a little wet but had a great time. Thanks to all who came, especially those from Spartanburg and Charlotte. Becky Smucker

HALF-DAY No. A0503-349 July 24 Buck Spring Trail 1:30 PM Hike 6.2, Drive 50, Rated B-C Diane Hankins, 828-298-2870 (before 9 PM) P400 This moderate downhill hike starts behind the Pisgah Inn and ends at US 276. short car shuttle. We’ll take time to identify the flowers we see.

HALF DAY No. A0503-464 July 31 Balsam Gap to Greybeard Overlook 1:30 PM* Hike 3.6, Drive 44, total ascent 600 ft., Rated C-C Pat Elias, 828-687-1651, patelias@bellsouth.net A pleasant walk through the woods, stopping for a snack at an open area with great views. Short car shuttle. *Only meeting place: Back parking lot at Folk Art Center on BRP.

Post Hike Report: Nine hikers met at the Folk Art Center in humid but otherwise promising conditions for our hike. We left the FAC in sunshine, but a short distance up the Parkway we ran into a downpour and patchy fog. It didn't look like there was any possibility of it clearing up. I pulled into the Craggy Garden picnic area to take a vote. We decided on retreat -- go back to the FAC and, if clear there, hike in that area. Well, we got to Craven Gap area and the weather appeared to clear again, so we parked there and hiked from Craven Gap to Ox Creek Road -- a four mile round trip. While the trail was wet, slippery, and muddy, it never rained on us, the sun came out at times, we saw a beautiful hillside of Black Eyed Susans and a scattering of other lovely flowers. When we arrived at Ox Creek, we spread our various weather gear to sit on while we enjoyed our snacks and exchanged our latest adventures. In all, it was a very pleasant time spent with friends. Pat

WEDNESDAY. No. W0503-447July 20 MST Mt. Pisgah to Beaverdam Overlook 8:30 AM Ray Sanow 231-7669, raysray@charter.net P400 This moderate hike will start with a round trip up and down Mt. Pisgah, will then follow the MST northbound to Beaverdam Overlook. Good views. Short car shuttle. Second meeting place: BRP French Broad Overlook at 8:40 AM. Topos: Cruso, Dunsmore Mtn. and MST profiles, pp 53-55.

WEDNESDAY No. W0503-384 July 27 Black Balsam (MST) to Skinny Dip Falls 8:00 AM* Hike 5.5, Drive 65, Ascend 400 ft., Rated C-C Siro Del Favero, 828-277-2546 P400 Starting at Black Balsam, will hike to the second (lower) falls for lunch. Then hike on to Skinny Dip Falls, then to Looking Glass Overlook. Car shuttle. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Looking Glass Overlook, BRP M.P. 417 at 8:45 AM.

Do you know a person, organization or business that has made a significant impact in the hiking community this year? Now is your chance to give them the recognition they deserve. You as a member have the opportunity to nominate a deserving individual or group for these prestigious awards. There are seven awards this year and they include the: American Hiking Business Partner Award, American Hiking Trail Achievement Award, Butch Henley Award, Richard Douthit Public Service Award, Jim Kern Award, Glenn T. Seaborg National Public Leadership Award, and Bill Wilcox Award.

CMC FONTANA 2005 HIKING WEEKEND

Rev. 1.0 issued 6-20-05

In response to popular demand, CMC has scheduled a weekend hiking trip to the Lake Fontana area over the weekend of October 1-2, 2005.

We will stay in Fontana Village or nearby campgrounds on Friday and/or Saturday nights, and will hike nearby trails on Saturday and Sunday, including some in the Great Smoky Mtns. Natl. Park.

Details of the trip are:

Lodging:

Make your reservations directly with Fontana Village (1-800-849-2258), and ask for the CMC discounted rate. A block of different room and cottage types will be held for CMC until 8/1/05.

Fontana Village offers a range of accommodations. They have quoted the following rates for CMC attendees:

•hostel-type beds: (bare bed frames, no mattress, with kitchen) (approx. $15/night)

•Camp Cabins: 2BR, 1BA, with kitchen (without bed linens or kitchen utensils) ($43/night/cottage)

•Dogwood Cottage: 2BR, 1BA with kitchen (with bed linens and kitchen utensils) ($58/night/cottage)

•New Dogwood Cottage: 2BR, 1BA with kitchen (with bed linens and kitchen utensils) ($68/night/cottage)

•Laurel Cottage: 2BR, 1BA with kitchen, with bed linens, utensils, TV, air cond.) ($75/night/cottage)

Azalea Cottage: 2 or 3 BR, 2BA with kitchen, bed linens, utensils, TV/VCR, air cond. ($145/night/cottage for 3BR)

•Fontana Inn: 2 double beds ($68/night/room)

•Campground with hookup ($18/night/campsite)

•Campground w/o hookup ($13/night/campsite)

CMC will have use of the swimming pools and other Fontana Village facilities. Mountain bikes and horses are available for rental. Fontana Village has an indoor swimming pool, free for people staying at the Village. Bring your swim suit!

Please look at their website www.fontanavillage.com for more information.

Campgrounds are also available, as follows:

•Fontana Village Campground next to Little Tennessee River (see rate schedule above)

•Cable Cove Campground five miles north of Fontana Village (approx. $8 / night/campsite)

Check-in at Fontana Village:

We will have a CMC table set up in back of the Fontana Village registration counter.

This table will have sign-in sheets for each of the planned hikes (The hikes that people sign up for will be the ones hiked)

Please sign in and make your hike selections after you register.

Our central “Information Center” will be Bruce Bente’s cottage. The cabin number will be posted at the CMC table by the registration counter.

Meals:

Friday:

A number of people are going over earlier on Friday to do some early hiking and to explore the area. We will get together Friday for supper at the Fontana Village Inn restaurant. CMC invites anyone who will be at Fontana by 6 PM to join us.

Meals are available at the Fontana Village restaurant in the Lodge (breakfast $8.95; lunch $7.95, supper entree $13-15). New for 2005: The restaurant is under new management and has upgraded its menu. It also has a full liquor license to serve beer, wine and cocktails.

The Fontana Village restaurant will prepare box trail lunches for $7.95 with advance notice. If you want a box lunch, tell Bruce Bente so he can place an order with the restaurant.

Saturday:

We will make supper reservations at the restaurant in the Lodge for 7 pm Saturday night, so CMCers can eat together and exchange stories about the day’s hikes. (See note above about Friday night supper.)

For a nice Sunday night supper on the way home, the historic Jarrett House in Dillsboro is recommended. Meals are served family-style and the food is good and plentiful. Take US 74 north to the US 23 South exit, go one mile, then turn left at the first traffic light and Jarrett House is immediately to your left.

Hiking:

NOTE: This list is preliminary only and will be revised as plans progress. Check at the CMC table on Friday to learn of any additional changes.

Saturday 10/1 strenuous hike Haw Creek, Tali Gap, Little Fork. Come see the other copper mine, the one on Haw Creek. Many know of it, but few have ever been there. If time permits, we will return via the larger group of mines on Little Fork. Some moderate bushwhacking. Ferry trip across Fontana Lake.

Saturday 10/1 strenuous hike Shuckstack – Lost Cove – Lakeshore Trail loop 13 mls

This hike goes 3.5 miles north on the AT from the trailhead just over Fontana Dam, to the magnificent view of Lake Fontana and the surrounding mountains from the summit of Shuckstack. After Shuckstack, descend on Lost Cove trail and return to cars via Lakeshore Trail.

Saturday 10/1 moderate hike AT from Yellow Creek Gap to Fontana 7.5 mls

Saturday 10/1 Easier hike Twentymile loop trail from Twentymile trailhead 6.5 mls.

Sunday 10/2 10 am at Marina, returning about 4 pm Lance Holland will lead a boat excursion to the head of Hazel Creek and a hike around the abandoned townsite of Proctor and the Proctor Cemetery. Afterwards, the boat will travel to the head of Eagle Creek and will hike around the abandoned Ecoah Branch copper mine. Cost is $10. This excursion was very popular when we did it in 2003. This year there will be a limit of 35 people on the trip (25 in the big boat and 10 on a second smaller boat if needed.)

In addition, Fontana Village has 20 miles of trails around the village for those who want to hike nearby on their own. A trail map will be available at the CMC table next to the registration counter.

Transportation:

The driving time to Fontana Village from Asheville is about 2 hours via I 40 - US 23/74 - US 19/74 - NC 28. It’s all 4-lane divided highway except the last 18 miles of NC 28.

Ferry service across Lake Fontana is available from the Marina, near Fontana Dam. The 20-minute ride across to the hike trailhead will cost about $10-12 per person (round trip), depending on the number of passengers and the time of return.

The Marina opens at 8:00 am, and the last scheduled pickup for return is 3:30pm. However, they will pickup as late as 5:30pm, for an extra charge of $40/boat for overtime. (for example, if the Saturday Hazel Creek hike has 15 people, the round trip, returning at 5:30pm, will cost

$12/person.)

Misc :

For anyone wishing to learn more about the history of the Fontana area, you are invited to look at the following websites:

www.worldisround.com/articles/9485

http://aam.wcu.edu/hogue/index.html

http://aam.wcu.edu/livingston

www.ncroads.com/nc200+/nc288.htm

http://toto.lib.unca.edu/findingaids/photo/austin_brooks/default.htm

http://toto.lib.unca.edu/findingaids/photo/austin_brooks/pages/ab639b.htm