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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 No. A0503-472 Aug. 28 Sam Knob – Little Sam Loop 8:00 AM* Hike 10, Drive 75, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Tom Bindrim & Joan Lemire, 828-273-3880 SB6K, P400. Everyone has been to Sam Knob. How many of you have been to Little Sam Knob? Today we do both, using some MST, Little Sam and Sam Knob trails, and some off-trail. Hopefully great scenery. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leaders at Cold Mtn. O/L (BRP M.P. 412) at 8:40 AM. Topo: Sam Knob; also USFS Shining Rock & Middle Prong Wildernesses map and Nat’l. Geographic PRD 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. A0503-403 Aug. 21 Dupont Forest: Fawn Lake P.L. #5 12:30 PM* Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, belston@cytechusa.com Hike 6, Drive 90, Rated B-C *Note early start time. A moderate loop hike covering portions of six different trails and featuring Reasonover Creek. There is one “boots-off” creek crossing--bring suitable footwear and a towel. *Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at side parking lot of Pisgah Forest Bi-Lo at 1:00 PM.

HALF-DAY No. A0503-465 Aug. 28 Sam Knob Loop 1:30 PM Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@cytechusa.com Hike 5-6, Drive 70, Rated C-C SB6K, P400 This will be a loop hike from the Black Balsam parking lot. The route will include Sam Knob (6040’) and hiking in beautiful high-altitude open meadows. Possible blueberry sightings.

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. W0503-476 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. A0503-193 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

Post Hike Report: WOW! What a day! Nine hikers left Asheville at 8:30 am in weather which would make a duck happy! We got on the trail at Bear Pen Gap at 10:00 am with all rain gear in place. It rained about 90% of the day with most of the rain being of the lighter verity with a couple of heavier squalls that may us thankful for the lighter rain. Thanks to Becky & Ruth I can report on the numerous flowers seen which included: Applachian Twayblade, Wood Aster, Red Bee Balm, White Bee Balm, Starry Campion,Cone flower, Heal all, Joe Pye Weed, Pale Jewel weed(orange & yellow), Fly Poison, Fire pink, Indian Pipe, Whorled Loostrife, Yarrow, Mountain Mint, Phlox, Hedge Nettle, Daisy Goldenrod,St. John’s Wort, White snakeroot, Turtlehead, Dodder, Bush honeysuckle, Foxglove, Rosebay Rhododendrun, Bindweek, Turk’s Cap Lily, Alumroot, White & red clover, Oxalis, Bluet, Purple bluet, Housonia purpurea, Cow Wheat, Tick-seed Sunflower, Black-eyed Susan, Panicled Hawkweek, Wild Hydrangea, Elderberry, Filmy Angelica, Cllub-spur Orchid, False Hellebore, Ramps, Wood Nettle & Southern Harebell, Whew, thanks to Ruth & Becky. The large field of Phlox was quite impressive. Well, I have to report that this hike leader has now joined the “ELITE” group of hike leaders that have either lost their way, taken the wrong turn or missed a turn on the trail. In mistaking a turn on the MST in the wilderness area I just kept on going straight, straight for 1 & ½ miles. I won’t attempt to describe the looks I got when we had to turn around (remember it was raining all day) and go back to the turnoff to Mt Hardy. Four of the hikers, led by Tom S. took the trail to the top of Mt Hardy and the five of us proceeded to the end of the hike. The hike ended up with 12.2 miles plus another mile for those that went to the top of Mt Hardy.

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

Post Hike Report: The morning dawned dreary and foggy. After the daylong drizzle of the previous Sunday hike, only 8 showed up for this one. But by 10:00 the sun was coming out, and this day became about the best hiking day we could remember Important, Tom(it won't rain) was leading the hike. It was a fabulous day and a great hike: some of the most beautiful sections of the MST, from the Wagon Road Gap Overlook across Green Knob, Chestnut Mtn, then on down to the Big East Fork, where we had lunch beside that beautiful stream. Then down, always pausing to see the cataracts created by the high water -- just great. A super hike! For the record, it's about 9 plus miles, not 11. Sorry a lot of you woke up and saw the fog and went back to sleep. You missed a class hike.

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.

Post Hike Report: Twelve hikers arrived for a hike to Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain. However, the NOAA predicted a 50% chance of severe thunder showers, so all agreed to a change in plans to avoid being caught on top of an open bald in a storm. Instead we did a repeat of Ken and Carol Deal’s July 17 hike of the MST section from Elk Pasture Gap to Big Ridge Overlook, parking at the overlook in the middle so that we were never too far from the cars. The rain held off, but black clouds were forming as we drove off. That section is a very pleasant one, with lots of wild flowers, including the last of the Turk’s Cap lilies, white bee balm, sunflowers, rattlesnake plantain, Indian pipes, and very early goldenrod. The in-and-out distance for each half totaled 4.4 miles.

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.

CMC FONTANA 2005 HIKING WEEKEND

Rev. 2 rev. 8-19-05

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. As of 8/19, 25 people have made reservations to attend.

Details of the trip are:

Lodging:

Make your reservations directly with Fontana Village (1-800-849-2258), and ask for the CMC discounted rate.

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)

•Renovated 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. Leader: Dave Wetmore.

Come see the other copper mine, the one off 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 moderate hike AT from Yellow Creek Gap to Fontana Leader: Bruce Bente.

7.5 mls, 800 ft. ascent, 2000 ft. descent. Climb Yellow Creek Mtn. and down the ridge towards Fontana Lake. Car shuttle.

Saturday or Sunday 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 Easier hike Twentymile loop trail from Twentymile trailhead 6.5 mls.

Sunday 10/2 10 am at Marina, returning about 4 pm A local historian 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 $10-15 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 pick up as late as 5:30pm, for an extra charge of $40/boat for overtime.

Misc :

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

www.fontanavillage.com

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/pages/ab639b.htm

www.appalachianhistory.com

www.trails.com/advancedfind.asp?keyword=fontana%20village&state=nc