HALF-DAY SUNDAY 1st QUARTER 2008 HIKE SCHEDULE
Hike Ratings - First Letter: Distance, Second Letter: Elevation Gain.
AA |
Over 12 miles | Over 2,000 ft |
A |
9-12 miles | 1,500-2,000 ft. |
B |
6-9 miles | 1,000-1,500 ft. |
C |
Under 6 miles | Under 1,000 ft. |
HALF-DAY No. H0801-500 Jan. 6
Mountains-to-Sea Trail: US 25 to I-26 1:15 PM*
Hike 3.5, Drive 15, Rated C-C
Non-members, call leader, Gerry McNabb, 828-274-0057, gerrymcnabb@charter.net
*Note early start time. A pleasant winter hike through the woods on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, yet still close to town, from US 25 at the Blue Ridge Parkway to I-26. Walk on a CMC-built bridge. Short car shuttle.
HALF-DAY NO. H0801-172 Jan. 13
John Rock Loop 1:00 PM*
Hike 5.7, Drive 72, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, please call leader, Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary2@charter.net
P400 *Note early start time. This moderate loop hike, with good views from the top, starts at the Fish Hatchery parking lot, at the end of the paved portion of FR 475, off US 276. Second meeting place: Fish Hatchery parking lot, at the end of the paved portion of FS 475, off US 276 at 1:40 PM.
HALF-DAY NO H0801-490 Jan. 20
Craven Gap to Folk Art Center 1:15 PM*
Hike 5.4, Drive 11 miles, 750 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, please call Pat Elias, 828-687-1651, patelias@bellsouth.net
*Note early start time, and that the only meeting place is the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway, lower parking lot. A pleasant winter hike along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, with a gradual 1640 ft. descent.
HALF-DAY NO. H0801-485 Jan. 27
Old U.S. 70 and the Railroad 1:00 PM*
Hike 5, Drive 60, 1000 ft ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Gail Lamb, 828-350-0450, galmb46@aol.com
*Note early start time. We will walk up on old U.S. 70, now blocked off from traffic, to Swannanoa Gap, where we will enjoy a view of the valley, the railroad and tunnel, featured in The Road by John Ehle, a book about building the railroad up to Swannanoa Gap. Second meeting place: Parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s in Black Mountain at exit 64 of I-40 at 1:20 PM. Topos: Old Fort, Black Mountain.
HALF-DAY NO. H0801-499 Feb. 3
French Broad River Greenway 1:30 PM
Hike 4, Drive 10, Rated C-C
Paula Robbins, 828-281-3253, paularww@bellsouth.net
Asheville’s Greenway System now provides several opportunities for city walking. The leader, a former member of the Greenway Commission, will describe plans for extending this riverfront trail and other existing and planned greenways within the City.
HALF-DAY NO. H0801-278 Feb. 10
Kitsuma Peak 12:30 PM*
Hike 6, Drive 60, 2000 feet ascent, Rated B-A
Nonmembers, call leader, Renate Rikkers, 828-298-9988, rerikkers@aol.com
*Note early start time. Meet at Westgate to form carpools, and meet hike leader at parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s in Black Mountain off exit 64 of I-40 at 12:50 PM. This trail from the Old Fort picnic ground to Kitsuma Peak follows Youngs Ridge and is a steady and demanding climb with an elevation gain of 2000 ft. before descending to Ridgecrest - a good winter hike to keep warm! Enjoy long range views of Greybeard, Green Knob and the Mt. Mitchell region with the Swannanoa River Valley below. Car spotting at Ridgecrest for return shuttle.
HALF-DAY NO. H0801-591 Feb. 17
Bent Creek Loop #10 1:00 PM*
Hike 5, Drive 20, 800 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Marcia Bromberg, 828-505-0471, mwbromberg@yahoo.com
P400 *Note early start time. A pleasant winter walk along lesser-hiked trails and roads in Bent Creek, including Sidehill Connector, Lower Sidehill Trail, South Ridge Road, Chestnut Cove and Explorer.
HALF-DAY NO. H0801-225 Feb. 24
Ingles Field Gap via Boyd Branch and Little Hickory Top Trails 1:00 PM*
Hike 6, Drive 20, Rated B-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Joe Burchfield, 828-398-8413, burchfield@niu.edu
P400 *Note early start time. A moderate loop hike up to Stradley Mountain following several of the trails in the Bent Creek Experimental Forest. Second meeting place: Ingles parking lot across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 south of I-26 at 1:20 PM.
HALF-DAY NO. H0801-168 March 2
Pink Beds 1:00 PM*
Hike 5, Drive 80, 200 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Lucy Prim, 828-693-6580, lucette32@mchsi.com
P400 *Note early start time. Meet at Westgate to form carpools, and meet hike leader at Pisgah Ranger Station at 1:35 PM. This is an easy loop hike with little elevation change, off US 276, not far from the Cradle of Forestry.
HALF-DAY No. H0801-064 March 9
Fletcher Creek via Spencer Branch Trail 1:00 PM*
Hike 6, Drive 50, Rated B-C
Nonmembers, please call leader, Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703
P400 *Meet at Westgate at 1:00 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at pull-out just before Mills River Recreation Area at 1:30 PM. From the Trace Ridge Trailhead, we will hike in a moderate loop along the Big Creek Trail, past the Hendersonville Reservoir, and along the Spencer Branch, Middle Fork and Fletcher Creek Trails. There will be a few stream crossings.
HALF-DAY NO. H0801-587 March 16
Catawba Falls 1:00 PM*
Hike 4, Drive 40, 600 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Don Walton, 828-654-9904, donwalton@bellsouth.net
*Note early start time. Please call Don Walton in advance for reservations. This hike is the second for the CMC in at least 20 years, and will be conducted jointly by CMC and the Foothills Conservancy. The Foothills Conservancy (www.foothillsconservancy.org) has recently purchased a 23-acre property with loan funds to secure public access to the trail, and the USFS is working to acquire the property and add it to Pisgah National Forest. Since the 1870s when Rufus Morgan photographed the Catawba Falls, people have hiked along the Catawba River to view these spectacular waterfalls. After years of being off-limits, the falls are now on their way to becoming open to the public. The first falls is a moderate hike; however, the upper falls will be an optional hike because it is very difficult and should not be undertaken lightly. Second meeting place: Parking lot adjacent to McDonald's at Exit 73 (Old Fort) off I-40 at 1:30 PM. Topo: Black Mountain.
HALF-DAY NO. H0801-170 March 23
Butter Gap Trail to Picklesheimer Fields 1:00 PM*
Hike 5, Drive 72, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Laura Stallard, 828-697-1579
P400 *Note early start time. Meet at Westgate at 1:00 PM to form carpools and meet hike leader at the Fish Hatchery parking lot, at the end of the paved portion of FS 475, off US 276 at 1:40 PM. From the Fish Hatchery parking lot, we will follow the Cat Gap Trail to its junction with the Butter Gap Trail for this in-and-out hike along Grogan Creek.
HALF-DAY NO. H0801-319 March 30
Holmes Educational Forest 1:00 PM*
Hike 5, Drive 75, 500-ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Rusty Breeding, 828-692-0359, bree_lw@planetusa.net
*Note early start time. Meet at Westgate at 1:00 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at the Pisgah Forest Bi-Lo side parking lot at 1:30 PM. A good early spring hike with "talking trees" and a Forest Demonstration Trail explaining good forestry practices as well as some early wildflowers
HALF-DAY No. H0801-344 April 6
Pulliam Creek in the Green River Game Lands 12:30 PM*
Hike 6.5, Drive 60, 1000 ft ascent., Rated B-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, belston@cytechusa.com
*Note early start time. Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools and meet hike leader at NW corner of parking lot of Cracker Barrel off Exit 53 of I-26 at 1:00 PM. This pretty in-and-out hike goes along Pulliam Creek for part of the way, and our break might include viewing kayakers on the Green River and seeing trillium and other early spring wildflowers. Join leader for dinner at Cracker Barrel after the hike.