Wednesday hikes submitted by Charlie Ferguson 828-333-5165, ccf108@gmail.com and Ann Gleason 828-859-9387, gleason.ann@gmail.com . Driving distance is round-trip from Asheville. All Wednesday hikes assemble at Westgate Shopping Center parking lot near CVS (Exit 3B off I-240) UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. Some hikes will have second meeting places as described in hike listings. Please contact the hike leader if you are not sure of the meeting location. Meeting times vary.

WEDNESDAY NO W0801-439 Apr. 2
Pounding Mill Loop *8:00 AM
Hike 8, Drive 55, 950 ft. ascent, Rated B-C
Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703
P400 *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Boyleston Baptist Church on NC 280 at 8:30 AM. This hike takes the South Mills River Trail to the Pounding Mill Trail and on to Squirrel Gap Trail. We'll continue onto Pea Gap and then return on the Bradley Creek Trail. Topo: Pisgah Forest; also, Nat'l. Geo. PRD map #780

WEDNESDAY NO. W0802-200 April 9
Jones Gap State Park – Middle Saluda River *8:30 AM
Hike 9, Drive 96, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, belston@cytechusa.com
*Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form car pools, and meet hike leader at NE corner of Cracker Barrel parking lot at Exit 53 of I-26 at 9:00 AM. An in-out hike. Follows the Jones Gap trail (part of the Foothills Trail) along the Middle Saluda River most of the way with lunch at a nice double waterfall. Elevation change is a very gradual 1200 feet. Remember SC Jones Gap State Park is a fee area with $2 per person for hiking. Topo: Standingstone Mtn.; also Mountain Bridge Wilderness trail map

WEDNESDAY NO. W0802-104 Apr. 16
Wolfe Ford, High Falls & Rigby Cutoff 9:00 AM
Hike 7.3, Drive 60, 900 ft. ascent, Rated A-C
Charlie Ferguson, 828-333-5165, ccf108@gmail.com
P400 From the gauging station on the South Mills River, we'll hike this mostly level trail to High Falls, then cross the footbridge at Wolfe Ford. We'll take the Rigby Cutoff (named for CMC hiker Ed Rigby) near Squirrel Gap to return to the trailhead. Two small stream crossings. Second Meeting Place: Pisgah Ranger Station at 9:35 AM. Topo: Pisgah Forest; also Nat'l. Geo. PRD map #780

Scouting Report:  We scouted most of this hike on Saturday.  We tried to find a way (easy bushwhack) up Soapstone Ridge and down to the regular trail, to make the hike a complete loop.  This required wading the South Mills River which was about 12 inches deep.  Thats probably one more annoying stream crossing too much, so I probably won't take that route on Wednesday.

The first stream crossing is about 10 feet wide and about 8 inches deep.  The bottom is fairly easy to walk - mostly sand and gravel with a few larger rocks.  It will require taking our shoes off, wet boots or water shoes.  The second crossing is about 6 feet, with possibly two steps in 2 inch deep water.  Of course poles are recommended for most people.

A lot of this hike is on unmarked/ unmaintained trails.  A few narrow rough places.  There are trees down across the trail in places but nothing that I remember as very difficult to manage.

WEDNESDAY NO. W0802-033 April 23
Ramsey Cascades 8:30 AM
Hike 8, Drive 165, 2100 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA
Ashok Kudva, 828-698-7119, ashok.kudva@mchsi.com
900M The drive and effort are a small price to pay for the reward of one of the classic hikes in the Smokies. We will pass through a grove of old-growth tulip poplars on our way to sixty-foot high Ramsey Cascades, located in a rich forest. Showy Orchis, Dutchman’s Breeches, Trillium and other wildflowers will be in bloom. Optional post hike dinner, probably at Bear Creek Grille. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck Stop at exit 24 off I-40 at 9:00AM, but call the leader first. Topo: Mt. Guyot; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map #229

WEDNESDAY NO. W0802-607 April 30
Cat Gap Figure Eight Loop 8:00 AM
Hike 10, Drive 72, 2370 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Tom Bindrim & Joan Lemire, 828-273-3880
P400 *Meet at Westgate at 8:00AM to form carpools, and meet leaders at the Pisgah Fish Hatchery at 8:45 AM. This new CMC hike will be a combo of old favorites. Starting at the Pisgah Fish Hatchery, we'll do a figure-8 using the Cat Gap Loop, interrupted by a trip over Chestnut Knob and a trip around the John Rock Loop. All on trail, moderately paced, expect later return. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat'l. Geo. PRD map #780

WEDNESDAY NO. W0802-060 May 7
Pilot Mtn. – Farlow Gap 8:30 AM
Hike 8, Drive 80, 1900 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Ruth Hartzler, 828-251-0886, ruthmtn@charter.net
P400 This hike is timed for what we hope will be the bloom of rare pink-shell azaleas and trout lilies. It starts with a steep climb to the summit of Pilot Mtn., then down to Deep Gap and a short climb over Sassafras Knob. It's nearly all downhill or level as we continue to Farlow Gap with its trout lily flower display. We'll return on a pleasant seldom-used graveled forest road. There will be several stops for photography along the way. Second meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station at 9:10 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat'l. Geo. PRD map #780

WEDNESDAY NO. W0802-008 May 14
Bee Tree Gap to Tanbark Tunnel *9:00 AM
Hike 6.2, Drive 30, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated C-B
Brenda Worley, 828-684-8656, clworley@bellsouth.net
A moderate hike over Lane Pinnacle with interesting rock formations. Highlights include beautiful wildflowers and mountain views. There are several steep but short ups and downs and a long, well-graded descent. Short car shuttle. *Only meeting place: lower parking lot of Folk Art Center on BRP.

WEDNESDAY NO. W0802-447 May 21
MST: Mt. Pisgah to Beaver Dam Overlook 9:00 AM
Hike 8.5, Drive 45, 1700 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Joe Burchfield, 828-298-8413, Burchfield@niu.edu
P400 This moderate hike will start with a round trip up and down Mt. Pisgah, and will then follow the MST northbound to Beaver Dam Overlook. Expect good views along the route. Short car shuttle. Second meeting place: BRP French Broad overlook at 9:10 AM. Topos: Cruso, Dunsmore Mtn.; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780 & MST Profiles, pg. 53-55

WEDNESDAY NO. W0802-208 May 28
Big Creek-Laurel Mtn. loop *8:20 AM
Hike 7.5, Drive 44, 2400 ft. ascent, rated B-AA
Larry Ballard, 828-891-4318, leballard@cytechcis.net
P400 From the Mt. Pisgah trail parking area, follow the parkway north around the Buck Spring tunnel to Big Creek trailhead (about 1/4 mile). Follow Big Creek trail down to Big Creek. At this point, an unnamed trail leads up to Laurel Mtn. trail at Good Enough Gap (no bushwhacking on this trail). Follow the Laurel Mtn. trail back to the parking area. A possibility of a side trip to a big waterfall if the group is willing. *Meet at Westgate at 8:20 AM to form carpools and proceed on the parkway to the Mt. Pisgah parking area. Leader will be at Pisgah ranger station at 8:30 AM. Final meeting place: Mt. Pisgah trail parking area at 9:00 AM. Topo: Dunsmore Mt.; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

Scout Report:  This hike will be lead by Greg Goodman.  Greg and I scouted the hike today, Friday May 23.  The weather was great.  Lots of spring flowers.  The descent along the Big Creek Trail down Little Pisgah Ridge was a little steep and part of the climb back up was quite steep (see the profile ).  The hike will be lead at a moderate pace so everyone should be able to handle the steepness.  Tha last mile had lots of roots and was pretty rocky, although it was beautiful.  At the bottom we hiked a mile down Big Creek which had about 3 tricky water crossings.  That will be an optional part of the hike, adding about two miles - bring poles for the rock hop crossings.  The basic loop as described above is 5.8 miles.  Lunch will be along Big Creek someplace.  That's the Big Creek valley behind Greg.  Charlie

 

WEDNESDAY NO. W0802-592 June 4
ALT – Butter Gap - Long Branch Loop *8:30 AM
Hike 10.5, Drive 80, 1950 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Stu English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@citcom.net
P400 *Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at the side parking lot of the Pisgah Forest Bi-Lo at 9:00 AM. This new CMC hike will start at Gloucester Gap and follow the Art Loeb Trail over Rich Mtn. to Butter Gap. At the gap, we'll turn downhill onto the Butter Gap Trail, then the Long Branch Trail and Cemetery Loop past the McCall Cemetery. There will be a short side trip to a beautiful, but rarely visited waterfall. We'll finish with a short road walk back to the trailhead. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat'l. Geo. PRD map #780

WEDNESDAY NO. W0802-541 June 11
Brushy Ridge Trail to Henson Waterfall 8:00 AM
Hike 4.2, Drive 150, 1425 ft. ascent, Rated C-B
Don Walton, 828-654-9904, donwalton@bellsouth.net
This hike goes down into Linville Gorge, including Huckleberry Rock overlook, Henson Falls and a nice view of the Linville River. Linville Gorge Wilderness area, limit 10, so call leader for reservation. Second Meeting Place: Parking lot adjacent to McDonald's at exit 64 of I-40 at 8:20 AM. Topo: Linville Falls; also PNF Linville Gorge Wilderness map.

WEDNESDAY NO. W0802-566 June 18
The Roans *8:30AM
Hike 8, Drive 130, 1000 ft. ascent, rated B-C
Adrian Lotherington, 828-484-9132, jaloth@charter.net
SB6K *ONLY MEETING PLACE: Rose's car park (opposite McDonald’s) exit 19B off I-26, in Weaverville. This in-and-out hike features superb views. From Carver's Gap we go over Jane Bald and Round Bald, to Grassy Ridge Bald. These balds are rare and beautiful ecosystems. The mountain ranges from 5500 ft at Carver's Gap to 6285 ft at Roan High Knob. Hopefully we will hit the time when we will walk among the magnificent mounds of Rhododendrons. If time allows we will, at the end of the hike, drive to the gardens and walk ½ mile to see the view from Roan High Bluff (a small fee to enter the garden area).

WEDNESDAY NO. NO. W0802-609 June 25
Rich Mtn., Round Top Ridge Trail and AT 8:00 AM
Hike 12, Drive 70, 2700 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary2@charter.net
From Tanyard Gap we will go north on the AT to the beautiful Rich Mountain views, then descend to Hot Springs via Round Top Ridge Trail, and return on the Pump Gap Trail and AT to Tanyard Gap. Topo: Hot Springs; also Appalachian Ranger District “Hiking trails in the Hot Springs area” map

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Saturday National Trails Day hikes:

Celebrate National Trails Day by hiking in the Little Cataloochee Valley. Choose from an easy half-day hike or a moderate hike. Both hikes are listed with the all day Sunday and Saturday hikes.

SATURDAY ALL-DAY NO. A0802-273 June 7
Boogerman Trail *9:00 AM
(moderate hike)
Hike 8, Drive 90, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Charlie Ferguson, 828-333-5165, ccf108@gmail.com
900M *Note later start time. A lush forest with many wildflowers, giant old-growth tulip trees and remnants of pioneer life make this a favorite loop hike in the Cataloochee area of the Smokies. If we’re lucky, we may spot some of the elk that have been introduced into this valley. Second meeting place: Pilot truck stop at Exit 24 off I-40 at 9:30 AM. Topos: Cove Creek Gap, Dellwood; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map #229

SATURDAY HALF-DAY NO. H0802-557 June 7
Little Cataloochee Church 9:00 AM
(easy hike)
Hike 5 miles, Drive 100, Rated C-C
New hikers please contact leader: Marcia Bromberg, 828-505-0471, mwbromberg@yahoo.com
900M *Note later start time. Hike to the Little Cataloochee Church and cemetery on a good jeep road, with a short diversion to the Hannah Cemetery. Residents in this vibrant Little Cataloochee community had to leave when the area became the Great Smoky Mountains Nat’l. Park. After the hike, those who wish can drive to the Big Cataloochee valley and see the church, school and other structures. Second meeting place: Pilot truck stop at Exit 24 off I-40 at 9:30 AM. Topo: Cove Creek Gap; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map #229