Wednesday hikes submitted by Charlie Ferguson, ccf108@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.

WEDNESDAY NO W0703-242 July 4
Sam Knob – Devils Courthouse Loop 8:30 AM*
Hike 9, Drive 75, 800 ft. ascent, Rated A-B
Stuart English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@citcom.net
SB6K, P400 This hike in the cool high elevations is perfect for a hot summer day. From FS 816 we will ascend Sam Knob (6040 ft.) with its 360 degree views, then hike though high meadows on the Flat Laurel and Little Sam Trails and the MST via Devils Courthouse (with its great views). We then return via the MST across FS 816 and up to the summit of Black Balsam (6214 ft.), then down a trail built last year by a crew of Cherokee Indians. *Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at BRP Cold Mtn. overlook at 9:05 AM. Topo: Sam Knob; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

WEDNESDAY NO W0703-529 July 11
Fletcher Fields & Spencer Branch Trail 8:00 AM*
Hike 8, Drive 60, 900 ft. ascent, Rated B-C
Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703,
P400 This will be a woods hike, crossing small creeks, mostly using log bridges. It will cover Fletcher Creek and Spencer Branch trails, with an in-and-out on the Middle Fork trail, and returning on the Spencer Branch trail past the Hendersonville Reservoir to Trace Ridge trailhead. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at pull-out just before Mills River Recreation Area at 8:30 AM.

WEDNESDAY NO W0703-113 July 18
Cold Mountain from Camp Daniel Boone 8:00 AM
Hike 10.4, Drive 65, 3400 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary2@charter.net
SB6K, P400. Here is your chance to climb the mountain immortalized by Charles Frazier, as well as to enjoy outstanding views if the weather permits. From Camp Daniel Boone we will ascend 2500 ft. to the summit at 6030 ft., returning by the same route. Strenuous, so you should be in good shape. Wilderness area, limit 10, so call leader for reservation. Second Meeting Place: trailhead above Camp Daniel Boone Topos: Waynesville, Cruso; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

WEDNESDAY NO W0703-569 July 25
Cold Spring Knob 8:00 AM
Hike 11, Drive 65, 2770 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Dave Wetmore, 828-884-7296, dwetmore@citcom.net
This hike is an interesting mix of old logging roads, cross-country, and surveyor's lines. We will start near Sunburst Campground and climb to Double Spring Gap along old roads, the abandoned Boomer Inn Branch trail and some short but steep off-trail climbs. From Double Spring Gap we'll take a surveyor's cut up the ridgeline to the summit of Cold Spring Knob. The return will be on old but open logging roads. This new hike is a chance to explore the rarely-visited Lickstone Ridge. Topos: Sam Knob, Waynesville; also Nat’l Geo. PRD map

WEDNESDAY NO W0703-385 Aug. 1
Upper Little East Fork - Fork Mt. Slow Loop phone leader
Hike 11-12, Drive 100, 2100 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Tom Bindrim, 828-273-3880, tjbindire@yahoo.com
P400 A moderately-paced Wilderness Area loop with upper elevation scenery, water and a workout. Expect a late return, bring extra food. This is a wilderness area limited to ten people. Call leaders for reservations, times and meeting particulars. Topo: Sam Knob & Shining Rock

WEDNESDAY NO. W0703-459 Aug. 8
NC 128 to Greybeard overlook 8:30 AM
Hike 8.9, Drive 80, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@bellsouth.net
We head up into old growth balsam - spruce forests south of Mt Mitchell for a scenic hike with dramatic views and several rocky climbs. Possible blueberry sightings. Hikers wishing a shorter trek can stop after 6.4 miles at Glassmine Falls overlook, if desired. Car shuttle. Second meeting place: Craven Gap on BRP at 8:45 AM. Topos: Mt. Mitchell, Montreat; also MST Profiles, pg. 66-69

WEDNESDAY NO W0703-475 Aug. 15
Hump Mountain/Yellow Mountain Area 8:30 AM*
Hike 9, Drive 140, 2400 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA
Adrian Lotherington, 828-484-9132, jaloth@charter.net
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 we will have lunch on a grassy bald at 5587 ft. We will 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 worthwhile. *ONLY MEETING PLACE: Rose's car park, across from McDonalds at the US 25/70 Weaverville exit #19 at 8:30AM. Topos: Carvers Gap, White Rocks Mtn.

WEDNESDAY NO W0703-247 Aug. 22
Ivestor Gap Blueberry Hike 8:00 AM*
Hike 7, Drive 76, Rated B-C
Ken & Carol Deal, 828-281-4530, cnkdeal@charter.net
P400 Our traditional hike to the picking fields of Grassy Cove Top in the Shining Rock *Wilderness. Limit 10 hikers, call leaders for reservation. Topos: Sam Knob, Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

WEDNESDAY NO W0703-570 Aug. 29
Dupont Forest – Corn Mill Shoals P.L. #2 9:00 AM*
Hike 7, Drive 80, 140 ft. ascent, Rated C-B
Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, belston@cytechusa.com
Several trails will take us to the top of the rushing waters of Bridal Veil Falls for lunch, and a close up view and walk behind the falls, as seen in the movie The Last of the Mohicans. Start at Corn Mill Shoals Road parking lot and we'll be on Burnt Mountain Trail, Little River Trail and Bridal Veil Falls Trail. *Meet at Westgate at 9:00 AM to form carpools, and meet hike leader at Hooker Falls parking lot in Dupont Forest at 9:45AM. Topo: Standingstone Mtn.; also DuPont Forest trail map

WEDNESDAY NO W0703-035 Sept. 5
Looking Glass Rock 9:00 AM
Hike 6, Drive 70, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated C-A
Laura Stallard, 828-697-1579, nlstal345@bellsouth.net
P400 A moderately difficult well-graded trail leads to the top of this interesting pluton. There are excellent viewpoints from the overlook at the end of the trail just beyond the summit. From the top of Looking Glass, we will identify the location of a proposed USFS timber sale in the vicinity of Case Camp Ridge. The proposed sale involves timber on 165 acres viewable from Looking Glass. Second Meeting Place: Pisgah Ranger Station on US276 at 9:30 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

WEDNESDAY NO W0703-571 Sep. 12
Smokemont Ramble 9:00 AM*
Hike 9, Drive 108, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Ashok Kudva, 828-698-7119, ashok.kudva@mchsi.com
900M *Note later start time. This new CMC hike from a popular GSMNP campground includes an in-and-out stroll along the Bradley Fork Trail and a gradual ascent and descent on the Smokemont Loop Trail. We will cross the Bradley Fork on a long and narrow split log bridge with a steel cable hand rail to complete the loop over Richland Mountain. Second Meeting Place: Maggie Valley Post Office at 9:30 AM, but contact leader beforehand. Topo: Smokemont; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map

WEDNESDAY NO W0703-572 Sep. 19
Mt. LeConte via Alum Cave Trail 8:00 AM
Hike 10, Drive 138, 3000 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Ruben Marshall, 828-299-1497, cmcrm08@yahoo.com
SB6K, 900M We will hike in the Smokies from the Alum Cave trailhead and return by the same route. There are some wonderful views of the Western Smokies on the way up and at the top. This route is the shortest, fastest way to get to Mt. LeConte and back - but strenuous because of the climbing. Second Meeting Place: back of Maggie Valley Post office parking lot at 8:35 AM. Topo: Mount Le Conte; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map

WEDNESDAY NO W0703-120 Sep. 26
Charlies Bunion, Grassy Branch to Kephart Prong 8:00 AM
Hike 10-11, Drive 140, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Danny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, danny@hikertohiker.com
900M An exciting adventure through the heart of the Smokies from Newfound Gap to Charlies Bunion on the A.T., then down the Dry Sluice Gap to Grassy Branch Trail, past the Kephart Shelter, and then paralleling a creek on Kephart Prong Trail to U.S. 441. This hike is even more exciting for those trying to log some of those hard-to-get Smokies 900 miles. Beautiful views, lovely stream and late summer flowers. Second Meeting Place: back of Maggie Valley Post Office parking lot at 8:35 AM, but phone leader beforehand. Topos: Clingman’s Dome, Mt. LeConte, Smokemont; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map

Note: there are two hikes on October 3 - pick one.

WEDNESDAY NO W0704-408 Oct. 3
Wolf Ford Loop 8:00 AM*
Hike 9, Drive 80, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703,
P400 Start at the gauging station and hike the South Mills River trail to Wolf Ford, Squirrel Gap, Horse Cove and to FS 5018, then along Funnel Top Ridge, left onto Soapstone Ridge and back to cars. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Ranger Station at 8:30 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

WEDNESDAY NO. W0704-585 Oct. 3
Chestnut Mtn., Searcy Creek Loop 8:00 AM*
Hike 6-7, Drive 75, 800 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Larry Ballard, 828-891-4318, leballard@cytechcis.net
P400 On this new and moderate hike, we’ll hike up FS 5095 from FS 475 to near the summit of Chestnut Mtn., then do a short, steep but easy bushwhack in open woods down to the Butter Gap Trail. We’ll follow this trail north, then west onto the Long Branch Trail and return on FS 5095. Along the way we’ll stop at a great overlook. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Ranger Station at 8:35 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780