All-day hikes submitted by Bruce Bente 828-692-0116, bbente@bellsouth.net. Driving distance is round-trip from Asheville. All Saturday and Sunday 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.

ALL DAY No. A0804-355 Oct. 5
AT: Devil Fork Gap to Carmen 8:00 AM
Hike 11, Drive 95, 1900 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Lenny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, lsberns@worldnet.att.net
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the signing of the National Scenic Trails Act (which designated the A.T. as the first National Scenic Trail) with a hike along nine of the most scenic miles on the A.T. It features two shelters, including Jerry’s Cabin, a historic gravesite and beautiful views from atop Big Butt. We then go down Fork Ridge trail to Carmen. Car shuttle. Topos: Flag Pond, Greystone; also Nat’l. Geo. French Broad & Nolichucky Rivers map #782

ALL DAY No. A0804-619 Oct. 5
Isom Mine, Cattail Creek *8:00 AM
(moderate)
Hike 9, Drive 90, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-B
Jake Blood, 828-319-9559, thebloods@hotmail.com and
John Whitehouse, 828-682-3217, johnwhitehouse@verizon.net
This new CMC loop hike begins and ends at the cabin of one of the hike leaders on the west side of the Black Mtn. range. It ascends to 5700 ft. on an old logging railroad right-of-way. Lunch at an abandoned mica mine with spectacular views of the Blacks and the upper Cane River valley. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leaders at the Cattail Community Center on Cattail Creek Rd. 2.2 miles from NC 197 at 9:00 AM. Topo: Mt. Mitchell; also Nat’l. Geo. Linville Gorge Mount Mitchell map #779

ALL DAY No. A0804-620 Oct. 12
Devil’s Courthouse – Pilot Mtn. *8:30 AM
Hike 8.5,Drive 75, 2400 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Ashok Kudva, 828-698-7119, ashok.kudva@mchsi.com
P400 *Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at BRP Cold Mtn. Overlook at 9:10 AM. Have you ever admired the fabulous views of Pilot Mtn. from Devil’s Courthouse and the Chestnut Bald and Silvermine Bald overlooks, and wished you could be there? From Devil’s Courthouse we will follow the MST, and then descend steeply on the roller coaster ALT to Farlow Gap for lunch at Bruce Rock before proceeding to a snack stop on top of Pilot Mtn. with its 360° mountain vista. We’ll return to the BRP crossing where a short car shuttle will reunite us with our cars. Topos: Sam Knob, Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

SATURDAY No. A0804-578 Oct. 18
Flat Laurel Creek, Little Sam Knob, MST Loop *10:00 AM
Hike 7.5, Drive 80, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Marcia Bromberg, 828-505-0471, mwbromberg@yahoo.com
P400 *This will be the first of our Saturday “3/4-day” hikes. These hikes will be scheduled to begin in late Saturday mornings and will be moderate hikes of about 7 miles done at a moderate pace. These hikes are intended to be a little longer than a half-day hike and a bit shorter than the usual all-day hikes. This is a pleasant loop trail with views of Big Sam Knob, Fork Ridge and Flat Laurel Creek. We’ll begin on the Flat Laurel Creek Trail, which ascends gradually until we are hiking next to the creek, where we will stop for lunch. Little Sam Knob Trail, with views of Little Sam Knob and Sam Knob, connects to the MST. A one-mile side trip to Devils Courthouse will offer good views before we return on the MST to our cars. Second meeting place: BRP Cold Mtn. Overlook at 10:40 AM.

ALL DAY No. A0804-621 Oct. 19
Linville Progressive 8:00 AM
Hike 8.3, Drive 140, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Danny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, danny@hikertohiker.com
We’ll hike the easy trails of Linville Falls to see the falls and Gorge from five spectacular perspectives. After driving on dirt roads on the east side of Linville Gorge, we’ll go up Table Rock Mountain with its fantastic views and then The Chimneys, a set of rocky columns and crevasses. If we still have time and energy, we’ll also climb Hawksbill for an additional 1.4 miles. Optional dinner on the way back. Wilderness area hike, limited to 10 people - call leader for reservations. Second meeting place: Parking lot adjacent to McDonalds at Exit 64 of I-40 at 8:20 AM. Topo: Linville Falls; also Nat’l. Geo. Mt. Mitchell Linville Gorge map #779

SATURDAY No. A0804-447 Oct. 25
MST: Mt. Pisgah to Beaver Dam Overlook *9:00 AM
Hike 8.5, Drive 45, 1700 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Victoria Tripp, 828-348-4505, torrose@gmail.com
P400 *Note later start time. 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 and bright leaf colors 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

ALL DAY No. A0804-622 Oct. 26
Cold Mtn. via Crawford Creek 8:00 AM
Hike 10.7, Drive 65, 3100 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Dave Wetmore, 828-884-7296, dwetmore@citcom.net
SB6K The Club has received permission to have a hike on private property north of Crawford Creek. This is the easy way to the summit of Cold Mountain. We will follow old roads to Deep Gap and take the Forest Service trail to the summit. This route is the one the designers of the Art Loeb trail had hoped to use. This is a Wilderness area with a limit of 10 hikers, so please reserve a spot by contacting the leader. Note that we have permission to cross this property for only this one hike. Topo: Cruso

ALL DAY No. A0804-063 Nov. 2
Big East Fork, Art Loeb Trail, Shining Creek Loop 8:00 AM
(strenuous)
Hike 13, Drive 70, 2800 ft. ascent, Rated AA-AA
Tom Sanders, 252-252-6327, tomary.avl@gmail.com
P400 A beautiful but strenuous hike (the leader’s favorite) with three of WNC’s most beautiful streams. Up Big East Fork, then Grassy Cove Ridge, and the Art Loeb Trail to Shining Rock Gap, with great views, and then down Shining Creek. Two stream crossings that may have to be waded. Wilderness area, limit 10, so reserve by calling or emailing leader. Second meeting place: Big East parking area on US 276, 3 miles north of BRP at 8:45 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

ALL DAY No. A0804-444 Nov. 2
Avery Creek Loop 8:00 AM*
(moderate)
Hike 10, Drive 80 ,1700 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Stuart English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@citcom.net
P400 A nice hike featuring waterfalls, beaver dams, and maybe some late fall leaf color. We’ll first climb to Buckhorn Gap via Twin Falls, then follow the Black Mtn. Trail to Club Gap, with our return downhill on the Avery Creek Trail. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Ranger Station on US 276 at 8:35 AM. Topos: Pisgah Forest, Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

Scout Report: We scouted this hike on October 3 on a beautiful day that is just a preview
hopefully of how it is going to be November 2 with more leaves down and much
more color. This is the moderate hike on a day which also schedules a
strenous hike. I really believe the hike to be very moderate and pleasant.
It does involve some climbing in the first half of around 1400 to 1600 feet,
but it is fairly gradual. So those who are looking for an alternative to a
very tough hike can find one here and still have a good solid hike on what I
hope will be as nice a day as it was today. I sent a picture of what you are
liable to step on if you succumb to talking politics with Bruce. Stuart

ALL DAY No. A0804-373 Nov. 9
Yellow Mountain 8:00 AM
Hike 10, Drive 125, 2900 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Carroll Koepplinger, 828-667-0723, carrollkoepp@bellsouth.net
We’ll hike in the Cowee Mtns on a heavily forested high altitude trail that ascends four peaks going in and three on the way back. Views from the Yellow Mtn. observation tower are great – a fine lunch spot. Strenuous but rewarding. Second meeting place: rest area beyond Waynesville at 8:30 AM. Topos: Highlands, Glenville

ALL DAY No. A0804-336 Nov. 16
Mt. Cammerer from Big Creek *8:00 AM
Hike 12.2, Drive 110, 3300 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA+
Cindy McJunkin, 828-712-9646, mcjfive@aol.com
900M, LTC This great hike from Big Creek to the historic fire lookout atop Mt. Cammerer goes up the Chestnut Branch Trail and AT. Strenuous, but the payoffs are first class: a good workout and superb views. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pilot Truck Stop at Exit 24 off I-40 at 8:30 AM. Topos: Waterville and Hartford; also Natl. Geo. GSMNP Map #229

Scouting Report: This hike on 11/16 will be led by Scott McJunkin, Cindy's husband.  5 people scouted the Mt. Cammerer hike on a warm and sunny 11/2.  The trails are in good condition and evenly graded, which makes the 3600' ascent much easier to do.  The first 2 miles climb steeply up alongside Chestnut Branch to the AT; the AT is followed uphill to the ridgeline; a right turn took us onto a 0.6 mile up-and-down trail over to the Mt. Cammerer lookout.  The combination of the view from the lookout and seeing the restored stone-and-wood lookout building makes this hike well worthwhile.  The building interior is enclosed with windows and is a good place for lunch if the actual hike day is cold and/or windy.  Expect a 3+ hour uphill hike and less downhill.  Bruce.

 

ALL DAY No. A0804-397 Nov. 23
Bad Fork – Chestnut Cove Overlook *8:30 AM
Hike 9.5, Drive 80, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated A-B
Charlie Ferguson, 828-333-5165, ccf108@gmail.com
P400 *Note later start time. This is an in-and-out hike that begins at the Trace Ridge trailhead. We will hike up Bad Fork to the BRP (a steep 700 ft. ascent for the second mile) to Bent Creek Gap, and then follow the MST to the Chestnut Cove Overlook to enjoy a beautiful view during lunch. Return by the same route. Second meeting place: Trace Ridge Trailhead at 9:00 AM. Topo: Dunsmore Mtn; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780, and MST Profiles, pgs. 55-56

Scouting Report:  Monday Nov. 17.  This is a very nice hike.  When hiked as described it is closer to11.5 miles and 2000 feet of ascent.  We hiked up the Bad Fork Trail to the Parkway.  Most of the trail was very pretty.  It's not heavily used.  Only about 1/4 mile was particularly steep.  Dry leaves on the trail mad parts of it slippery - typical for this time of year.  Once across the parkway we took the MST throught part of the Bent Creek area to the parkway overlook at Chestnut Cove.  Most of the leaves are down, so there are more views through the trees.  After lunch at Chestnut Cove we looked at the map and the GPS data and realized that the hike would be longer than planned, so we hiked on the parkway back to Bent Creek Gap.  That was a steady gradual uphill walk.  It included walking through the Pine Mountain Tunnel.  There wasn't much traffic on the parkway - very quiet.  We continued back down the Bad Fork trail the way that we came up, and back to the parking lot at Trace Ridge.  I expect that Sunday's hike will follow the same route which should make it 10. 5 miles and about 1700 feet.

ALL DAY No. A0804-328 Nov. 30
Bent Creek Loop #5 – Ingles Field *9:00 AM
Hike 8, Drive 20, 800 ft. ascent, Rated B-C
Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary.avl@gmail.com
P400 *Note later start time. Here’s a chance to work off some of that Thanksgiving turkey with a moderate hike in the Bent Creek area. From Hardtimes trailhead, we’ll do a loop hike around Lake Powhatan, Explorer and Sidehill Trails, and descend past Ingles Field to our cars. Topo: Dunsmore Mtn.; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780 and Bent Creek Trail Map

ALL DAY No. A0804-537 Dec. 7
Coggins – Rim of the Gap –Pinnacle Pass – Naturaland Tr. *8:00 AM
(strenuous)
Hike 10.5, Drive 110, 2800 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Jeff McGurk, 864-921-6469, jbsbestfan@hotmail.com
*Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and make stop at Bi-Lo in Pisgah Forest at 8:30 AM for additional hikers. Meet leader at Caesar’s Head Visitor Center parking lot at 9:00 AM. From the Visitor Center, we’ll do a loop hike in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. We’ll start on the Frank Coggins Trail and continue on the Rim of the Gap, then cut over to the Pinnacle Pass Trail. We’ll follow this steeply down and then up to intersect with the Naturaland Trust Trail back to our cars. Caution: If the weather is cold, there will be ice on the Rim of the Gap Trail. Topos: Cleveland, Table Rock; also Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area Trail Map

Scouting Report: This scouting report is late because my scout got rained out last weekend. Thus I scouted it today [Dec. 6] and I will lead it tomorrow. First, I want to officially name this loop as the "I can't handle hydroxycut or Jenny Craig diets but still want to lose five pounds in one day loop". Seriously, this 10.5 mile hike is 6.5 miles of tough scramble, 3 miles of uphill trail, and 1 mile of casual hiking. Be prepared all who dare. The weather never got over 42 degrees today, but the ice on the rim of the gap trail was not too bad. It is supposed to be colder tomorrow. All of the ladders are repaired on the rim of the gap trail and this made for a pleasant first phase of the hike. In addition, the water levels were low which left more rock between the ice spots. This made me ecstatic, but the good news ends there. Even though you may not fall because of ice, the leaves, rocks and eroding soil may get you after lunch as we scramble and descend steeply from a nice overlook. Then comes the trudgery of uphill logging road and trail before we finish with another rocky uphill scramble. I found it helpful to change shirts at lunch because sweaty shirts make you colder. Hope to see lots of people bright and early tomorrow. By the way, I did lose 5.5 pounds when I did this in June and 3.5 pounds yesterday.  Jeff

ALL DAY No. A0804-538 Dec. 7
Vineyard Gap – Forge Mtn. Loop *9:00 AM
(moderate)
Hike 7.5, Drive 55, 800 ft. ascent, Rated B-C
Marianne Newman, 828-257-2136, marianneln@msn.com
P400 *Note later start time. This is a nice loop hike from the Turkey Pen parking area, including a walk along the Forge Mtn. ridge, a pleasant stroll along the S. Mills River, and ending with a short, steep climb over a ridge to the parking area. Second meeting place: Turkey Pen parking area at 9:30 AM. Topo: Pisgah Forest; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

ALL DAY No. A0804-609 Dec. 14
Rich Mtn., Round Top Ridge Trail and AT 8:00 AM
Hike 11.5, Drive 70, 2700 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Tish Desjardins, 828-656-2191, desraylet@aol.com
*After the hike there will be a potluck supper in the nearby Bear River Community Lodge. Hikers are requested to contribute food for the supper. Food will be taken to a refrigerator before the hike. Please phone the leader to coordinate what food to bring. From Tanyard Gap we will go north on the AT to the beautiful views from Rich Mountain, 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

ALL DAY No. A0804-589 Dec. 21
Shut-in Trail & Lake Powhatan loop 8:30 AM*
Hike 9.6, Drive 15, 1600 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary.avl@gmail.com
P400 *Note later start time. This loop follows the Shut-In Trail south, then descends Sleepy Gap Trail, skirts Lake Powhatan and finishes with three miles on the Bent Creek Trail with a dirt road connecting parts of the trail. Second meeting place: BRP French Broad Overlook at 8:45 AM. Topos: Asheville, Dunsmore Mtn., also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

SATURDAY No. A0804-246 Dec. 27
Around Coffee Pot Mtn. 9:00 AM*
Hike 7.5, Drive 50, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Michael and Kathy Cornn, 828-698-3672, knkyle@yahoo.com
P400 *This moderate after-Christmas hike will start a bit later. Meet at Westgate at 9:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leaders at Trace Ridge parking area at 9:30 AM. We’ll circle Coffee Pot Mtn. by hiking up Trace Ridge Trail to Beaver Dam Gap on the BRP and returning on the Spencer Branch Trail, with a stop to see the freshly-dredged Hendersonville Reservoir and dam. Topo: Dunsmore Mtn.; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

ALL DAY No. A0804-406 Dec. 28
Pink Beds to Clawhammer and Return *8:30 AM
Hike 8, Drive 86, 2300 ft ascent, Rated B-AA
Michael Cornn, 828-698-3672, mcornn@aol.com
P400 *Note later start time. We will climb from the Pink Beds (FS 477) to Club Gap. Then we take the Black Mt. Trail, climbing through Buckhorn Gap and along the ridge to the overlook at Clawhammer Mtn. for lunch and 180 degree views. Second meeting place: Side parking lot of Bi-Lo in Pisgah Forest at 9:00 AM. Topos: Shining Rock, Pisgah Forest; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780