Newcomers are welcome, but non-members MUST call the leader before the hike to determine the requirements. Half-day hikes submitted by Lucy Prim, lucette32@mchsi.com, 828-693-6580. Driving distance is round-trip from Asheville. All hikes assemble at the east end of the 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 phone the hike leader if you are not sure of the meeting location.

HALF-DAY NO. H0804-116 Oct. 5
Craggy Picnic Ground to Greybeard Overlook *12:30 PM
Hike 5.5 miles, 1100 ft. ascent, rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Marcia Bromberg, 828-505-0471, mwbromberg@yahoo.com
*Note early meeting time. From the Craggy Gardens Picnic Area we climb up a short distance to the top of bald Craggy Knob with a view to the south. Then back to the MST and down below the closed and quiet BRP visitor center. From there we continue on the MST around Craggy Pinnacle on a rocky and difficult part of the trail, then cross the parkway as the MST continues to Greybeard Overlook and another fabulous view, before returning to our cars. Second meeting place: Folk Art Center, lower parking lot, at 12:50 PM

HALF-DAY NO. H0804-146 Oct. 12 (Skinny Dip Falls cancelled due to bad trail conditions - the hike to Mt. Pisgah will be done instead)
H0804-436
Mt. Pisgah from Pisgah Inn  *12:30 PM
Hike 4.5 miles, 950 ft ascent, rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Jorge Munoz, 828-658-0606, jmunoz@buncombe.main.nc.us
P400 *Note early start time.  An in and out hike.  Hike from Pisgah Inn on the MST to Buck Spring Gap and the Vanderbuilt's hunting lodge. Then up to Mt. Pisgah with some great views of the Mountains. Back the same way that we came.
Second meeting place: BRP Looking Glass Rock Overlook at M.P. 417 at 1:10 PM.

HALF-DAY No. H0804-465 Oct. 19
Sam Knob Loop - Photo HIke *12:30 PM
Hike 5, Drive 70, 1200 feet ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Chris Allen, 828-645-0357, cpallen@gmail.com
P400, SB6K *Note early start time. The pace will be slow to allow plenty of time for picture taking. There will be a variety of views, terrains and environments. From the parking lot at the end of FR816 off the Blue Ridge Parkway, we will take the Sam Knob Trail up Sam Knob (6040 ft.) to Flat Laurel Creek, then through a spruce forest to return. Second meeting place: BRP Cold Mountain Overlook at M.P. 412 at 1:10 PM.

HALF-DAY No. H0804-009 Oct. 26
Ox Creek Road to Rattlesnake Lodge *1:00 PM
Hike 4.4, Drive 30, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader Don Walton, 828-654-9904, donwalton@bellsouth.net
*Note early start time. This in-and-out hike along the MST will feature the historic Rattlesnake Lodge site. Second meeting place: Folk Art Center lower parking lot at 1:15 PM.

HALF-DAY No. H0804-295 Nov. 2
Pump Gap Loop *1:00 PM
Hike 5.1, Drive 80 ,1200 ft. ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Jorge Munoz 828 658-0606 - jmunoz@buncombe.main.nc.us
*Note early start time. This moderate loop hike starts at the Silvermine Trailhead. After a good climb to the ridge, we will visit an old cemetery, cross the AT and return on the Pump Gap Trail.

(Note: the following hike is missing from the Let's Go paper newsletter. If you know regular Sunday Half-Day hikers, give them a call to make sure that they know that there is, indeed, a hike on Nov. 9).
HALF-DAY No. H0804-630 Nov. 9
MST loop from French Broad Overlook 12:30 PM
Hike 4-5, Drive 20, Ascent 500 ft, Rated C-C
Nonmembers call Gerry McNabb,274-0057, gerrymcnabb@charter.net
*Note early start time. This loop hike will start at the BRP ramp at the French Broad Overlook, go up the Shut-in MST to the point it meets the Hard Times Road, and return to exit the Arboretum and walk back to the cars up the BRP ramp. Hikers - form car pools at Westgate. Second meeting place: Meet Leader at the BRP Overlook at 12:45.

HALF-DAY No. H0804-347 Nov. 16
Twin Falls *12:30 PM
Hike 6, Drive 80, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Lee Belknap, 828-698-9394, rivergypsy@sprintmail.com
P400 *Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Ranger Station, US 276 at 1:05 PM. This is a moderate hike in the Pisgah National Forest, starting on the Buckhorn Gap Trail, taking the Twin Falls Bypass to view two nice waterfalls and completing a loop on a Forest Service Road and the Clawhammer Cove Trail with its large but abandoned beaver dam.

HALF-DAY No. H0804-062 Nov. 23
Daniel Ridge Loop Trail *12:30 PM
Hike 4, Drive 70, 800 feet ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Stuart English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@citcom.com
P400 *Note early start time. Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at Fish Hatchery parking lot off FS475 at 1:15PM. The trail climbs gradually along a lovely stream beside small waterfalls. A larger waterfall is seen just before the end of the hike.

HALF-DAY No. H0804-102 Nov. 30
Coon Tree Loop *12:30 PM
Hike 3.7, Drive 65, 1200 ft ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Lucy Prim, 828-693-6580, lucette32@mchsi.com
*Note early start time. Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Ranger Station on US 276 at 1:10 PM. This hike is a loop along both sides of a lovely creek, with views along Coon Tree Mountain ridge on top. Some steep areas.

HALF-DAY No. H0804-623 Dec. 7
Kitsuma Peak *12:30 PM
Hike 5 miles, 2000 ft ascent, Rated C-AA
Nonmembers, call Tom Sanders 828-252-6327, tomary.avl@gmail.com
*Note early start time. This popular but somewhat strenuous hike begins near Old Fort and ascends Young Ridge to Kitsuma Peak, overlooking Ridgecrest. Outstanding views along the way. Car shuttle. Second meeting place: parking lot adjacent to McDonalds off I-40 at Exit 64 of I-40 at 12:50 PM.

HALF-DAY No. H0804-624 Dec. 14
Dupont Forest Hooker Falls P.L. #2 (Wintergreen Falls) *12:00 Noon
Hike 5, Drive 70 miles, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, belston@cytechusa.com
*Note early start time. Meet at Westgate at 12 noon to form carpools, and meet hike leader at Hooker Falls parking lot in Dupont Forest at 12:50 PM. A leisurely paced walk down old logging roads through some beautiful forests.

HALF-DAY No. H0804-429 Dec. 21
Hard Times Road to Rocky Cove Road to Bent Creek Road *12:30 PM
Hike 5, Drive 20, 500 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Laura Stallard, 828-697-1579
*Note early start time. We will hike in the Bent Creek area from the Arboretum recreation parking lot in an easy loop including the Hard Times Road to Rocky Cove Rd to Bent Creek Road. Second meeting place: Ingles parking lot across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 at 1:15 PM; from there we will carpool with drivers who have Arboretum member parking privileges.

HALF-DAY No. H0804-500 Dec. 28
French Broad River to US 25 *1:00 PM
Hike 5.4, Drive 15, 900 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Paula Robbins, 828-281-3253, paularww@bellsouth.net
Note early start time. Meet at Westgate at 1:00 PM to form carpools, and meet hike leader at Ingles parking lot across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 south of I-26 at 1:15 PM. A pleasant winter hike through the woods, parallel to the Blue Ridge Parkway between I-26 and US 25. Short car shuttle.