Important Note:  Parking at Westgate has changed.  We can no longer park in the south or middle of the lot (as we have been).  Park in the far north line of parking spaces past Earth Fare.  See directions above for a map.

HALF-DAY NO. H1002-685 Apr. 4
North Slope Loop Trail *12:30 PM
Hike 4.5, Drive 65, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Lucy Prim, 828-693-6580, 32lucette@gmail.com
P400 *Form carpools at Westgate, and meet hike leader at Pisgah Ranger Station, US 276 at 1:15 PM. A short pleasant hike starts at the Pisgah Ranger Station, goes up the North Slope Ridge, and back along the Davidson River.

HALF-DAY NO. H1002-675 Apr. 11
Jones Gap S.P. – Rainbow Falls *12:30 PM
Hike 4.6, Drive 120, 1200 ft ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Sawako Jager, 828-687-2547, baiko70@aol.com
P400 *Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at Cracker Barrel, I-26 exit 53 at 1:00 PM. We will follow the Jones Gap trail along the Middle Saluda River then follow the Rainbow Falls Trail uphill to beautiful Rainbow Falls. Return the same way.

HALF-DAY NO. H1002-431 Apr. 18
Chestnut Cove to MST to Sleepy Gap to Explorer Trail 12:30 PM
Hike 5, Drive 20, 900 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Tom Crook, 828-670-7251, tmc3017@gmail.com
This loop hike begins with a moderately steep climb from the Bent Creek Gap Road to the MST, but is otherwise an easy walk. Second Meeting Place: Ingles parking lot across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 at 12:45 P.M.

HIke Change: The hike will begin at the Cold Knob parking area on Bent Creek Road and will travel a short distance to the upper entrance to the Explorer Loop Trail before heading uphill on the Chestnut Cove connector to the South Ridge Road. We will walk the South Ridge Road, then head down from it on an unmarked trail that will take us to the Pine Tree Trail. From there we'll return to the Explorer Trail which we'll take back to the starting point. Distance about 4.5 miles with only a moderate elevation gain/loss. Second meeting place: Ingles on Brevard Road. (I am looking for a volunteer to meet the group at Westgate, please call Tom at 828-545-8545.)

HALF-DAY NO. H1002-490 Apr. 25
Craven Gap to Folk Art Center *1:00 PM
Hike 5.4, Drive 11, 750 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Bonnie Allen, 828-645-0357, bonnie@allencats.com
*Note that the only meeting place is the back parking lot of the Folk Art Center. A pleasant hike along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, with a gradual 1640 ft. descent. Car shuttle.

HALF-DAY NO. H1002-436 May 2
Mt. Pisgah from Pisgah Inn 1:00 PM
Hike 4.5, Drive 36, 950 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Jane Laping, 828-277-7342, janelaping@sbcglobal.net
View beautiful scenery from the top of Mt. Pisgah on this in-and-out hike. Second meeting place: Pisgah Inn Parking Lot at 1:35 PM.

HALF-DAY NO. H1002-603 May 9
Big Ivy *12:30 PM
Hike 5.5, Drive 55, 700 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Marcia Bromberg, 828-505-0471, mwbromberg@yahoo.com
This loop in the Big Ivy Creek headwaters area of the Pisgah National Forest begins 4.4 miles up FS 74 at the Perkins Road Trail. We will hike up to the Laurel Gap Trail, turn right and walk to the Bear Pen Trail which will take us back down to FS 74. We'll walk just under a mile to return to our cars. Expect to see spring wildflowers along the way. Second meeting place: Roses parking lot Exit 19 off I-26 in Weaverville at 12:45 PM.

HALF-DAY NO. H1002-347 May 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 *Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at Pisgah Ranger Station at 1:10 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 beaver dam.

HALF-DAY NO. H1002-403 May 23
DuPont Forest – Reasonover Trail *12:15 PM
Hike 6, Drive 80, Rated B-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Kathleen Hudson, 828-698-5208, kathudson47@gmail.com
*Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at Hooker Falls Parking Lot in DuPont Forest at 1:00 PM. This pleasant loop hike in the DuPont Forest includes the Fawn Lake, Corn Mills Shoals, Bridal Veil Falls, Lake Julia and Reasonover Creek Trails and features views of waterfalls.

HALF-DAY NO. H1002-009 May 30
Ox Creek Road to Rattlesnake Lodge *1:00 PM
Hike 4.4, Drive 30, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Jim Ariail, 828-505-0443, jimariail@yahoo.com
P400 *Note that the only meeting place is the back parking lot of the Folk Art Center. This in-and-out hike along the MST will feature the historic Rattlesnake Lodge site.

June 5th - Help finish building the Mountains to Sea Trail near Waterrock Knob.

A National Trails Day event: We will start in Asheville at 9:00 AM and finish about 3:00 PM.  This is a chance to help our trail crews finish one of the CMC's greatest contributions to hiking in the Mountains of North Carolina.  Experience isn't necessary.  Call 828-658-1489 or email Les Love for details.

---------  June 6th is CMC's National Trails Day - see the American Hiking Society website.  -------------

HALF-DAY NO. H1002-573 June 6  - National Trails Day hike
Devil’s Courthouse from FS 816 *12:00 PM
Hike 5, Drive 75, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, cell phone 828-606-0583, belston@tds.net
P400 *Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at Cold Mountain Overlook (BRP M.P. 412) at 12:40 PM. The hike will differ slightly from #573 but will be nice and cool at 5000 feet and afford great views from Devil’s Courthouse. Topo: Sams Knob.

HALF-DAY NO. H1002-294 June 13
Picklesimer Fields 1:00 PM
Hike 5, Drive 65, Rated C-B
Tom Sanders 828-252-6327, tomary.avl@gmail.com
In and out hike from the Fish Hatchery. We'll take Butter Gap Trail and see how far we get. Second Meeting: Place Fish Hatchery at 1:45 PM.

HALF-DAY No. H1002-453 June 20
Max Patch Ramble 12:30 PM
Hike 5.5, Drive 104, 800 ft ascent, Rated B-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Gail Lamb, 828-275-4500, galmb46@bellsouth.net
Awesome panoramic views and summer wildflowers make this moderate hike a favorite. We will go to the top of Max Patch, then a combination of Appalachian and Buckeye Ridge trails. This will take us north through meadows, woods and across a small stream. We will break at the AT shelter and return on the AT. Second meeting place only if I-40 is open: Pilot Truck Stop at exit 24 at 1:00 PM.

HALF-DAY NO. H1002-002 June 27
MST: NC 128 to Balsam Gap *12:30 PM
Hike 5, Drive 60, 1500 ft ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Joe Burchfield, 828-298-8413, burchfield@niu.edu
*Note that the only meeting place is the back parking lot of the Folk Art Center. This scenic portion of the MST features great views, rocky climbs, and hiking through a dark spruce forest as it crosses Blackstock Knob (6320 ft). Although only 5 miles long, this hike ascends 1500 feet. Hikers must be capable of this amount of climbing. Topo: Montreat; also NatGeo. map #779; also MST Profiles pp 62-63.