ALL DAY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY HIKES

All-day hikes submitted by Bruce Bente 828-692-0116, bbente@cytechusa.com . Driving distance is round-trip from Asheville. All Saturday and Sunday hikes assemble at Westgate Shopping Center near I-240 exit 3B UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

NEW YEARS DAY No. A0601-281 Jan. 1 Green River Gamelands 8:00 AM breakfast, 9:00 AM hike* Hike 6.5 or 8, Drive 20 (from Hendersonville), 1300 or 1500 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@cytechusa.com  *Meet at Westgate at 7:30 AM to form carpools and meet leader at times above at the Cracker Barrel in Hendersonville (exit 53 on I 26). After breakfast, we’ll do a pleasant loop on a series of trails around the Green River Gamelands. We’ll hike down to and along the Green River, with a late lunch at the big rocks on the Green River, and then hike up and out on the Pulliam Creek trail. Short car shuttle. Topo: Cliffield Mtn., and Map of the Green River Gamelands Trails

ALL DAY No. A0601-283 Jan. 8 Montreat Ramble #2 9:00 AM* Hike 8, Drive 40, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Marlene Santa Maria, 828-299-9095 marlena98@hotmail.com  *Note later start time. Meet at Westgate at 9:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s at exit 64 of I-40 at 9:20 AM. This will be a moderate loop hike starting in Montreat and climbing to a ridgeline. This close-to-home hike promises a good workout and nice views. Topo: Montreat

ALL DAY No. A0601-326 Jan. 15 Pump Gap (non-AT) loop 8:00 AM Hike 8, Drive 60, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary2@charter.net  This will be a moderate low-altitude ramble through the area between Tanyard Gap and Pump Gap. The hike won’t include any of the AT, but we’ll do all of Pump Gap Trail, connecting through woods roads and manways north and south of the AT. Topo: Hot Springs

ALL DAY No. A0601-236 Jan. 22 Dupont Forest –Fawn Lake P.L. #1 8:30 AM* Hike 8, Drive 70, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Rusty Breeding, 828-692-0359, bree@planetusa.net  *Note later start time. A moderate hike, close to home and at low elevation for our coldest month. We’ll see Corn Mill Shoals, Bridal Veil Falls, Lake Julia and Fawn Lake at an easy pace. With a touch of snow and frozen falls it may be a winter wonderland. *Meeting places: Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Bi-Lo parking lot in Pisgah Forest at 8:30 AM. Topo: Standingstone Mtn.; also Dupont Forest trail map

SATURDAY No. A0601-330 Jan. 28 Raven Cliff Falls 8:30 AM* Hike 8, Drive 95, 1450 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Janet Onan, 828-698-3237, janonan@bellsouth.net  *Note later start time; meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Bi-Lo in Pisgah Forest at 9:00 AM. We’ll do a pleasant walk to the pedestrian bridge over the top of a beautiful 250 ft. waterfall in Caesar’s Head St. Park in S.C. The hike will follow the Raven Cliff Falls Trail and a portion of the Foothills Trail to the bridge, and then return with a side trip to the spectacular overlook of the falls and Matthew Creek Gorge. Topo: Table Rock; also Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area trail map

ALL DAY No. A0601-001 Jan. 29 Case Camp – Seniard Ridge Loop 8:00 AM* Hike 9, Drive 80, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated A-B Tom Bindrim & Joan Lemire, 828-273-3880 P400 This loop hike features a short steep climb up to the MST, some MST hiking, and 50 Ft. frozen cascades along the closed BRP. After lunch with a great view of the surrounding mountains, we’ll hike through some beautiful woods on the Seniard Ridge trail. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leaders at Pisgah Ranger Station at 8:30 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Pg. 50 of MST Profiles book and Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

ALL DAY No. A0601-502 Feb. 5 Deep Creek – Sunkota Ridge loop 7:30 AM* (strenuous) Hike 13, Drive 135, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated AA-A Don Gardner, 828-754-4067, gardog3@charter.net  900M *Note early start time. We will hike alongside Deep Creek, one of the beautiful streams on the east side of the Smokies, and then climb up to and down Sunkota Ridge, which will have good winter views. Second meeting place: Rest area beyond Waynesville on US 23/74 at 8:30 AM. Topos: Bryson City, Clingman’s Dome; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map

ALL DAY No. A0601-304 Feb. 5 AT: Garenflo Gap – Hot Springs 9:00 AM* (moderate) Hike 8, Drive 80, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Paul Benson, 828-251-1909, pdbenson@charter.net  *Note later start time. We’ll start by hiking up the East Fork Shut-in Creek trail to the AT, and then a pleasant AT hike down Deer Park Mtn., ending at the hot tubs in Hot Springs. Bring your bathing suit, and contact the leader beforehand so he can get a count of how many people will use the hot tubs after the hike. 5-mile car shuttle. Topos: Lemon Gap, Spring Creek, Hot Springs; also Nat’l. Geo. French Broad & Nolichucky Rivers map

ALL DAY No. A0601-417Feb. 12 Butter Gap, Art Loeb, Long Branch Trails Loop 8:00 AM Hike 12, Drive 72, ft. ascent, Rated A-A Becky Smucker, 828-298-5013, bsmucker@charter.net P400 Highlights of this low-altitude winter hike include the McCall Family cemetery and good views from Rich and Chestnut Mtns. and from the Art Loeb Trail. Second meeting place: Fish Hatchery at 8:40 AM, but call leader first. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

ALL DAY No. A0601-503 Feb. 19 Mt. Sterling via Baxter Creek Trail 8:00 AM Hike 12.4, Drive 110, 4100 ft. ascent, Rated AA-AA+ Chip Miller, 828-654-9331, backpacker54nc@bellsouth.net 900M This major climb in the Smokies is strenuous but on a gradual well-graded trail. After passing through a mixed forest followed by Balsam and Red Spruce, we’ll enjoy fine lunchtime views from the fire tower. With luck, we’ll find some snow at the higher elevations. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck Stop, exit 24 off I-40 at 8:30 AM. Topo: Cove Creek Gap; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map

SATURDAY No. A0601-280 Feb. 25 Art Loeb / North Slope Loop 8:00 AM Hike 8, Drive 60, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated B-B John Pawcio, 828-299-8126, jpawcio@tycovalves.com  P400 A good winter hike and a pretty trip. We’ll follow the Art Loeb Trail from the Davidson River Campground up to Neil Gap, then down the connector and North Slope Trails to the campground. From here we’ll follow the river trail back to the cars. Second meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station at 8:30 AM, but call leader first. Topos: Pisgah Forest, Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PNF map

ALL DAY No. A0601-504 Feb. 26 Lane Pinnacle from Bull Gap 8:30 AM* Hike 10, Drive 30, 2700 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA+ Kathleen Hannigan, 828-230-4883, kathleen.hannigan@pgnmail.com  *Note later start time. This will be a challenging winter hike on the MST, past the Rattlesnake Lodge site and up to good views from our lunch stop at Lane Pinnacle. Due to the substantial altitude change, we may find snow at the higher end. Second meeting place: Bull Gap at 9:30 AM Topo: Craggy Pinnacle; also pg. 63-64 of MST Profiles book

ALL DAY No. A0601-332March 5 Foothills Trail: Upper and Lower Whitewater Falls 8:00 AM* (strenuous) Hike 11.6, Drive 115, 1600 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Bruce Bente 828-692-0116 bbente@cytechusa.com  Come to hike in the warm weather at the lower elevations! We’ll hike part of the Foothills Trail in NC and SC, featuring two of the region’s most stunning waterfalls. We will begin at the Upper Whitewater Falls parking lot, and hike to the footbridge over the Thompson River. We’ll partially retrace our steps, then take the side trail to Lower Whitewater Falls, and finish at the Duke Power Co. Bad Creek parking lot. Short car shuttle. *Meeting Places: Form carpools at Westgate at 8:00 AM, and meet leader at Bi-Lo in Pisgah Forest at 8:30 AM. Topos: Reid, Cashiers; also Foothills Trail map

ALL DAY No. A0601-076 March 5 Craggy to Little Snowball 8:00 AM (moderate) Hike 8.5, Drive 40, 2600 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA Don Walton, 828-654-9904 donwalton@bellsouth.net  From Beetree Gap we will take the Snowball trail to High Rock, with its views, and then on to Snowball Gap. We will then follow an old road around Little Snowball Mtn. to the old lookout atop Little Snowball. There are great views from the top of Little Snowball. Topo: Craggy Pinnacle

ALL DAY No. A0601-505 March 12 The Other Cold Mtn. 8:00 AM* Hike 8-10, Drive 120, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Dave Wetmore, 828-884-7296, dwetmore@citcom.net  Many people have climbed the Cold Mtn. above Waynesville, but how many have climbed the other Cold Mtn., in Panthertown Valley? This will be a new hike for the CMC, and the exact route will be determined after a scouting trip and more info will be posted in the E-Newsletter. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Bi-Lo parking lot in Pisgah Forest at 8:30 AM. Topo: Big Ridge; also Panthertown Trail Map

ALL DAY No. A0601-506 March 19 Cataloochee Divide to Cataloochee Valley via McKee Branch 8:00 AM Hike 14, Drive 80, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated AA-A Danny Bernstein 828-236-0192 danny@hikertohiker.org  900M Starting at Cove Creek Gap, we’ll hike the Cataloochee Divide trail past the Swag to Hemphill Bald and back to McKee Branch. Good views along the way. Then we’ll go down McKee Branch trail with some rockhopping across the stream, and then follow Caldwell Fork Trail downhill to our cars. Possible early wildflower sightings. Second meeting place: Pilot truck stop at exit 24 off I-40 at 8:30 AM. Topos: Cove Creek Gap, Dellwood; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map

SATURDAY No. A0601-224 March 25 Table Rock – Pinnacle Loop 8:00 AM Hike 10.8, Drive 120, 3200 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA+ Lenny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, lsberns@worldnet.att.net This is a great hike with good views, starting from the Nature Center parking lot at Table Rock St. Park. Our first objective will be Bald Rock near Pinnacle Mtn. with glorious views. Then after a climb to Pinnacle Mtn for lunch, we’ll walk the ridgeline to Table Rock with more great views, then down steeply to our cars. $2 parking fee. Additional meeting places: Cracker Barrel at exit 53 of I-26 at 8:30 AM (park at north end of parking lot near Upward Rd.), and Table Rock State Park (at Nature Center parking lot) at 9:15 AM. Topo: Table Rock

ALL DAY No. A0601-423 Mar. 26 Pilot Rock, Laurel Mtn., Slate Rock Creek Trails 8:00 AM Hike 10, Drive 90, 1600 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Ruth Hartzler, 828-251-0886 P400 We will hike up the Pilot Rock Trail, stopping to enjoy the views. Then we’ll turn downhill on the Laurel Mtn. Trail and a no-name trail to the Slate Rock Creek Trail, one of the gems of Pisgah Nat’l. Forest. Short car shuttle. Second meeting place: North Mills River Recreation Area parking lot at 8:30 AM, but call leader beforehand. Topo: Dunsmore Mtn.; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

ALL DAY No. A0601-507 April 2 Little Paint Creek 8:00 AM* (strenuous) Hike 8-9, Drive 78, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Stuart Tauber, 828-254-0824, sdtauber@charter.net  *Note time change to DST. Hikers must call leader before attempting this hike. From Allen Gap, we will climb south on the AT to Deep Gap to connect with Little Paint Creek Trail (#11). We will proceed along, through and across the creek under Buzzard Roost Ridge several times to reach FS 31B and then Paint Creek Trail (#10), fording the creek several times, to finally reach Little Paint Creek campground. The creek crossings are challenging as is the trail. 10-mile car shuttle. Topo: Hot Springs; also Nat’l. Geo. French Broad & Nolichucky Rivers map

ALL DAY No. A0601-209 April 2 Buckwheat Knob – Coontree Loop 9:00 AM* (moderate) Hike 8, Drive 67, 1900 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Les Love, 828-658-1489, lesrlove@charter.net  P400 *Note later start time and time change to DST. From the trailhead at Coontree Picnic area, we’ll climb along beautiful Coontree Creek through open forest up to Bennett Gap and on to Buckwheat Knob for lunch, then return via the other segment of the Coontree loop. A moderate woodland hike with exceptional views from the ridgeline. Second meeting place: Coontree Picnic area at 9:40 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map