HIKE SCHEDULE

First Quarter 2002

Wednesday Hikes

Submitted by Kenneth & Carol Deal, 281-4530, New e-mail address: KMCDeal@aol.com. Scheduler needed for 2nd and 4th Quarters.

The meeting place for each hike will be designated by the hike leader and will appear in the hike description. Driving mileage will be listed from the first designated meeting place.

Hike Ratings

1st Letter- 2nd Letter-

Distance Elevation Gain

AA: Over 12 miles AA: over 2,000 ft.

A: 9‑12 miles A: 1,500-2000 ft.

B: 6‑9 miles B: 1,000‑1,500 ft,

C: under 6 miles C: under 1,000 ft.

Also in the hike descriptions, the terms easy, moderate or strenuous reflect the overall trail conditions, the physical challenge and other factors influencing hike difficulty. If you have questions, CALL THE LEADER.

ALL DAY No. 7804 January 9

Ellicott Rock Wilderness 9:00 AM

Drive 70, Hike 8, Rated B-B

Ken Woodward, 697-6025

After viewing the tallest white pine tree in South Carolina near the Walhalla Fish Hatchery, we hike down along the lush gorge of the East Fork to the Chattooga River. We continue downstream along the majestic river and then scramble up a spur trail to Spoon Auger Falls. Only meeting place: Bi-Lo in Pisgah Forest. Topo: Tamassee.

ALL DAY No. 7805 January 16

Big Creek 9:00 A.M.

Drive 65, Hike 10, Rated A-B

Joe Cirvelo, 627-1797

The Big Creek Trail is described as “one of the most beautiful and interesting walks in the GSMNP.” The water rushing around the many huge boulders strewn all along Big Creek make it beautiful in any season, with views of the flanking ridges unobstructed by leaves. We will pass the Rock House, the Midnight Hole and Mouse Creek Falls, crossing a couple of bridges enroute to Walnut Bottom. Meeting place: The Pilot Truck Stop at Exit 24 off I-40. Topo: Waterville.

ALL DAY No. 7806 January 23

ALTERNATE HIKE

Leader’s Choice 9:30 AM

Drive ?, Hike 5-6, Rated B-B

Boyd Brasington, 254-8675

Depending on the weather, the leader will be selecting a nice, moderate January hike. Lots of rest stops. Call leader for information. Only meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station on Highway 276.

ALL DAY No. 7807 January 23

Shut-In (MST) and 9:00 A.M.

Owl Ridge (Bent Creek) Trails

Drive 1, Hike 7, Rated B-B

Siro Del Favero, 253-5563

From the French Broad Overlook we will embark on a brisk hike through the wintry woods on the Shut-In Trail. Then via Hard Times, Bent Creek and Rocky Cove Roads to the Owl Ridge Trail. From here we will take Hard Times Road to the parking lot. Car shuttle. Meeting Place: French Broad Overlook on the Parkway.

ALL DAY No. 7808 January 30

Kitsuma Peak, 8:30 AM

Young’s Ridge

Drive 8, Hike 8.4, Rated B-AA

Elisabeth Feil, 684-8719

We’ll drive to Ridgecrest and park. Hike up Kitsuma Peak and over to Old Fort Picnic grounds, have lunch and hike back. Good scenic views from Kitsuma Peak. Once we have climbed Kitsuma Peak, it is a pleasant moderate hike to the picnic grounds. After lunch we climb gradually back to Kitsuma Peak and from there return to the cars. Total climb: 2600 feet. Meeting place: Black Mountain McDonalds, Exit 64, I-40 east.

ALL DAY No. 7809 February 6

MST HIKE 9:00 AM

Craven Gap to Rattlesnake Lodge

Drive 25, Hike 8, Rated B-C

Gerry McNabb, 274-0057

We will start our Mountains to Sea Trail hike sequence with hikes near Asheville during the winter months because of the possibility of Parkway closings. This hike will begin at Craven Gap, follow the MST to Rattlesnake Lodge for lunch, and return to Craven Gap. Moderate hike through winter woods. Only meeting place: Westgate.

ALL DAY No. 7810 February 13

Craven Gap to 8:00 AM

To US 74-A

Drive 75, Hike 8.6, Rated B-B

Howard McDonald, 693-8258

This car shuttle hike on the MST starts at Craven Gap, goes down past the Folk Art Center and on to US 74-A. Moderate. First meeting place: Old Ingles, Fleming St., Hen-dersonville. Second meeting place: 8:45 AM Folk Art Center, lower lot. Topo: Craven Gap and Oteen.

ALL DAY No. 7811 February 20

Lake Powhatan to 9:30 AM

Sleepy Gap, Shut-In to Arboretum

Drive 0, Hike 8, Rated B-B

Brad and Beverly VanDiver, 669-2740

A great winter hike, and almost entirely on trails rather than woods roads. Moderate to steep climb from the lake, with lunch on the Parkway. Then we’ll follow the Shut-In Trail (MST) over several ups and downs to the Arboretum. Only meeting place: trailhead parking lot near the main Arboretum entrance from State Route 191 (Brevard Road). We’ll have a ten-minute car shuttle from there to Lake Powhatan.

ALL DAY No. 7812 February 27

South Mills River 8:30 AM

Dive 3 Hike 8, Rated B-C

Greg Goodman, 684-9703

This hike takes the South Mills River Trail to the Pounding Mill Trail and on to Squirrel Gap Trail. We’ll continue on to Pea Gap and then return on the South Mills River Trail. Moderate. Meeting place: Boyleston Baptist Church on Route 280.

ALL DAY No. 7813 March 6

AT Hike 8:30 AM

Devil Fork Gap to

Rice Gap

Drive 80, Hike 9.8, Rated A-A

Curt Holladay, 628-9477

Hike from Devil Fork Gap where AT crosses Rt. 212 to Rice Gap and back. Climb approximately 1500 feet up Sugarloaf Knob and cross Big Flat through open woods. Total climb: 2000 feet. Meeting place: Westgate Shopping Center.

ALL DAY No. 7814 March 13

MST HIKE

French Broad Overlook 8:30 AM

to Highway 74-A

Drive 30, Hike 10.5, Rated A-C

Rusty Breeding, 692-0359

Another Mountains to Sea Trail hike near Asheville. This hike will take us from the French Broad Overlook to Highway 74-A. Trail has little altitude gain or loss, and is near the Parkway for most of the distance. Car shuttle. First meeting place: Old Ingles, Fleming St., Hendersonville. Second meeting place: French Broad Overlook at Highway 191 and the Parkway.

ALL DAY No. 7815 March 20

Boogerman Trail, 8:30 A.M.

Smokies

Drive 120, Hike 8, Rated B-B

Jack Fitzgerald, 685-2897

Hike from Cataloochee Campground on Caldwell Fork Trail to Boogerman Trail, then loop back along Caldwell Fork Creek. Trail is well known for the variety of magnificent trees. Moderate. Meeting place: Westgate Shopping Ctr.

ALL DAY No. 7816 March 27

Montreat March Madness 8:30 AM

Drive 4, Hike 10-11, Rated A-AA

Ames Tryon, 669-3805

We will start at the Bell Forest area of Montreat and hike on the Harry Bryan Trail until it joins the Graybeard Trail. After a short distance we will take a steep ascent to the Tressel Road and proceed up to Graybeard by the usual route. If possible we will descend from Graybeard and connect with the Toll Road and take this path back to the lower Graybeard Trail and back to the cars. The Graybeard descent may require some bushwhacking. Meeting Place: McDonalds, Exit 64 off I-40 east.

ALL DAY No. 7817 March 27

ALTERNATE HIKE

Hawkbill Rock 9:30 AM

Drive 30, Hike 5, Rated C-C

Bernard Elias, 274-0202

Starting from Bee Tree Gap, we climb Big Snowball, drop down, and then climb up to Hawkbill Rock. Nice views at lunch on Hawkbill Rock. Meeting place: Folk Art Center. Topo: Craggy Pinnacle

ALL DAY No. 7818 April 3

Montreat Area Loop 9:00 AM

Drive 2, Hike 7, Rated B-B

Lee Leiserson, 669-5656

We’ll take the Rainbow Trail to the old Toll Road, then to Lookout Mountain and East Ridge Trail to Sourwood Gap. We return, again taking the Toll Road to Rattlesnake Mountain, finishing on the Lookout Mountain Trail. Moderate. Meeting place: McDonalds, Exit 64 off I-40 east. Topo: Montreat.