HIKE SCHEDULE
First Quarter 2003
Wednesday Hikes

Hike Ratings
First Letter Second Letter
Distance Elevation Gain
AA: Over 12 miles AA: Over 2,000 ft.
A: 9-12 miles A: 1,500-2,000 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, CONTACT THE LEADER.


Submitted by Kenneth & Carol Deal,
281-4530, KMCDeal@aol.com. Next
schedule: Paula McNabb, 274-0057,
gcmcnabb@charter.net.

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, round trip, from the first designated meeting place.

ALL DAY No. 7984 January 8
Rocky Knob from the BRP, 9:00 AM
Including Greybeard
Hike 6, Drive 60, Rated B-B
Tommie Boston, 686-5029
TAMBEE@aol.com
We will hike from the BRP to Blue Ridge Pinnacle, Rocky Knob and Greybeard, using a portion of the Old Mitchell Toll Road. Elevation gain of 1300 ft. Meeting place: 9:00 AM at lower parking lot at the Folk Art Center. Topo: Montreat and Mt. Mitchell.

ALL DAY No. 7985 January 15
MST HIKE—French Broad Overlook
to Sleepy Gap and return 8:00 AM
Hike 10.6, Drive 30, Rated A-A
Rusty Breeding, 692-0359, bree@ioa.com
This hike will follow the MST south on the Shut-in Trail to the Sleepy Gap Overlook for lunch, and return on the same trail. Cumulative climb is about 1600 feet. Grade is mostly moderate. Nice views of the French Broad. First meeting place: Ingle’s, US 25N, Hendersonville. Second meeting place: Biltmore Square Mall parking lot, near McDonalds.

ALL DAY No. 7986 January 15
ALTERNATE HIKE—MST HIKE
Bull Gap to the
Folk Art Center 9:00 AM
Hike 7, Drive 15, Rated B-B
Boyd Brasington, 254-8675
boydb@buncombe.main.nc.us
We will hike on the MST to the Folk Art Center from Bull Gap. Layer your clothes if the day is cold. We will take lots of rest stops on this hike. Car shuttle. Meeting place: lower parking lot at the Folk Art Center.

ALL DAY No. 7987 January 22
Art Loeb Trail/
North Slope Trail 9:00 AM
Hike 8, Drive 1, Rated B-B
Brad and Bev Van Diver, 669-2740
bravandi@cs.com
A good winter hike and a very pretty trip, especially if there’s some snow. We’ll follow the Art Loeb Trail from the Davidson River Campground up to Neil Gap, then down the North Slope connector to the Davidson River, then follow the river back to the cars. Meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station on Rt. 276. Y’all come.

ALL DAY No. 7988 January 29
Jones Gap State Park 8:30 AM
Hike 8, Drive 40, Rated B-A
Jo Anderson, 693-7081
jobob@brinet.com
Hopefully, a warmer winter hike in S.C.’s Jones Gap State Park. A hike to the higher elevation of the park, a steady up on Pinnacle Pass trail. Good views of Pretty Place. We will then connect with a mix of trails back down to the parking lot. First meeting place: Exit 22, I-26 at Cracker Barrel parking lot. Second meeting place: Jones Gap State Park. Topo: Table Rock.

ALL DAY No. 7989 February 5
Fletcher Fields and
Spencer Branch Trail 8:30 AM
Hike 7-8, Drive 6, Rated B-C
Greg Goodman, 684-9703
We’ll take the Hendersonville Reservoir Road to Fletcher Creek Trail, then Fletcher Creek Trail to Road 5097 to Spencer Branch Trail. Spencer Branch Trail to the reservoir, and take Hendersonville Reservoir Road back to the cars. Stream crossings. Meeting place: North Mills River picnic area.

ALL DAY No. 7990 February 12
AT Hike—Lemon Gap to
Max Patch Road 8:30am
Hike 6.2, Drive 70, rated B-C
Howard McDonald, 693-8258
hamcdonald@cytechcis.net
This car switch hike starts at Lemon Gap on the AT, going to the present Roaring Fork shelter site. Then, to the site of the proposed new shelter site, and on over Max Patch to Max Patch Road. We will have time to explore the two sites. Easy. First meeting place: Ingle’s, US 25 N. Hendersonville. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck Stop, exit 24 off I-40 at 9:30 AM. Topo: Lemon Gap.

ALL DAY No. 7991 February 19
Case Camp/Seniard
Ridge Loop 8:30 AM
Hike 7, Drive 20, Rated B-B
D. R. Kulp, 692-0783
kulpdr@juno.com
A moderate 7 mile loop going up Case Camp Ridge to Tunnel Gap on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We’ll take the Mountains-to-Sea Trail to Bridges Camp Gap and return via Seniard Ridge.

ALL DAY No. 7992 February 26
Crabtree Bald 8:30 AM
Hike 7, Drive 70, Rated B-AA
Jay Bretz, 658-1220
Williambretz1220@msn.com
This trail takes us through pasture and woods to the 5,320 foot summit of Crabtree Bald. Views, in good weather, of all the 40 mountain peaks in Western North Carolina that are over 6,000 feet. Fairly strenuous but gradual 2,355 foot climb. First meeting place: Westgate. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck Stop on NC 209, Exit 24 off I-40. Topo: Fines Creek.

ALL DAY No. 7993 March 5
Hospital Rock, Falls
Creek Trails 8:30 AM
Hike 6.1, Drive 70, Rated B-A
Edgar Pistor, 692-2744
Eprotsip@aol.com
Starting at the trailhead near Palmetto Bible Camp, we’ll hike to spectacular waterfalls and Falls Creek, then on to Hospital Rock, ending at Jones Gap State Park. A strenuous hike, with some steep climbs. Hike is only 6.1 miles, but it will be a good workout. First meeting place: Fresh Market Shopping Center at intersection of Rt. 25 and 176, behind Mountain Bank. Second meeting place: Jones Gap State Park parking lot at approximately 9 AM. Topos: Brevard, Table Rock.

ALL DAY No. 7994 March 12
MST HIKE
Lane Pinnacle 8:30 AM
Hike 6, Drive 30, Rated B-C
Heinz & Elisabeth Feil, 684-8719
hofeil@brinet.com
Hike starts at Bee Tree Gap and ends at Tanbark Tunnel. There are several short but steep ups and downs and a long, well-graded descent. Good views and intriguing rock formations make this hike interesting. Moderate, but may be icy in places. If we cannot get to BeeTree Gap, we’ll start from Bull Gap and go as far as we can (or want to go). Car Shuttle. Meeting place: Lower parking lot at the Folk Art Center.

ALL DAY No. 7995 March 19
AT Hike
Spivey Gap to Bald
Mountain Shelter 8:30 AM
Hike 11, Drive 90, Rated A-AA
Curt Holladay, 628-9477
caholady@bellsouth.net
Rescheduling of rained out September hike. Hike from Spivey Gap (US 19W-AT intersection) south on AT up High Rocks and down to Whistling Gap. The trail takes us up Little Bald and over a stretch of flat terrain to Bald Mountain Shelter. The cumulative climb out and back is 2800 feet. It is through open woods for the most part, with the opportunity for some views. Meeting place: Westgate Shopping Center

ALL DAY No. 7996 March 19
ALTERNATE HIKE
High Windy 9:30 AM
Hike 6, Drive 4, Rated B-A
Bernard Elias, 274-0202
Rescheduling of cancelled hike. The hike is near Black Mountain to a major peak (4500 feet), site of former fire tower on property of Blue Ridge Assembly of YMCA. Great view from top. Nice late winter hike. Climb 1700 feet, starting behind Robert E. Lee hall. Meeting place: McDonalds, Exit 64 off I-40, Black Mountain.

ALL DAY No. 7997 March 26
John Rock Loop 9:00 AM
Hike 6.5, Drive 40, Rated B-B
Jack Fitzgerald, 685-2897
suejack@brinet.com
We’ll start at the fish hatchery parking lot and go up the Cat Gap Trail to Cat Gap (3,350 elev.), with lunch at the summit of John Rock. Return via the connector. First meeting place: Ingle’s North, Fleming Street, Hendersonville. Second meeting place: Fish Hatchery parking lot at 9:40. Topo: Shining Rock.

ALL DAY No. 7998 April 2
Pisgah Ridge Loop 9:00 AM
Hike 7.5, Drive 15, Rated B-B
Kathie Giddings, 696-9808
kmgiddings@juno.com
Starting at the Graveyard Fields parking lot, we will follow the Pisgah Ridge Trail to the MST, and lunch at a beautiful overlook, then proceed on the Graveyard Ridge Trail to the parking lot. This hike has nice views along the way. Meeting place: Cold Mountain Overlook at Wagon Gap parking area on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Hwy. 276. Topo: Sam Knob/Shining Rock.