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.
All-day hikes Submitted by Paula McNabb, 828-274-0057, paulamcnabb@charter.net . Driving distance is round-trip from Asheville. Hikes will assemble at Westgate Shopping Center near I-240 exit 3B UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. Some hikes will have second meeting places as described in the hike listing. Please phone the hike leader if you are not sure of the meeting location.
WEDNESDAY NO. W0603-465 July 5 Sam Knob Sketching hike 9:00 AM Hike 5, drive 70, rated C-B Gerry McNabb, 274-0057, gerrymcnabb@charter.net P400 Take the Sam Knob trail, with side trip up Sam Knob for a new twist. We’ll take 45 minutes for a sketch, then lunch. Non-sketchers also welcome. Meet leader at Westgate; call leader if you desire a second meeting place. Bring sketchpad and drawing pencil or pigma micron pen, .05 size, if you plan to sketch. A small watercolor pen could add to the fun as well. Site also good for photos.
WEDNESDAY NO. W0603-529 July 12 Fletcher Fields & Spencer Branch Trail 8:00 AM* Hike 8, drive 60, rated B-C Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703 P400 This will be a woods hike, crossing small creeks, using log bridges. It will involve Fletcher Creek Trail via Spencer Branch and the Middle Fork; Trace Ridge trailhead to Fletcher Creek Trail, to Mid Fork Trail, and back to Fletcher Creek. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at pull-out just before Mills River Recreation Area at 8:30 AM.
WEDNESDAY NO. W0603-530 July 19 Bent Creek Loop #10 -Stradley Mountain via Rice Pinnacle. 9:00 AM Hike 8, Drive 25, 900 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Sherman Stambaugh, 828 254 1736 P400 This moderate hike is in the eastern part of Stradley Mountain. It is probably a new hike for most. Great views of Hominy Valley. We will return by Boyd Branch and Deer Lake Lodge Trail. Second meeting place: Ingles across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 at 9:15 AM.
WEDNESDAY NO. W0603-237 July 26 Plott Balsams 8:00 AM Hike 9, Drive 90, 3400 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA+ Charlie Ferguson, 828-398-0213, ccferguson111@charter.net SB6K Here is your chance to climb all four of the 6000-footers in the Plott Balsams, and see spectacular views of the Smokies and nearby mountains. From Waterrock Knob, we will follow a very rough, steep trail over Browning Knob to Lyn Lowry and Plott Balsam. Then we will hike back to our starting point and then to the top of Yellow Face. The hike is strenuous due to the rough trail and climbing over fallen spruce trees on steep slopes. Wear long sleeves and pants. Topos: Hazelwood, Sylva North
WEDNESDAY NO. W0603-091 Aug. 2 Blacks South of Mt. Mitchell 8:00 AM Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary2@charter.net Hike 9, Drive 65, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-A SB6K From Mt. Mitchell we will follow the Old Mitchell Trail south with a bushwhack to climb Mt. Hallback (6320 ft.), then to 6571 ft. Mt. Gibbes and continuing to Potato Knob, with return by partially alternate route. You can also climb Mt. Mitchell to fill out your list of 6000+ ft. peaks. Second meeting place: Craven Gap at 8:20 AM. Topos: Mt. Mitchell, Montreat; also Nat’l. Geo. South Toe River, Mt. Mitchell & Big Ivy Trail Map
WEDNESDAY. NO. W0603-475 Aug. 9 Hump Mountain/Yellow Mountain Area 8:30 AM* Hike 9, Drive 130, Ascend 2400 ft., Rated B-AA Adrian Lotherington, 828-350-8065, jaloth@bellsouth.net . We will hike from Roaring Creek Road to Yellow Mountain Gap at which point we join the AT, along an open ridge to Little Hump Mt and on to Hump Mt where will have lunch on a grassy bald at 5587 ft. We return to Yellow Mt Gap and take the Overmountain Victory Loop back to the car park. The fabulous vistas and meadows full of flowers make the drive and moderately strenuous walk very much worth while. *ONLY MEETING PLACE. Rose's car park, across from McDonalds at the US 25/70 Weaverville exit at 8:40 AM. Topos: Carver's Gap, White Rocks Mtn.
NO HIKE SCHEDULED, NO LEADER AVAILABLE Aug. 16
WEDNESDAY NO. W0603-247 Aug. 23 Ivestor Gap Blueberry Hike 8:30 AM* Hike 6, Drive 76, rated B-C Ken and Carol Deal, 828-281-4530, cnkdeal@charter.net P400 Our traditional hike to the picking fields of Grassy Cove Top in the Shining Rock Wilderness. Limit 10 hikers. Call for reservation. *Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet leaders at BRP Cold Mountain Overlook at 9:15 AM for carpooling to Big Sam parking area.
WEDNESDAY NO. W0603-101 Aug. 30 Lower Big Laurel Creek 9:00 AM* Hike 6, Drive 60, 200-ft ascent, Rated B-C Paula McNabb, 828-274-0057, paulamcnabb@charter.net Leisurely paced in-and-out hike along Lower Big Laurel Creek to the site of Runion, an early 1900s logging and mining settlement.
WEDNESDAY NO. W0603-266 Sept. 6 MST: Black Mtn. Campground to NC 128 8:00 AM* Hike 11, Drive 80, 3630 ft ascent, Rated A-AA+ Ames Tryon, 828-669-3805, tryonaf@charter.net SB6K This will be a challenging hike from the Black Mountain Campground over the summit of Mt. Mitchell with a descent to NC 128 (Mt Mitchell Rd). Total elevation change will be approximately 4870 ft. 10 mile car shuttle. *THE ONLY MEETING PLACE WILL BE THE LOWER PARKING LOT AT THE FOLK ART CENTER AT 8:00 A.M. Topos Mt. Mitchell, Celo and Montreat; also Nat’l. Geo. South Toe River, Mt. Mitchell & Big Ivy Trail Map
WEDNESDAY NO. W0603-049 Sept. 13 Walnut bottom 8:00 AM Hike 11.6, Drive 110, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-B Ashok Kudva, 828-698-7119, ashok.kudva@mchsi.com 900M Follow the sight and sound of a spectacular mountain stream through a beautiful forest to Walnut Bottom. Features to be seen on this hike on a wide roadbed are the Midnight Hole, Mouse Creek Falls and several rapids. A shorter version (6 miles) will be offered if a minimum of 3 people wish to do so. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck Stop, I-40 at Exit 24 at 8:30 AM, but call leader first. Topos: Luftee Knob, Cove Creek Gap; also Nat'l. Geo .GSMNP Map
WEDNESDAY NO. W0603-479 Sept. 20 Kagel Mtn. 8:30 AM Hike 9, Drive 80, 1100 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Larry Ballard, 828-891-4318, leballard@cytechcis.net P400 This new CMC loop hike will start from Cathey’s Creek Rd. and follow an overgrown forest road to the Art Loeb Trail, with lunch at the Butter Gap shelter. We’ll return via a no-name trail for variety. Nice winter views. Second meeting place: Bi-Lo in Pisgah Forest at 9:00 AM Topos: Rosman, Shining Rock
WEDNESDAY NO. W0603-531 Sept. 27 Pisgah Inn to Beaverdam Overlook 9:00 AM* Rusty Breeding, 828-692-0359, bree@planetusa.com Hike 7.9, Drive 50, 1400’ descent, rated B-C P400 Hike along the MST from Pisgah Inn to the Beaver Dam Overlook. After Little Pisgah Mtn, it’s downhill almost all the way. May see some early fall color. *Meet at 9:00 AM at Westgate to form carpools, and meet lead