HIKE SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAYS

Fourth Quarter 2002

 

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.

 

Wednesday Hikes

 

Submitted by Paula McNabb, 274-0057, or gcmcnabb@charter.net  Next schedule:

Ken & Carol Deal, 281-4530, or KMCDeal@aol.com.

 

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.

 

All Day No. 7944         October 2

Daniel Ridge Loop        9:00 am

Drive 14, hike 6.5, rated B-C

Bob Campbell, 890-0848

Daniel Ridge Loop Trail in Pisgah Forest, with one waterfall. Only meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station on Rt. 276. Topo: Shining Rock.

 

All Day No. 7945         October 9

Laurel Mtn-Pilot Rock-            8:30 am

Thompson Creek Loop           

Drive 25, hike 11-12, rated A-AA

Edgar Pistor, 692-2744

From Yellow Gap Rd. we’ll follow the Laurel Mt. Trail up almost to the Blue Ridge Parkway, then take the Pilot Rock Trail to the 5,280 foot summit of Little Bald Mtn. for a late lunch. (Bring a midmorning snack.) We return to Yellow Gap Rd. via the Thompson Creek Trail, all downhill. Some ascents and descents: a moderate to difficult hike. Car switch required. Meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station. Topo: Dunsmore Mtn. and Cruso

 

All Day No. 7946         Oct. 16           

Greasy Cove Big East Fork      9 am

Drive 60, hike 9, rated A-C

Larry Ballard, 891-4318

Car switch from Black Balsam to Greasy Cove Trail via Ivestor Gap to Big East Fork. This is a wilderness area, requires 2 stream crossings. Only 10 allowed, call hike leader for reservations. Topo: Shining Rock. Meeting place: Davidson River Campground Parking Lot just before the Ranger Station.

 

All Day No. 7947         Oct. 23

Dupont State Forest     9 am

Drive 35, hike 8, rated B-B

Rusty Breeding, 692-0359

Exploration of new State Forest. Meeting place: main entrance to Dupont State Forest on Dupont Rd., next to Agfa plant.

 

All Day No. 7948         Oct. 30

Wolf Ford Hike            8:30 am

Drive 30, hike 9, rated A-C

Greg Goodman, 684-9703

Gauge Station, S. Mills River Trail to Wolf Ford, Squirrel Gap to Horse Cove Trail to Funnel Top Rd. Meeting place: Ranger station on 276 near Davidson River.

Topo: Funnel Top

 

All Day No. 7949         November 6

Big Laurel River            9 am

Drive 50, hike 7.2, rated B-C.

Becky Elston, 749-1886

Trail follows Big Laurel River to the confluence with the French Broad River; lunch here. Pass through Runion, which was a thriving log town in the 1900’s. Fairly rocky. Meeting place: Ingle’s on hwy 25/70 at Marshall Bypass.

 

All Day No. 7950         November 13

Montreat Ridge Hike    8:30 am

Drive 3, Hike 10+, Rated A-AA

Ames F. Tryon, 669 3805

This will be a gate to gate hike in Montreat. We will begin on the Rainbow trail from the Montreat gate, connect with the East Ridge trail, ascend to the summit of Greybeard, return on the West Ridge Trail, descend  via the Stomping Knob Trail, and return to the gate. This may be a AA in distance. Meet at the Black Mountain McDonald's parking lot, exit 64, I-40E.

 

All Day No. 7951         November 20

Penny Rock      9 am

Drive 30, hike 6, rated BB

Boyd Brasington, 254-8675

Penny Rock (Green Knob) to Bridges Camp Gap to Pigeon Gap; a moderate walk thru the woods on the Mts.-to-Sea trail. Some uphill but we will stop to catch our breath. Only meeting place: Cold Mountain Overlook where hwy. 276 crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway.

 

All Day No. 7952         November 27

Stradley Mtn., Bent Creek        9 am

Drive 12 miles, hike 7, rated B-C

Sherman Stambaugh, 254-1736

Hike Bent Creek area, Stradley Mtn., Boyd Branch to 4 Corners. Return by side hill trails. Great views of Hominy Valley. Only meeting place: Ingles in Biltmore Square near I-26. Topo: Bent Creek.

All Day No. 7953         December 4

Long Branch     9 am

Drive 60, hike 11, rated A-B

Tom Sanders, 252-6327

Highlights of this trip, which begin and end at the Pisgah Forest Fish Hatchery, are the McCall Family Cemetary, and views from Rich Mtn., Chestnut Mtn., and the Art Loeb Trail. Topo: Shining Rock. Meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station, Rte. 276.

 

All Day No. 7954         December 11

Canebrake Trail            8:30 am

Drive 33, hike 10, rated A-B

Numa Carter, 697-5420

Start hiking at the parking lot of Frozen Creek Rd., going on to Foothills Trail at the shore of Lake Jockasse. Bring lunch. Will stay within Gorges State Park boundaries. Only meeting place: Bi-Lo parking lot in Pisgah Forest.

 

All Day No. 7955         December 18

Cookie Hike, Wagon Rd.         9 am

Gap to Pisgah Inn

Drive 66, hike 6, rated B-C

Fred Chaffee (if available), 692-8937, or Paula McNabb, 274-0057

An easy traditional hike to the Pisgah Inn. Bring lunch and a few cookies to share. Leader will provide info.on the historical significance of our cookie hikes, which began in Dec. 1988. First meeting place: Ingle’s, Rt. 25 north, Hendersonville. Second meeting place: Cold Mountain Overlook at Wagon Road Gap on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Hwy. 276, at 10:15.                    

 

December 25:   No hike -- Merry Christmas!!

 

New Years Day           January 1, 2003   

Hike No. 7956

Green River      8:30 am breakfast,        Game lands      9:30 am Hike

Hike 8, Drive 20 (from Hendersonville)

Rated B-C

Bruce Bente, 692-0116

This annual hike begins with breakfast at the Cracker Barrel in Hendersonville (exit 22 on I-26), followed by a pleasant loop on a series of trails around the Green River Game Lands, including the Green River Cove trail.  Late lunch at the big rocks on the Green River. Topo: Cliffield Mtn, and map of the Green River Game Lands trails.