HIKE SCHEDULE Fourth Quarter 2003
Wednesday Hikes
Hike Ratings First Letter Second Letter Distance Cumulative 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 Paula McNabb, 274-0057 gcmcnabb@charter.net. Next schedule: Kenneth & Carol Deal, 281-4530, 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, round trip, from the first designated meeting place.
ALL DAY No. W0304-227 October 1 Crabtree Bald 8:30am Hike 7, Drive 70, rated B-AA Jay Bretz, 828-658-1220 Williambretz1220@msn.com This is a rescheduling of a favorite club hike. Few hikers were able to do it in February due to rain and cold. This trail takes us through pasture and woods to the 5,320 foot summit. of Crabtree Bald. Views of all the 40 mountain peaks in WNC 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. W0304-104 Oct. 8 Wolfe Ford Hike 8:30 am Hike 9, drive 30, rated A-C Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703 This hike takes the South 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. W0304-279 Oct. 15 Montreat Trestle Grade Trail 9 am Hike 5-6, drive 3, rated C-C Gerry McNabb, 828-274-0057, gcmcnabb@charter.net From the parking area up to and along the Trestle Grade Trail and return. Meeting place: Black Mountain McDonald's parking lot, exit 64, I-40 east.
ALL DAY No. W0304-284 October 22 Kitsuma Peak, Young's Ridge 8:30 am Hike 8.4, drive 8, rated B-AA Elizabeth Feil, 828-684-8719, hofeil@brinet.com 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 the peak. Once we've climbed Kitsuma, it's 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 McDonald's, exit 64, I-40 east.
ALL DAY No. W0304-285 October 29 Lane Pinnacle 9 am Hike 5-6, drive 60, rated B-B Paula McNabb, 828-274-0057, gcmcnabb@charter.net After a short climb of this high altitude ridge, we can enjoy 4 lovely viewpoints. We'll take the MTS trail from Bee Tree Gap to Lane's and return. Meeting place: Folk Art Center lower parking lot.
ALL DAY No. W0304-286 Nov. 5 Sycamore Cove 9 am Hike 6.5 Drive 2, Rated B-C Kathie Giddings 696-9808 kmgiddings@juno.com A nice easy/moderate late fall loop hike in the Pisgah Forest, with several easy stream crossings. Parking is limited at the trail head, so a car shuttle may be required. Only meeting place: Davidson River Campground Parking Lot.
ALL DAY No. W0304-287 Nov. 12 Montreat Ridge Hike 8:30 am Hike 12, drive 2, rated A-AA Ames Tryon, 828-669-3805, tryonaf@charter.net Gate-to-gate hike. Ascend Stomping Knob Trail to West Ridge Trail to the summit of Greybeard. Will descend the back side of Greybeard back over Stomping Knob to Mt. Mitchell toll road. Return via the toll road, East Ridge trail, and Rainbow Road. Gain of 2700 feet. Meeting place: McDonald's, I-40, exit 64.
ALL DAY No. W0304-288 Nov. 19 Kanuga Conference Center 9 am Hike 8.5. drive 16, rated B-C Fred Chaffee, 828-692-8937 Renewing our the traditional pre-Thanksgiving hike over well-maintained trails including the Doug Stirling trail to Wolf Mtn. overlook, and Long Rocks to the Jim Redd trails, with lunch on scenic Eagle Rock, overlooking Pinnacle Mountain. A pleasant moderate loop hike over varied terrains. First meeting place: parking lot rear of Mountain Bank, corner of White St. & Rt. 25 south, Hendersonville. Second meeting place: Kanuga Conference Center, lower parking lot (rear of Inn ) 9:15.
ALL DAY Nov. 26 NO HIKE SCHEDULED. HAPPY THANKSGIVING
ALL DAY No. W0304-289 Dec. 3 MST: Glassmine Falls Overlook to Stepps Gap 8:30 am Hike 7, Drive 70, Rated B-A Tom Sanders 252-6327 mel&tgs@main.nc.us Features 2 peaks over 6000, Blackstock Knob and Mt. Gibbes. This route has been worked out by Cave Dog and Tom, with a shortcut bushwhack off the MST around the North of Potato Knob and on to Clingmans Peak and Gibbes. Close to 2000 ft ascent. Car shuttle. Topos: Mt.Mitchell and Montreat. Meeting place: Westgate Shopping Center
ALL DAY No. W0304-290 Dec. 10 Shut-In - (MST) and Bent Creek 9 am Hike 7-8, drive 0, rated B-B Siro Del Favero, 828-277-2546 From the French Broad Overlook we will embark on a brisk hike through Bent Creek via Shut-In, Cascades, CMC extension, CMC, Wesley Branch, and Old Mill Trails back to the overlook. Estimated total ascent: 1,000 feet. Meeting place: French Broad Overlook on the Parkway.
ALL DAY No. W0304-291 Dec. 17 Wagon Rd. Gap to Pisgah Inn, annual Cookie hike, 10 am Hike 6, drive 0, rated B-C Fred Chaffee, 828-692-8937 Note later start. An easy traditional hike to the Pisgah Inn. Lunch on the back porch of the Inn's motel for a pre-Christmas celebration. Bring a few homemade goodies to share. The leader will provide info on the historical significance of our cookie hikes, which began in Dec. '88. A portion of hike will be on a trail at the base of Frying Pan Mtn. to the lower campground at the Inn. A side trip up Frying Pan Mtn., may be included. In case of dubious weather, call the leader the day before the trip. Meeting point: Cold Mountain Overlook at Wagon Rd. Gap on the Blue Ridge parkway at Hwy. 276.
ALL DAY DEC. 24 NO HIKE SCHEDULED. HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE.
ALL DAY DEC. 31 NO HIKE SCHEDULED. HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE.