CMC Bi-Weekly Hike NewsCMC Bi-Weekly Hike News
March 28, 2007
| All Day Saturday and Sunday Hikes |
| Half Day Sunday Hikes |
| Wednesday Hikes |
Looking Back ... with hike reports
| All Day Saturday and Sunday Hikes |
| Half Day Sunday Hikes |
| Wednesday Hikes |
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ALL DAY NO. A0702-151 Apr. 1 ALL DAY HIKE NO. A0702-567 April 1 ALL DAY NO. A0702-443 Apr. 8 HALF-DAY NO. H0702-046 Apr. 1 HALF-DAY NO. H0702-556 Apr. 8 WEDNESDAY No. W0701-280 March 28 Palmetto Trail: Pointsett Passage and Blue Wall Preserve. 8:30 AM* Hike 10, Drive 100, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated A-B Ann Gleason, 828-859-9387, gleason.ann@gmail.com Come hike the newly opened section of the Palmetto Trail: Pointsett Passage is a 6.6 mile stretch that climbs along the NC / SC border and NW ridge of the Greenville water shed. The trail travels up and down the ridge through wilderness that has been closed to the public for decades, then descends to the Vaughns Gap parking area behind Lake Lanier. The hike requires a car drop at the Lake Lanier end. *Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Saluda Truck Stop, Texaco station at exit 59 off I- 26 at 9:05 AM. Topo: Saluda WEDNESDAY NO. W0702-564 Apr. 11 ALL DAY No. A0701-532 Mar. 18 Sassafras Mtn. 8:30 AM* Hike 9, Drive 140, 2400 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA Lenny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, lsberns@worldnet.att.net *Note later start time. This is a pleasant hike from US 178 up to the highest peak in South Carolina, following the Foothills Trail. Early spring flowers and possible winter views on top. Second meeting place: NE corner of Cracker Barrel parking lot at exit 53 of I-26 at 9:00 AM. Topo: Eastatoe Gap; also Guide to Foothills Trail, sections A4 to A2.
Our lunch spot was a ledge just below the summit with a good view NE into the Nantahala Forest area of North Carolina. The summit itself has the foundation of an old fire tower and is accessible by paved road. To the dismay of some participants, the leader chose to take the road back down for about the 2/3 of the return. This caused a near mutiny, with comments like, if I want to walk on the road, all I need do is go the end of my driveway. However, the road walk is a gentle downhill along a pretty stream with a different set of views. The leader does not apologize for his choice. Lenny Bernstein. Photo by Ted Connors. SATURDAY No. A0701-093 Mar. 24 Graybeard Mountain 8:00 AM* Hike 10-11, Drive 35, 2700 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA Steve Pierce, 828-724-4999, stevepierce@charter.net An exciting ridgetop manway along the middle mountain is our path to the summit. Return to Montreat via Walker Knob and Pot Cove Gap. There’ll be good views, a delightful hike and a good workout. Fairly strenuous, including a very steep first mile. *Meeting places: Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at parking lot adjacent to McDonalds at exit 64 of I 40 at 8:20 AM. Topo: Montreat; also Montreat Trails Map
Nine hikers – seven members and 2 new hikers – took advantage of a warm spring day to hike in Montreat. We parked at the Greybeard Mountain trailhead (our ending place) and walked one-half mile to the Big Piney Ridge trailhead. This proved to be a good warm-up for the steep ascent up Big Piney Ridge to the West Ridge Trail. We continued northeast on the trail over three unnamed peaks of the Seven Sisters to Little Slaty and Big Slaty, stopping for views of the Asheville Watershed and lunch. After reaching Greybeard Mountain and taking in the views of the Blacks and Craggies (and some chocolate) we began our descent down the Greybeard Trail stopping at Walker Knob and Greybeard Falls. The final leg of the hike followed Flat Creek to the cars. Steve Photo by Steve. ALL DAY No. A0701-551 Mar. 25 Fish Hatchery to Davidson Campground via Cat Gap 8:00 AM* Hike 10, Drive 72, 2050 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA Joan Lemire, 828-231-9259, tjbindire@yahoo.com P400 *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Ranger Station at 8:40 AM. This will be a moderately-paced hike via Cat Gap and the Art Loeb Trail, with lunch atop Chestnut Knob. The trail is NOT all downhill thereafter. Car shuttle. Topos: Shining Rock, Pisgah Forest; also Natl. Geo. PRD map
HALF-DAY No. H0701-344 Mar. 18 Such a contrast from the previous Wed. on the Green. The little beach was not only visible but able to scramble over the rocks. Large group of 24 on a crisp yet sunny day. Great hike. Becky HALF-DAY NO. H0701-196 Mar. 25 Vineyard Gap Loop 1:30 PM*
We did the frequently-hiked Vineyard Gap loop, hiking the up-and-down ridgeline to Vineyard Gap, and then the long steep hike through the rhododendron tunnels down to the S. Mills River. An unusual number of water breaks were made due to the warm weather. Next we hiked the scenic route along the river to our riverside snack stop (see photo), where we enjoyed Joe’s musical entertainment with his harmonica. After relaxation, it was time for work, going up the steep 400-foot climb up to the ridgeline and then back to our cars. After the hike, eight of us enjoyed a good meal at Carrabba’s near the airport, after first figuring out how to get one hiker back home to get his spare car keys (keys were locked in car at Turkey Pen parking lot) and then how to get him back to his car. Bruce. Photo by Bruce Bente. WEDNESDAY No.W0701-344 Mar. 14 Pulliam Creek in the Green River Gamelands 9:00 AM Hike 6.5, Drive 60, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated C-B Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, belston@cytechusa.com This pretty in-and-out hike goes along Pulliam Creek for part of the way. We may see kayakers on the Green River. Second meeting place: NE corner of parking lot of Cracker Barrel off Exit 53 of I-26 at 9:30 PM. Topo: Cliffield Mtn; also Trails of the Green River Game lands map
Had a beautiful, warm day to hike in the Green River Gamelands on the Pulliam Creek Trail. The water was raging on the Green River as they must have been releasing lots of water from Lake Summit. Didn't see any kayackers but it was a good hike. Becky Elston WEDNESDAY No. W0701-049 Mar. 21 Big Creek - Walnut Bottom 8:00 AM Hike 6 or 11, 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 hike will be offered if a minimum of 3 people wish to do it. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck Stop, off I-40 at Exit 24 at 8:30 AM, but call leader first. Topo: Luftee Knob, Cove Creek Gap; also Nat'l. Geo. GSMNP Map
Three hikers completed 7 miles while the others completed the full 11 miles. Bruce explained the old railroad track constructed behind Mousecreek Falls. Bruce and Charlie posed for a photo at the historic Brakeshoe Spring where in 1919 a logging train engineer placed a locomotive brakeshoe into a depression in the mossy stone to create a natural fountain. He used to pause to drink water during his trips up and down the creek. Yellow Trillium, Wood Anemone, Bloodroot and other wildflowers highlighted the trail on the first day of spring. Enchanting sounds and spectacular sights of mountain streams eased the moderate 11 mile trek. During the post-hike supper at Stone Ridge Tavern in Asheville, Ruth recited ( without any written notes!) all thirteen wildflower species she identified in alphabetical order delighting the other five hikers. Two photos by Ted Connors and Ashok are included. More photos are at CMC member photo albums: http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/558333380WLfJKb Ashok. Photo by Ashok All-day hikes submitted by Bruce Bente 692-0116, bbente@bellsouth.net . Driving distance is round-trip from Asheville. All Saturday and Sunday hikes assemble at Westgate Shopping Center near I-240 UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. Half Day hikes submitted by Paula Robbins 828-687-1651 paularww@bellsouth.net. Wednesday Hikes are submitted by Charlie Ferguson, 828-398-0213 ccf108@gmail.com and Ann Gleason, 828-859-9387, gleason.ann@gmail.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. |
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Sassafras Mountain is the highest point in South Carolina, and the route up from US178 is a pleasant climb up the side of the Jocassee Gorge, on an excellently maintained section of the Foothills Trail. For unknown reasons reason, this hike has not been part of CMC’s repertoire. That short-coming has now been overcome. Nine CMCers summitted Sassafras Mountain on a beautiful spring morning, and the hike is now part of our data base. 
A total of 7 hikers took advantage of a sunny, warm day, enjoying the early spring woods that allowed some views of John Rock, Looking Glass Rock, Cedar Rock and distant ridges before the emerging leaves make this just another pleasant woods walk. As we came down from High Top to the Davidson River, we were treated to an unexpected variety of wildflowers in bloom (very early). 
From the number of phonecalls and the warm weather, I was expecting a large turnout for this hike and was not surprised when 27 hikers showed up for the warmest hike yet in 2007. It was hard to believe temperatures in the high 70s in March. A number of new hikers were on the hike.
Thirteen hikers assembled at the Big Creek Campground which until the end of logging era in 1928 housed the Crestmont Lumber Company and in the 1930s 100 young men of the Civilian Construction Corps(CCC). They constructed the two bridges we crossed enroute to our lunch spot at Walnut Bottom, 40 miles of trails and Mt. Sterling and Mt. Cammerer fire towers.