Looking Ahead

All Day  Saturday & Sunday

SATURDAY NO. A0703-384 Aug. 25
Black Balsam to Skinny Dip Falls via MST 8:30 AM*
Hike 7, Drive 70, Ascend 700 ft., Rated B-C
Janet Onan, 828-698-3237, janonan@bellsouth.net
P400 Starting at Black Balsam, we will follow the MST, with a side trip to the second (lower) falls at Graveyard Fields for lunch. Bring a towel and be prepared for swimming. Then hike on to Skinny Dip Falls, then to Looking Glass Overlook. Car shuttle. *Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM (note later start time) to form carpools, and meet leader at Looking Glass Overlook, BRP M.P. 417 at 9:15 AM. Topos: Sam Knob, Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

ALL DAY NO. A0703-569 Aug. 26
Cold Spring Knob 8:00 AM
Hike 11, Drive 65, 2770 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Dave Wetmore, 828-884-7296, dwetmore@citcom.net
This hike is an interesting mix of old logging roads, cross-country, and surveyor's lines. We will start near Sunburst Campground and climb to Double Spring Gap along old roads, the abandoned Boomer Inn Branch trail and some short but steep off-trail climbs. From Double Spring Gap we'll take a surveyor's cut up the ridgeline to the summit of Cold Spring Knob. The return will be on old but open logging roads. This new hike is a chance to explore the rarely-visited Lickstone Ridge. Topos: Sam Knob, Waynesville; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

ALL DAY NO. A0703-193 Sept. 2
MST: Bearpen Gap to NC 215 via Mt. Hardy 8:30 AM*
(strenuous)
Hike 9, Drive 85, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated A-B
Carroll Koepplinger, 828-667-0723, carrollkoepp@bellsouth.net
SB6K, P400 *Note later start time. This MST hike leads through a beautiful forest of spruce, birch, rhododendron and maple with mosses and ferns lining the forest floor. A special feature is a short side trip up 6110 Ft. Mt. Hardy, with first-rate views on its north side. Partly through the Middle Prong Wilderness area, limit 10, so call leader for reservation. Second meeting place: Cold Mtn. O/L on BRP (M.P. 412) at 9:10 AM Topo: Sam Knob; also USFS Shining Rock & Middle Prong Wildernesses map and Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

ALL DAY NO. A0703-213 Sept. 2
(moderate)
Rocky Knob & Greybeard from BRP 8:30 AM*
Hike 7-8, Drive 65, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Charlie Ferguson, 828-333-5165, ccf108@gmail.com
*Note later starting time. We will hike from the BRP to Blue Ridge Pinnacle, an in-out trail to Rocky Knob and Greybeard. Return using a portion of the old Toll Rd. Two ascents will be steep but short. Topos: Montreat, Mt. Mitchell; also Nat’l. Geo. Linville Gorge Mt. Mitchell map

Half Day Sunday

HALF-DAY No. H0703-112 Aug. 26
Black Balsam Loop 1:00 PM*
Hike 6, Drive 80, Rated B-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Marcia Bromberg, 828-505-0471, mwbromberg@yahoo.com
P400 *Note early start time. From FS 816 off the Blue Ridge Parkway, the hike will follow the Mountains-to Sea-Trail 1.5 miles to the intersection with the Graveyard Ridge Trail, which will take us to Ivestor Gap. The loop hike will return to the starting point via the Art Loeb Trail over Tennent Mountain and Black Balsam Knob. Bring your blueberry containers and expect to enjoy beautiful views. Second meeting place: north end of Pisgah Inn Parking lot at 1:30 PM.

HALF-DAY No. H0703-464 Sept. 2
Balsam Gap to Greybeard Overlook 1:00 PM*
Hike 4, Drive 44, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Renate Rikkers, 828-298-9988, rerikkers@aol.com
Great views and blueberries will reward hikers on this portion of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Car shuttle *Note early start time and only meeting place: Folk Art Center lower parking lot.

HALF-DAY No. H0703-295 Sept. 9
Pump Gap Loop 1:00 PM*
Hike 5, Drive 80, 1000-ft, ascent, Rated B-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Charlie Ferguson, 828-398-0215, ccf108@gmail.com
*Note early start time. From the Silvermine Trail Head near Hot Springs, there is a steady climb through a hardwood forest to the ridge top, where we will visit an old cemetery, cross the Appalachian Trail and return on the Pump Gap Trail.

All Day Wednesday

WEDNESDAY NO W0703-247 Aug. 22
Ivestor Gap Blueberry Hike 8:00 AM*
Hike 7, Drive 76, Rated B-C
Ken & 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 leaders for reservation. Topos: Sam Knob, Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

WEDNESDAY NO W0703-570 Aug. 29
Dupont Forest – Corn Mill Shoals P.L. #2 9:00 AM*
Hike 7, Drive 80, 140 ft. ascent, Rated C-B
Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, belston@cytechusa.com
Several trails will take us to the top of the rushing waters of Bridal Veil Falls for lunch, and a close up view and walk behind the falls, as seen in the movie The Last of the Mohicans. Start at Corn Mill Shoals Road parking lot and we'll be on Burnt Mountain Trail, Little River Trail and Bridal Veil Falls Trail. *Meet at Westgate at 9:00 AM to form carpools, and meet hike leader at Hooker Falls parking lot in Dupont Forest at 9:45AM. Topo: Standingstone Mtn.; also DuPont Forest trail map

WEDNESDAY NO W0703-035 Sept. 5
Looking Glass Rock 9:00 AM
Hike 6, Drive 70, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated C-A
Laura Stallard, 828-697-1579, nlstal345@bellsouth.net
P400 A moderately difficult well-graded trail leads to the top of this interesting pluton. There are excellent viewpoints from the overlook at the end of the trail just beyond the summit. From the top of Looking Glass, we will identify the location of a proposed USFS timber sale in the vicinity of Case Camp Ridge. The proposed sale involves timber on 165 acres viewable from Looking Glass. Second Meeting Place: Pisgah Ranger Station on US276 at 9:30 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

Looking Back......

All Day  Saturday & Sunday

ALL DAY NO. A0703-473 Aug. 12
Mt. Mitchell – Maple Camp Bald loop 8:30 AM*
Hike 8.5, Drive 70, 1600 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Becky Smucker, 828-298-5013, bsmucker@charter.net
SB6K *Note later start time. We’ll do a moderate loop with great views, starting at Mt. Mitchell, following the MST, Mt. Mitchell and Buncombe Horse Range Trails. We’ll stop at Maple Camp Bald, then take the Big Tom Gap Trail 191-A up to the Crest Trail, and return via Big Tom and Mt. Craig. Second meeting place: Craven Gap at 8:45 AM Topo: Mt. Mitchell; also PNF South Toe River, Mt. Mitchell & Big Ivy trail map

Eleven hikers drove through some drizzle and in and out of the fog up the Blue Ridge Parkway to Mount Mitchell. Some cloud cover kept it cool and comfortable on a day that reached the high 80’s in Asheville, but it never rained on our hike (surprise!). Fabulous blueberries on our left along the Horse Range Trail nearly prevented us from noticing that the views to our right were usually obscured by fog. We ate our fill and then some. After lunch we climbed the steep trail/manway to the Crest Trail below Big Tom and found that the clouds had cleared to give us some views. From Mount Craig, we could see the crane and the beginnings of a new observation deck on top of Mitchell. Impressive construction is also taking place along the Crest Trail, with huge boulders being brought in to make steps, retaining walls and heavy use walkways. This was an interesting loop with a wide variety of terrain. Thanks to a strong, upbeat group of hikers and a top-flight blueberry patch for a very enjoyable day. Becky Smucker. Photos by Danny Bernstein

BACKPACK NO. A0703-575 Aug. 18-19
Laurel Falls - Meigs Mtn. Sugarland loop --- Phone leader for time
Hike: 23.7, Drive 185, 3900 ft. ascent, Rated AA+-AA+
Don Gardner, 828-754-4067, gardog3@charter.net
This two-day, one night backpack will start at the Laurel Falls Trail parking lot, and will follow the Laurel Falls, Little Brier Gap, Curry Mtn. and Meigs Mtn. trails to campsite #20 (13.5 mls.). #20 is beautiful and one of the nicest campsites in the park. The next day we will continue on Meigs Mtn. trail to Cucumber Gap and connecting trails, to Sugarland Mtn. Trail and back to our cars (10.2 mls.). Limited to ten people—please call the leader for reservations. Topo: Gatlinburg ; also Nat'l. Geo. GSMNP map

No report

ALL DAY NO. A0703-044 Aug. 19
Lost Cove 8:00 AM
Hike 7.5, Drive 150, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Les Love, 828-658-1489, lesrlove@charter.net
Everyone enjoyed this hike in the Wilson Creek area last year, so we’re offering it again. It features spectacular waterfalls and the best swimming anywhere. Bring your bathing suit. Be prepared for several wet-foot stream crossings. Optional supper afterwards at Little Siena. Second meeting place: parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s off I-40 at exit 64 at 8:20 AM. Topo: Grandfather Mtn.; also USFS Wilson Creek map

No report. Photos by Danny Bernstein.

Half Day Sunday

HALF-DAY No. H0703-002 Aug. 12
MST: NC 128 to Balsam Gap 12:30 PM*
Hike 5, Drive 60, 1500 ft. ascent, rated C-A
Nonmembers, call leader, Jim Reel, 828-738-0751, jimr57@yahoo.com
SB6K This beautiful and scenic portion of the MST features great views, rocky climbs, and hiking through a dark spruce forest as we climb Blackstock Knob (6320 ft.). Although only 5 miles long and on an established trail, this hike ascends a total of 1500 ft. and hikers must be capable of this amount of climbing. The hiking pace will be moderate. *Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM (note early start time) to form carpools, and meet hike leader at Balsam Gap parking area at BRP M.P. 360 at 1:15 PM. Topo: Montreat; also MST Profiles, pg. 67-69

On a sunny, hot day down in the lowlands, ten people met to hike in the cool, green forest near Mt Mitchell. It was a little humid and cloudy when we started but otherwise a beautiful hiking day. We stopped at a rock outcropping with nice views of the mountains and the parkway. Everyone took the opportunity to enjoy fresh blueberries along the trail. The hike leader thought we were at the summit before we actually were and gave the hikers a great chance to give him a little good natured ribbing. Turtleheads and Blue Bead Lillies were in bloom along the trail. We got a great view of Mt Mitchell and the new tower from along the ridgeline, just north of Blackstock Knob. As we neared the end of the trail everyone was wishing we didn't have to go back down to the high temps of the lowland. Jim Reel

HALF-DAY No. H0703-573 Aug. 19
Devil’s Courthouse from NC 215 1:00 PM*
Hike 6, Drive 75, 700-ft ascent, Rated B-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Ashok Kudva, 828-698-7119, ashok.kudva@mchsi.com
P400 We will hike east from the parking area off NC 215 through patches of mountain laurel and a dense pine cluster on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail connector crossing over the Blue Ridge Parkway tunnel to Devil's Courthouse, where we will pause for a snack to enjoy 360º mountain views before returning. *Meet at Westgate at 1:00 PM (note early start time) to form carpools, and meet hike leader at the Cold Mountain Overlook at 1:35 PM.

Fourteen hikers, including six from Westgate, assembled at the Cold Mountain Overlook. An 18-year old college freshman joined us with his father, a new member. We dropped one car at the Devil’s Courthouse Overlook and proceeded to the MST trailhead at NC 215. Temperature was 78F, much cooler than at Asheville and Hendersonville .
Most of the trail through patches of mountain laurel and a dense pine cluster provided a cooler environment. We stopped at the summit for a snack and 360 degree view of surrounding mountains: Pilot Mountain, Mount Hardy, Little Sam, Sam’s Knob and Black Balsam and others. New members who had done only 1 or 2 half-day hikes were excited about the opportunities to climb those peaks on all-day CMC hikes . One member terminated the hike at the Devil’s Courthouse Overlook parking lot . She enjoyed identifying several fern and other plants while waiting for us to return.
Our GPS measured the hike distance and elevation change as 4.5 mile and 600 ft , respectively. We completed the hike in 3 hour 15 minutes including a 25 minute snack and view break at the summit . Most of the trail was surrounded by ripe blueberries and blackberries, which dictated our hiking pace! We had a great time eating on the trail and saving some to take home. View of Devil’s Courthouse from the trail with some opening from the mountain laurel and berry bushes was fabulous. Ashok. Photos by Ashok Kudva.


Wednesday

WEDNESDAY NO. W0703-459 Aug. 8
NC 128 to Greybeard overlook 8:30 AM
Hike 8.9, Drive 80, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@bellsouth.net
We head up into old growth balsam - spruce forests south of Mt Mitchell for a scenic hike with dramatic views and several rocky climbs. Possible blueberry sightings. Hikers wishing a shorter trek can stop after 6.4 miles at Glassmine Falls overlook, if desired. Car shuttle. Second meeting place: Craven Gap on BRP at 8:45 AM. Topos: Mt. Mitchell, Montreat; also MST Profiles, pg. 66-69

25 hikers, including two visiting hikers from N.J., enjoyed a respite from the heat by hiking the MST from NC 128 to Greybeard overlook. Of these, 19 hiked the 8.9 miles to Greybeard overlook, and 6 took the shorter 6.4 mile option of stopping at Glassmine Falls overlook. Non-drivers had the luxury of relaxing in the grass at the end of the trail while the drivers shuttled back to pick up the cars.
Everyone enjoyed the views and many ripe blueberries along the way. The section maintainer for the Rainbow Gap to Balsam Gap section hiked with us to enjoy everyone's ooh's and ah's over the excellent condition of his section of the trail. Bruce Bente. Photo by Ted Connors.

WEDNESDAY NO W0703-475 Aug. 15
Hump Mountain/Yellow Mountain Area 8:30 AM*
Hike 9, Drive 140, 2400 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA
Adrian Lotherington, 828-484-9132, jaloth@charter.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 we will have lunch on a grassy bald at 5587 ft. We will 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 worthwhile. *ONLY MEETING PLACE: Rose's car park, across from McDonalds at the US 25/70 Weaverville exit #19 at 8:30AM. Topos: Carvers Gap, White Rocks Mtn.

No report. Photo on left by Ashok Kudva, on right by Ted Connors.

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.
Leaders: Mail please mail your sign-up sheets. Meet at Westgate unless otherwise noted.