Looking Ahead

All Day  Saturday & Sunday

BACKPACK NO. A0703-576 Sept. 15-16
Little River Overnight Loop phone leader for time
Hike: 17.5, Drive 190, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated AA-A
Chip Miller, 828-654-9331, backpacker54nc@bellsouth.net
This two-day, one night backpack will start at the Little River trail for a hike to backcountry campsite #30. On Sunday we will retrace our steps on Little River trail to the Rough Creek trail. At the next junction we will turn left onto the Sugarland Mountain trail which will lead us to the Husky Gap trail. We will hike this trail back to Little River trail and back to our cars near Elkmont. A beautiful hike that will lead us into the heart of the Smokies in the shadow of Clingman's Dome. Limited to ten people—please call the leader for reservations. Topos: Gatlinburg, Silers Bald ; also Nat'l. Geo. GSMNP Map

ALL DAY NO. A0703-577 Sept. 16
Charlies Bunion, Dry Sluice Trail to Smokemont 8:00 AM
Hike 13, Drive 140, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated AA-B
Lenny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, lsberns@worldnet.att.net
900M A pleasant excursion in the Smokies from Newfound Gap to Charlie's Bunion on the AT, then down the Dry Sluice Gap and Bradley Fork Trails to Smokemont Campground, with a short side trip on the Cabin Flats Trail to log some of those hard to get Smokies 900 miles. Beautiful views and late summer flowers. Second meeting place: Maggie Valley Post Office, rear of parking lot, at 8:30 AM, but call leader first. Topos: Clingman’s Dome, Mt. LeConte, Smokemont; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map

ALL DAY NO. A0703-074 Sept. 23
Tanawha Trail 8:00 AM*
Hike 13.3, Drive 150, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated AA-A
Don Gardner, 828-754-4067, gardog3@charter.net
One of our best hikes when the weather cooperates. A fragile and ancient ecosystem, rhododendron and laurel tunnels, hardwood coves, boulder fields and great views make this a special hike. It will be a long day, so plan on an optional supper stop. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 am, stop at second meeting place parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s at exit 64 of I-40 at 8:20 AM, and meet leader at Beacon Heights overlook at 9:30 AM. Topo: Grandfather Mtn.

Half Day Sunday

HALF-DAY No. H0703-403 Sept. 16
DuPont Forest – Reasonover Trail 12:15 PM*
Hike 6, Drive 80, Rated B-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, belston@cytechusa.com
This pleasant loop hike in the DuPont Forest includes the Fawn Lake, Corn Mills Shoals, Bridal Veil Falls, Lake Julian and Reasonover Creek Trails and features views of small waterfalls.*Meet at Westgate at 12:15 PM (note early start time) to form car pools, and meet leader at Hooker Falls Parking lot in DuPont Forest at 1:00 PM.

HALF-DAY No. H0703-153 Sept. 23
Caney Bottom/Cove Creek 1:00 PM*
Hike 5, Drive 75, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Pat Elias, 828-687-1651, patelias@bellsouth.net
P400 A pleasant walk through the woods, with streams, waterfalls, and bridge crossings. *Meet at Westgate at 1:00 PM (note early start time) to form carpools and meet hike leader at the Fish Hatchery in the Pisgah National Forest on FS 475B off US 276 (toward the back of the parking lot) at 1:45 PM.

All Day Wednesday

WEDNESDAY NO W0703-571 Sep. 12
Smokemont Ramble 9:00 AM*
Hike 9, Drive 108, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Ashok Kudva, 828-698-7119, ashok.kudva@mchsi.com
900M *Note later start time. This new CMC hike from a popular GSMNP campground includes an in-and-out stroll along the Bradley Fork Trail and a gradual ascent and descent on the Smokemont Loop Trail. We will cross the Bradley Fork on a long and narrow split log bridge with a steel cable hand rail to complete the loop over Richland Mountain. Second Meeting Place: Maggie Valley Post Office at 9:30 AM, but contact leader beforehand. Topo: Smokemont; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map

WEDNESDAY NO W0703-120 Sep. 26
Charlies Bunion, Grassy Branch to Kephart Prong 8:00 AM
Hike 10-11, Drive 140, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Danny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, danny@hikertohiker.com
900M An exciting adventure through the heart of the Smokies from Newfound Gap to Charlies Bunion on the A.T., then down the Dry Sluice Gap to Grassy Branch Trail, past the Kephart Shelter, and then paralleling a creek on Kephart Prong Trail to U.S. 441. This hike is even more exciting for those trying to log some of those hard-to-get Smokies 900 miles. Beautiful views, lovely stream and late summer flowers. Second Meeting Place: back of Maggie Valley Post Office parking lot at 8:35 AM, but phone leader beforehand. Topos: Clingman’s Dome, Mt. LeConte, Smokemont; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map

Looking Back......

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

WOW! This was an awesomely fun hike. Sun greeted us in the morning at Looking Glass Overlook as 13 hikers signed in and piled into 2 cars to finish the last five miles of road to the MST at Black Balsam. We expected 2 more hikers, and they were able to meet up with us about a mile into the hike. Two seasoned hikers from the Rutherfordton area new to CMC checked us out and have decided to join! Also, the son of the late NC author Wilma Dykeman joined us for this hike. Read about her books at www.ncwriters.org/services/lhof/inductees/wdykeman.

All 15 of us hiked, or should I say blueberry munched our way, down to the intersections of the MST and Grave Yard Ridge Trail which we have named Rattle Snake Café. Low and behold there was a banana on the base of our shade tree which Stu grabbed up and ate! So now we have a ‘banana tree’ at our café. After snack we all munched on more blueberries a bit quicker as we hiked since we were hot and wanted a refreshing swim and lunch. We did just that in the second falls swimming hole. After about an hour, it started raining, so we packed up and never dried off. It rained on us all the way to Skinny Dip Falls, but that did not deter some of us from taking the plunge off a high rock into the chilly and invigorating water. We ended the hike at the overlook and went our separate ways. Seven of us had to make the traditional stop at Dolly’s Ice Cream Shop. Yum. Janet Onan. Photos by Janet.

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

Thirteen may or may not be an unlucky number, but 9 is also in the running. Nine of us went up Boomer Inn Branch, cleverly avoiding the heavy briar and blow down of the last trip. We paid for the cleverness by a very steep but short climb.

It began to thunder as we ate lunch in Double Springs Gap and shortly after we started down it began to rain. The rain was gentle and slowly dwindled to a drizzle. Having rested, the rain turned into a downpour. Once we were all thoroughly soaked the rain stopped, just before we got to the cars. We went by several huge Dutchman's pipes, one had a trunk?, stem? several inches in diameter. We also have photographic proof that Joe Pye weed can get 12 feet high. Dave Wetmore. Photo by Becky Smucker.

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

A great day for a great hike with a great group of hikers! How can you top this along with “NO RAIN”. With five hikers leaving Westgate and picking up the other five hikers at the Cold Mtn. overlook we started the hike at 10 am from Bearpen Gap. We started at the MST access, reached the MST and continued on through out the hike on the MST to Hwy #215. This was a wilderness hike so we were limited to ten hikers. The trail was quite overgrown in places with some nettles and the usual undesirable plants.

We took about 20 – 25 minutes at Wet Camp Gap enjoying and filling up on blueberries. Enjoying a late lunch by the side of a lovely mountain stream away from traffic noise from the Parkway. We then took the side trip to the top of Mt. Hardy which several of the hikers had not been up and which gave them a SB6K peak. Lots of blackberries on the way up to the top.

We saw Chicken Mushroom along with other fungi like Amanitas, puffballs and various polypores (shelf fungi). Flowers included Goldenrod, Wingstem, Panicled Hawkweed, various Asters, and Black Cohosh. Also a fruit called Yellow Mandarin. (Thanks Becky).

We had one new hiker who gave his application/check to the hike leader. A warm welcome to Jeff. We arrived at the end at about 5:15 pm. It is obvious by the time span that this was a somewhat leisurely hike. Five of us planned to eat at the Pisgah Inn but with a one to one half hour wait, no way! We then enjoyed companionship and food at the Stone Ridge Tavern. Carroll. Photo on left by Becky Smucker, on right by Danny Bernstein.

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

Nine hikers gathered at Westgate and drove up the Parkway to the Old Mount Mitchell Toll Road. We walked 3 miles down the old Toll Road until we got to the beginning of the Greybeard Trail in Montreat. After a short walk we arrived at the Walker Knob shelter and decided to add a hike to Walker Knob itself. Walker Knob was our first of 4 overlooks/peaks of the day. It was cloudy or foggy in places and the views were obscured in some directions. We could have had a great view of the whole Montreat area but for the clouds. After a rest there we climbed on to Greybeard, a 700 foot steep climb. Walking under a large hornet or yellowjacket nest hanging over the trail provided a little excitement. Again the views were quite hazy or obscured. We sat and had lunch at Greybeard. Jay Bretz and I had previously scouted an old, unmarked, unnamed, unmaintained manway along the ridge line that separates the Asheville Watershead from the National Forest and Parkway properties. We had cut out a lot of obstructing vegetation so that the hike wouldn't feel too much like a long bushwhack. That is the route that we took most of the way back. The descent from Greybeard was fairly steep and went through blueberries and rhododendron and then leveled out onto a partly grass covered forest floor.

After a short steep climb near Rocky Knob we encountered a short steep rock face that led up to the summit of Rocky Knob. Everyone decided to carefully step up a narrow path on the face using hands where needed. At the top we spent a while resting and again enjoying spectacular views of the insides of clouds. After a 150 foot descent on a marked trail that would lead to the Toll Road we detoured onto another old manway around the north end of rocky Knob where it met a more used manway, which we took to the point where it came close to the Toll Road. Jay and I had not had time to scout the section of the ridge trail that goes directly to Pinnacle so we took the Toll Road to the beginning of an unmarked trail that leads up to Pinnacle. This trail was also very steep with several rest stops along the way. We arrived at the summit overlook and enjoyed what views we could and chatted with a family there that liked to go to Pinnacle on full moon days so that they could watch the sunset and moon rise. We stayed there a while and then took the normal mapped trail down to the parkway. Although the views were not spectacular, everyone enjoyed the hike. especially the newly opened old ridge line trails. Jay Bretz provide a large part of the energy and inspiration to scout and clean up the old trails.

The total ascent for the hike was over 2000 feet which really made it an A level hike. The steepness of all the climbs made it even more strenuous. Charlie Ferguson.

ALL DAY NO. A0703-250 Sept. 9
Douglas Falls – Locust Ridge Circuit 8:00 AM
Hike 11, Drive 60, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Jim Reel, 828-738-0751, jimr57@yahoo.com
SB6K This popular diversified hike features beautiful Douglas (Carter Creek) Falls, a climb through a hemlock forest to the MST, and a scenic lunch stop at the BRP Greybeard Overlook. Optional climb to Craggy Dome (6080 ft.) during lunch stop. After lunch, we’ll see great views from a high mountain meadow with ripe blueberries, and then bushwhack down Locust Ridge. Topos: Montreat, Craggy Pinnacle

On a beautiful September morning, 13 CMC members set off on a scenic hike on the Douglas Falls Trail. A few minutes into the hike we came upon a very interesting looking uprooted tree.(see photo) Most of the hikers posed for and took pictures with the tree (look for these photos in the contest). We moved on to check out Douglas Falls which was more like Douglas sprinkle due to our drought, but still an impressive area. We continued on up the trail to the MST and to a shady, grassy area just short of Greybeard Overlook for lunch. After lunch we hiked up to a beautiful open area just below Bullhead Mountain to enjoy nice views and blueberries. After we had our fill of blueberries, it was time for the infamous bushwhack. The bushwhack down Locust Ridge went very well except for a bee sting to Carroll's shin. My thanks to everyone on the hike for their help and encouragement as I led my first all day hike! Jim Reel. Photo on left by Danny Bernstein, on right by Becky Smucker.

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.

Despite the threatening weather 13 people turned out for the hike. Unfortunately, one carload of 3 people from Westgate drove to the far end of the second meeting place--the Pisgah Inn parking lot--and never re-connected with the rest of the group. This is a good reminder to drive in convoy to hikes! Thanks to George Grunewald for leading the "lost hikers" on an alternate hike at Bent Creek.
The remaining 10 drove up through worsening weather to the beginning of the hike at FS 816. Given the conditions most of the hikers preferred a shorter hike and a few opted not to hike at all. Greg Goodman gallantly volunteered to lead a group of 7 on an abreviated hike up to Black Balsam and back down to the BB parking lot while the leader and non-hikers went back to the Pisgah Inn to see if we could locate the lost hikers. The hikers that braved the bad weather enjoyed "singing in the rain" and emerged from the mist wet but happy. Thanks to all the good sports who helped this first time hike leader feel better about a less than successful day. Marcia.

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.

This section of the Mountains to Sea Trail never fails to offer an abundance of reasons to enjoy every step along the way. Adding 14 hikers in a good mood to the picture made for a great afternoon of good exercise and cheerful connections between club members and newcomers.
The trail follows the ridge and introduces the hiker to a wide range of environments: cool and moist, with giant hemlocks and ancient rock covered with an array of lichens and mosses, then on into stretches of quiet beech forest with a carpet of soft tall grasses. We walk through tall ferns and azalea shrubs, then admire the gnarled and twisted shapes of trees that have long survived the weather extremes of high elevations. And when we come out onto the open bald, we are treated to spectacular long-range views and to a surprising abundance of blueberries still left at the end of the picking season. Here, some of us dive into shoulder-high bushes for a picking contest and agree that life can't get much better. After a piece of Renate's freshly baked Apple-Walnut Kuchen (promised recipe is included), we finished this 3 1/2-hour hike in high spirits at 5:30 PM. Renate Rikkers

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.

Seven people started the hike on the road from the Silvermine parking lot to the campground and then hiked up the Pump Gap Trail. Although the climb is only 1,000 feet it is quite steep for an "easy" hike. Although we set the pace to be quite slow, about half way up a relatively new hiker decided it would be best to turn back. So she and a friend went back to the parking lot and returned on their own. It was quite hot with no breeze which contributed to the difficulty. The other five of us proceeded up near the top near the small cemetery and had a leisurely snack break. Most of the little normally wet streams that we passed were bone dry. The rhododendron leaves were curled up as if it were winter. When we got to the A.T., we decided to take it over Lover's Leap Ridge so we could see the views of the French Broad River and Hot Springs. We returned to the parking lot via the steep Lover's Leap Trail. We stopped at the ice cream store in Hot Springs before returning to Westgate. Charlie Ferguson. Photo by Charlie Ferguson.

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

Two groups of hikers, 8 in each group, walked out from the Ivestor Gap parking area to Grassy Cove Top in the Shining Rock Wilderness. The day was warm and dry, and the blueberries were plentiful. We returned to the parking lot about 3:00 P.M. with backpacks and containers filled with blueberries. Carol Deal.

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

On a relatively hot and humid day, 23 people enjoyed going to the top of Bridal Veil Falls in Dupont Forest for lunch. Many went under the falls as they did in the movie "Last of the Mohicans". Good time for all. Becky.

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

Laura Stallard was unable to lead the hike as scheduled. 10 people went on this hike to the north edge of Looking Glass Rock. This
location has one of the best views of the Pisgah Forest north toward the parkway and beyond. We arrived at the trailhead about 10:00 and began hiking up a steady but sometimes steep forested trail with lots of switchbacks. We stopped and took a group picture at the helipad near the top and then proceeded directly to the north rock face. There we found Tom Bindram. We had a long lunch break there. The air was relatively clear and Tom pointed out the distant mountains and the area slated for logging nearby. On our way back we took the trail to the west face and enjoyed the views of John Rock and Cedar Rock. Charlie Ferguson. Photo on left by Ted Connors, on right by Charlie Ferguson.

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.