Looking Ahead

All Day  Saturday & Sunday

SATURDAY NO. A0703-095 Sept. 29
Hemphill Bald from Polls Gap 8:30 AM*
Hike 9.5, Drive 95, 1900 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Danny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, danny@hikertohiker.com
900M *Note later start time. After a stroll through open forests, the trail emerges into open fields stretching along the GSMNP boundary, with exceptional views all the way to our lunch stop at the big rock on Hemphill Bald. This hike is the CMC contribution to the WNC “Together We Read” program, which this year is reading “On Agate Hill”, by Lee Smith. Second meeting place: Maggie Valley Post Office, rear of parking lot, at 9:00 AM, but contact leader first. Topos: Dellwood, Bunches Bald; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map

ALL DAY NO A0703-385 Sept. 30
Upper Little East Fork - Fork Mt. Slow Loop phone leaders for time
Hike 11-12, Drive 100, 2100 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Tom Bindrim & Joan Lemire, 828-273-3880, tjbindire@yahoo.com
A moderately-paced Wilderness Area loop with upper elevation scenery, water and a workout. Expect a late return, bring extra food. This is a wilderness area limited to ten people. Call leaders for reservations and meeting particulars. Topos: Sam Knob, Shining Rock

ALL DAY NO. A0704-548 Oct. 7
AT: Sams Gap to Big Bald 8:00 AM (strenuous)
Hike 13, Drive 55, 2600 ft. ascent, Rated AA-AA
Lenny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, lsberns@worldnet.att.net
This will be a challenging AT hike up to see spectacular views from the summit of Big Bald. If the weather is clear, we will be able to see into the Rocky Ford Tract that ATC is trying to buy to protect the AT viewshed. Topo: Sams Gap

ALL DAY NO. A0704-365 Oct. 7
Mt. Mitchell Ramble 9:00 AM*
(Moderate)
Hike 8, Drive 75, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary2@charter.net
SB6K *Note later start time. We’ll do a loop on several trails in the Mt. Mitchell area, including the Old Mt. Mitchell Trail, Camp Alice Road and the Commissary Ridge Trail. An optional side trip to Mt. Craig (6647 ft.) and Big Tom will be offered afterwards, where we can hike see the amazing rockwork being installed on the newly rebuilt trail. Second meeting place: Craven Gap on BRP at 9:15 AM Topos: Mt. Mitchell, Montreat; also PNF South Toe River, Mt. Mitchell & Big Ivy Trail Maps

Half Day Saturday and Sunday

Saturday September 29 Sycamore Cove Trails 1:00 PM
Hike 6, Drive 4, 1200-ft elevation, Rated B-B
Leader: Stuart English, 828-883-2447 stuengo@citcom.net
P400 A moderate hike in the Pisgah National Forest along several trails, including Thrift Cove and Grassy Road.
Participants should bring an adequate amount of water, snacks in a pack, proper footwear, (no flip flops), and be prepared for a gradual 1200 foot ascent. Example: The climb to Mt. Pisgah from the parking lot is 700 feet. We will meet at the parking lot of Poppies Market and carpool to the Davidson River Campground parking lot. This is a special hike for the Brevard Outdoor Festival.

HALF-DAY No. H0703-318 Sept. 30
Big Ridge Overlook to Beaver Dam Overlook 1:30 PM
Hike 4.4, Drive 35, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Paula Robbins, 828-281-3253, paularww@bellsouth.net
This in-and-out hike along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail near milepost 403 of the Blue Ridge Parkway is a good one for beginners. It will feature some fall wildflowers and good views. Second meeting place French Broad Overlook of the Blue Ridge Parkway off NC 191 at 1:45 PM.

HALF-DAY No. H0704-035 Oct. 7
Looking Glass Rock 1:00 PM*
Hike 6, Drive 70, Rated B-B, 1,800 ft. ascent
Nonmembers, call leader, Rusty Breeding, 828-692-0359, bree_lw@planetusa.net
P400 A moderately difficult well-graded trail leads to the top of this mountain with beautiful views along the way. In-and-out hike. *Meet at Westgate at 1:00 PM (note early start time) to form carpools, and meet hike leader at the Pisgah Ranger Station on at 1:30 PM.

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

Note: there are two hikes on October 3 - pick one.

WEDNESDAY NO W0704-408 Oct. 3
Wolf Ford Loop 8:00 AM*
Hike 9, Drive 80, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703,
P400 Start at the gauging station and hike the South Mills River trail to Wolf Ford, Squirrel Gap, Horse Cove and to FS 5018, then along Funnel Top Ridge, left onto Soapstone Ridge and back to cars. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Ranger Station at 8:30 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

WEDNESDAY NO. W0704-585 Oct. 3
Chestnut Mtn., Searcy Creek Loop 8:00 AM*
Hike 6-7, Drive 75, 800 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Larry Ballard, 828-891-4318, leballard@cytechcis.net
P400 On this new and moderate hike, we’ll hike up FS 5095 from FS 475 to near the summit of Chestnut Mtn., then do a short, steep but easy bushwhack in open woods down to the Butter Gap Trail. We’ll follow this trail north, then west onto the Long Branch Trail and return on FS 5095. Along the way we’ll stop at a great overlook. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Ranger Station at 8:35 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

Looking Back......

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

No report

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

Backpacker Magazine rates the hike along the A.T. from Newfound Gap to Charlies Bunion, one of the top 10 in the country, and I don’t think any of the 15 of us who started this hike with the four miles to Charlies Bunion would argue with that rating. The weather was great, one of those Carolina blue skies, with temperatures in the high 50s, and the views both north and south of the trail were glorious. Just before getting to Charlies Bunion, we slabbed along the side of Masa Knob, named for George Masa, one of the early leaders of CMC.

After lunch at Charlies Bunion, we continued along the AT for another half mile to Dry Sluice Trail. This trail goes up gently for about a half mile, then starts the long, long downhill to Smokemont Campground. According to Bruce Bente, there is no record that CMC has ever hiked the route we chose, down the full five miles of the Dry Sluice Trail to the Bradley Fork Trail. The trail is steep, but easy to hike, since it is mostly old road bed. Just before the end, there is an impressive steel frame bridge, which looks out of place in the middle of the woods.

The only negative of the hike happened halfway down the Dry Sluice Trail, when George Macatee was stung twice by bees. He displayed impressive skill as he charged off the trail and down a steep hill to get away from the rest of the bees. Unfortunately, since the rest of us were just as concerned about getting away from the bees, his heroic plunge was not recorded. We passed the junction with the Cabin Flats Trail towards the end of the Dry Sluice Trail. Cabin Flats is a pretty backcountry horse camp site along a small river 0.6 miles down this short trail. Nobody on the hike was collecting the Smokies 900, so we skipped this diversion.

The hike ended with a four mile jaunt down the Bradley Fork Trail, which is one of the roads used by the Park to access the back country. It is so well maintained that the two large blowdowns that I had to climb over when I scouted the hike 10 days earlier had already been removed. Lenny. Pictures by Ashok Kudva and George Macatee

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.

Photos by Bruce Bente (left), Ted Connors (right)

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.

On a gorgeous (almost fall day) 26 hikers with about 10 new hikers took off on Reasonover trail to enjoy the beautiful sights and smells of Dupont Forest a few days after a nice rain. Becky Elston

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.

Although it was a little warmer today than it has been this past week, the shaded trails, streams, waterfalls, and log crossings provided a pleasant hike for 26 hikers -- 5 men, 21 women (7 of whom were either new or recently new to the Club). Aside from the stimulating conversations, some of us at the front of the hike were delighted to see a nice, tame, long black snake. Regrettably, it didn't hang out long but slowly slithered away before all hikers could view him (her?). Pat

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