Looking Ahead

All Day  Saturday & Sunday

ALL DAY NO. A0704-584 Dec. 9
Butter Gap Loop 8:00 AM*
Hike 9, Drive 75, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Tom Bindrim & Joan Lemire, 828-273-3880
P400 One of Tom's favorites for near 30 years, we'll use parts of the Cat Gap Loop, ALT, and all of the Butter Gap trail through the beautiful Grogan Creek watershed to Picklesheimer Fields. Moderately paced, lots of stops, long lunch, expect late return. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leaders at Pisgah Fish Hatchery at 8:45 AM. Topos: Shining Rock, Rosman; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

ALL DAY NO. A0704-339 Dec. 16
AT: Garenflo Gap to Hot Springs & Potluck Supper 9:00 AM*
Hike 7.5, Drive 90, 1100 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Tish Desjardins, 828-656-2191, desraylet@aol.com
*Note later start time, and that after the hike there will be a potluck supper in a nearby Clubhouse. Hikers are requested to contribute food for the supper. Food will be taken to a refrigerator before the hike. Please phone the leader to coordinate what food to bring. This AT sequence hike offers nice variety, with a beautiful hardwood forest, Deer Park shelter and moderate climbs and descents. Car shuttle. Second meeting place: Parking lot on US 25 at intersection with NC 208 at 9:40 AM. Topos: Lemon Gap, Spring Creek, Hot Springs

ALL DAY NO. A0704-128 Dec. 23
Sam Knob Loop 8:00 AM
Hike 9.8, Drive 90, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Paul Benson, 828-251-1909, pdbenson@charter.net
SB6K, P400 This scenic loop will be great in winter weather, hopefully with snow on the ground. We’ll start at NC 215 and follow the MST, with a side trip to Devil’s Courthouse, to FS 816. Then we’ll loop back and ascend Sam Knob (6040 ft.) with its 360-degree views, then follow the Flat Laurel Creek Trail to NC 215. There will be a wet stream crossing at the end unless it is frozen. Topos: Shining Rock & Sam Knob; also Nat’l. Geographic PRD map #780

HIKE CANCELLED – NO LEADER AVAILABLE Dec. 30

NEW YEARS DAY NO. A0801-281 Jan. 1
Green River Gamelands 8:00 AM breakfast, 9:15 AM hike*
Hike 6.5 or 8, Drive 70, 1300 or 1500 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@cytechusa.com
*Meet at Westgate at 7:30 AM to form carpools and meet leader at times above at the NE corner of the Cracker Barrel parking lot in Hendersonville (exit 53 on I 26). After breakfast, we’ll do a pleasant loop on a series of trails around the Green River Gamelands. We’ll hike down to and along the Green River, with a late lunch at the big rocks on the Green River, and then hike up and out on the Pulliam Creek trail. Short car shuttle. Topo: Cliffield Mtn.; also Map of the Green River Gamelands Trails

Half Day Sunday

HALF-DAY No. H0704-102 Dec. 9
Coontree Loop 1:00 PM
Hike 3.7, Drive 65, Elevation gain 1200 feet, Rated C-B
Nonmembers call leader, Paula Robbins, 828-281-3253, paularww@bellsouth.net
This loop hike has some steep areas up the side of a lovely creek to the ridge on top of Coontree Mountain with wintertime views. The way down includes switch-backs along the other side of the creek. Second meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station on US 276 at 1:40 PM.

HALF-DAY No. H0704-222 Dec. 16
Montreat Loop #3 1:00 PM
Hike 5, Drive 40, 1200 feet ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call hike leader, Gail Lamb 828-350-0450, galmb46@aol.com
We will ascend by the Graybeard Trail to the Old Trestle Road at Pot Cove Gap, then follow a recently cleared and opened section of the Old Trestle Road (not yet on most Montreat trail maps) to Graybeard Falls. We will return to Pot Cove Gap by a short steep section of the Graybeard Trail and then retrace our path to the parking area. There are ten dry-foot stream crossings on rocks and/or logs. Second meeting place: Parking lot adjacent to McDonald's off I-40 at exit 64 at 1:20 PM.

HALF-DAY No. H0704-429 Dec. 23
Hard Times Road to Rocky Cove Road to Bent Creek Road 1:00 PM
Hike 5, Drive 15, Rated C-C
Nonmembers call leader, Laura Stallard, 828-697-1579
P400 We will hike in the Bent Creek area from the Arboretum recreation parking lot in an easy loop including Hard Times Road, Rocky Cove Rd and Bent Creek Road. Second meeting place: Ingles parking lot on NC 191 opposite Biltmore Square Mall at 1:15 PM. From there we will carpool with drivers who have Arboretum member parking privileges.

HALF-DAY NO. H0704-316 Dec. 30
Carl Sandburg Park 1:00 PM*
Hike 4, Drive 50, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Lucy Prim, lucette32@mchsi.com, 828-693-6580
Traverse the same trails that poet/biographer Carl Sandburg enjoyed by climbing Big Grassy Mountain behind his farmhouse. *Meet at Westgate to form carpools and meet hike leader at parking lot of Carl Sandburg Park at 1:30 PM.

All Day Wednesday

WEDNESDAY NO. W0704-492 Dec 12
Cookie Hike / Bent Creek Ramble 8:30 AM*
Hike 7, Drive 20, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Ken and Carol Deal, 828-281-4530, cnkdeal@charter.net
P400 *Note later start time. Moderate loop hike in the Bent Creek area. We will start from a parking area off Bent Creek Road beyond Lake Powhatan. We will hike up to the MST, follow it past Sleepy Gap, and descend to the Lake Powhatan picnic area for lunch and a cookie feast. The afternoon walk back to the cars is approximately 2 miles. Bring some cookies to share. Second meeting place: Ingles parking lot across from Biltmore Square at 8:45 AM. Topo: Asheville; also Nat’l Geo PRD map #780 and Bent Creek Trail Map

WEDNESDAY NO. W0704-588 Dec. 19
Coontree loop extended 8:45 AM*
Hike 7, Drive 70, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@bellsouth.net
P400 We’ll hike the Coontree Loop, but extend it by including the Perry Cove and Bennett Gap trails, with a short road walk on FS 477 to connect the two. *Note later start time. Meet at Westgate at 8:45 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Coontree Picnic area at 9:30 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

WEDNESDAY NO. W0704-589 Dec. 26
Shut-in Trail & Lake Powhatan loop 8:30 AM*
Hike 9, Drive 15, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated A-B
Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary2@charter.net
P400 *Note later start time. This loop follows the Shut-In Trail south, then descends Sleepy Gap Trail, skirts Lake Powhatan and finishes with 3 miles on the Bent Creek Gravel Road. Second meeting place: BRP French Broad Overlook at 8:45 AM. Topos: Asheville, Dunsmore Mtn., also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

WEDNESDAY NO W0801-104 Jan. 2
Wolfe Ford & High Falls 8:30 AM
Hike 9, Drive 60, 600 ft. ascent, Rated A-C
Charlie Ferguson, 828-333-5165, ccf108@gmail.com
P400 From the gauging station on the South Mills River, we'll hike this mostly level trail to High Falls, then cross the footbridge at Wolfe Ford. We'll take the Rigby Cutoff (named for CMC hiker Ed Rigby) near Squirrel Gap to return to the trailhead. Second Meeting Place: Pisgah Ranger Station at 8:35 AM. Topo: Pisgah Forest; also Nat'l. Geo. PRD map #780

Looking Back......

All Day  Saturday & Sunday

ALL DAY NO. A0704-582 Nov. 25
Gauging Station – Pink Beds loop 8:30 AM*
Hike 9, Drive 85, 900 ft. ascent, Rated B-C
Stu English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@citcom.net
P400 This will be a pleasant loop from the gauging station, covering parts of the S. Mills River, Buckhorn Gap, Black Mtn., Barnett Branch and Pink Beds Loop trails. *Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Ranger Station at 9:05 AM. Topos: Shining Rock; Pisgah Forest; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

It was a chilly, grey morning with rain predicted all day, but six hikers showed up at the Ranger Station ready to hike. We started down South Mills River Trail and eventually intersected the Buckhorn Gap Trail. When we got to Buckhorn Gap and the Black Mountain Trail, a slow drizzle turned into a hard, cold rain. This changed our lunch plans and we ate in the Buckhorn Gap shelter, which was occupied by two people and a dog, but there was room for us. The rain stopped during our lunch and we resumed our hike up the mountain in the fog. There were no views on Soapstone Ridge and Rich Mountain, only fog; but at least the rain had stopped for a while. We wound our way down Barnett Branch Trail through wet leaves to the Pink Beds. Once there we saw the two new bridges and the new beaver damage. It started to rain again, but our hike was almost over. We all enjoyed the hike, but I’m sure we were all glad to return to our warm houses and dry clothes. Lesson learned: if you volunteer to lead an all day Sunday hike; you had better be prepared to lead it. Stuart

ALL DAY NO. A0704-441 Dec. 2
AT: Up and Down Snowbird 8:00 AM*
(strenuous)
Hike 10.6, Drive 100, 2700 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Marianne Newman, 828-454-1036, marianneln@msn.com
Starting at I-40, hike a pretty stretch of the AT near the southern end of the sections maintained by CMC. If weather conditions are right, we’ll see a beautiful display of rime ice on our way to the great views from the summit of 4263-ft. Snowbird Mtn.
*Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pilot Truck Stop at exit 24 off I-40 at 8:30 AM Topo: Waterville; also PNF Harmon Den Trail Map

The forecast was rainy and the chance of rime ice slight, but four of us headed up the A.T. to Snowbird anyway and had a very interesting day. We decided to save the first mile of the trail for last (yes, you can do that on Snowbird) with the hope of getting to the top before the clouds closed in. The view there was fine, except that it included smoke billowing along the valley in TN. A Cherokee National Forest fire control ranger who drove up for a wide-angle view told us the fire was about 5 miles away and was being brought under control. All was good, tromping through a thick leaf cover under mixed clouds and sun on the way down, until the final half hour or so. At that point, we entered a smoke zone heavy enough to lead us to skip the first/last mile once again. Marianne.

ALL DAY NO. A0704-583 Dec. 2
Cedar Rock and Kagle Mtns. from Cathey’s Creek Rd. 8:00 AM*
(moderate)
Hike 7, Drive 80, 1700 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Dave Wetmore, 828-884-7296, dwetmore@citcom.net
P400 This new hike takes the shortest way to the summit of Cedar Rock Mtn. and its magnificent views. We'll take trails to the summit and then go through the woods down the south ridge to the ALT. We’ll stay in the woods on the ridgeline and climb to the summit of Kagle Mtn. and then down to an old road and back to Cathey’s Creek Rd.
Although not particularly dangerous, there will be some scrambling over bare rock. The slopes are gradual and no climbing skills are needed, just a tolerance for heights. The cross-country part is largely gentle slopes through open country. Note: If it is icy or wet we'll take an alternate hike *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at the Bi-Lo in Pisgah Forest at 8:30 AM. Topo: Pisgah Forest; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

Ignoring (justly, it turned out) forecasts of rain, twelve of us found out why Cedar Rock Knob has "Rock" in its name. After a brisk very uphill climb on the west side of Cedar Rock we did the two friction climbs to the summit. Then it was south down an old trail and then further south up an open bushwhack to the summit of Kagle Mountain. From Kagle summit we went down to Cedar Rock creek, up an old grade to the Butter Gap shelter and then back to the trailhead. Dave. Photos by Stuart English.

Half Day Sunday

HALF-DAY No. H0704-579 Nov. 25
Pump Gap-Lover’s Leap Loop 1:00 PM
Hike 5, Drive 70, 1200-ft. elevation, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary2@charter.net
We will start at the French Broad River, ascend the Pump Gap Trail to the Appalachian Trail, follow it south past Lover’s Leap, with views of Hot Springs, and return along the French Broad River to the trailhead.

Only eight people participated in this hike, probably because the forecast was for rain; it had rained that morning, and the skies were ominously dark. However, as we drove toward Hot Springs between 1:00 and 2:00 pm, we could see that above the area where we would be hiking, the skies were clearing. The weather turned out to be great: crisp, clear, sunny. From the boat loading area near Hot Springs, we ascended Pump Gap Trail, which is steep in places, but surrounded by dense woods with large trees. Arriving at Pump Gap we followed the A.T. south stopping periodically to look at the views back toward Rich Mountain and ahead to Bluff Mtn. Of course our stops included Lovers Leap with its view of the French Broad River. Tom Sanders

HALF-DAY No. H0704-430 Dec. 2
Green River Gamelands 12:30 PM*
Hike 5 miles, Drive 70, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, belston@cytechusa.com
*Note early start time. We will hike the Long Ridge/Turkey Gut/Stair Step trails to form a five-mile loop. There should be nice winter views of Mt. Tryon and other mountains. Join leader for dinner at Cracker Barrel at the end of the hike. *Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at Cracker Barrel off I-26, exit 53 at 1:00 PM at the NE corner of the parking lot.

Had 18 for a delightful walk thru the woods with lots of winter views of mountains and especially Mt Tryon. A few of us gathered for dinner at the Cracker Barrel. Becky.

Wednesday

WEDNESDAY NO. W0704-404 Nov. 28
AT: Lemon Gap to Garenflo Gap 8:00 AM
Hike 7.4, drive 125, 1720 ft. ascent, rated B-A
Charlie Ferguson, 828-333-5165, ccf108@gmail.com
We will start the hike northbound on the AT at Lemon Gap and climb about 700 ft. up to the Walnut Mt. Shelter. The trail descends 600 ft. to Kale Gap through open forests and begins to ascend through Catpen Gap on up to the summit of Bluff Mt. (4686 ft.) on well graded trail. There should be some worthwhile views at the top and on both sides of Bluff Mt. The descent down Bluff Mt is buffered by switchbacks and tapers out to a fairly easy hike half way down. It is all downhill from Bluff Mt. to Garenflo Gap about three miles. Car shuttle. Topo: Lemon Gap

Twenty people went on the hike. Seventeen collected together at Westgate and drove to Harmon Den Road where two others were waiting. We drove to Lemon Gap. Six volunteers drove all the cars on a 16 mile drive to Garenflo Gap where they met one hiker and proceeded to hike southbound on the A.T. to Bluff Mountain. The 13 hikers left at Lemon Gap hiked northbound to Bluff Mountain where we met the other group and had lunch. After lunch we all hiked to Garenflo Gap. The northbound group stopped at Walnut Mountain and Catpen gap where 9 of us hiked two-tenths of a mile to a bald with great views south and west of the Smokies and other closer mountains. The trail was in great condition - very easy to walk on. The grade was fairly gentle and even. The weather was fabulous and the air pretty clear. Charlie. Photo on the left by Charlie Ferguson, on the right by Ted Connors.

WEDNESDAY NO. W0704-182 Dec. 5
Green River Cove in the Green River Game Lands 8:30 AM*
Hike 7, Drive 80, 800 ft. ascent, Rated B-C
Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, belston@cytechusa.com
Enjoy the curvy drive down Saluda's favorite mountain road and then hike to enjoy almost continuous views of the Green River and lunch alongside the river. Maybe kayakers will entertain after their pass thru "the narrows." *Note later start time. Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet hike leader at Texaco station off Exit 59 of I-26 at 9:05 AM.

We got the big pay off with kayackers about four minutes after we arrived for lunch on the big rocks on the Green River. Five minutes either way, we would have missed the entertainment. Great hike on a great day. Becky. Photos 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.