All Day  Saturday & Sunday

ALL DAY NO. A0901-282 Feb. 8
Black Mtn. – Avery Creek *8:00 AM
Hike 9, Drive 62, 3000 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA+
Stuart English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@citcom.net
P400 *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Forest Bi-Lo at 8:30 AM. From the trailhead, we will climb steadily up to 4286 ft. Black Mtn. and Clawhammer Mtn. and then to Buckhorn Gap and Twin Falls, ending at FS 477. A great winter hike. Car shuttle. Topos: Pisgah Forest, Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

Photos by Stuart English

Twenty people took advantage of a suddenly warm February day to do this great winter hike. We worked up an appetite for our lunch by climbing up Hickory Knob, Black Mountain, and finally Clawhammer. Then we sat on the rocks overlooking the Davidson River area and had a leisurely lunch. Someone remarked it was nice to be able to eat lunch on a hike this time of year and not be in a rush to be moving again because of the cold. Then we proceeded down to Buckhorn Gap and took the Buckhorn Gap Trail with a side trip to Twin Falls, which had more water going over them than at least the last time we were there. Then we made our way back to Buckhorn Gap Trail and a leisurely walk over the many bridges and finally back to our cars.--Stuart English

SATURDAY NO. A0901-280 Feb. 14
Art Loeb Trail/North Slope Trail 10:00 AM
Hike 7.5, Drive 60, 1600 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Stuart English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@citcom.net
P400 We start at the Davidson River Campground and ascend gradually on the Art Loeb Trail to the North Slope Connector. We'll eat lunch at the intersection before we start down the connector to the North Slope Trail. Then we have a lovely, easy stroll along the river to the cars. Second meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station at 10:40 AM. Topos: Pisgah Forest, Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

Photos by Stuart English

Six people showed up on this 3/4 day hike on Valentine's Day. Marcia Bromberg was scheduled to lead it but due to an injury I led it for her. A rainy morning probably kept many people from this hike. I commiserate with you, as I have been mislead by the weather before and missed a wonderful day in the woods because of it. This was one of those days. By the time we reached the trail head, the sky was mostly blue, the rain had gone, and temperature was in the mid fifties.  By hike's end it was mid sixties. We saw people riding bicycles and running in shorts and tee shirts. Our sympathies go out to all of you, but we sure are glad we were not one of you.--Stuart English

ALL DAY NO. A0901-418 Feb. 15       Scout date: Wednesday February 3
Newton Bald – Kanati Fork 8:00 AM
Hike 11.5, Drive 120, 3600 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Janet Martin, 502-494-9309 (cell), jaykaymartin@msn.com
900M This great winter hike near Cherokee climbs Newton Bald, continues on Thomas Divide and then descends on Kanati Fork Trail. Nice scenery and even more fun if we hike up into snow-covered scenery. Short car shuttle. Second meeting place: back of Post Office parking lot on US 276 in Maggie Valley at 8:30 AM, but call leader first. Topo: Clingman’s Dome; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map #229

Photo by Carroll Koepplinger

Thirteen folks tackled a challenging hike on an overcast, but dry, winter day.  Mountain range silhouttes were seen in every direction, but not from the same spot.  It was amusing to see nearly everyone wearing gloves while eating their lunches!--Janet Martin

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Half Day Sunday

HALF-DAY NO. H0901-498 Feb. 8
High Windy *12:30 PM
Hike 6, Drive 40, 1700 feet ascent, Rated B-A
Nonmembers, call leader, Renate Rikkers, 828-298-9988, rerikkers@aol.com
*Note early start time. Meet at Westgate at 12:10 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s in Black Mountain off Exit 64 of I-40. From the grounds of the 12,000-acre Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, we will combine the Carolina Loop Trail with High Windy Trail for a gradual but steady 1700 ft. ascent to the 4370-foot summit of High Windy for rewarding views.

Twenty-five hikers got on the trail at 1 pm on a cloudy but warm (60 degrees) afternoon and made it to the top of High Windy in two hours. The climb to High Windy is steady, with 1,500' elevation gain in less than 3 miles, not a hike for beginners. With rewarding winter views of the Swannonoa Valley, the Craggies and Greybeard, we recovered from the long climb, then packed up to tackle the downhill return, with lots of muddy stretches due to a combination of ground thawing and current logging activities at the Blue Ridge Assembly, with everyone back in good spirits at the parking area by 5 pm.--Renate Rikkers

HALF-DAY NO. H0901-638 Feb. 15
DuPont Forest Hooker Falls P.L. #4 - Cannon Creek to Rock Quarry *12:00 PM
Hike 5, Drive 85, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, beckyelston1@gmail.com
*Note early start time. This in/out hike starts off Rich Mountain Road. Meet at Westgate at 12:00 PM to form carpools, and meet hike leader at the Hooker Falls parking lot in DuPont at 12:45 PM.

We had a perfect winter day for hiking.  Temperatures in the low 50's with mostly sunny skies. Seventeen people enjoyed seeing where all that rock around Dupont State Forest comes from--The Rock Quarry.  Fortunately we waited for the people from Asheville as they arrived 1/2 hour late.  Can never predict the traffic.--Becky Elston

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All Day Wednesday

WEDNESDAY NO. W0901-629 Feb. 4
Rough Creek Trail - Canton Watershed 8:45 AM
Hike 7.5, Drive 54, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Ken & Carol Deal, 828-281-4530, cnkdeal@charter.net
This is a new hiking trail opened in the spring of '08 in the Canton Watershed. During this loop hike, we walk uphill in the morning, largely on old roads, to a ridgeline with long distance views. Shortly after we start down, we'll have lunch on rocks overlooking a lovely valley. After lunch, we return downhill, crossing Rough Creek on a bridge. Topo: Canton

The February 4th, Rough Creek Trail hike was cancelled due to below zero wind chill and slippery roads.--Ken & Carol Deal

WEDNESDAY NO. W0901-498 Feb. 11   -  Scout date: Jan. 30
High Windy and High Top 9:00 AM
Hike 7.6, Drive 40, 1900 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Keiko Merl, 828-628-2396, ccf108@gmail.com
A fairly steep ascent on beautiful backwoods trails in the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly area. High Windy is the former site of a lookout tower. We'll hike another mile to High Top for more views to the north and east. Back the same way we came. Second meeting place: Parking lot adjacent to McDonalds at Exit 64 of I-40 at 9:20 AM. Topo: Black Mt; Blue Ridge Assy. Trails

Twenty people went on this hike. We had foggy and drizzly weather most of the way, although it was warm. We were well protected from the wind at lunch spot, too. Since it was getting wet, I changed the return route to go back the way we went in instead of taking the Carolina loop trail.--Keiko Merl

WEDNESDAY NO. W0901-632 Feb. 18
Cantrell Lodge History Hike out and back 8:30 AM
Hike 8, Drive 55, 700 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Danny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, danny@hikertohiker.com
P400 This hike follows the South Mills River Trail to the Cantrell Lodge site and chimney, following an old logging railroad grade. On the way, we’ll cross three pedestrian suspension bridges and a couple of unusual carsonite signs. Second meeting place: Turkey Pen parking lot at 9:00 AM, but notify leader first. Topo: Pisgah Forest; also Natl. Geo. PRD map #780

Reports for Wednesday hikes during the eNews publication week will appear in the next issue--Editor

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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 Lucy Prim 828-693-6580 lucette32@mchsi.com.

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.