CMC Bi-Weekly Hike Reports
| All Day Saturday and Sunday Hikes |
| Half Day Sunday Hikes |
| Wednesday Hikes |
All Day Saturday & Sunday ALL DAY NO. A0901-629 March 22
Photos by Danny Bernstein Hike 629 (which we didn't do) is a lollypop hike. The stick of the lollypop is a hike up into the center of the watershed while the loop circles around the watershed, returning to the entrance trail. Most of the loop is through the woods, below the rim of the ridges that define the Rough Creek Watershed. However, there is also a boundary road along the top of the ridges for about three-quarters of the way around the watershed. After scouting this hike, I decided to that the boundary road was a more interesting hike than the standard route, so the boundary road hike was what we did. About a quarter way down the east side of the watershed we came to a gate across the road. Most of the people on the hike climbed over the fence, but a short bushwack into the woods took you around the fence that extended from the gate. The other side of the gate said “Do not enter,” but there was no similar barricade on the route we had taken. Once past the gate we were back on the route of Hike 629. In summary, it's an excellent hike of 7.3 miles with an elevation gain of 1800 feet, It is an excellent ¾-day hike, but a bit short for a full day hike. There were 16 people on the hike and we enjoyed cloudless blue skies the whole day.--Lenny Bernstein SATURDAY NO. A0901-270 March 28 This hike was cancelled due to rain and possible thunderstorms--The Editor ALL DAY NO. A0901-636 March 29
Photos by Ted Connors Eleven strong hikers joined me on a sunny, cool day for this 8.5 mile hike. Explaining the hike route gave me an opportunity to treat them with lollipops! We started at the Coontree Picnic area with three roller coaster climbs totaling 2,500 ft versus 1,900 ft we reported in the hike description. I allowed all hikers to go ahead of me but asked them to wait at every trail intersection to confirm hike directions. We did not lose anyone. After the first 1000 ft climb on the left branch of the Coontree trail, we paused on the Bennett Gap trail for a snack break and enjoyed the views of Black Mountain and Clawhammer mountains on the north and Cedar Rock and Looking Glass Rock on the south. After descending 500 ft on Bennett Gap trail and crossing FS 477, my offer of lunch break at a spot I cleared off briars during previous week’s scout, was vetoed by all hikers. They chose to finish the 1,000 ft climb to Pressley Cove and have a late lunch at the summit. I followed. After lunch we visited the historic chimney between Pressley Cove and Maxwell Cove. Michael spotted a rattlesnake and Marianne spotted a single Bluet, lots of Halberd- Leaved Yellow Violets and two other types of Violets . When we finished the in & out stick segment of the lollipop hike on the last and smallest climb at Coontree Gap, the wind speed picked up. To escape the chill we chose to skip a break and finished the hike at 3:15PM. Six of us enjoyed an early supper and continued fellowship at Ruby Tuesday’s near the Asheville Airport. Jan Onan took more photos of the hike which are on the CMC website.--Ashok Kudva HALF-DAY NO. H0901-172 Mar. 22 The half day Sunday hike to John Rock went very well. We had 35 people. We started with 37, but two dropped out early on because they wanted to walk at a more leisurely pace. It was a beautiful day, bright and sunny, and the view from John Rock was splendid. It was a lovely hike and everybody seemed to enjoy it very much.--Lucy Prim HALF-DAY NO. H0901-046 Mar. 29
Photo by Gerry McNabb Twenty-six enthusiastic hikers showed for the loop hike to Sleepy Gap on the Parkway Sunday afternoon. Their hopes were high as the sun warmed the asphalt at West Gate. As we walked by the picnic grounds near the beach at Lake Powhatan, the scene seemed to speak to a perfect day, already at 56 or 57 degrees. The trail was a little soggy until we started climbing, but the Stambaugh Trail soon appeared to present an ideal treadway , and our clothing was appropriate. Even as we sat in the sun on the lee side of the grassy bank facing the parkway, we were comfortable. But shortly after beginning our descent down the Sleepy Gap Trail, the temperature began to plummet and the wind picked up. Few had enough warm clothes and by the time we reached the cars at 5:10, the temperature was 46 degrees. So much for the predictability of a WNC spring day. Amazingly, most of the group seemed to enjoy it anyway. -- Gerry McNabb WEDNESDAY NO. W0901-400 Mar. 18
Photo by George Gunciski Twenty seven hikers turned out for the first really spectacular Wednesday of the season. We started from the Trace Ridge Trailhead down the North Mills Road in a little morning fog, but by the time we ascended on the Fletcher Creek Trail, the sky was blue, the air clear, and spirits were high. We stopped at the beaver dam on Spencer Creek Trail for a few minutes and had a snack break at the Beaverdam Gap overlook on the Parkway. The descent from Ferrin Knob after lunch was uneventful, with lots of congenial conversation, since we were happily going downhill. We crossed the Parkway and headed down the Trace Ridge Trail. Unfortunately, a hiker then tripped in a leaf-covered section of trail, apparently breaking a wrist. Hiker teamwork took over. One hiker splinted the injured wrist with supplies contributed by several different hikers – sections of tree branches, ice pack, ace bandage, bandanas. After a few ibuprofens and a brief rest, our brave injured person hiked almost two miles to the car. Thanks to everyone who contributed first aid supplies, to our skillful “splinter”, to the hikers who stayed back with the injured, and to all the hikers for your patience. We wish our injured friend a speedy recovery. -- Ruth Hartzler WEDNESDAY NO. W0901-349 Mar. 25 WEDNESDAY NO. W0902-545 Apr. 1 Reports for Wednesday hikes during the eNews publication week will appear in the following eNew--The Editor.
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.
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