All Day  Saturday & Sunday

ALL DAY NO. A0902-396 May 3
Pilot Rock – Mt. Pisgah -Thompson Creek *8:00 AM
(strenuous)
Hike 11, Drive 80, 3000 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Charlie Ferguson, 828-625-2677, ccf108@gmail.com
P400 *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Ranger Station at 8:40 AM. We will climb 1500 feet in 2 miles up the well-graded Pilot Rock trail, with a gentler 2 miles before climbing 750 feet in 2/3 miles up Mt. Pisgah trail to our lunch spot on the summit of Mt. Pisgah, and then down the Thompson Ridge trail. Expect great views along the way. Topos: Dunsmore Mtn., Cruso; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

ALL DAY NO. A0902-560 May 3
Groundhog Creek, AT, Rube Rock Loop *8:30 AM
(moderate)
Hike 9, Drive 100, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Marianne Newman, 828-257-2136, Marianneln@att.net
*Note later start time. A beautiful loop hike, rich in wildflowers and located in the Harmon Den area of Pisgah Nat’l. Forest. From Brown Gap, we’ll hike down the Rube Rock Trail, along the old railroad grade and then up the Groundhog Creek Trail to the AT. We’ll then go north on the AT to our cars. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck Stop off I-40 at Exit 24 at 9:00 AM. Topo: Waterville

Scout Report:  Our scout of the Rube Rock trail yesterday made it absolutely clear that this trail is not ready for what's listed as a moderate hike. Blowdowns, doghobble, washed out trail tread, and other obstacles too numerous to mention presented a real challenge.

Therefore, the May 3 hike will be an A.T.-Groundhog Creek in-and-out. It will still leave from and return to Brown Gap, with mileage (about 9 miles) and elevation gain (1,800 ft.) remaining the same. The new hike description will be: From Brown Gap, we'll hike south on the A.T. to the Groundhog Creek Trail, then down Groundhog Creek and along the old railroad grade amidst lovely wildflowers to at least one and possibly a second stream crossing near the lower end of the Rube Rock Trail. We'll return by the same route, with a stop at the Hawks' Roost overlook.

We'll still meet at Westgate at 8:30 and at the Pilot Truck Stop at Exit 24 at 9:00.

ALL DAY NO. A0902-445 May 10
Pilot Mtn., Farlow Gap, Daniel Creek Trails 8:00 AM
Hike 11, Drive 80, 2550 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Janet Martin, 502-494-9309 (cell), jaykaymartin@msn.com
P400 If their bloom is slightly late this year, we will enjoy rare pink shell azaleas on Pilot Mtn. This diversified hike features good views from Pilot Mtn. and the beautiful Farlow Gap and Daniel Creek Trails. Short car shuttle. Second meeting place: Bi-Lo parking lot in Pisgah Forest at 8:30 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

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Half Day Sunday Hikes

HALF-DAY NO. H0902-452 May 3
DuPont Forest: Fawn Lake P.L. #4 *12:30 PM
Hike 6, Drive 94, Rated B-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Becky Elston, 828-749-1886 belston@cytechusa.com
*Note early start time. Meet at 12:30 PM at Westgate to form carpools, and meet leader at Hooker Falls Parking Area at 1:30 PM A pleasant loop with a break at the bottom of Bridal Veil Falls. Weather and conditions permitting, we can walk behind the falls.

HALF-DAY NO. H0902-034 May 10
MST: NC 215 to FS 816 *12:30 PM
Hike 5.5 miles, Drive 85, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Lee Belknap, 828-698-9394, rivergypsy@sprintmail.com
*Note early start time. Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools and meet leader at BRP Cold Mountain Overlook (M.P. 412) at 1:10 PM. This hike will introduce many hikers to a choice section of the MST, including Devils Courthouse and 2 peaks over 6000 ft (6040' Chestnut Bald and 6214' Black Balsam Knob) reached by short side excursions. Car Shuttle.

All Day Wednesday

WEDNESDAY NO. W0902-060 May 6
Pilot Mtn. – Farlow Gap 8:30 AM
Hike 8, Drive 80, 2300 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA
Ashok Kudva, 828-698-7119, ashok.kudva@mchsi.com
P400 This hike is timed for what we hope will be the bloom of rare pink-shell azaleas and trout lilies. It starts with a steep climb to the summit of Pilot Mtn. with good views, then down to Deep Gap and a short climb over Sassafras Knob. It's nearly all downhill or level as we continue to Farlow Gap with its trout lily flower display. We'll return on a pleasant seldom-used graveled forest road. There will be several stops for photography along the way. Second meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station at 9:10 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat'l. Geo. PRD map #780

WEDNESDAY NO. W0902-257 May 13
Hemphill Bald - Rough Fork Loop *8:00 AM
Hike 13.7, Drive 96, 3200 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Brenda Worley, 828-684-8656, clworley@bellsouth.net.
900M *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM (No second meeting place). Spectacular views at Hemphill Bald, good lunch spot in open meadow with stone table, record-size trees near junction of Hemphill Bald and Caldwell Fork Trails. We expect to see many spring wildflowers along the trail. The pace will be moderate. Topos: Bunches Bald, Dellwood; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map #229  Note: There will be no second meeting place as described in the paper Let's Go newsletter schedule.

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Hike Reports should be emailed to Dave Wetmore, dwetmore@citcom.net before the Wednesday preceeding an eNews issue. Reports for Wednesday hikes during the eNews publication week will appear in the following eNews

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.