CMC Bi-Weekly Hike Reports
| Half Day Sunday Hikes |
| Wednesday Hikes |
All Day Saturday & Sunday WEEKEND NO. A0902-tbd Apr. 17-19
Photos by Danny Bernstein The Three-State Park Weekend was a great success! Sometimes you just have to go a long way east to see giant rocks, staircases that go on forever and old moonshine equipment. About 30 CMC hikers met in Stone Mountain State Park, north of Elkin, and climbed Stone Mountain with the help of a wooden staircase. Next, we took the Stone Mountain Loop and had lunch at the bottom of Stone Mountain Falls, with another amazing staircase preventing us from falling into the water. Just off the trail, we explored a field of moonshine equipment. (See photo on the right). Then a dizzying drive to Hanging Rock State Park which would be our home for the next two nights. Some camped but most stated in luxurious cabins that would put most commercial cabins to shame. With a full kitchen, screened-in porch, a large living room and a picnic table in front of every cabin, this area was almost a resort. Saturday, we hung out on Hanging Rock and walked to Cook’s Wall to look down on Winston-Salem and over to Big Pinnacle of Pilot Mountain. Later in the afternoon, we reached Moore’s Knob Fire Tower, the eastern most tower in the tower challenge. That evening, we had a pot luck dinner organized by Tish DesJardins that rivaled any dinner I’ve had lately. We sang, laughed, discussed, and socialized with a glass of iced tea and juice in hand. (Alcohol is not allowed in NC State Parks.) Paul Benson built a fire and the evening continued. Sunday, we drove to Pilot Mountain State Park to hike to Little Pinnacle and walk around Big Pinnacle. Paul and Deborah Benson remembered coming to this area before it was a park and climbing steps to the top of Big Pinnacle. Most hikers, who had never been to these parks, learned how well tended and manicured our North Carolina State Parks really are. Our state taxes at work!-- Danny Bernstein SATURDAY. No.A0902-327 Apr. 18
Photos by Lee Silver Twenty club members and 4 potential members enjoyed a clear warm day at Ridgecrest Assembly in Black Mountain. After climbing from the Assembly tennis courts, the 360 degree view from Rattlesnake Mtn was inspiring. Copperhead Summit afforded more good views. We then crossed over into Montreat and had lunch on Look Out Rock with another 360 degree panorama. After climbing Bogg's Bunion a short loop into McDowell county took us across a helispot used by firefighting helicoptors. There were violets and bloodroot in bloom. The temperature rose as the day went along topping 80 degrees by the end of the hike. The group seemed to like the idea of intermediate hikes on Saturdays. They liked both the distance and the starting time.--Lee Silver ALL DAY NO. A0902-642 Apr. 26 {Due to technical problem on the part of the eNews staff, this report will be in the next eNews. Sorry! Danny)
HALF-DAY NO. H0902-064 Apr. 19 The April 19th half day Sunday hike included the leader and three additional hikers. Rain was forecast, but it turned out to be a beautiful day for hiking. The hike was in the North Mills River area and included a number of stream crossings. Unlike last summer, the streams were full and flowing. The stream crossings were not difficult. The hike was around seven miles.--Jim Ariail HALF-DAY NO. H0902-347 Apr. 26 WEDNESDAY NO. W0902-518 Apr. 15
Photos by Jack Fitzgerald Ten hikers hiked in to five waterfalls in SC: Spoonauger, King Creek, Issaqueena, Yellow Branch & Station Cove. One hiker commented that each falls we came to was even more beautiful then the last one. We had perfect weather, and recent rains had the falls all flowing at their best. Met lots of kids on the trails for their spring break. We had lunch at picnic tables at Issaqueena Falls municipal park, and took a bonus walk into Stumphouse Tunnel. It was well worth the long drive and 10 hour day.--Jack Fitzgerald
WEDNESDAY NO. W0902-089 Apr. 22
Photos by Ted Connors Fourteen hikers trekked the 11 miles to and from Max Patch on a breezy, cool but sunny spring day. We started the hike from the top of Max Patch for a spectacular 360 degree view of mountains and hillsides. Further into the hike we saw trilliums just starting to bloom. We even caught some hillsides in full bloom as we got closer to Lemon Gap. Most of us stopped for lunch, the sun and the seating (logs and wood boards) at the site of the old A.T. shelter. A couple of hikers went all the way to Lemon Gap and back (an extra .5 mile) to see what was there before joining the rest of us on the logs. We met several A.T. return hikers on the return trip, along with a couple of pack carrying labs. These were very happy dogs. The new A.T. shelter built by our club was occupied when we stopped by on the way back, but we had a look at the bear-thwarting food bag pulley system designed and installed by our own Howard McDonald. The view was still clear from the top of Max Patch when we arrived back at the trailhead about 4 p.m., but the wind was strong and chilly so no one stayed long.--Mary Beth Gywnn WEDNESDAY NO. W0902-643 Apr. 29
Reports for Wednesday hikes during the eNews publication week will appear in the following eNews--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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