All Day  Saturday & Sunday

SATURDAY No. A0903-615 Sept. 19
Black Balsam Loop via Graveyard Ridge Trail & ALT 10:00 AM
Hike 6, drive 70, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Marcia Bromberg, 828-505-0471, mwbromberg@yahoo.com
P400 Begin at FS 816, north on MST to Graveyard Ridge Trail. Left on Graveyard Ridge Trail to Ivestor Gap. Return on Art Loeb over Tennant and Black Balsam. We’ll stop at Ivestor Gap for possible late blueberries, and at the high points to enjoy great views! Second meeting place: Cold Mtn. Overlook (BRP M.P. 412) at 10:35 AM. Topos: Sam Knob, Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

ALL DAY NO. A0903-211 Sept. 20
MST: Pigeon Gap to NC 151 *8:00 AM
Hike 10.7 Drive 50, 1980 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Stuart English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@citcom.net
P400 *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Cold Mtn. Overlook (BRP M.P. 412) at 8:35 AM. We’ll hike the MST past the Pisgah Inn, over the top of Little Pisgah Mountain, and down to Elk Pasture Gap, enjoying mountain views along the way. Car shuttle. Topos: Shining Rock, Pisgah Forest; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780 and MST Profiles, pg. 52-54

SATURDAY NO. A0903-329 Sept. 26
Blackrock Mtn./Fisher Creek Trail *8:00 AM
Hike 10.8, Drive 96, 3000 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA+
Cindy McJunkin, 828-712-9646, mcjfive@aol.com
SB6K *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 am to form carpools, and meet leader at rest area on US 23/74 near Waynesville at 8:30 AM. This hike starts at the end of Fisher Creek Rd. east of Sylva and climbs to the summit of Blackrock Mtn. The trail, mostly old logging roads, is steep and rocky in places, but the views from Blackrock Mtn. are superb. Next we’ll go over Yellowface Mtn. and finish at the Waterrock Knob parking lot. Car shuttle. Topo: Sylva North

ALL DAY NO. A0903-074 Sept. 27
Tanawha Trail 8:00 AM*
Hike 13.3, Drive 150, 2600 ft. ascent, Rated AA-AA
Jim Reel, 828-738-0751, jimr57@yahoo.com
*Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM, stop at second meeting place in Ingles parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s at Exit 64 of I-40 at 8:20 AM, and meet leader at Beacon Heights overlook at 9:30 AM. One of our best hikes when the weather cooperates. A fragile and ancient ecosystem, rhododendron and laurel tunnels, hardwood coves, boulder fields and great views make this a special hike. It will be a long day, consider an optional supper stop. Topos: Grandfather Mtn., Valle Crucis; also Nat’l. Geo. Cherokee NF map #783 and Linville Gorge map #779

SATURDAY NO. A0904-626 Oct. 3
FULL MOON HIKE *4:30 PM
Hike 2, Drive 75, 500 ft. Ascent, Rated C-C
*Meet at Westgate at 4:30 PM to set up carpool or drive to trailhead at FS 816 & MST. Everyone enjoyed this hike when CMC did it last year. We’ll do a self-directed hike this year (no leader). Everyone is invited to gather on the summit of 6215 ft. Black Balsam to see the moon rise in the east and the sun set in the west, and enjoy the great views and autumn colors. The nearly full moon will rise at 6:39 PM, and the sun will set at 7:12 PM, so come early enough to enjoy both. Bring a flashlight for the hike back to your car. If you need directions, phone Bruce Bente at 692-0116.

ALL DAY NO. A0904-082 Oct. 4
The Blacks Beyond 6000 *7:30 AM
(strenuous)
Hike 11.3, Drive 70-80, 3000 ft. (northbound) or 6000 ft. (southbound) ascent, Rated A-AA+
Don Gardner, 828-754-4067, gardog3@bellsouth.net (southbound) & Peter Barr, 704-941-9296, pjbarr@unc.edu (northbound)
SB6K, LTC *Note earlier starting time. Key-swap hike. This is your chance to bag seven SB6K peaks on this very strenuous hike. The southbound initial climb is 3100 ft., and there’s much more climbing in the ups and downs between peaks. North-bounders get to go down the 3100 ft. The hike is great fun with incomparable views, but do not consider this unless you are in top shape. Bring extra water. Participants must phone a leader beforehand. Second meeting place: Phone a leader. Topos: Celo, Mt. Mitchell; also PNF South Toe River, Mount Mitchell & Big Ivy Trail Map

ALL DAY NO. A0904-667 Oct. 4
Pink Beds – Pisgah Inn *9:00 AM
(moderate)
Hike 8.2, Drive 85, 1700 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Ashok Kudva, 828-698-7119, ashok.kudva@gmail.com
P400 *Note later starting time. Meet at Westgate at 9:00 AM to organize carpools for post-hike supper choice, and meet leader at Pisgah Convenience Store at 9:30 AM. From the left branch of the Pink Beds Loop we will take a short in and out on the Barnett Branch Boardwalk, recently built by CMC Friday Pisgah crew. We will proceed on the Barnett Branch trail, with a steep climb after we cross Yellow Gap Road, and pause at a waterfall. We’ll connect with the Buck Spring/MST Trail up to the Pisgah Inn. Optional post-hike dinner at the Pisgah Inn. Car shuttle. Topos: Shining Rock, Cruso; also NatGeo map #780

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Half Day Sunday Hikes

HALF-DAY NO. H0903-478 Sept. 20
Graveyard Ridge/MST Loop *12:30 PM
Hike 4.4, Drive 70, 875 ft ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Marcia Bromberg, 828-505-0471, mwbromberg@yahoo.com
P400 *Note early start time. Beginning at Graveyard Fields parking lot, we shall hike the loop counter-clockwise. We shall leave half an hour for blueberry picking as we work our way back down from the ridge. Second meeting place: Cold Mountain Overlook (BRP M.P. 412) at 1:05 PM.

HALF-DAY NO. H0903-656 Sept. 20
Mushrooms in Our Woods *1:00 PM
Renate Rikkers, 828-298-9988, rerikkers@aol.com
Theme Hike *Note early start time. Group limit of 20--Email leader to sign up. There is an amazing diversity of mushrooms and fungi in this Appalachian region, with several hundred species identified. As hikers, we may notice their many shapes and colors in passing but rarely stop to take a closer look. This walk will take us off the trail and into the woods to forage and identify some of what’s growing, which may range from good edibles to deadly poisonous. Since the appearance of mushrooms is totally weather dependent, Renate will scout out a good location for this outing close to the hike date.

HALF-DAY No. H0903-035 Sept. 27
Looking Glass Rock *12:30 PM
Hike 5.8, Drive 70, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Nonmembers call Kathleen Hudson, 828-698-5208, mstish1325@gmail.com
P400 *Note early start time. Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools, and meet hike leader at the Pisgah Ranger Station on US 276 at 1:05 PM. A moderately difficult well-graded trail leads to the top of this mountain with beautiful views along the way. In-and-out hike.

HALF-DAY NO. H0904-615 Oct. 4
Black Balsam Loop via Graveyard Ridge Trail & ALT *12:30 PM
Hike 6, Drive 70, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Lucy Prim, 828-693-6580, 32lucette@gmail.com
P400 *Note early start time. Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at Cold Mountain Overlook at 1:10 PM. Begin at FS 816, north on MST to Graveyard Ridge Trail. Left on Graveyard Ridge Trail to Ivestor Gap. Return on Art Loeb over Tennant Mtn. and Black Balsam.

All Day Wednesday Hikes

WEDNESDAY NO. W0903-357 Sept. 23
Pisgah Ridge Loop 9:00 AM
Hike 7.5, Drive 70, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Joe Burchfield, 828-298-8413, burchfield@niu.edu
P400 We’ll do a scenic circle of the entire Graveyard Fields area, using the Pisgah Ridge Trail and MST to lunch at a beautiful overlook. Then the Graveyard Ridge Trail, with trip to one of the Yellowstone Falls. Possible blueberry sightings. Second meeting place: Cold Mtn. overlook on BRP at 9:35 AM. Topos: Shining Rock, Sam Knob; also NatGeo map #780 and USFS Shining Rock map

WEDNESDAY NO. W0903-287 Sept. 30
Montreat Ridge hike *8:10 AM
Hike 11, Drive 40, 2800 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Ames Tryon, 828-669-3805, tryonaf@charter.net
*Meet at Westgate at 8:10 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Ingles parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s at Exit 64 of I-40 at 8:30 AM. We will ascend up the Rainbow trail and connect with the Trestle Road up to the East Ridge Trail, then descending to the Old Trestle Road to the Old Road up to the Greybeard Trail. Then to the Greybeard Summit along the West Ridge Trail and back along the West Ridge Trail to Stomping Knob. The hike is strenuous but gradual except for the 500 ft. ascent up the Rainbow Trail. Topo: Montreat

WEDNESDAY NO. W0904-190 Oct. 7
MST: Mt. Mitchell to Balsam Gap * 8:00 AM
Hike 9.5, Drive: 80, 1700 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Mary Beth Gwynn: 828-545-6487 (cell) or 828-254-2042 (home). mbgcmc@gmail.com
*Only meeting place will be the back parking lot of Folk Art Center. Please note: Much of the trail is on large moss covered rocks, lovely, but potentially slippery if wet. Appropriate shoes and perhaps poles are advised. This is a particularly beautiful section of the MST with spectacular views from our lunch spot. Car shuttle. Topos: Mt. Mitchell, Montreat; also PNF South Toe River, Mt. Mitchell & Big Ivy Trail Map

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Hike and Scouting 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 appears in the hike description. The driving mileage is round-trip based on the first designated meeting place. Meet at Westgate unless otherwise noted.