All Day  Saturday & Sunday

ALL DAY NO. A0903-660 Sept. 6
Chimney Tops from Newfound Gap 8:00 AM
(strenuous)
Hike 10.4, Drive 140, 3250 ft. ascent,
Rated A-AA+
Jeff McGurk, 864-801-1314, jbsbestfan@hotmail.com
900M For the 900M fans, we’ll do an in-and-out hike on the AT from Newfound Gap to Indian Gap, then follow the Road Prong and Chimney Tops trail. Expect spectacular views, steep climbs and wet feet from the many stream crossings. Second meeting place: Maggie Valley Town Hall at 8:30 AM, but call leader first. Topos: Clingman’s Dome, Mt. Le Conte; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map #229

Photo by Bruce Bente

We had a great group of 11 hikers for the Chimney Tops hike.  Although the weather was fine in Asheville, we hit rain around Waynesville and it rained for 6 hours of our 7 hour hike.  It was not a heavy rain and was lessened by the tree cover  After a short romp on the Appalachian Trail, we turned down the Road Prong Trail until we reached the Chimney Tops junction.  We had several stream/river crossings but the water was not deep enough to cause a problem at this time of year.  When we reached the top of Chimney Tops (well almost the top) we found scores of tourists and teenagers climbing all over the wet rock face in crocs and flip-flops.  Consequently most of us decided not to run the gauntlet to the very top.  In the future, this hike should not be scheduled on a holiday weekend.  My bad for coming up with this hike on a holiday.
 
Overall I believe we all enjoyed the hike. It was a good workout with the elevation gain and all hikers appeared to be in good spirits.  Thanks to Lisa Hart for assisting with the leading responsibilities on the way back from Chimney Tops.--Jeff McGurk

ALL DAY NO. A0903-469 Sept. 6
MST: Craggy Gardens to Bull Gap *8:30 AM
(moderate)
Hike 7.6, Drive 40, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Ashok Kudva, 828-698-7119, ashok.kudva@mchsi.com
*Note later start time. This pleasant hike on the MST will start at the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center and feature Lane Pinnacle and the Rattlesnake Lodge site. Car shuttle. Second meeting place: Craven Gap at 8:50 AM. Topos: Montreat, Craggy Pinnacle; also MST Trail Profiles, pg. 63-65

A new member and a prospective member were among the five who enjoyed the hike from Bee Tree Gap to Ox Creek Road on a lovely, sunny, Sunday. The maintenance request I submitted on the website worked well. Nettles and other nasty vegetation we saw during the scout on 8/27 was all cleared by the wonderful CMC section maintainers or trail crew.  This is the second hike ( Bad Fork-Trace Ridge Loop, 8/26/09) for which my request for trail clearance was promptly met by the CMC trail team. Thank you!!  It is a good idea for hike leaders to communicate with Charlie and e-News in addition to Trail Maintenance via website.

 We enjoyed views of mountains  and Asheville watershed on a rocky outcrop near Lane Pinnacle and had lunch on a shady spot in a meadow.  At Rattlesnake Lodge we studied the historic plaque installed by CMC and  reminisced about the contribution of Dr. Chase Ambler eight decades ago who started institutions now dear to us: CMC, MST and GSMNP!!  When we resumed the hike towards Bull Gap we met Jim Ariail’s CMC Sunday 1/2 day hikers and enjoyed greeting familiar faces.--Ashok Kudva

ALL DAY NO. A0903-396 Sept. 13
Pilot Rock/Pisgah/Thompson Creek *8:00 AM
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 Creek trail. Expect great views along the way. Topos: Dunsmore Mtn., Cruso; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

Thirteen strong hikers gathered together at the Pilot Rock Trailhead on Yellow Gap Road.  Considering the length and 3,000 feet of climbing, the hike leader, wanting a leisurely stroll up to Mount Pisgah, was hoping there would be a few other strollers along.  No such luck.  About half the hikers were on the leader's heels, pushing, up to the Parkway. The leader gave up and let the faster hikers go ahead to the top of Mt. Pisgah.  Four took the bait and zoomed up with Lisa in the lead, barely needing to breathe.  She had just raced a half-marathon (13 miles) the day before.  Laura was fourth, feeling that she didn't want to seriously damage the two male egos in front of her, Paul and Jacob.  We had lunch underneath the radio tower, which provided a little shade.  We went back down the same way but headed to the Thompson Creek Trail which was quite steep for about a mile.  It's a very pretty trail - most people tended to stop their chatter while walking this trail.  At an early break, one person was stung by a yellow jacket which triggered a speech by the leader about them.  Later, on the way down, the same person, who was sweeping, got stung twice more near a large nest that had been disturbed by an animal.  Everyone, except the leader, saw the nest as we approached it - most walked by without incident.  Perhaps the sweep's previous sting triggered the bees to sting again.

Note: the Trails Illustrated Pisgah Ranger District Map #780 incorrectly shows the old Thompson Ridge Trail which has been abandoned for years and is heavily overgrown.--Charlie Ferguson

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Half Day Sunday

HALF-DAY NO. H0903-009 Sept. 6
Ox Creek Road to Rattlesnake Lodge *1:00 PM
Hike 4.4, Drive 30, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Jim Ariail, 828-505-0443, jimariail@yahoo.com
*Note early start time. This in-and-out hike along the MST will feature the historic Rattlesnake Lodge site. Hikers form carpools at Westgate, then drive to meet leader at the Second meeting place: Folk Art Center lower parking lot at 1:15 PM.

HALF-DAY No. H0903-533 Sept. 13
MST: Pisgah Ledges Section *12:30 PM
Hike 5.2, Drive 70, 1540 ft. ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Tom Joyce, 828-885-2152, tominbrevard@webtv.net
P400 *Note early start time. Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at Cold Mountain Overlook (BRP M.P. 412) at 1:05 PM. Car shuttle. This will be a pleasant fall ramble along the MST from Bridges Camp Gap to Pigeon Gap and the Cold Mountain Overlook. Highlight of the hike will be a fairly steep ascent to 5056 ft Green Knob, one of the best viewpoints on the MST.

Photo by Virginia Hodge

I, and my consort of 10 hikers, enjoyed a pleasant stroll along the 5 miles of the MST from the Looking Glass Overlook to the Cold Mtn. parking area. All were CMC regulars, except two gentlemen, and they proved to be strong hikers as well,

The weather was partly cloudy and mild with no threat or rain for a change. Trail conditions were excellent and my group enjoyed the variety which this section of the MST offers. Also, since I was a member of the trail crew which built this part of the trail, I was able to provide some background info on its construction, which folks seemed to appreciate.

One thing we found of interest during the day was the great quantity of acorns already dropped by surrounding oak trees. It seems to be a banner year for this crop. Rather amusingly, during our late afternoon rest stop in an oak grove, acorns seemed to be targeting us. A number of folks decided to obtain some protection for their heads! We may have to designate hard hat areas for some of our upcoming forays into the woods. One of our members is sending you a photo of our efforts at protection.

All in all, It was pleasant and companionable day on an interesting trail section.--Tom Joyce

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All Day Wednesday

WEDNESDAY NO. W0903-526 Sept. 2    
Down the Incline 9:00 AM
Hike 8, Drive 80, 1350 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Charlie Ferguson, 828-625-2677, ccf108@gmail.com
P400 Some off-trail; historic. Follow MST north; then left onto Buckeye Gap trail (old logging RR); bushwhack down site of old incline; left onto Haywood Gap Trail to Haywood Gap; follow MST north, and right onto access trail to parking lot. Wilderness area, limit 10, so call leader for reservation. Second meeting place: Cold Mountain Overlook BRP at 9:40 AM. Topo: Sam Knob; also USFS Shining Rock map and Natl. Geo. PRD map #780

Photos by Charlie Ferguson

Ten people signed up for this Wilderness hike.  The Middle Prong Wilderness is not as heavily traveled as the next door Shining Rock Wilderness.  Although the trails are well maintained by CMC trail crews some of them are challenging.  There is a good feel of walking though an area that nature still owns and lets us visit once in awhile. The trail down was on old logging rail bed, with ties and bumps left from rotted ties visible underfoot. We turned off to walk down the "incline" which was another logging road.  The first part was a nice descent through grassy open woods.  The last part was a mildly annoying bushwhack.  There was nothing special about hiking the incline rather than doing the full loop of hike #249, other than it is about a mile shorter.  The hike up the Haywood Gap Trail is quite steep and precarious in places, I would say it's very strenuous.  At the top we hiked the MST back to the cars.  This section is so well maintained and beautiful that it looks like it maintains itself.--Charlie Ferguson

WEDNESDAY Strenuous NO. W0903-214 Sept. 9
Kimsey Creek Trail/Standing Indian Circuit *8:00 AM
Hike 11, Drive 170, 2800 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Brent Martin, 828-369-7084, brent_martin@tws.org
*Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader in Franklin at the Roller Mill shopping center, in front of K-Mart, on US 64 at 9:30 AM. A stop will be made at the rest stop beyond Waynesville on US 23/74 at 8:30 AM. The Hike is known for its beautiful forest, rushing streams and excellent vistas. We’ll hike up the Kimsey Creek Trail to the AT, and the AT to our lunch spot, Standing Indian - the highest mountain on the AT south of the Great Smoky Mountains. Topo: Rainbow Springs

Six CMC members showed up for the 9/9 hike to Standing Indian mountain.  The hike began at the Kimsey Creek trailhead with just the leader and one other hiker, as no one else showed up at the Franklin meeting location.  However, at the summit of Standing Indian, Brent and the one other hiker met the Asheville Westgate group, who had missed the turnoff to Franklin from the highway and were running late.  They had gone on to the trailhead and started up the shorter route to Standing Indian, and we arrived at almost the same time, missing each other by minutes.  Standing Indian, the highest point on the A.T. south of the Smokies, was socked in fog, so there no views.  We had a great lunch regardless, and all went well until we hit a torrential downpour on the last mile and a half of the trip.  Everyone got completely soaked, but we remained good natured, and it was a great trip.--Brent Martin 

WEDNESDAY Moderate NO. W0903-420 Sept. 9
Tanyard Gap to Allen Gap *8:30 AM
Hike 8.8, Drive 80, 2100 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA
Tish Desjardins, 828-656-2191, desraylet@aol.com
*Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at parking lot on US 25 at intersection with NC 208 at 9:10 AM. Great views from Rich Mtn. tower, a visit to Spring Mtn. shelter and one of the prettiest sections of the AT in our area highlight this pleasant hike. Car shuttle. Topo: Hot Springs

Thirteen of us hiked on the A.T. from Tanyard Gap to Allen Gap.  We skipped the Rich Mtn. fire tower due to thunder storms occurring off and on during the hike.  We enjoyed our lunch inside the Spring shelter while it was pouring outside.  We walked on a stretch of hail stones left over from the early morning storm. The sun came out during the last two miles of the hike.--Tish Desjardins

WEDNESDAY Strenuous NO. W0903-132 Sept. 16
Mt. Mitchell from Black Mtn. Campground *8:00 AM
Hike 12, Drive 103, 3600 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA+
Rich Sampson, 704-453-9059, richsampson360@gmail.com
SB6K, LTC *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Mt. Mitchell overlook (MP 350) on the Blue Ridge Parkway at 8:45 AM. From the Black Mountain Campground ascend by MST to Mt. Mitchell and return. Topos: Celo, Mt. Mitchell, Burnsville; also USFS South Toe River map

WEDNESDAY Moderate NO. W0903-476 Sept. 16
South Mills River, Mullinax Trail and Laurel Creek Trail *8:30 AM
Hike 8.6, Drive 50, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Sawako Jager, 828-687-2547, Baiko70@aol.com
P400 South Mills River to Mullinax Trail, to Laurel Branch Trail, then to Bradley Branch, then back by Pea Gap to trailend. Creek crossings – bring water shoes and hiking poles. Second meeting place: Boylston Baptist Church parking lot at 9:00 AM. Topo: Pisgah Forest

Reports for Wednesday hikes during the eNews publication week will appear in the following eNews--The 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 appears in the hike description. Driving mileage is round trip, based on the first designated meeting place. Meet at Westgate unless otherwise noted.