All Day  Saturday & Sunday

NEW YEARS DAY NO. A1001-281 Jan. 1
Green River Gamelands *8:00 AM breakfast, 9:15 AM hike
Hike 6.5 or 8, Drive 70, 1300 or 1500 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@bellsouth.net
*Meet at Westgate at 7:30 AM to form carpools and meet leader at times above at the NE corner of the Cracker Barrel parking lot in Hendersonville (exit 53 on I-26). After breakfast, we’ll do our traditional New Year’s Day hike on a series of trails around the Green River Gamelands. We’ll hike down to and along the Green River, with a late lunch at the big rocks on the Green River, and then hike up and out on the Pulliam Creek trail. Short car shuttle. Topo: Cliffield Mtn.; also Map of the Green River Gamelands Trails

SUNDAY NO. A1001-276 Jan. 3
Street Gap to Big Bald 8:30 AM
Hike 8, Drive 80, 1700 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Jay Bretz, 828-658-1220, jbretz1220@gmail.com
In-and-out hike on the Appalachian Trail, heading north. We will have panoramic views of the Blacks, Smokies and other ranges in WNC and TN. once we reach Big Bald as well as the Wolf Laurel area enroute. Topos: Sams Gap, Bald Creek

SUNDAY NO. A1001-186 Jan. 10
Little Pisgah Mountain 8:30 AM
Hike 9, Drive 36, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Don Walton, 828-654-9904, donwalton@bellsouth.net
A pleasant hike, close to home for our coldest month. We’ll hike from Hickory Nut Gap through part of the Florence Preserve and up into an open meadow to the summit of Little Pisgah Mtn. If the weather is clear, the view doesn’t get any better. Topo: Bat Cave

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Half Day Sunday

HALF-DAY NO. H1001-685 Jan. 3
North Slope Loop Trail *12:30 PM
Hike 4.5, Drive 65, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Lucy Prim, 828-693-6580, 32lucette@gmail.com
P400 *Form carpools at Westgate and meet hike leader at Pisgah Ranger Station, US 276 at 1:15 PM. A short pleasant hike starts at the Pisgah Ranger Station, goes up the North Slope Ridge, and back along the Davidson River.

HALF-DAY NO. H1001-434 Jan. 10
Laurel Mountain Trail *12:30 PM
Hike 5.4, Drive 40, 700 ft ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703, greggoodman@bellsouth.net
P400 *Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at the North Mills River parking area at 1:00 PM. This loop hike will start at FS 1206, go along a ridge trail toward Black Mountain, and return via the Laurel Mountain Trail. There should be good views of the Mills River Valley.

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All Day Wednesday

WEDNESDAY NO. W1001-438 Jan. 6
Rich Mountain, Round Top Trail and Lovers Leap 8:30 AM
Hike 9.5, Drive 70, 2200 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA
Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary.avl@gmail.com
LTC From Tanyard Gap we will go north on the AT to the beautiful views from Rich Mountain, then descend to Hot Springs via Round Top Ridge Trail, culminate the day with a short climb to Lover's Leap, and finish on the AT in Hot Springs. Second meeting place: Tanyard Gap at 9:15 AM. Topo: Hot Springs; also FS Hot Springs Harmon Den map; NatGeo map # 782

WEDNESDAY NO. W1001-677 Jan. 13
Swannanoa River/Warren Wilson College 8:30 AM
Hike 9, Drive 27, 100 ft. ascent, Rated B-C
Mary Beth Gwynn, 828-254-2042, Cell: 828-545-6487, mbgcmc@gmail.com
We hike along the Swannanoa River and on Dams Pasture trails passing through a bamboo grove and by the old dam. From the old dam we take Anthony’s Loop and return back to Owen Park where the hike began. Second meeting place: Owen Park at 8:50 AM. Topo: Oteen; also Warren Wilson College Trails Map

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.