All Day Saturday & Sunday
SATURDAY NO. A1001-019 Jan. 30
Winter Plant ID hike 9:00 AM
Hike 8, Drive 20, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Becky Smucker, 828-298-5013, bjsmucker@gmail.com
P400 This moderate-paced hike is designed for identification of plants in the winter. Bring magnifying glasses if you have them. We’ll hike the MST between the French Broad River Overlook and a little beyond Walnut Cove, stopping often to look at various plants along the way. Limited to 12 people; contact leader for reservation. Topo: Skyland; also NatGeo map #780 and MST Profiles book, pg. 57
SUNDAY NO. A1001-596 Jan. 31
Foothills Trail: Laurel Fork Gap to Lake Jocassee *8:00 AM
Hike 10.8, Drive 103, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated A-B
Michael and Kathy Cornn, 828-458-1281, mcornn@aol.com
*Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leaders at Bi-Lo in Pisgah Forest at 8:30 AM. We’ll hike the Foothills Trail in SC, from Laurel Fork Gap to Lake Jocassee. This in-and-out hike along Laurel Fork Creek features a beautiful stream, waterfalls, great bridges, and a scenic lakeside lunch spot. Topos: Eastatoe Gap, Reid; also Foothills Trail map
SUNDAY NO. A1001-093 Feb. 7
Graybeard Mountain 8:00 AM
(strenuous)
Hike 11, Drive 35, 2700 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary.avl@gmail.com
An exciting ridgetop manway along the middle mountain is our path to the summit. Return to Montreat via Walker Knob and Pot Cove Gap. There’ll be good views, a delightful hike and a good workout. The first mile is very steep. Second Meeting place: Ingles parking lot at Exit 64 of I-40 at 8:20 AM. Topo: Montreat; also Montreat Trails Map
SUNDAY NO. A1001-104 Feb. 7
Wolfe Ford and High Falls *9:00 AM
(moderate)
Hike 7.3, Drive 80, 900 ft. ascent, Rated B-C
Rich Bowerman, 828-808-2891, pcdbowerman@hotmail.com
P400 *Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at Bi-Lo in Pisgah Forest at 9:30 AM. From the gauging station on the South Mills River, we'll hike this mostly level trail to High Falls, then cross the footbridge at Wolfe Ford and loop back to the trailhead. Two small stream crossings. Topo: Pisgah Forest; also NatGeo. map #780
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Half Day Sunday
HALF-DAY NO. H1001-686 Jan. 31
Shopes Creek 1:30 PM
Hike 5, Drive 25, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Gail Lamb, 828-350-0450, galmb46@bellsouth.net
This is a short ride for a winter walk in the woods, partly along Shopes Creek in the Riceville Rd. area. It has been recently opened to hikers and has some unmarked trails, some of which are near, but not to the Parkway.
HALF-DAY NO. H1001-640 Feb. 7
Walker’s Knob - Montreat *12:00 PM
Hike 5, Drive 40, 1800 ft. ascent Rated C-A
Nonmembers, call leader, Renate Rikkers, 828-298-9988, rerikkers@aol.com
*Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at Ingles parking lot at Exit 64 on I-40 at 12:20 PM. We shall hike Greybeard Trail up to Walker’s Knob and back. The hike is a steady 1800 ft. climb with a wonderful view of the Montreat and Black Mountain Valley at Walker’s Knob.
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WEDNESDAY NO. W1001-279 Feb. 3
Montreat Trestle Grade-Pot Cove Trail 8:30 AM
Hike 8, Drive 35, 1900 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Joe Burchfeld, 828-298-8413, Burchfield@niu.edu
A partial loop hike over Lookout Rock and along the East Ridge and Trestle Road Trails to Pot Cove. Return along the Mitchell Road and Trestle Road Trails. A moderately strenuous beginning followed by a very gentle return. Good winter views. Second meeting place: Ingles parking lot at Exit 64 of I-40 in Black Mountain at 8:50 AM. Topo: Montreat; also Montreat Trail Map.
WEDNESDAY NO. W1001-041 Feb. 10
Sugar Cove Rd to Mackey Mountain 8:30 AM
Hike 11.5, Drive 87, 2900 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Ames Tryon, 828-669-3805, tryonaf@charter.net
Take Sugar Cove Creek trail to Mackey Mountain Trail and then on Mackey Mountain Trail to Mackey Mountain and return the same way. Second meeting place: Ingles parking lot at Exit 64 of I-40 at 8:50 AM. Topo: Old Fort; also NatGeo map #779
Scout Report: Ames, Jeanie and I scouted this on Nov. 24. The weather was cool but pleasant the whole day, with sunshine in the morning. On the way up there were some nice views through the trees and under the clouds. As we got closer to the top the clouds started closing in on the mountain top so we didn't see much when we got near the top. We stopped for lunch about a half mile from the top and decided to head back down. This hike is quite strenuous due to 3 or 4 steep but not too long climbs. By February the dry leaves should be packed down and not be slippery. The first 1500 feet of climbing is even and gradual over 3 miles. The total ascent is about 3100 feet. Most of the trails are in pretty good condition but long pants are recommended. I put a new map in the hike database page. Charlie
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.
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