All Day Saturday & Sunday
SUNDAY NO. A1001-221 March 7
Newton Bald via Mingus Creek and Thomas Divide Trails *8:00 AM
(strenuous)
Hike 11, Drive 130, 2500 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Cindy & Scott McJunkin, 828-213-9701, mcjfive@aol.com
900M, WC100 *Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leaders at rest stop beyond Waynesville on US 23/74 at 8:30 AM. From Ela (near Bryson City) we will ascend by the Mingus Creek Trail to the neighborhood of Newton Bald, then descend by the Thomas Divide Trail. On the connector Deeplow Gap Trail we will see beautiful Little Creek falls. Topo: Clingmans Dome; also NatGeo map #229
Scout Report: We scouted this hike on February 14th, and there were still some icy patches on the state road leading up to Cooper Creek Trout Farm. It began to snow as we climbed toward the Mingus Mill junction. Eventually we were marching in snow up to two feet deep in places, and we plodded through it for a few miles until we descended to Little Creek Falls, which is near the end of the loop. The trail crosses the base of the 95 feet of water falling over shelves of Thunderhead Sandstone. We didn't find significant blow downs, but we rock hopped several places, and the trail goes through some shallow streams. If the weather continues to moderate, we should be able to do this loop on March 7th.--Cindy & Scott McJunkin
SUNDAY NO. A1001-681 March 7
Foothills Trail: NC 281 to Fish Hatchery Rd. *8:10 AM
(moderate)
Hike 8.8, Drive 140, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Brent Martin, 828-369-7084, brent_martin@tws.org
*Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at US 64 / NC 281 south intersection at 9:00 AM. Stop for additional hikers at Pisgah Bi-Lo at 8:30 AM. A moderate two-state hike on the Foothills Trail in SC. A diverse section of the FHT, with good views into the Piedmont. Topos: Cashiers, Tamassee; also Foothills Trail Guide, pg. 46-48
SATURDAY NO. A1001-682 March 13
Green River Gamelands from Green Cove Road 10:00 AM
Hike 7, Drive 70, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Marcia Bromberg, 828-505-0471, mwbromberg@yahoo.com
Expect to see early wildflowers as we loop through the following trails of the Green River Gamelands, beginning and ending at Green River Cove Road: Bluff; Stair Step Falls; Long Ridge; Bear Branch; Pulliam Creek and Green River Cove. The hike begins with a challenging 700 ft. uphill in the first mile Second meeting place: NE corner of Cracker Barrel parking lot, at Exit 53 of I-26 at 10:30 AM Topo: Cliffield Mtn.; also Map of the Green River Gamelands Trails
SUNDAY NO. A1001-683 March 14
DuPont Forest: Hooker Falls P.L. #2 – Five Falls Loop *9:00 AM
Hike 11.2, Drive 95, 1250 ft. ascent, Rated A-B
Danny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, danny@hikertohiker.com
*Note that this is the first day of Daylight Savings time. This hikes takes in five outstanding waterfalls, including some that were sites for The Last of the Mohicans. On the way, we’ll climb to a ridge in the Forest that gets fewer visitors. If you haven’t hiked in Dupont lately, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the improvements. Second meeting place: Bi-Lo in Pisgah Forest at 9:30 AM. Topo: Standingstone Mtn.; also DuPont State Forest map
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Half Day Sunday
HALF-DAY NO. H1001-602 Mar. 7
North Carolina Arboretum 1:00 PM
Hike 5, Drive 15, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call Tom Crook, 828-545-8545, tmc3017@gmail.com
A loop hike through the Arboretum. Second meeting place: Ingles parking lot across from Biltmore Square Mall at 1:10 PM.
HALF-DAY NO. H1001-403 Mar. 14
DuPont Forest – Reasonover Trail *12:00 PM
Hike 6, Drive 90, Rated B-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, belston@cytechusa.com
*Form carpools at Westgate and meet hike leader at Hooker Falls Parking lot in DuPont Forest at 12:45 PM. Nice hike along Reasonover Creek and break at Lake Julian, with picnic tables. Some small waterfalls.
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WEDNESDAY NO. W1001-458 Mar. 10
Moonshine Cave Falls and Dismal Trail 8:30 AM
Hike 10, Drive 95, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Barbara Morgan, 828-738-3395, bcmorg@hughes.net
WC 100 An in-and-out hike on Raven Cliff Falls Trail to the Dismal Trail and on to an interesting waterfall. Mostly level with some rolling ups and downs. Only climb is the Dismal Trail. (NOTE: $2 fee per person for park entry). Second meeting place: Raven Cliff Falls Parking on US 276 at 9:30 AM. Topo: Table Rock; also Mountain Bridge Wilderness map
Scout Report: Charlie Ferguson, Jeanie, Lee Silver and her husband Mike accompanied me on Saturday February 27 to scout this hike. The hike will be an in and out, going from the Raven Cliff Falls parking lot to Moonshine Cave / Moonshine Cave Falls, for a round trip distance of 9.9 miles and a descent / ascent of 2500 feet. Hikers who plan to come on should be prepared for a steep descent, then more gradual descent, to the falls, and then a rigorous climb back to the cars - 2500 feet worth of rigorous climb! The Raven Cliff Falls parking lot charges a $2.00 per person charge for parking there, so be sure to have cash to put in the envelope. The regular meeting place is Westgate and we'll carpool from there, but if you choose to drive to the second meeting place, please follow these directions. For drivers who come northbound on hwy 276, the Raven Cliff Falls parking lot is about 3 miles past the Caesars Head State Park visitor center, which is marked with a sign. If coming southbound, the sign is facing the other way, but it is 1.7 miles from where you cross the SC state line. If the weather is bad, especially if meeting the group at the parking lot in SC, please call me to make sure the hike is still on. My home phone is 828.738.3395 and cell phone is 828.460.7066.--Barbara Morgan
WEDNESDAY NO. W1001-676 Mar. 17
DuPont Forest: Hooker Falls P.L. #3 – Forest Circular Hike 8:30 AM
Hike 9.5, Drive 95, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Danny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, danny@hikertohiker.com
WC100 This hikes takes in four waterfalls, three lakes, and two cemeteries in one wonderful place - Dupont Forest. Scenes from Last of the Mohicans were filmed here. If you haven’t hiked in Dupont lately, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the improvements. Second meeting place: Pisgah Forest Bi-Lo at 9:00 AM. Topo: Standingstone Mountain; also Dupont State Forest map published by Friends of Dupont 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.
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