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
 
Photos by Cindy McJunkin
Much of the snow had melted since the scouting hike, but there were still some deep drifts at the higher elevation. Ten of us, one a new hiker to CMC, climbed to Newton Bald via Deeplow Gap and Mingus Mill Trails. There were several inches of powdery snow at the bald, and we plodded through as we continued on Thomas Divide. We finished our loop by returning to Deeplow Gap and passing over Little Creek Falls. The trail crosses the base of 95 feet of water falling over shelves of Thunderhead Sandstone, creating one of the most beautiful cascades in the park. It was a challenging but rewarding walk in the Smokies.--Cindy 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
Sixteen hikers showed up for one of the warmest days we have had in some time to hike 8.8 miles on the Foothills Trail, followed by a one mile RT hike to Whitewater Falls. Weather was great. Blow downs had been cleared along the last three miles on the east fork of the Chattooga, so the hike was easier than predicted. Had great views of the piedmont and foothills as the weather was clear.--Brent Martin
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
 
Photos by Linda Blue
Due to terrible conditions on one of the trails of the planned hike, the 8 hikers who showed up for the Green River Hike substituted an in/out hike on the Green River Cove Trail. Although it rained all around us, we enjoyed good weather and early signs of spring--trillium, bloodroot, violets--as we walked along the rushing river.--Marcia Bromberg
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
 
Photos by Danny Bernstein
This Five Falls hike is one of my standard hikes. We start with Hooker Falls
to wet the appetite of participants. Then after a while, we find Wintergreen Falls,
which may be the most remote of the falls. Not long after, we have a snack at Grassy Creek
Falls. This one is frustrating since you can only admire it from its side.
High Falls and Triple Falls, the most popular and touristy, round out the hike.
In between, we walk into two cemeteries to show hikers that this area had a life and a story
before Dupont Corporation bought the property.
Today, we had fifteen strong hikers and we finished the hike in less than five and a half hours.
We weren't rushing; we had plenty of stops. But we finished just before the rains came. And, I, the leader,
got credit for planning it so well.--Danny Bernstein
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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.
Due to ice and snow, the hike was modified. Eighteen of us hiked from Hard Times Trailhead along Bent Creek road to Lake Powhatan and back.--Tom Cook
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. W1001-335 Mar. 3
Green Ridge and Fork Ridge Trail on the AT 8:30 AM
Hike 10.5, Drive 90, 3000 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Charlie Ferguson, 828-625-2677, ccf108@gmail.com
This strenuous hike in the Shelton Laurel-Carmen area climbs alongside Dry Creek with an attractive waterfall. You will be surrounded by beautiful woods and mountains while you climb up to the AT. On the AT, we will see the Shelton gravesites, the views from Big Butt and maybe a few early AT thru-hikers. After lunch at Jerry Cabin Shelter, we'll descend via the Fork Ridge Trail. Second meeting place: Jct US 25/70 & NC 208 at 9:15 AM. Topo: Greystone, Flag Pond; NatGeo map #782
Too much snow at higher elevations near the AT to do this hike. I was prepared to do an alternate hike along a section of the AT that was known to be clear and not have too much snow. The weather reports were discouraging. Some people in the northern parts of the county got a lot of snow the night before. Charlie showed up at Westgate. No one else came. Charlie went shopping.--Charlie Ferguson
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
The weather service was assuring us that it would rain - 80 percent chance and more. No one met me at Westgate, and I felt sure that my drive to the trailhead would be just that - a nice drive and no more. But, when I arrived, I found Brenda Worley and Greg Goodson there, ready to go. They still wanted to go even after they learned that the 1800 foot descent had turned into 2500 feet when Charlie GPS'd the route during the scout.
We had a great time. Though it was misty, there were good views while we made our descent, worrying a bit about what it was going to feel like going back up! The river rewarded us with good views of rushing waters. We reached Moonshine Cave and its falls about 12:30 and it was gorgeous. There are still parts of the moonshining operation that gave the area its name.
The trip back wasn't as hard as expected, and the only rain we felt was a slight misting for about the last mile. We were really glad that it was overcast and cool - a 60 degree day like we've had recently would have cooked us!--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
Email your hike reports to Dave Wetmore. The deadline for reports is 9:00 p.m. on the Tuesdays before an eNews comes out. 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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