All Day Saturday & Sunday
SUNDAY NO. A1002-692 May 2
Terrapin Mtn. (Bernard Elias Favorite Hike series #1) *9:00 AM
(strenuous)
Hike 5+, Drive 140, 1700 (or more) ft. ascent, Rated C-A
Ted Snyder, 864-638-3686, tedsnyderjr@bellsouth.net
*Form carpools at Westgate, stop at Pisgah Forest Bi-Lo at 9:35 AM for additional hikers and meet leader at Community Bank in Cashiers (left onto NC 107, right at next traffic light and go 100 yards) at 10:30 AM.. This mostly off-trail hike ascends steeply through thick underbrush to a rock face giving 180 degree views of Whiteside Mtn. and Fowler Creek cirque. An alternate return with a side trip to Bearpen Mtn. may be added, dependent upon weather conditions. The extension would add two miles and include a 1100 ft. descent of a rock face. Hikers with a fear of heights should avoid this hike. Topo: Cashiers
 
Photos by Lisa Hart
After a burst of rain at the Cashiers meeting place we drove down the azalea-lined NC 107 to the trailhead.
The route to Terrapin, beginning on private property, was a mix of old roads and cross-country hiking, some of it very steep. On our way to Terrapin Mountain we saw one terrapin, lots of Catesby’s Trillium, Flame Azalea (yellow and pink variants), Pink Lady’s-slipper (Moccasin-flower Cypripedium acaule), Dwarf Iris, many species of violet, and, on top of the mountain, beds of mint. We were completely sealed in by fog, but a strong wind began to tear at it, and we got occasional glimpses of the view.
We took a different route down the mountain, mostly off-trail. The hike took about 4.5 hours (including lunch) and was about 4.5 miles long.--Ted Snyder
SUNDAY NO. A1002-060 May 2
Pilot Mtn. – Farlow Gap *8:30 AM
(moderate)
Hike 8, Drive 80, 1900 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Ashok Kudva, 828-698-7119, ashok.kudva@gmail.com
P400 *Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at Pisgah Forest Bi-Lo at 9:00 AM. This hike is timed for what we hope will be the bloom of rare pink-shell azaleas and trout lilies. It starts with a steep climb to the summit of Pilot Mtn., then down to Deep Gap and a short climb over Sassafras Knob. It’s nearly all downhill or level as we continue to Farlow Gap with its trout lily flower display. We’ll return on a pleasant seldom-used graveled forest road. There will be several stops for photography along the way. Topo: Shining Rock; also NatGeo. map #780
 
Photos by Danny Bernstein
Six hikers including a first timer and CMC member from Greensboro, started at Gloucester Gap on a misty rain-threatening day. Janet counted 37 species of wildflowers featuring Pink Shell Azaleas and Trout Lilies. Painted Trillium, Wake Robin, Mayapple, Flame Azalea, Wood Betany were also blooming. When we reached the summit the misty curtain hid the 360 degree mountain vista. Due to threat of rain and no view we descended to Deep Gap Shelter for lunch. During lunch Danny told us the history of Art Loeb and the Art Loeb Trail. We went over Sassafras Knob where there were many blow-downs on the trail. Danny took photos which we will share with the Pisgah Friday crew and I will join them at least twice in May. At Farlow Gap we paused near Bruce Rock where three mountain bikers visited us. On our return via the road bed there were more patches of Trout Lilies and Pink Shell Azaleas on the forest road. People who chose not to hike due to a high probability of rain, missed a good hike. We stopped at Dolly’s in Pisgah Forest to select and enjoy ice-cream from their menu of 100 flavors.--Ashok Kudva
SATURDAY NO. A1002-288 May 8
Kanuga Conference Center *9:00 AM
Hike 8.5, Drive 60, 800 ft. ascent, Rated B-C
Rich Bowerman, 828-808-2891, pcdbowerman@hotmail.com
*Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at parking lot at rear of Mountain Bank, corner of US 25 & White St. in Hendersonville at 9:40 AM. We have been fortunate to receive permission to hike at Kanuga Conference Center for this pleasant hike over varied terrain. We will hike over well-maintained trails including the Doug Stirling/Wolf Mtn. Trail to the Wolf Mtn. overlook, then to our lunch spot on scenic Eagle Rock. Topo: Horseshoe; also Kanuga Trails map
There were ten of us that gathered at the main office of the Kanuga Conference Center on a gorgeous Saturday morning. Nine miles later we all returned after having circumnavigated the 1,400 acres of the Conference Center – a route that included summiting Wolf Mountain, Long Rocks, and Eagle Rock on Corn Mountain. We shared our adventure with a female Eastern Box Turtle and a Northern Water Snake. A great hike at a wonderful facility with great friends!--Rich Bowerman
ALL DAY NO. A1002-216 May 9
AT: Sams Gap to Devil Fork Gap 9:00 AM
Lenny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, lsberns@att.net
Hike 8.5, Drive 90, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
This section of the AT features magnificent wildflower displays and nice views into Tennessee from the ridge line, traversing a series of knobs along an unusual section of the TN-NC state line where Tennessee is east of N.C. and the southbound hiker is actually traveling north. Car shuttle. Topo: Sams Gap
 
Photos by Passer-By and Danny Bernstein
Seventeen long-distance hikers, 46 flowers and 1 Pileated Woodpecker. It was suggested that this was all I needed for my hike report, but being a naturally garrulous type, I decided to add a bit more. We started out from Sams Gap by walking past a hillside of golden ragwort. One golden ragwort is not that impressive, but a whole hillside is beautiful. The trillium were just past their prime, but who cared. They covered large areas along the trail. But the star attraction was one lone pink lady slipper. The day was cool, but sunny – perfect hiking weather.
The only thing that detracted from an otherwise perfect day was the amount of trash left by thoughtless (I’m tempted to use much stronger language, but this is a family publication) hikers at Hogback Ridge Shelter. The six of us carried out some of it, but we couldn’t carry out everything. I’m sure those slobs thought they were doing the right thing by carefully bagging their garbage and hanging it from assorted nails, and leaving a half used bottle of maple syrup and half a can of pecans on the picnic table. Bear bait, anyone? Maybe the Maintenance Committee needs to put up signs at the shelter reminding users of “Carry in, Carry out” and “Leave No Trace.”--Lenny Bernstein
SUNDAY NO. A1002-678 May 16
An Edge of Panthertown *8:30 AM
Hike 7.5, Drive 110, 2600 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA
Dave Wetmore, 828-884-7296, dwetmore@citcom.net
*Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at Bi-Lo in Pisgah Forest at 9:05 AM. Hopefully we’ll have better weather than when this hike was first offered in January. This lollipop hike begins with a long gradual ascent along the west fork of the French Broad, mostly on old roads, to the viewpoint near the bottom of the Devil’s Elbow Ridge. We’ll climb the old Shelton Pisgah trail up the ridge to our second viewpoint. From there a short cross-country descent to another old road will take us back to our inbound trail and on to the trailhead. Time permitting, there will be a short detour to Aunt Sally’s Falls. There are a couple of rock hops on the first part of the hike. Topo: Lake Toxaway
 
Photos by Ted Connors
Seven people ignored the weather forecast and spent a dry, warm, partly cloudy day hiking. Early in the hike we took a short detour to Aunt Sally's Falls and then continued on a (mostly) easy grade to the ridgeline above Devil's Elbow. From there to just below Shelton Pisgah summit we had to spend some time weaving our way through blowdowns, but the area was open and we had lots of weaving room. Unfortunately, the air was hazy and the lunch view was not all that it could have been. After a short but steep drop to an old road the rest of the hike was a pleasant down hill walk.
We didn't see too many flowers, but did see one salamander and three snakes. The first snake, a blacksnake, let us use half of the footbed to go by him. The other two were a couple of garter snakes who were coupled together in a very suggestive way.--Dave Wetmore
Half Day Sunday
HALF-DAY NO. H1002-436 May 2
Mt. Pisgah from Pisgah Inn 1:00 PM
Hike 4.5, Drive 36, 950 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Jane Laping, 828-277-7342, janelaping@sbcglobal.net
View beautiful scenery from the top of Mt. Pisgah on this in-and-out hike. Second meeting place: Pisgah Inn Parking Lot at 1:35 PM.
Photo by Jane Laping
Rain was threatening and a strong wind was blowing when we left the Pisgah Inn parking lot for the top of Mt. Pisgah. Six of us headed up the trail to the site of the Buck Springs Lodge. Continuing towards the summit we enjoyed the tiny bluets, painted trilliums, and flowering trees. The cloud cover and strong wind were very refreshing as we hiked, but on the platform at the summit the wind was too strong to stand in it very long. The trek down was easier for most and more enjoyable. We stopped at Buck Spring Gap Overlook for a group photo with Mt. Pisgah in the background. A short time later we crossed the first parking lot on the road up and met two CMC members who joined us for the final leg of the trip back to the Pisgah Inn. Instead of losing folks on this hike, we gained four, starting with six hikers and ending with ten!--Jane Laping
HALF-DAY NO. H1002-603 May 9
Big Ivy *12:30 PM
Hike 5.5, Drive 55, 700 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Marcia Bromberg, 828-505-0471, mwbromberg@yahoo.com
This loop in the Big Ivy Creek headwaters area of the Pisgah National Forest begins 4.4 miles up FS 74 at the Perkins Road Trail. We will hike up to the Laurel Gap Trail, turn right and walk to the Bear Pen Trail which will take us back down to FS 74. We'll walk just under a mile to return to our cars. Expect to see spring wildflowers along the way. Second meeting place: Roses parking lot Exit 19 off I-26 in Weaverville at 12:45 PM.
Photo by Marcia Bromberg
Fifteen hikers enjoyed this gentle Mother's Day hike, including a few new to the area and CMC hikes. Although many of the wildflowers seen during the scout were already finished, the hikers enjoyed the beauty of the area, including the Bluets growing out of the moss on damp rocks along the way. We were rewarded with one Showy Orchis at the end of the hike. All and all a lovely day.--Marcia Bromberg
HALF-DAY NO. H1002-347 May 16
Twin Falls *12:30 PM
Hike 6, Drive 80, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Lee Belknap, 828-698-9394, rivergypsy@sprintmail.com
P400 *Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at Pisgah Ranger Station at 1:10 PM. This is a moderate hike in the Pisgah National Forest, starting on the Buckhorn Gap Trail, taking the Twin Falls Bypass to view two nice waterfalls and completing a loop on a Forest Service road and the Clawhammer Cove Trail with its beaver dam.
Six hikers left the Pisgah Ranger Station just in time to miss the pending downpour that moved in behind us. Due to a road closure, our plan was to hike from the gate at the Pisgah Stables up to the landslide and the Avery Creek trailhead. We took the Avery Creek Trail to Buckhorn Gap and Twin Falls trail, returning nearly the same way. Immediately we saw the two abandoned beaver dams on Avery Creek and soon spotted some pink lady slippers. We also spotted some Jack-in-the-Pulpit (who’s name I managed to confuse with Pitcher Plants). The twin falls, which along with a third are all on different forks of Henry’s Branch, were spectacular and we spent some time exploring them before settling down for a snack.
Although the vegetation at the falls was wet from a very recent rain, the skies remained mostly blue until the end of the trip. By the time we reached the beaver pond, dramatic clouds were forming and we could hear distant thunder. I figured we would still be dry when we reached the road, but probably not all the way to the cars. The rain started a quarter of a mile from the car and let loose a hundred yards too soon with plenty of wild wind, sound effects, and galloping horses in the pen. Those of us who put on our rain gear in time won the bet against the rain, but then again nobody really lost with such a warm and dramatic storm.--Lee Belknap
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WEDNESDAY NO. W1002-216 May 5
Sams Gap to Devil Fork Gap 8:30 AM
Hike 8.5, Drive 90, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Ashok Kudva, 828-698-7119, ashok.kudva@gmail.com.
This section of the AT features magnificent wildflower displays and nice views into Tennessee from the ridge line, traversing a series of knobs along an unusual section of the TN-NC state line where Tennessee is east of NC and the southbound hiker is actually traveling north. Car Shuttle. Topo: Sams Gap
 
Photos by Ted Connors
Sixteen hikers from Westgate were joined by one at I-26 Exit 50 and one at Devil’s Fork Gap trail-end. It was a sunny and comfortably warm day in low 80s. The trail was in excellent condition.
Among 35 species of wildflowers counted by Bruce were : Painted Trillium, Nodding Trillium, Errect Trillium, Halibard leaved Yellow Violet, Purple Violet, Canada Violet, Mayapple, Larkspur, Jack in the Pulpit, Wild Geranium, Ragwort, Buttercups, Chickweeds, Stonecrop, Wild Strawberry, Wood Anemony, Lily of Valley, Solomon’s Seal, Solomon’s Plume, Foam Flower, Dandelion, Wood Betany, Blue Cohosh, Nodding Mandarin, Cutleaf Toothwort, Small and Large Bellwort.
Stuart counted 30 thru A.T. hikers, one of whom told us he met two CMC sawyers working on the trail. All appreciated CMC’s trail and facility maintainers’ efforts. Some were from Belgium, Australia and several states in the U.S.
After climbing 800 ft in 75 minutes we took a snack break at the Hog Back Ridge A.T. Shelter and hiked one more hour before lunch across from a field of Trillium in the Big Flat area. At Sugarloaf Gap with a beautiful mountain vista Steve Pierce, an SB6K challenge-accomplisher, identified for us all SB6K Black peaks. The deep descent between Sugarloaf Gap and Rector Laurel Road had spectacular switchbacks with soft spongy trail footing and surrounded by green carpet of leaves with intermittent wildflowers. A small waterfall next to the trail was spectacular. We reached the cars at 3:35PM. Spontaneous feedback from all hikers was excellent. Car shuttle plan worked perfectly.--Ashok Kudva
WEDNESDAY NO. W1002-041 May 12
Sugar Cove Trail to Mackey Mountain *8:30 AM
Hike 11.5, Drive 87, 2900 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA+
Barbara Morgan, 828-738-3395, bcmorg@hughes.net.
*Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at Ingles parking lot off Exit 64 of I-40 at 8:50 AM. We’ll take the Sugar Cove Creek trail and turn onto the Mackey Mtn. Trail to Mackey Mtn and return the same way. Topo: Old Fort; also NatGeo Map #779
Twelve CMC hikers had a great hike to the top of Mackey Mountain. Actually, nine started at the "official" trailhead at Sugar Cove, and two more joined the group (due to time issues) when we got to the intersection with Curtis Creek Road. The lower part, which ran on an old Forest Service roadbed, was pretty, but there was much too much poison ivy brushing my pantlegs for my liking. Once we were out of that, I was happier!
The group enjoyed going at a pretty fair pace. We saw some wildflowers, including a few rhododendrons in bloom, but many of the spring flowers were already gone. We had some views from a few spots on the Mackey Creek Trail, which runs essentially on a ridgeline.
I'm extremely grateful to those who worked to make this hike a success by clearing much of the damage from the winter's storms.--Barbara Morgan
WEDNESDAY NO. W1002-249 May 19
Buckeye Gap and Haywood Gap Trails Circuit 8:00 AM
Jim Ariail, 828-505-0443, jimariail@yahoo.com
Hike 9, Drive 85, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
P400 Cross the BRP then go right onto the MST, left onto Buckeye Gap Trail at unmarked junction. Descend on old logging RR grade to lunch spot at river, and then climb on Haywood Gap trail to MST and back to the starting point. Wilderness area, limit 10, so contact leader for reservation. Second meeting place: BRP cold Mtn. Overlook (M.P. 412) at 8:40 AM. Topo: Sam Knob
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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