Important Notice: Parking at Westgate has changed. Park only in the far north line of parking spaces past Earth Fare. Click here for a map.
All Day Saturday & Sunday
--------- June 6th is CMC's National Trails Day - see the American Hiking Society website. -------------
SUNDAY NO. A1002-693 June 6 - National Trails Day hike
Tusquitee Bald (Bernard Elias Favorite Hike series #2) *8:00 AM
(strenuous)
Hike 8, Drive 210, 2100 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA
Ted Snyder, 864-638-3686, tedsnyderjr@bellsouth.net
*Form carpools at Westgate, stop at rest area beyond Waynesville on US 23/74 at 8:30 AM, and meet leader at jct. of US 19/74 and SR 1310 (Nantahala River Put-in) at 10:00 AM. Up Big Tuni Creek on the Chunky Gal Trail to Tusquitee Bald where we join the Fires Creek Rim Trail and follow a ridge to County Corners, and then down Old Road Gap Trail. Glorious views from Tusquitee Bald. Short car shuttle. Topo: Topton; also NatGeo map #784
SUNDAY NO. A1002-516 June 6 - National Trails Day hike
Lakeshore Loop 8:30 AM
(moderate)
Hike 8, Drive 145, 800 ft. ascent, Rated B-C
Danny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, danny@hikertohiker.org
900M Starting at the Lakeshore tunnel, we’ll do an easy loop, consisting of the Lakeshore, White Oak Branch and Forney Creek Trails. We’ll lunch at the Fontana Lake shoreline, and then return on the Lakeshore trail and back on the bypass trail. We’ll see house sites, a creek and cemeteries and the historic “Road to Nowhere”. Second meeting place: Rest area beyond Waynesville on US 23/74 at 9:00 AM. Topo: Noland Creek; also Nat Geo map #229
Scout Report: Lenny and I walked the Lake Shore Loop in preparation for leading it on National Trails Day Weekend. It is a beautiful and historic trail.
Beautiful - We found mountain laurel, flame azaleas, bowman's root, wintergreen flowers, and Forney Creek, which is more like a rocky, whitewater river right now.
Historic - The hike is in the heart of the "Road to Nowhere" area. We passed a controversial signboard just before we entered the park, hiked to a cemetery which was recently decorated with their mounded graves, and, of course, went through the tunnel.
This is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at its best and the trails are well-maintained. Danny
SATURDAY NO. A1002-570 June 12
Dupont Forest – Corn Mill Shoals P.L. #2 *10:00 AM
Hike 7, Drive 80, 300 ft. ascent, Rated B-C
Kathleen Hudson, 828-698-5208, mstish1325@gmail.com
*Form carpools at Westgate, and meet hike leader at Hooker Falls parking lot in DuPont Forest at 10:45 AM. Several trails will take us to the top of the rushing waters of Bridal Veil Falls for lunch, and a close up view and walk behind the falls. Start at Corn Mill Shoals Road parking lot and we'll be on Burnt Mountain Trail, Little River Trail and Bridal Veil Falls Trail. Topo: Standingstone Mtn.; also DuPont Forest trail map
SUNDAY NO. A1002-674 June 13
Wayah Bald – Wesser Bald 7:30 AM
Hike 12.6, Drive 175, 2087 ft. NB ascent, 3450 ft. SB ascent, Rated AA-AA
Jacob Cox, 828-584-0395, jcox@mfgnc.com and Carroll Koepplinger, 828-667-0723, carrollkoepp@bellsouth.net
LTC Note early start time. This great AT hike will visit two lookout towers, each with 360 degree views of the mountains. Strenuous hike. Key-swap hike. Optional supper at Jarrett House after the hike. Second meeting place: Rest area beyond Waynesville on US 23/74 at 8:00 AM, but call a leader first. Topos: Wayah Bald, Wesser; also NatGeo map #785
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Half Day Sunday
HALF-DAY NO. H1002-573 June 6 - National Trails Day hike
Devil’s Courthouse from FS 816 *12:00 PM
Hike 5, Drive 75, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, cell phone 828-606-0583, belston@tds.net
P400 *Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at Cold Mountain Overlook (BRP M.P. 412) at 12:40 PM. The hike will differ slightly from #573 but will be nice and cool at 5000 feet and afford great views from Devil’s Courthouse. Topo: Sams Knob.
HALF-DAY NO. H1002-294 June 13
Picklesimer Fields 1:00 PM
Hike 5, Drive 65, Rated C-B
Tom Sanders 828-252-6327, tomary.avl@gmail.com
In and out hike from the Fish Hatchery. We'll take Butter Gap Trail and see how far we get. Second Meeting: Place Fish Hatchery at 1:45 PM.
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WEDNESDAY NO. W1002-008 June 9
Bee Tree Gap to Tanbark Tunnel *9:00 AM
Hike 6.2, Drive 30, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Joe Burchfield, 828-298-8413, Burchfield@niu.edu.
*Note that the only meeting place is the back parking lot of the Folk Art Center. A moderate hike on the MST over Lane Pinnacle. Good mountain views and, with luck, the rhododendrons will be in bloom. There are several steep but short ups and downs and a long descent. Topo: Craggy Pinnacle; also new MST Profiles, Pg. 58-59
WEDNESDAY NO. W1002-566 June 16
The Roans *8:30 AM
Hike 8 Drive 130, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Adrian Lotherington, 828-484-9132, jaloth@charter.net
SB6K *ONLY MEETING PLACE: Rose’s car park (opposite McDonalds), exit 19B off I-26 in Weaverville. This in-and-out hike features great views. From Carver’s Gap we go over Jane Bald and Round Bald to Grassy Ridge Bald. With luck we will hit the rhododendron bloom. If time allows we will drive to the gardens and walk ½ mile to see the view from Roan High Bluff (small fee).
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. |
