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Looking Ahead
All Day Saturday & Sunday
ALL DAY No. A0601-283 Jan. 8
Montreat Ramble #2 9:00 AM* Hike 8, Drive 40, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Marlene Santa Maria,
828-299-9095 marlena98@hotmail.com *Note later start time. Meet at Westgate at 9:00 AM to form carpools,
and meet leader at parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s at exit 64 of I-40 at 9:20 AM.
This will be a moderate loop hike starting in Montreat and climbing to a ridgeline.
This close-to-home hike promises a good workout and nice views. Topo: Montreat
ALL DAY No. A0601-326
Jan. 15 Pump Gap (non-AT) loop 8:00 AM Hike 8, Drive 60, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327,
tomary2@charter.net This will be a moderate low-altitude ramble through the area between Tanyard Gap and Pump Gap.
The hike won’t include any of the AT, but we’ll do all of Pump Gap Trail, connecting through woods roads
and manways north and south of the AT. Topo: Hot Springs
ALL DAY No. A0601-236 Jan. 22
Dupont Forest –Fawn Lake P.L. #1 8:30 AM* Hike 8, Drive 70, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Rusty Breeding, 828-692-0359,
bree@planetusa.net *Note later start time. A moderate hike, close to home and at low elevation for our coldest month. We’
ll see Corn Mill Shoals, Bridal Veil Falls, Lake Julia and Fawn Lake at an easy pace.
With a touch of snow and frozen falls it may be a winter wonderland.
*Meeting places: Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Bi-Lo parking lot in Pisgah Forest at 8:30 AM.
Topo: Standingstone Mtn.; also Dupont Forest trail map
SATURDAY No. A0601-330 Jan. 28
Raven Cliff Falls 8:30 AM* Hike 8, Drive 95, 1450 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Janet Onan, 828-698-3237, janonan@bellsouth.net *Note later start time; meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Bi-Lo in Pisgah Forest at 9:00 AM.
We’ll do a pleasant walk to the pedestrian bridge over the top of a beautiful 250 ft. waterfall
in Caesar’s Head St. Park in S.C. The hike will follow the Raven Cliff Falls Trail
and a portion of the Foothills Trail to the bridge, and then return with a side trip to the spectacular overlook of the falls
and Matthew Creek Gorge. Topo: Table Rock; also Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area trail map
ALL DAY No. A0601-502 Feb. 5 Deep Creek – Sunkota Ridge loop 7:30 AM* (strenuous) Hike 13,
Drive 135, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated AA-A Don Gardner, 828-754-4067, gardog3@charter.net
900M *Note early start time. We will hike alongside Deep Creek, one of the beautiful streams on the east side of the Smokies, and then climb up to and down Sunkota Ridge, which will have good winter views. Second meeting place: Rest area beyond Waynesville on US 23/74 at 8:30 AM. Topos: Bryson City, Clingman’s Dome; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map
ALL DAY No. A0601-304 Feb. 5 AT: Garenflo Gap – Hot Springs 9:00 AM* (moderate) Hike 8, Drive 80, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Paul Benson, 828-251-1909, pdbenson@charter.net *Note later start time. We’ll start by hiking up the East Fork Shut-in Creek trail to the AT, and then a pleasant AT hike down Deer Park Mtn., ending at the hot tubs in Hot Springs. Bring your bathing suit, and contact the leader beforehand so he can get a count of how many people will use the hot tubs after the hike. 5-mile car shuttle. Topos: Lemon Gap, Spring Creek, Hot Springs; also Nat’l. Geo. French Broad & Nolichucky Rivers map
Half Day Sunday
HALF-DAY
No. H0601-346 Jan. 8 Folk Art Center to Haw Creek Overlook on the MST 1:00 PM* Hike 5, Drive 15 Rated C-C
Barry and Heather Fletcher, 828-299-4776, hmflet@aol.com *Note early start time. This favorite moderate hike on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail is rewarded with great views of the Haw Creek Valley.
*Second meeting place: Folk Art Center off the Blue Ridge Parkway at 1:15 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0601-434 Jan. 15 Laurel Mountain Trail 1:00 PM* Hike 4-5 miles, Drive 40, C-C Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703 P400 *Note early start time. This loop hike will start at FS 1206, go along a ridge trail toward Black Mountain and return via the Laurel Mountain Trail. There should be good views of the Mills River Valley. *Meet at Westgate at 1:00 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at the North Mills River parking area at 1:30 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0601-498 Jan. 22 High Windy 12:30 PM* Hike 6, Drive 40, 1700 ft. Ascent, Rated B-A
Ken and Carol Deal, 828-281-4530, KMCDeal@aol.com *Note early start time. A steep picturesque ascent through back country woods, with descent on the same trail. A rather strenuous hike but with the reward of lovely views from the top. If the weather is threatening, please call leaders. *Meeting places: Meet at Westgate at 12:10 PM to form carpools, and meet leaders at parking lot adjacent to McDonalds at Exit 64 off I-40 at 12:30 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0601-225 Jan. 30 Bent Creek loop #10: Ingles Field Gap via Boyd Branch and Little Hickory Top Trails 1:00 PM* Hike 5, Drive 20, Rated C-C
Charlie Ferguson, 828-278-0215, ccferguson111@charter.net Stuart English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@citcom.net
P400 *Note early start time. A loop hike up to Stradley Mountain following several of the trails in the Bent Creek Experimental Forest. *Second meeting place, Ingles parking lot across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 south of I-26 at 1:15 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0601-499 Feb. 5 French Broad River Greenway 1:30 PM Hike 4, Drive 10, Rated C-C Paula Robbins, 828-281-3253, paularww@bellsouth.net Asheville’s Greenway System now provides several opportunities for city walking. The leader, a member of the Greenway Commission, will describe plans for extending this riverfront trail and other existing and planned greenways within the City.
All Day Wednesday
WEDNESDAY. No. W0601-296 Jan. 4 MST:Parkway HQ to Folk Art Center 10:00 AM* Hike 5, drive 0, rated C-C
Paula McNabb 274-0057, paulamcnabb@charter.net *Note later start time. An enjoyable winter hike on the MST. Will begin at Parkway headquarters. *Only meeting place: Blue Ridge Parkway Headquarters parking area, north end of lot. Map: MST Profiles book, pg. 60-61.
WEDNESDAYNo. W0601-186 Jan. 11 Little Pisgah Mountain 8:30 AM* Hike 9, drive 20, 1500 ft. ascent, rated B-B
Don Walton, 828-654-9904, cell phone 828-713-9375, donwalton@bellsouth.net *Note later start time. A pleasant hike, close to home for our coldest month. We’ll hike from Hickory Nut Gap through an open meadow to see the view from the summit of Little Pisgah Mtn. Topo: Bat Cave
WEDNESDAY No. W0601-1700 Jan. 18 Butter Gap Trail 8:30 AM* Hike 7.4, drive70, 1150 ft. ascent, rated B-B
Stuart English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@citcom.net P400 *Note later start time. Begin hike at the Fish Hatchery, moving onto Cat Gap Trail, and then onto Butter Gap, mostly following Grogan Creek. *Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at the Fish Hatchery at 9:15 AM.
WEDNESDAY No. W0601-001 Jan. 25 Case Camp – Seniard Ridge Loop 8:00 AM* Hike 9, Drive 80, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated A-B
Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@cytechusa.com P400 This loop hike features a short steep climb up to the MST, some MST hiking, and 50 ft. frozen cascades along the closed BRP. After lunch with a great view of the surrounding mountains, we’ll hike through some beautiful woods on the Seniard Ridge Trail. *Meeting places: Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Ranger Station at 8:35 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also MST Trail Profiles pg. 50 and Nat’l. Geographic PRD Map
WEDNESDAY No. W0601-508 Feb. 1 Green River Gamelands: Bishop Branch-Pulliam Creek 8:30 AM* Hike 6.5, Drive 70, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, belston@cytechusa.com *Note later start time. Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at 9:00 AM at the Cracker Barrel off I-26, exit 53, northwest corner of the parking lot. This is a nice loop hike in the Green River Gamelands, with great winter views.
WEDNESDAY No. W0601-439 Feb. 8 Pounding Mill Trail 8:00 AM* Hike 8, Drive 55, Rated B-C
Greg Goodman 828-684-9703 P400 This hike takes the South Mills River Trail to the Pounding Mill Trail and on to Squirrel Gap Trail. We’ll continue onto Pea Gap and then return on the South Mills River Trail. Moderate. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Boyleston Baptist Church on NC 280 at 8:30 AM.
Looking Back......
All Day Saturday & Sunday
ALL DAY No. A0504-487 Dec. 25
Bent Creek Loop #9 9:00 AM
Hike 9, Drive 20, 1600 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Lenny & Danny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, danny@hikertohiker.org
P400 Note later start time. Join us for a Christmas hike around Bent Creek, starting at the Hardtimes trailhead. A great close-in, cool weather hike suitable for everyone. Dinner at a casual Chinese restaurant for those interested. Topos: Dunsmore Mtn. , Skyland; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map
The forecast didn't sound good for this Christmas Day hike and it looked like rain first thing in the morning. However hikers were coming from as far away as Charlotte (and Waynesville) and I had scouted this hike twice so we were going. It turned out to be a beautiful day. Six of us made a long circle in and around Bent Creek, using as many trails as we could. Three of us had GPSs so there was a lot of comparing of mileage, altitude and tips. The sun went in and out and at one point, we saw a rainbow without the rain. Now, that's a Christmas gift. After the hike, we went to a Chinese restaurant and continued our conversations. Danny Bernstein
NEW YEARS DAY No. A0504-281 Jan. 1
Green River Gamelands 8:00 AM breakfast, 9:00 AM hike*
Green River Gamelands 8:00 AM breakfast, 9:00 AM hike*
Hike 8, Drive 20 (from Hendersonville), 1800 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@cytechusa.com
*Form carpools at Westgate at 7:30 AM and meet leader for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel in Hendersonville (exit 53 on I 26). After breakfast, we’ll do a pleasant loop on a series of trails around the Green River Gamelands. We’ll hike down to and along the Green River, with a late lunch at the big rocks on the Green River, and then hike up and out on the Pulliam Creek trail. Short car shuttle. Topo: Cliffield Mtn., and Map of the Green River Gamelands Trails
Annual New Year's Day hike, 1/1/06
This CMC annual hike was a great success, with perfect hiking weather and a record turnout. We first met for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel in Hendersonville, then carpooled down to the Green River Gamelands along the oddly-named Big Hungry Rd. Sunny weather in the 50s resulted in a record 29 people hiking, with an eclectic range of hiker ages from the low 30s up to 80. We hiked down the Long Ridge, Turkey Gut and Bluff trails to the Green River Cove trail, then up along the scenic Green River to our first snack stop on a bluff overlooking the river. Pushing our way around, under and over blowdowns from the recent ice storm added a new element. We made use of a lopper, saw and clipper to get through the worst of it. Then up to the junction with the Pulliam Creek trail. Some hikers stayed there for lunch, while the rest of us went another 1/2 mile to the big rocks on the Green River. This is a really nice lunch spot on a sunny day, sitting on huge rocks and enjoying the scenery and the river water rushing past. We hiked up and out on the Pulliam Creek trail, with one stop to listen to and look at the "narrows" far below us on the Green River. Thanks to Larry for providing a beverage service after the hike! Bruce Bente
All-day hikes submitted by Bruce Bente 692-0116, bbente@cytechusa.com . 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 Sunday
HALF-DAY No. H0504-431 Jan. 1
Chestnut Cove to Sleepy Gap to Explorer Trail 1:00 PM*
Hike 5, Drive 20, Rated C-C
Paula Robbins, 828-281-3253 (before 9 PM), paularww@bellsouth.net
*Note early start time. Work off all those extra holiday party calories on this moderate loop hike in Bent Creek on part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. *Second meeting place, Ingles parking lot across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 south of I-26 at 1:10 PM.
Eighteen hikers, including four newcomers, turned out to enjoy a beautiful New Year’s Day, with temperatures approaching 60 degrees. The loop hike was originally planned to include a portion of the MTS from Chestnut Cove to Sleepy Gap, but the recent ice storm resulted in many blowdowns on that stretch of the Shut-In Trail. Instead, we hiked a loop from the Bent Creek Gap Road to the Explorer Trail, Chestnut Cove Trail, along the South Ridge Road, Pinetree Loop, and return on the upper Explorer Trail, about 4.5 miles.
Half Day hikes submitted by Paula Robbins 828-687-1651 paularww@bellsouth.net. Leaders: Mail please mail your sign-up sheets. Meet at Westgate unless otherwise noted.
All Day Wednesday
WEDNESDAY No. W0504-417 Dec. 21
LongBranch, Art Loeb, Butter Gap Trails 8:00 AM Hike 12, Drive 72, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Tom Sanders, 828- 252-6327, tomary2@charter.net P400
On this diversified hike we will begin at the fish hatchery, visit the McCall family cemetery, and follow the Art Loeb south to Butter Gap and return. Addnl. meeting places: Pisgah Ranger Station at 8:40 AM or Fish Hatchery at 8:50 AM Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map
On a cold morning 9 hikers gathered at the Fish Hatchery for what promised to be a beautiful clear day. It was. Starting on the Cat Gap Loop Tr. and then the Butter Gap Tr., we ascended what was a new trail for most of the hikers, Long Branch.
We visited the McCall family cemetery and returning to the Long Branch
walked up the road to Gloucester Gap. By then it was getting warmer and the advantage of doing this hike was becoming apparent, great views. Changing to the Art Loeb Tr we lunched on the summit of Rich Mtn,
which has views in every direction.There is a great variety of environments on this hike,
which became especially apparent as we continued along the Art Loeb, climbing Chestnut Mtn, the most prominent peak on that section, with a very good vista of Cedar Rock, and then came down Butter Gap Trail. There are also two beautiful waterfalls-cascades.
Tom, the leader, who had done this hike several times, but never in winter,
is convinced that this should always be a winter hike because growth in other seasons hinders the exceptional views. Though 12 miles this is also relatively easy with a lot of moderate ups and downs and only 2 major, but not lengthy climbs. We started at 9:00 and were back just before 3:00,
as we set a good pace and got a robust workout. Tom Sanders
Wednesday Hikes are submitted by Paula McNabb, 828- 274-0057 gcmcnabb@charter.net and Ann Gleason, 828-859-9387, cowbonetail@yahoo.com . The meeting place for each hike will be designated by the hike leader and will appear in the hike description. Driving mileage will be listed, round trip, from the first designated meeting place.
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