Looking Ahead

All Day  Saturday & Sunday

ALL DAY  No. A0602-124  May 7
Clingman’s Dome and Mt. Collins 8:00 AM (strenuous) Hike 11.7, Drive 150, 1900 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Lenny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, lsberns@worldnet.att.net 
   SB6K, 900M Here’s a chance to knock off two of the SB6K peaks in the Smokies. We will hike the AT from the Fork Ridge access, over Mt. Collins (6188 ft.) and Clingman’s Dome (6643 ft.), enjoy the views and then return 8 miles to Newfound Gap. Those wishing a shorter hike can return to the original trailhead, for an 8-mile hike. Second meeting place: Quality Inn in Maggie Valley (US 19 side) at 8:30 AM. Topo: Clingman’s Dome

ALL DAY  No. A0602-456  May 7
AT: Stecoah Gap to Yellow Creek Gap 8:10 AM (moderate) Hike 7.6, Drive 170, 1700 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Chip Miller, 828-654-9331, backpacker54nc@bellsouth.net
  A moderate hike on a southern portion of the AT, between Stecoah Gap and Yellow Creek Gap. Guaranteed to see lots of wildflowers, including rare yellow trilliums and yellow ladyslippers. There will be a car key swap. Second meeting place: Rest stop beyond Waynesville on US 23/74 at 8:40 AM. Topos: Hewitt, Fontana Dam

ALL DAY  No. A0602-218  May 14
Cataloochee Divide 8:00 AM Hike 12, Drive 85, East Bound: 1800 ft. ascent, Rated AA-A, or West Bound: 2800 ft. ascent, rated AA-AA Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@cytechusa.com  and Marianne Newman, 828-454-1036, marianneln@msn.com 
900M If it is clear, we will experience some of the most spectacular views in WNC as we hike over Hemphill Bald and the Swag. Wildflowers should be wonderfully abundant. Key swap hike, with half the group starting from each end. Second meeting place: back parking lot of Quality Inn in Maggie Valley at 8:30 AM, but call leader beforehand. Topos: Cove Creek Gap, Dellwood, Bunches Bald; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map

WEDNESDAY   No. W0602-517  May 17
South Mills River Ramble 8:00 AM* Hike 11.5, Drive 70, 2500 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA Tom Bindrim and Joan Lemire, 828-273-3880 P400 A nice ramble at a moderate pace, including Funneltop, Cantrell Creek and the Rigby Cutoff. Some off-trail hiking. Bring extra food in case we get back later than expected. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leaders at the Bi-Lo parking lot in Pisgah Forest at 8:30 AM. Topo: Pisgah Forest; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

Looking Back......

All Day  Saturday & Sunday

ALL DAY  No. A0602-089  April 23
AT: Max Patch to Lemon Gap and Return 8:00 AM Hike 11, Drive 100, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Becky Smucker, 828-298-5013, bsmucker@charter.net This hike is legendary for the Trilliums in bloom. We’ll have a chance to see the new AT shelter just built by the CMC, along a beautiful section of the AT, beginning and ending at Max Patch with one of WNC’s most stunning views. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck Stop at exit 24 off I-40 at 9:00 AM. Topo: Lemon Gap

The morning was beautiful and clear as eighteen of us started the hike by climbing Max Patch itself. By the time we got to the top the breeze was so strong we nearly had to hold hands to keep from being blown off. But what a view! On our way to Lemon Gap we stopped to visit the McDonald Hilton, the new Roaring Fork Shelter designed by Howard McDonald and built by many of our own maintainers. This time of year the spring wildflowers are always ah-inspiring along this trail. The many trilliums, violets and spring beauties especially create quite a show. While we were eating our lunch at Lemon Gap, we were joined by two more CMC hikers who had missed us at Westgate but had persisted in following us all the way to the end, and so we were twenty. Coming back south after lunch we were interested in chatting briefly with through-hikers we encountered. It had clouded up some as the day passed, but never did rain and cleared by the time we got back to Max Patch. The day went quickly as the weather, trail and company were great. Becky Smucker

ALL DAY  No. A0602-164  April 30
Hawkbill Creek - Snowball Circuit 8:00 AM Carroll Koepplinger, 828-667-0723. carrollkoepp@bellsouth.net Hike 8-9, drive 50, 2400 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA This exciting spring trip will bushwhack up Hawkbill Creek, then up to Hawkbill Rock and Little Snowball Mtn., the site of an old fire tower, and then down to the starting point. The wildflowers and ramps have been spectacular every time CMC has taken this hike. The hike will also feature panoramic views from Hawkbill Rock and little Snowball and enjoyable open-woods, off-trail hiking. A strenuous climb, but the pace will be moderate. Topo: Craggy Pinnacle

The sounds of the rushing waters over and through the rocks of Hawkbill Creek, the rata tat tat of a woodpecker seeking food, the sounds of wind through the trees, the technical song of an unidentified bird and a far off response from a mate, the oohs & aahs of hikers seeing the numerous wild flowers. This is what makes a great hike! The one sound missing, was, fortunately, the sound of raindrops on the forest canopy and on the rain gear of hikers.

Shall we talk flowers? How about sixty, yes, that’s 60 varieties of wild flowers. Too numerous to mention here (besides I couldn’t remember even half of them). The highlight of the flowers were about 25 to 30 Indian Paint Brushes along with about the same number of Showy Orchis. What beauty awaited those of us who were ready to challenge the potential rain. My record is now shot in that this was the first hike that I have led in some time that it did not rain!

With rain an almost assuredly happening according to the forecasters, ten hikers arrived at the trail head at 8:40 AM and started the hike, properly attired with rain gear, at 8:50AM and returned at 4:15 PM. We had a moderate hike with many stops to view the beauty of the wild flowers before us. The hike was 8.5 miles with approximately a 2,400 ft accumulated elevation climb.

After hiking up alongside and crossing Hawkbill Creek, often searching for signs of a trail, we then did a challenging, steep, bushwack up to the Snowball trail. Lunch on Hawkbill Rock with clouds breaking and a mixture of clouds and sunshine the remainder of the day. Another lengthy break on Little Snowball Mtn which afforded us long range views thanks to CMC’ers removing trees and shrubs.

As they say down south “you’all” missed a great hike! Carroll
Pictures taken by Ashok Kudva

Half Day Sunday

HALF-DAY No. No. H0602-009 April 23

Ox Creek Road to Rattlesnake Lodge and return 1:30 PM
Hike 4.4, Drive 15, Rated C-C Jane and Lew Blodgett, 828-274-7863

This popular hike to a historical site features fine switchbacks and many spring wildflowers. Second meeting place: Folk Art Center lower parking lot, 1:50 PM.

HALF-DAYNo. H0602-010  April 30
Ox Creek Road to Craven Gap and return 1:30 PM

Hike 3.6, Drive 15, Rated C-C

Jean Gard, 828-777-1814, jeangard@charter.net

A leisurely in-and-out hike to enjoy the many spring wildflowers on this easy hike on the MST. Second meeting place: Folk Art Center lower parking lot, 1:50 PM.

Just-in-time sunshine! At the start of our half day hike from Craven Gap to Ox Creek Road, the clouds departed and the day turned bright and sunny. Our hike along this scenic ridge contained a fine display of wildflowers. Thanks to Paula Robbins, we identified three types of trilliums, delphinium, Solomon's seal, daisy fleabane, wild columbine, bell wort, squaw corn, May apple (not yet in bloom) and many other forest flora A short, sweet CMC hike with three new hikers and seven stalwart members. Jean Gard

All Day Wednesday

WEDNESDAY   No. W0602-519  NO. W0602-519 Apr. 19
Raven Cliff Falls, The Cathedral Rock, Dismal Trail Loop 8:00 AM* Hike 9, Drive 95, 2300 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA Ann Gleason,
828-859-9387 gleason.ann@gmail.com
Hike to 412 ft Raven Cliff falls in Caesar’s head state Park where we cross ther suspension bridge and descend 120 ft down “the cathedral”. We then cross Matthews creek on a cable crossing with a steep ascent up the Dismal Trail to a large rock outcropping with great view of the falls, then return to parking lot. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form car pools, and meet leader at Bi-Lo Parking lot in Pisgah Forest at 8:30 AM. Additional meeting place: Raven Cliff Parking lot on US 276 at 9:00 AM. NOTE: $2 fee per person for park entry. Topo: Table Rock; also Mountain Bridge Wilderness map

This past Wednesday hike (to Raven Cliff, the Cathedral and Dismal) did not go. I drove to the meeting place (second meeting place at
Bilo at Pisgah) but no one showed. Thunderstorms were over by11 or so, but were pretty wide spread earlier. oh well. So it goes. Ann

WEDNESDAY  No. W0602-520   Apr. 26
Clawhammer Via Pressley Cove 8:30 AM Hike 7-8, Drive 70, 2400 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA Ruth Hartzler, 828-251-0886, ruthmtn@charter.net P400 Note later start time. This new hike for CMC will start with a steep climb on the Pressley Cove Trail, then finish the climb on the Black Mt. Trail. Great views at lunch from the Clawhammer overlook. Second meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station at 9:05 AM. Topo: Pisgah Forest; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map 444

It was a dark and stormy day.  I was sure I would drive to the second meeting place at the Ranger Station alone, in the rain, to find, at most, a hiker or two determined to hike in the rain.  After all, one hiker had called earlier to see if the hike was on, and changed his mind mid-sentence as a down-pour started.  I put on every item of raingear I own, including two rain jackets.  (This is known to ward off excessive rain.)  It was dry at Westgate, and, to my surprise, the normal contingent of tough Wednesday hikers were out in-force.  Also, two out-of-towners showed up, determined to make the most of their vacation.  So, eight of us headed off to the Ranger Station.

At the Ranger Station, we were greeted by seven additional hikers … still dry.  We left a car at the Ranger Station, and drove to the Pressley Cove Trailhead. … still dry.  Almost immediately above the trailhead, we spotted several Showy Orchis’, omens for a good hike.  On the steep climb up to Pressley Gap, we saw many Wood Anemones, Foam Flowers, and white Birdfoot Violets.  After a brief stop at Pressley Gap, we headed up the Black Mountain Trail …. Still dry.  Many dwarf irises sprinkled blue and purple along the trail.  We also found two tiny frogs.  We ignored the sprinkles of rain for a while.  Then, we were forced to don raingear.  The forecast had been 60% chance of rain.  The 40% of dry was over.

We continued climbing up the Black Mountain Trail, but now we were accompanied by thunder and lightening.  We slowed our pace, hoping the thunderstorm would pass before we reached the ridge.  Fortunately, it did.  Tom B. found a rock overhang that our entire group fit under.  So, we enjoyed a dry lunch.  After lunch, the rain subsided, and we enjoyed the views and photography from the rock outcropping near Clawhammer.  On the return trip down the Black Mountain Trail, we were a wet, but merry group.  The hike was a lot more fun than I had expected earlier. -- Ruth

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 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.

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.