SATURDAY
NO. A0603-357 Aug. 26 Pisgah Ridge Loop 8:30 AM* Hike 7.5, Drive 70, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Janet Onan, 828-698-3237, janonan@bellsouth.net P400 Note later start time.
We’ll do a scenic circle of the entire Graveyard Fields area, using the Pisgah Ridge Trail
and MST to lunch at a beautiful overlook. Then we’ll follow the Graveyard Ridge Trail,
with a side trip to one of the Yellowstone Falls. Possible blueberry sightings.
*Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at BRP Cold Mtn. overlook (M.P. 412) at 9:10 AM.
Topos: Shining Rock, Sam Knob; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map and USFS Shining Rock & Middle Prong Wilderness map
ALL DAY
NO. A0603-267 Aug. 27 Horsepasture River 8:00 AM Hike 8, Drive 105, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Kathleen Hannigan, 828-230-4883, kathleen.hannigan@pgnmail.com
See the waterfalls – Drift, Turtleback, Rainbow and Stairway, ending at Windy, the finale downstream near Lake Jocassee, if the weather is not rainy.
Second meeting place: Bi-lo in Pisgah Forest at 8:30 AM. Topo: Reid; Also Sierra Club guide to Jocassee Gorges.
ALL DAY
NO. A0603-373
Sept. 3 Yellow Mountain 8:00 AM (strenuous) Hike 9.4, Drive 125, 2900 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA+
Carroll Koepplinger, 828-667-0723, carrollkoepp@bellsouth.net
We’ll hike in the Cowee Mtns on a heavily forested high altitude trail that ascends four peaks going
in and three on the way back. Views from the Yellow Mtn. observation tower are great – a fine lunch spot.
Strenuous but rewarding. Second meeting place: rest area beyond Waynesville at 8:30 AM. Topos: Highlands, Glenville
ALL DAY NO.
A0603-049
Sept. 3 Walnut Bottom FAMILY HIKE 8:00 AM (moderate)
Hike 11.6, Drive 110, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-B Ashok Kudva, 828-698-7119, cell: 828-674-1374 ashok.kudva@mchsi.com
900M This hike is on a wide roadbed from Big Creek Campground to Walnut Bottom (5.8 miles in and out and 1500 ft ascent). It is easy enough for children/ grandchildren capable of walking 6 miles when accompanied by guardians. Arrange carpooling so that anybody who wants to return after 2 or 3 miles may do so with their party. Call the leader if you want to bring children. Follow the sight and sound of a spectacular mountain stream through a beautiful forest to Walnut Bottom. Features to be seen on this hike on a wide roadbed are the Midnight Hole, Mouse Creek Falls and several rapids. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck Stop, I-40 at Exit 24 at 8:30 AM, but call leader first. Topos: Luftee Knob, Cove Creek Gap; also Nat'l. Geo .GSMNP Map
HALF-DAY No. H0603-112 August 27 Black Balsam Knob, Tennant Mtn., via Art Loeb, Shining Rock Ledge 1:00 PM* Newcomers who have not hiked with CMC before are welcome, but are required to phone the leader before the hike to determine hike requirements. Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary@charter.net Hike 5, Drive 80, Rated C-B
*Note early start time. This moderate loop hike features beautiful views of the mountains and perhaps blueberries. Second meeting place at Cold Mountain Overlook on BRP at 1:40 PM. Hikers who are not familiar with how to get to second meeting place should phone leader for directions
HALF-DAY No. H0603-247
Sept. 3 Ivestor Gap Blueberry Hike
12:30 PM*Newcomers who have not hiked with CMC before are welcome, but are required to phone the leader
before the hike to determine hike requirements. Rusty Breeding, 828-692-0359,
bree@planetusa.net Hike 7, Drive 70, Rated B-B, 1,400-ft ascent
*Note early start time. Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form car pools and meet leader at Cold Mountain Overlook on BRP at 1:00 PM. Hikers who are not familiar with how to get to second meeting place should phone leader for directions Hike 3 miles on an old railroad grade to Ivestor Gap. The hills beyond the gap are famous for blueberry picking.
WEDNESDAY NO. W0603-247
Aug. 23 Ivestor Gap Blueberry Hike 8:30 AM* Hike 6, Drive 76, rated B-C
Ken and Carol Deal, 828-281-4530,
cnkdeal@charter.net P400
Our traditional hike to the picking fields of Grassy Cove Top in the Shining Rock Wilderness. Limit 10 hikers.
Call for reservation. *Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet leaders at BRP
Cold Mountain Overlook at 9:15 AM for carpooling to Big Sam parking area.
WEDNESDAY NO. W0603-101
Aug. 30 Lower Big Laurel Creek 9:00 AM* Hike 6, Drive 60, 200-ft ascent,
Rated B-C
Paula McNabb, 828-274-0057, paulamcnabb@charter.net
Leisurely paced in-and-out hike along Lower Big Laurel Creek to the site of Runion,
an early 1900s logging and mining settlement.
WEDNESDAY NO. W0603-266
Sept. 6 MST: Black Mtn. Campground to NC 128 8:00 AM*
Hike 11, Drive 80, 3630 ft ascent,
Rated A-AA+ Ames Tryon, 828-669-3805, tryonaf@charter.net
SB6K This will be a challenging hike from the Black Mountain Camp
ALL DAY NO. A0603-241 Aug. 6 Mt. Kephart via Sweat Heifer Creek Trail 8:00 AM (strenuous) Hike 12.8, Drive 140, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA Michael Cornn, 828-685-3442, mcornn@aol.com SB6K, 900M This hike is designed to visit two of the best scenic overlooks in the Smokies, Jumpoff and Charlies Bunion and to climb Mt. Kephart (6217 ft.). From Newfound Gap, we will hike on the AT to Mt. Kephart and the Jumpoff, and from there to Charlies Bunion. After lunch, we will return via the AT, and then down the Sweat Heifer Creek (rarely hiked by CMC) and Kephart Prong Trails. Topos: Clingmans Dome, Mt. Leconte, Mt. Guyot, Smokemont; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map
For my first hike as a leader I was lucky to have 4 experienced hikers show up at WestGate. From there we went on to Newfound Gap to start the hike. We went on the A.T. to a short trail to Mt. Kephart and down to the Jump Off. The clouds had cleared for a view of our lunch spot at Charlie's Bunion. From here Kent saw a black bear below us, but it was out of view when went to look. After enjoying the view it was back to the A.T. to Charlie's Bunion for lunch and the views from the other side of the valley. After lunch we back tracked on A.T. to the Sweat Heifer Trail. I could honestly say its all down from here, about 3600 feet. We enjoyed the two waterfalls along a trail rarely hiked by CMC. At the Kephart shelter we took had a final break. From there it was an easy 2 miles on the Kephart Prong trail to the other car. After the hike all five of us had are traditional dinner at Snappys. Michael
ALL DAY NO. A0603-199 Aug. 6 Black Mtn. Campground to Green Knob 8:30 AM* (moderate) Hike 7, Drive 85, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA Janet Martin, 812-738-8154, jaykaymartin@msn.com *Note later start time. Enjoy the beautiful woods as we climb Lost Cove Ridge on the Green Knob Trail from the Black Mtn. Campground to fantastic views and a first-class lunch spot atop Green Knob. After lunch it’s all downhill. Second meeting place: Craven Gap at 8:50 AM. Topo: Old Fort; also USFS South Toe River, Mt. Mitchell & Big Ivy Trail Map.
Ten hikers including 2 first timers and 2 second timers completed this moderate hike from Black Mtn. Campground up to Green Knob. This short but steep hike had several steep boulders to negotiate. Janet Martin, scheduled to lead this hike, had an ankle injury and could not lead. Ashok Kudva , who scouted this hike with Janet, and Bruce Bente, led this hike. During the vigorous 2000 ft climb on a hazy day we saw many red trillium fruits and two snakes (see photo). Heavy haze at the Green Knob tower made the normally spectacular mountain vista much less so(see photo). Rain greeted us halfway down the descent for a short while. Ashok, leading his first CMC hike, administered two first aids: one bee sting and one laceration. Reported by Ashok Kudva and Bruce Bente
ALL DAY NO. A0603-368 Aug. 13 Bradley Creek & Riverside Stream Crossings 8:00 AM Hike 9, Drive 70, 500 ft. ascent, Rated A-C Tom Sanders 828-252-6327 tomary@charter.net P400 Everyone had a lot of fun on this hike two years ago. There are about 25 stream crossings, but the terrain is almost level and you will enjoy the beauty of the streams and the diverse flora nearby. It is advisable to hike in tennis shoes and bring two hiking poles. Car shuttle. Second meeting place: NC 280 at Turkey Pen Rd. at 8:30 AM. Topos: Pisgah Forest, Dunsmore Mtn.; also Nat’l. Geographic PRD map
Great weather, 25 creek/river crossings with reasonable water levels and water temps that were comfortable, puts this hike in the excellent category. What more could we ask for? How about more hikers!
Only four hikers showed up for this interesting hike. Thanks to Bruce for taking us to the trailhead at Yellow Gap Road from Turkey Pen. This worked great for us in that we didn’t have to go back to the trailhead to pick up a car(Bruce was unable to hike due to injuring his hand on a recent hike). We started the hike at 9:40 am and finished at 2:20 pm and hiked 8.7 miles with a very moderate climb of about 650 ft. (a cake walk). We had great weather with mostly sunny skies and temps in the 70’s. Tom Sanders was scheduled to lead this hike but was unable to and I filled in for him. Carroll Koepplinger
ALL DAY NO. A0603-044 Aug. 20 Lost Cove 8:00 AM Hike 7, Drive 150, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Les Love, 828-658-1489, lesrlove@charter.net Everyone enjoyed this hike in the Wilson Creek area last year, so we’re offering it again. It features spectacular waterfalls and the best swimming anywhere. Bring your bathing suit. Be prepared for several wet-foot stream crossings. Optional supper at Little Siena. Second meeting place: parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s off I-40 at exit 64 at 8:20 AM. Topo: Grandfather Mtn.; also USFS Wilson Creek map
We had 19 people - 6 first time hikers with the CMC. The weather was overcast, but muggy, so the 2 swimming holes were very refreshing. We took 1.5 hours for lunch at the Craig Prong Creek spot and finished up with another dip at Hunt Fish Falls. 6 wading creek crossings total, with a beautiful hike through hardwood coves covered with ferns. We finished up with 8 of us having a nice dinner at Little Sienna and ice cream at Dolly's Dario.
Les Love
HALF-DAY No. H0603-465 August 6Sam Knob Loop 12:30 PM*
Hike 5, Drive 75, Rated C-C Stuart English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@citcom.net
*Note early start time. Newcomers who have not hiked with CMC before are welcome, but are required to phone the leader before the hike to determine hike requirements. Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form car pools and meet leader at Cold Mountain Overlook on BRP at 1:00 PM. We will take Sam Knob Trail, with side trip up Sam Knob, then left onto Flat Laurel Creek Tr.; right to off-trail up through spruce forest to MST; left to FS 816 and back to the parking lot.
Nine hikers met at Westgate and hooked up with nine more at Cold Mountain
Overlook. When we got to the parking lot at the Ivestor Gap Trail head, it
was dark and stormy looking. Realizing we only had a scant four miles ahead
of us we started out . We were in the clouds on Sam's Knob and got caught in
a shower going back down. Then we went back up Flat Laurel Creek to our
cars. One hiker observed that this area was worth visiting no matter what
the weather and I agree. They were a great bunch and I would hike again with
any of them. (They may not feel the same since I seem to bring rain.) Stuart
HALF-DAY No. H0603-057 August 13Blue Ridge Pinnacle 1:00 PM*
Hike 4, Drive 25, Rated C-C Barbara Rathbone-Shoaf, 828-667-8684, barbararathboneshoaf@gmail.com
*Note early start time. Newcomers who have not hiked with CMC before are welcome, but are required to phone the leader before the hike to determine hike requirements. This in-and-out hike starts on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Mt. Mitchell, with great views on top. Second meeting place Folk Art Center Lower Parking Lot at 1:20 PM. Hikers who are not familiar with how to get to second meeting place should phone leader for directions.
No hikers were waiting at Westgate, but seventeen were waiting at the Folk Art Center, one was picked up en route, and three more hikers were waiting at the trailhead for a total of 22, including the leader. Judy L. experienced her very FIRST hike with the CMC. All were anticipating unimpeded mountaintop views, but alas, it was not to be because the upper reaches of the Blue Ridge Parkway were cocooned in thick mist. Nonetheless, the hikers thoroughly enjoyed each other's company, chatting gregariously all the way. Climbing to Rocky Knob was a new experience for the majority of the hikers and rewarding, despite the impeded view. Along the trail, the hikers encountered two men who were trying to catch a glimpse of bears whose tracks and markings clearly crossed the road.
Because of the late hour and foggy conditions, most of the hikers declined to climb to Blue Ridge Pinnacle, but three intrepid hikers climbed up and over it, and back down to the trailhead. I was very happy to discover that I showed Jorge Munoz, a veteran hiker and trail maintainer, Rocky Knob AND Blue Ridge Pinnacle for the very first time! Barbara
HALF-DAY No. H0603-297 August 20 Sam’s Gap South 1:00 PM*Hike 5, Drive 60, Rated C-B Gail Lamb, 828-350-0450, galmb46@aol.com
*Note early start time. Newcomers who have not hiked with CMC before are welcome, but are required to phone the leader before the hike to determine hike requirements. A moderate in-and-out hike from Sam’s Gap to the Hogback Ridge Shelter and return along the Appalachian Trail off the new portion of I-26.
WEDNESDAY NO. W0603-091 Aug. 2 Blacks South of Mt. Mitchell 8:00 AM Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary2@charter.net Hike 9, Drive 65, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-A SB6K From Mt. Mitchell we will follow the Old Mitchell Trail south with a bushwhack to climb Mt. Hallback (6320 ft.), then to 6571 ft. Mt. Gibbes and continuing to Potato Knob, with return by partially alternate route. You can also climb Mt. Mitchell to fill out your list of 6000+ ft. peaks. Second meeting place: Craven Gap at 8:20 AM. Topos: Mt. Mitchell, Montreat; also Nat’l. Geo. South Toe River, Mt. Mitchell & Big Ivy Trail Map
Though the day was extremely hot, nine people participated in this hike. Starting from the Mitchell Pkg Lot, we went south on the Old Mt. Mitchell Trail, climbing up Mt. Hallback on this way. There now is virtually a manway which makes it easier. After reaching Stepps Gap, we went up an unmarked trail, but probably the Boundary Trail, across Mt. Gibbes. We thus climbed 2 peaks over 6000 and learned a bit about the lay of the land south of Mt. Mitchell. We then came down the road back to Stepps Gap, went along the Buncombe Horse Trail, stopping for lunch at a beautiful brook. We returned to Mt. Mitchell via Black Mtn/Mountains-to-Sea Trail. At the very end it began sprinkling lightly, but no discomfort. Tom Sanders
WEDNESDAY. NO. W0603-475 Aug. 9 Hump Mountain/Yellow Mountain Area 8:30 AM* Hike 9, Drive 130, Ascend 2400 ft., Rated B-AA Adrian Lotherington, 828-350-8065, jaloth@bellsouth.net . We will hike from Roaring Creek Road to Yellow Mountain Gap at which point we join the AT, along an open ridge to Little Hump Mt and on to Hump Mt where will have lunch on a grassy bald at 5587 ft. We return to Yellow Mt Gap and take the Overmountain Victory Loop back to the car park. The fabulous vistas and meadows full of flowers make the drive and moderately strenuous walk very much worth while. *ONLY MEETING PLACE. Rose's car park, across from McDonalds at the US 25/70 Weaverville exit at 8:40 AM. Topos: Carver's Gap, White Rocks Mtn.
NO HIKE SCHEDULED, NO LEADER AVAILABLE Aug. 16
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- 274-0057paulamcnabb@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.