BACKPACK No. A0604-536 Nov. 24 - 26 Backpack in the Smokies: Newfound Gap – Davenport Gap Hike 31.3, Drive 250, 5500 ft. ascent, Rated AA+-AA+ Paul Benson, 828-251-1909, pdbenson@charter.net 900M This is a challenging three-day backpack. We will traverse the eastern half of Great Smoky Mountains National Park via the Appalachian Trail. The views should be outstanding from this high ridgeline. Expect winter conditions. Day 1: We will drop a vehicle at Davenport Gap and drive up to Newfound Gap where we will hike the AT 10.4 miles to the Pecks Corner shelter; Day 2: Continue on the AT 12.9 miles to the Cosby Knob shelter; Day 3: Continue on the AT 8 miles to Davenport Gap. Participants must be experienced in cold weather backpacking, be strong hikers and have a spirit of adventure. We will cross a remote area from which rescue is extremely difficult. Meeting place and time: Call leader. Space is limited to eight hikers so please verify that you can attend before reserving a spot. Topos: Clingman’s Dome, Mt. LeConte, Mt. Guyot, Luftee Knob, Hartford; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map
SATURDAY No. A0604-278 Nov. 25 Kitsuma Peak 9:00 AM* Hike 8, Drive 60, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary2@charter.net *Note later starting time. Our hike up Young’s Ridge offers great views of Greybeard, Green Knob and the Mt. Mitchell area. Also there’s a grandstand view of the Swannanoa valley from our lunch spot. Second meeting place: parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s in Black Mtn. (I-40 exit 64) at 9:20 AM. Topos: Old Fort, Black Mtn.
ALL DAY No. A0604-397 Nov. 26 Bad Fork – Chestnut Cove Overlook 8:30 AM* (moderate) Hike 9.5, Drive 5, 950 ft. ascent, Rated A-C Stuart English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@citcom.net P400 Note later start time. This is an in-and-out hike, beginning at the Trace Ridge trailhead. We will hike up Bad Fork to the BRP (a steep 700 ft. ascent for the second mile). At Bent Creek Gap, we will follow the MST to the Chestnut Cove Overlook, enjoy a beautiful view during lunch, then return to the parking area. *Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Trace Ridge parking lot at 9:00 AM. Topo: Dunsmore Mtn; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map, and MST Profiles, pgs. 55-56
ALL DAY No. A0604-537 Dec. 3 Pinnacle Pass – Rim of the Gap –Coggins Loop 8:00 AM* (strenuous) Hike 10, Drive 110, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Matt Sowles, 864-855-6861, sowleman@charter.net From the Caesar’s Head Visitor Center, we’ll do a loop hike in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. We’ll start with the Naturaland and Pinnacle Pass Trails, then cut over to the Rim of the Gap Trail and follow it to the Frank Coggins Trail back to our cars. If the weather is cold, there may be ice on the Rim of the Gap Trail. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Caesar’s Head Visitor Center parking lot at 9:00 AM. Make stop at Bi-Lo in Pisgah Forest at 8:30 AM for additional hikers. Topos: Cleveland, Table Rock; also Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area Trail Map
ALL DAY No. A0604-538 Dec. 3 Vineyard Gap – Forge Mtn. Loop 9:00 AM (moderate) Hike 7, Drive 55, 800 ft. ascent, Rated B-C Ruth Hartzler, 828-251-0886, ruthmtn@charter.net P400 Note later start time. This is a nice loop hike from the Turkey Pen parking area, a walk along the Forge Mtn. ridge, a pleasant stroll along the S. Mills River, ending with a short, steep climb up to the parking area. Second meeting place: Turkey Pen parking area at 9:30 AM. Topo: Pisgah Forest; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map
November 26: No hike leader available, have a Happy Thanksgiving!
HALF DAY No. H0604-344 Dec. 3 Pulliam Creek in the Green River Game Lands 12:30 PM*Hike 6.5, Drive 60, 1000 ft. Ascent, Rated B-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Rusty Breeding, 828-692-0359, bree_lw@yahoo.com
*Note early start time. This pretty in-and-out hike goes along Pulliam Creek for part of the way. We may see kayakers on the Green River. Join leader for dinner at Cracker Barrel after the hike. *Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools and meet hike leader at NW corner of parking lot of Cracker Barrel off Exit 53 of I-26 at 1:00 PM.
WEDNESDAY NO. NO. W0604-406 Nov 22 Pink Beds to Clawhammer Mtn 8:30 AM Hike 8, Drive 86, 2300 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA Charlie Ferguson, 828-398-0213,.ccf108@gmail.com P400 The trailhead is at the Pink Beds parking lot (FS477). Climb on the Club Gap trail to Club Gap. Then take the Black Mt. Trail along Rich Mtn., climbing through Buckhorm Gap and along the ridge to the overlook at Clawhammer which has great views. That will be our lunch stop. Then return the way we came. We will take our time while climbing. Second meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station at 9:00 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map
WEDNESDAY NO. NO. W0604-519 Nov 29 Raven Cliff Falls, 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 the suspension bridge and descend 120 ft. down “the Cathedral.” We Then cross Matthews Creek on a cable crossing and ascend steeply up the Dismal Trail to a large rock outcropping with a great view of the falls and then return to parking lot. Second meeting place: Bi-lo parking lot in Pisgah Forest at 8:30 AM. Additional meeting place: Raven Cliff parking lot on US 275 at 9:00 AM. Note there is a $2 fee per person for park entry. Topo: Table Rock: also Mountain Bridge Wilderness map
WEDNESDAY NO. NO. W0604-471 Dec 6 Wagon Road Gap,MST to Big East Fork 8:00 AM Hike 9.5, Drive 85, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary2@charter.net Starting at Wagon Road Gap, we will follow the MST south to the connector to the Big East Fork Trail and follow that down to US 276. Short car shuttle. Wilderness area hike, limited to ten hikers—call leader for reservations. Second meeting place: Cold Mtn. overlook at 8:40 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map. "Wilderness area hike, limited to ten hikers--call leader for reservation"
ALL DAY No. A0604-270 Nov. 12 Cedar Rock Mtn.- John Rock Loop 8:30 AM* Hike 8, Drive 80, Rated B-A Carroll Koepplinger, 828-667-0723, carrollkoepp@bellsouth.net P400 *Note later start time. This trip features two of the spectacular rock summits in the Pisgah Forest, with great views from both. Starting at the Fish Hatchery, we’ll have our major climb up to Cat Gap and then on to Cedar Rock for lunch. We’ll return via John Rock. Second meeting place: Pisgah Fish Hatchery at 9:10 AM. Topo: Shining Rock.
What a beautiful fall day for a CMC hike! Anyone who had doubts about the weather in Asheville and decided to forego this hike – weeell, you missed out. Can’t win them all. Leaving Asheville in windy, chilly & rainy conditions we arrived at the Fish Hatchery in beautiful sunny skies with a light breeze and temps being in the low 50’s during the hike.
Fifteen enthusiastic hikers left for the trail head at 9:30 am. Within 15 – 20 minutes the outer layers were being shed. We arrived on the southeast face of Cedar Rock Mtn at 11:45 where we enjoyed an early lunch in the warm sunshine. After 35-40 minutes we took a few minutes on the northwest rock face where a nice cool breeze told us that spending lunch on the sunny & windless side was the right choice.
Returning to Cat Gap and on to John Rock we tarried on the rock face for about 45 minutes before reluctantly going on to the cars. We arrived back at 3:50 pm and on to the Dragons Chinese restaurant, where eleven of us enjoyed the social fellowship and good (to much) food and conversation. Listening to the chit chat and good spirits on the trail it was obvious that all really enjoyed this hike as much as I enjoyed leading it. Thanks to all for participating!!
By the way, I recall a couple of wimps who implemented plan B due to lousy weather at Westgate – you missed a good one!! (couldn’t resist). Carroll .................. Pictures by Ashok Kudva
ALL DAY No. A0604-535 Nov. 19 Indian Creek – Sunkota Ridge loop 7:30 AM* Hike 12, Drive 135, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Marianne Newman, 828-454-1036, marianneln@msn.com 900M *Note early start time. Form carpools at Westgate at 7:30 AM and meet leader at rest area on US23/74 beyond Waynesville at 8:00 AM. We’ll make a loop using Indian Creek and Martin’s Gap trails, then down Sunkota Ridge and Deep Creek Trails, admiring three waterfalls and lovely winter views (if the weather cooperates) of Noland and Thomas Divides. Since the hike is long and the daylight is short, a fairly brisk pace will prevail. Topos: Bryson City, Clingman’s Dome; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map
Seven hikers, inspired by the promise of ice cream to come, strode briskly up to Martin's Gap and down Sunkota Ridge in near record time.
Predicted rain and snow showers held off, giving us a pleasant, partly cloudy day. Missing handrails on two narrow log bridges posed no problem since the bridges were dry. We lunched at leisure on "Tippy Top," with views of both Thomas and Noland Divides, admired Tom's Branch and Indian Creek Falls early on, and circled by Juney Whank Falls at the end. As it turned out, the Bryson City ice cream store was closed, so we made do with brownies, pastry, and pie. Marianne Newman.
Photos by Danny Bernstein
HALF-DAY NO. H0604-434 Nov. 12 Laurel Mountain Trail
1:00 PM* Hike 4-5 miles, Drive 40, Rated C-CNonmembers, call leader, 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 (call leader if not familiar with second meeting place); meet leader at the North Mills River parking area at 1:30 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0604-522 Nov. 19 Hot Springs Loop
1:00 PM* Nonmembers, call leader, Don Walton, 828-298-5084, donwalton@bellsouth.net Hike 3.6, Drive 90, 1000 ft/. Ascent, Rated C-B
*Note early start time. From the campground along the Vann Cliff Trail the loop ascends to nice views of Hot Springs and the French Broad River Valley, passes Spring Creek and then returns to the campground.
The hike was cancelled because of weather. Don
WEDNESDAY NO. NO. W0604-438 Nov 8 Rich Mtn., Round Top Ridge Trail, Lover’s Leap 8:00 AM Hike 9.5, Drive 70, Rated A-B Don Walton, 828-654-9904, donwalton@bellsouth.net From Tanyard Gap we will go north on the AT to the beautiful Rich Mountain views, then descend to Hot Springs via Round Top Ridge Trail, and culminate the day with a short climb to Lover's Leap, finishing on the AT in Hot Springs.
The hike was cancelled because of weather. Don
WEDNESDAY NO. NO. W0604-408 Nov 15 Wolf Ford Loop Hike 8:00 AM* Hike 9, Drive 80, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703 P400 *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Ranger Station at 8:30 AM. Start at the gauging station and hike south Mills River trail to Wolf Ford, Squirrel Gap, Horse Cove and to FS 5018, then along Funnel top Ridge left onto Soapstone Ridge and back to cars. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map
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.
Wednesday Hikes are submitted by Charlie Ferguson, 828-398-0213 ccferguson@email.com 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.
Leaders: Mail please mail your sign-up sheets. Meet at Westgate unless otherwise noted.