CHRISTMAS EVE – NO HIKE SCHEDULED Dec. 24
MONDAY No. A0604-487 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
For an easier hike, Jean Gard and Paula Robbins will lead a shorter version of this hike at Bent Creek for those who only wish to hike about five miles at a slower pace. They will join the other group for dinner. Contact Paula at paularww@bellsouth.net or 828-281-3253 if you would like to join them.
For either hike listed above, if you are not a CMC member, you must call the leader.
HIKE CANCELLED – NO LEADER AVAILABLE Dec. 31
NEW YEARS DAY No. A0701-281 Jan. 1 Green River Gamelands 8:00 AM breakfast, 9:10 AM hike* Hike 6.5 or 8, Drive 20 (from Hendersonville), 1300 or 1500 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@bellsouth.net *Meet at Westgate at 7:30 AM to form carpools and meet leader at times above 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.; also Map of the Green River Gamelands Trails. if you are not a CMC member, you must call the leader.
ALL DAY No. A0701-128 Jan. 7 Sam Knob Loop 8:00 AM Hike 9.8, Drive 80, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Paul Benson, 828-251-1909, pdbenson@charter.net SB6K, P400 This scenic loop will be great in winter weather, hopefully with snow on the ground. We’ll start at NC 215 and follow the MST, with a side trip to Devil’s Courthouse, to FS 816. Then we’ll loop back and ascend Sam Knob (6040 ft.) with its 360-degree views, then follow the Flat Laurel Creek Trail to NC 215. There will be a wet stream crossing at the end unless it is frozen. Topos: Shining Rock & Sam Knob; also Nat’l. Geographic PRD map
ALL DAY No. A0701-001 Jan. 14 Case Camp – Seniard Ridge Loop 8:00 AM Hike 8, Drive 80, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Kathleen Hannigan, 828-230-4883, kathleen.hannigan@pgnmail.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. Second meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station at 8:30 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also pg. 50 of MST Profiles book and Nat’l. Geo. PRD map
ALL DAY No. A0701-545 Jan. 21 Bent Creek #11 - Boundary Trail 8:30 AM Hike 8.5, Drive 25, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Stuart English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@citcom.net P400 From Bent Creek Gap we will follow the MST to the Bent Creek Boundary Trail, on to Ingles Field Gap, to Ledford Branch Road and down to Deer lake Lodge Trail and the Rice Pinnacle parking lot. Great winter views. Car shuttle. Second meeting place: Ingles parking lot, across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 at 8:45 AM. Topos: Dunsmore Mtn.., Skyland; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map and Bent Creek Trail map
SATURDAY No. A0701-546 Jan. 27 Coontree – Pressley – Thrift Cove Ramble 8:30 AM* Hike 8-9, Drive 70, 1700 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Dave Wetmore, 828-884-7296, dwetmore@citcom.net P400 This is a new CMC hike that starts by climbing to Coontree Gap, then down the Bennett Gap trail and up Pressley Cove Trail where we’ll take a short detour to visit a fine chimney. Next we’ll go down the Black Mtn. Trail for a short distance, then turn and descend on the Thrift Cove Trail. A nice low-elevation hike for a cold winter day. Short car shuttle. *Meeting places: Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Black Mtn. parking lot next to Pisgah Forest maintenance area at 9:00 AM. Topo: Pisgah Forest, Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map
ALL DAY No. A0701-255 Jan. 28 MST: NC 80 – Black Mtn. Campground 8:30 AM* Hike 8, Drive 90, 700 ft. ascent, Rated B-C Jim Reel, 828-738-0751, jimr57@yahoo.com Expect good winter views as we hike south on the MST from Buck Creek Gap at NC 80 to Black Mtn. Campground, crossing a couple of times over the BRP. *Meeting places: Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at intersection of BRP and NC 80 at 9:20 AM. Car shuttle. *Topos: Old Fort and Celo; also PNF South Toe River, Mt. Mitchell & Big Ivy trail map.
HALF-DAY No. H0701-320
Jan. 7 Warren Wilson College Ramble 1:30 PM
Hike 5.5, Drive 20, Rated C-C.
Nonmembers, call leaders, Barry and Heather Fletcher, 828-299-4776, hmflet@aol.com . This pleasant in-and-out walk is along the Swannanoa River and through wooded land of the Warren Wilson College campus, on the River and Dam Pasture Trails.
HALF-DAY No. H0701-500 Jan. 14 MST: US 25 to I-26 1:15 PM*
Hike 3.2, Drive 15, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Pat Elias, 828-687-1651, patelias@bellsouth.net
*Note early start time. A pleasant winter hike through the woods, parallel to the Blue Ridge Parkway between I-26 and US 25. Short car shuttle. *Meet at Westgate at 1:15 PM to form carpools, and meet hike leader at Ingles parking lot across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 south of I-26 at 1:30 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0701-168 Jan. 21 Pink Beds 1:00 PM*
Hike 4.2, Drive 65, Rated C-CNonmembers, call leader, Laura Stallard, 828-697-1579
P400 *Note early start time. This is an easy loop hike with little elevation change, off US 276, not far from the Cradle of Forestry. Second meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station at 1:30 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0701-499 Jan. 28 French Broad River Greenway 1:30 PM
Hike 4, Drive 10, Rated C-CPaula 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.
WEDNESDAY NO. NO. W0604-279 Dec 20 Montreat: RR trestle Grade to Pot Cove 9:00 AM* Hike 7, Drive 35, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-C Gerry McNabb,828-274-0057, gerrymcnabb@charter.net *Note later start time. An easy in and out hike to Pot Cove from the lookout Trail parking lot. Some internal loops for variety. Second meeting place: Parking lot adjacent to Black Mtn McDonalds just south of I-40 exit 64 at 9:30 AM. Topo: Montreat
WEDNESDAY NO. NO. W0604-286 Dec. 27 Sycamore Cove Trails 8:10 AM* Hike 7, Drive 70, Rated B-B Pat Elias, 828-687-1651, patelias@bellsouth.net P400 *Meet at Westgate at 8:10 AM to form carpools; meet hike leader at entrance to Davidson River Campground parking lot on US 276 at 8:45 AM. An easy hike (some uphill) in the Pisgah Forest along several trails: Thrift Cove, Grassy Road.
WEDNESDAY No. W0701-186 Jan. 3 Little Pisgah Mountain 8:00 AM Hike 9, Drive 80, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Charlie Ferguson, 828-398-0213, ccf108@gmail.com 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. W0701-305 Jan. 10 Dupont Forest North Loop 8:00 AM Hike 10, Drive 82, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated A-B Jay Bretz, 828-658-1220, williambretz1220@msn.com . This low-altitude hike will traverse a loop on the northern side of Dupont Forest, from Lake Imaging to Stone Mtn., including Grassy Falls, the Thomas Cemeter and Wintergreen Falls. Second meeting place: Bi-Lo Pisgah Forest at 8:30 AM. Topo: Standingstone Mt.
WEDNESDAY No. W0701-053 Jan. 17 East Fork Pigeon River 8:00 AM Hike 8, Drive 74, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327. tomary2@charter.net P400 A stroll along one of WNC's most beautiful streams, the East Fork of the Pigeon River, which is often spectacular in the winter. We will ascend to Dark Prong for lunch and then return. Wilderness area, limit 10, so contact leader for reservation. Second meeting place: Big East parking area on US 276, north of BRP at 8:45 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map
WEDNESDAY No. W0701-333 Jan. 24 Bearwallow Mtn. 8:30 AM Hike 9.2, Drive 30, 1950 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@bellsouth.net This hike is an old CMC favorite. From Hickory Nut Gap on US 74A, we will hike over Ferguson Peak, then through undulating, open meadows before reaching our lunch spot at the fire tower on Bearwallow Mtn. Extraordinary views down towards the Lake Lure area. Topo: Bat Cave
WEDNESDAY No. W0701-310 Jan. 31 Jones Gap State Park 8:15 AM* Hike 8.5, Drive 94, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Jo Anderson, 828-693-7081, jobob@mchsi.com Starting at Jones Gap State Park (NOTE: $2 fee per person for park entry), we will hike up the Rim of the Gap Trail with views of the Gap as we ascend. On top, a loop up on to the ridge, then down the Ishi Trail (#8) if doable. It is short, but steep. If it’s wet or icy we’ll go back down Rim of the Gap. *Meeting places: Meet at Westgate at 8:15 AM to form car pools, and meet leader at Jones Gap State Park parking lot at 9:00 AM. Topos: Cleveland, Table Rock; also Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area map
ALL DAY No. A0604-394 Dec. 10 Cataloochee and Little Cataloochee 8:00 AM Hike 8, Drive 95, 2350 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA Dave Wetmore 828-884-7296 dwetmore@citcom.net 900M Walk the “Dug Road”, originally built in the 1850s. See an unrestored farm site, a restored log cabin, the old apple house, an old church and tourists looking for elk. The Dug Road is a mostly open easy 2.7 mile bushwhack on an abandoned trail. The rest of the trip is on maintained trails. Topo: Cove Creek Gap; also Nat’l. Geo. map of GSMNP
Fourteen members and one guest enjoyed mild winter weather and lots of history. Dug Road was an easy bushwhack, a little muddy in spots and with a light snow cover on the north slope. We stopped to view the Woody cabin and some other interesting places. (At least they were interesting to the leader, who delivered little talks he called “historical moments”.) Little Cataloochee valley was, as always, interesting and beautiful on several different levels. After visiting the Cook cabin and apple house we went down the valley for “dinner on the grounds” at the Little Cataloochee church. This part of the trip was especially enjoyed by the bell-ringers among us. Then we paid the price for descending into a valley by climbing back out over Davidson Gap. This was less unpleasant than in the past, thanks to relos on both sides of the Gap. The elk were still busy eating as we left Big Cataloochee. Dave. Photo on left by Danny Bernstein, photo on right by Dave Wetmore.
ALL DAY No. A0604-254 Dec. 17 Green Knob via Snooks Nose 8:00 AM Hike 11, Drive 65, 3400 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA+ Joanne Tulip, 828-299-3495, tulipinnc@aol.com This strenuous trip from Curtis Creek climbs up and over the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Green Knob fire tower. Great views along the way as well as at the lunch stop on the summit of Green Knob. We’ll return via the Newberry Creek Trail. May be challenging if there is snow at the higher elevations. Short car shuttle. Topo: Old Fort
The possibility of a winter scene on our two and one half hour climb to the parkway didn't happen. Instead 9 sweaty hikers in short sleeves and some in hiking shorts were rewarded with awesome views from Laurel Knob and from our lunch spot at Green Knob Overlook.
The descent to the cars along Newberry Creek was appreciated. Many trails not on the map were pointed out by our pace setter Stuart Tauber. He also showed us sections of the old Newberry trail the club used to traverse. The Newberry Creek is a stocked fishing stream. Due to the ability of all the hikers we were back to the cars in record time. Joanne Tulip
Photos by Danny Bernstein
HALF-DAY No. H0604-102 Dec. 10 Coontree Loop 1:00 PM*
Hike 3.7, Drive 70, Elevation gain 1200 ft. Ascent, Rated C-B Nonmembers, call leader, Gerry McNabb, 828-274-0057, gerrymcnabb@charter.net
P400 *Note early start time This hike is a loop along both sides of a lovely creek, with views along Coontree Mtn. ridge on top. Some steep areas. Second meeting place: Ranger Station on US 276 at 1:40 PM.
Ten CMC members hiked the Coontree Loop on a pleasant late fall day. Dry oak leaves created slippery slopes in several sections, so it took 2.5 hours to do the 3.7-mile, 1,200-ft loop, with a 15-minute snack break on the ridge. The group enjoyed excellent views of the ice glimmering from John Rock and Looking Glass Rock. A tree with many branches had recently fallen across the trail; it would have been difficult to climb over it, but Ed Bragger was able to remove the many limbs in short order with his handy folding saw. Paula Robbins, leader.
HALF DAY No. H0604-325 Dec. 17 Tanyard Gap to Rich Mountain 1:00 PM*
Hike 5, Drive 64, 1365 ft. Ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary2@charter.net
*Note early start time. After a gradual climb on the Appalachian Trail, we will be rewarded with an outstanding view of the Hot Springs area from the fire tower.
In warm, clear, beautiful weather (note!) 15 hikers, at least 3 of them new, set off for Tanyard Gap at 1:00 pm. To maintain a pace consistent with normal half-day hikes, Paula Robbins was delegated to lead upward to Rich Mtn. The first half is not easy because it is almost continually up with an ascent of over 1300 ft. We were able to enjoy the 360 degree views from the summit, which is unfortunately disfigured by 2 towers. Timing was perfect. We arrived back to the trailhead shortly before 5, and when we reached Westgate, dark was setting in. This was a really good and vigorous half-day hike. Tom.
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"
Nine hikers participated in an outstanding hike on a perfect day. We began at the Wagon Rd. Gap Overlook on the BRP and followed the access to the MST where it crosses the BRP under a large electrical tower. We then ascended Green Knob, the highest peak in that area, continuing up and down several peaks for 4.5 miles. We stopped frequently to enjoy the outstanding views South of the BRP, including Black Mtn., Looking Glass Rock, and the ridges along the SC border, plus the ridge North of the BRP from Silvermine Bald to Cold Mtn. Various perspectives of Cold Mtn. were especially good. We then descended to the Big East Fork of the Pigeon River, arriving at 12:30 to eat lunch beside the stream. After lunch we followed the trail downstream. The Big East Fork had a lot of water probably from rains a week ago, so we were able to view numerous cataracts, falls, pools and rushing water. Even the smaller rock hopping creeks along the trail were exceptionally high. This is an outstanding hike, featuring both excellent views from the ridge along the BRP, and one of WNC's most beautiful streams. Tom. Photo by Ted Connors.
WEDNESDAY NO. NO. W0604-492 Dec 13 Cookie Hike in the Arboretum Area 9:10 AM* Hike 7-8, Drive 12, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-C Ken and Carol Deal, 828-281-4530, kmcdeal@aol.com Note later start time. Bring a few homemade goodies to share. We will hike on trails constructed by the CMC in the Arboretum and cover some trails in the Lake Powhatan area also. Bring your Arboretum membership card if you have one. There is a $6 parking fee otherwise. Second meeting place: Ingles parking lot across from Biltmore Square at 9:15 AM. Topo: Asheville: also Nat’l Geo PRD map and Bent Creek Trail Map
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 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.