Green River Gamelands                                                     8:00 AM breakfast, 9:00 AM hike*

Big East to Shining Rock via Old Butt 7:30 AM
Hike 8.5, Drive 60, 3200 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA+

Paul Benson, 828-251-190, pdbenson@charter.net

SB6K, P400 Note early start time. We will hike from the Big East parking lot up the steep Chestnut Ridge trail over Dog Loser and Old Butt knobs to lunch at Shining Rock (6040 ft.) with its exceptional views. We’ll return via a steep descent to the North Fork of Shining Creek. Wilderness area hike limited to ten people; please contact leader for reservations. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

Big East Fork to Shining Rock 12/18/05

Angie, Becky, Mark and I had a wonderful hike. The sky was clear and blue with endless visibility. To our suprise the trail was snow-covered from the beginning. I was hoping for a winter wonderland when I scheduled this hike back on an 80 degree fall day and I wasn't disappointed. Ours were the only tracks after we passed the campsite about 2 miles into the hike and from there all the way to the top. Toward the end of the strenuous Chestnut Ridge ascent we were slogging through over a foot of snow, which required an interesting extra push on top of our 3,000 ascent. But all arrived at the top none the worse for wear. Becky and Mark went the extra few hundred yards to the top of the rocks and were rewarded with an endless view. Angie and I (who both have something of a reputation for slackness on the trail) decided that the small grassy patch melted out of the little meadow at the top looked good enough and were content to take our lunch there with a nice but somewhat limited view.

The trip down was a steep, challenging decent on snow, ice, wet roots and rocks, leaves and even some mud. But the scenery was awsome: deep snowy woods with a bold stream and plenty of spruce, fir and hemlock to enhance the feeling of a winter wonderland. We arrived back at the trailhead 8 hours after starting, just as the shadows were getting long, worn and weary but elated at having done such a great hike.

P.S. Being in a designated wilderness area this trail is not marked, and is somewhat tricky to follow. Thanks to Walt Webber who supplied me with a super detailed trail profile and map. Paul

And from Mark, one of the participant

To All,

I would like to extend a big thanks to Paul, Becky, and Angie. They were wonderful hosts. This was my first Carolina Mountain Club hike and they made me feel right at home. I had a great time and *really* enjoyed the hike. Thanks again, Mark Monroe

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. H0504-430                                                            Dec. 11

Green River Game Lands 12:30 PM*

Hike 5, drive 70, Rated C-C

Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, belston@cytechusa.com

*Note early start time. We will hike the Long Ridge/Turkey Gut/Stair Step trails to form a five-mile loop. There should be nice winter views of Mt. Tryon and other mountains. Join hike leader for dinner at Cracker Barrel after the hike. *Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools; meet the leader at Cracker Barrel off I-26, exit 53 at 1:00 PM at the NW corner of the parking lot.

HALF DAY No. H0504-299                                                              Dec. 18

Christmas Party Hike Noon*

Hike 4-5, Drive 50, Rated C-C

Diane Hankins, 828-298-2870 (before 9 PM)

*Note early start time. A leisurely paced annual hike. Bring a little gift (wrapped, please) and receive one too. Where we go will depend on the weather. *Only meeting place: Ingles Parking lot across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 off I-26. Suitable for anyone over 10 years of age. (Those under 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult.)

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. W0504-492 Dec. 7
Cookie Hike in the Arboretum Area 9:00 AM* Hike 7-8, Drive 12, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-C Ken &Carol Deal, 828-281-4530, KMCDeal@aol.com Note later start time.
CMC’s traditional cookie hike transplanted to a new spot. Bring a few homemade goodies along 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 membership card for the Arboretum 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

25 hikers left the Arbortum main building and hiked to the front entrance, then looped back toward Lake Powhatan. Many of the trails we hiked on today were constructed by the Carolina Mountain Club crews. It was a sunny, crisp day -- a perfect day to be out hiking. When we arrived at the picnic tables at Lake Powhatan, we all opened our backpacks, took out the containers of cookies and placed them on a table. After a few initial tastes, we ate our lunches and then returned to sampling the cookies. The consensus seemed to be that each and every one was delicious. We also sang Happy Birthday to Sherman Stambaugh, who has a birthday on Friday. Ken & Carol Deal

WEDNESDAY    No. W0504-493   Dec. 14

Pine Mt. Loop II 9:00 AM* Hike 9, Drive 20, 1850 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Tom Bindrim 273-3880 P400 Note later start time. Last April we visited the absolutely beautiful Pine Mt. (the one with the BRP tunnel) from the Mills River Side. Today we’ll do it from the Bent Creek side. Some off–trail. Topos: Enka, Dunsmore Mt.; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

Pine Mtn. II Loop, hiked 12-14-05

This hike was scheduled to be led by Tom Bindrim, who designed the hike. However Tom had to bow out for surgery for a herniated disk, from which he's recovering well, hoping to be hiking again soon.

On a cold gray gloomy day, 11 intrepid hikers showed up for this 9 mile loop hike in the Bent Creek area. One unfortunate hiker had to fix a flat tire at the parking lot and missed the hike. From the parking lot on Bent Creek Rd., we ascended 1500 ft, first by established trail to the BRP at Chestnut Cove overlook, and then by bushwhacking (Tom Bindrim calls it off-trail) up to the summit of Pine Mtn. The original plans to lunch on the summit were quickly changed to get out of the cold wind and 22-degree temperature, with an estimated wind chill in the single digits. Following a faint trail in open woods, we did a few downs and ups to get to Cold Knob, then descended to the MST, then down Ruth's Ridge and the Lower Sidehill trail to get back to the cars. The temperatures moderated as we got to lower elevations and everyone had a good time. Reported by Bruce Bente (replacement hike leader)

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.