CMC Weekly Hike News

05/12/04

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Looking Ahead....

All Day Sunday

ALL DAY No. A0402-353 May 15-16 Beginner’s Backpack (Richland Balsam area) 10:00 AM Hike 6-8, Drive 90, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated AA-B Linda Beja, 828-293-3849 lrbeja@earthlink.net P400 This hike is designed as an overnight event for beginning backpackers. On Saturday, we will hike in 2-3 miles from the trailhead, set up camp and then dayhike from the camp to interesting destinations in the vicinity; Sunday will be used for another dayhike before breaking camp and returning to Asheville. NOTE: Hikers must make reservations with Linda Beja before May 1. Linda anticipates having a meeting with participants before the backpack to discuss gear and itinerary. Topo: Sam Knob; also Natl. Geographic map of Pisgah Ranger District.

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. H0402-068 May 16 Little Butt from Balsam Gap1:00 PM Hike 7, Drive 70, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-C Elisabeth Feil, 828-684-8719 hofeil@brinet.com Note early start time. This moderate in-and-out hike will be at over-5000-foot elevation starting at BRP M.P. 359.8. There are three climbs: to Point Misery and Little Butt (steep) on the way out and up Point Misery again on the return. Spring flowers in this northern hardwood/spruce forest should be at their peak. Excellent views of the Black Mountain Range.

Half Day hikes submitted by Paula Robbins 828-687-1651 paularww@bellsouth.net and Pat Elias 828-281-3253 peliasy@aol.com . Leaders: Mail please mail your sign-up sheets. Meet at Westgate unless otherwise noted.

All Day Wednesday

ALL DAY No. W0402-340 May 19 3 Best waterfalls in S. Carolina 8:30 AM Hike 6, drive 160 (from exit 53), rated B-C Jack Fitzgerald, 828-685-2897, suejackfitz@brinet.com Visit the 3 highest rated waterfalls in South Carolina on 3 in-and-out hikes. Best: Yellow Branch Falls, 3 miles, beautiful setting & falls. Next best: Issaqueena Falls, great picnic lunch. Add a visit inside Stumphouse Tunnel. Final best: Lee Falls, 3 miles, several stream crossings, final quarter mile very strenuous rock hopping. Meeting place: Cracker Barrel at exit 53 (old exit 22) of I 26

ALL DAY No. W0402-060 May 12 Pilot Mtn. from Gloucester Gap 9:00 AM Hike 5-6, Drive 80, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated C-A Elisabeth and Heinz Feil 828-684-8719 hofeil@brinet.com P400 This loop trail (which is part of the Art Loeb Tr. and the Alternate MST) starts at Gloucester Gap and climbs 2000 ft in two miles to the summit. We'll take the Forest Service road back down to the cars. Pinkshell azaleas should be in full bloom and maybe some rosy twisted stalk. Bring insect repellent - there are bugs at the top. Meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station, US 276

Wednesday Hikes are submitted by Kenneth & Carol Deal, 828- 281-4530, KMCDeal@aol.com and Paula McNabb, 828- 274-0057 gcmcnabb@charter.net. 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.

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Looking Back......

All Day Sunday

ALL DAY No. A0402-352 May 9 Jones Gap Trail/Coldspring Loop 8:00 AM Hike 10, Drive 80, 1600 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Ellie Thrush 828-697-9743 treehouse@highstream.net We’ll hike up Jones Gap and Tom Miller Trails past 2 waterfalls to US 276, then return via Coldspring Trail with several creek crossings. A hiking stick will be helpful. One short but steep climb. Second meeting place: Exit 53 (old exit 22) of I 26, north end of Cracker Barrel parking lot, next to Upward Rd.) Topos: Standingstone Mtn., Cleveland, Table Rock; also Mountain Bridge Wilderness and Recreation Area Trail Map

Post Hike Report:: Ten CMC members hiked an 11 mile loop at Jones Gap State Park taking the Jones Gap trail up to Highway 276 with a return descent on the ColdSpring Trail. Forecast was for 87 degrees with possible showers mid-afternoon. Luckily we were treated to a mild 71 degrees with a gentle breeze and just some rumblings of thunder as we came back down. It was a bit muddy in spots from the previous night's rain but nothing to deter us. This is a pleasant hike where one can enjoy dense forest, flowers, the river, waterfalls, lots of shade and the challenge of several wooden bridge and rock-hopping creek crossings, with a short, but steep climb on the Tom Miller section. We all helped Bruce Bente locate 36 types of wildflowers and the camaraderie was great. Ellie Thrush

HALF-DAY No. H0402-346 May 9 MST: Folk Art Center to Haw Creek Overlook 1:30 PM Hike 5, 500 ft. ascent, Rated C-B Barry and Heather Fletcher, 828-299-4776, hmflet@aol.com This pleasant in-and-out trek is on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. ONLY MEETING PLACE IS THE FOLK ART CENTER, LOWER PARKING LOT, BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY.

All Day Wednesday

HikingNews....

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Beginners Backpack-Sign up now!

Designed for the beginner who wants to get outdoors for an overnight experience without spending alot of money or worrying about all of the details. This promises to be a physically easy trip with alot of question and answer time about what to do and what not to do. There will also be a meeting before the trip to discuss details of the trip.

The CMC has not had one of these backpacks since Tom Bindrim used to do these back in the mid 90's. I know myself how valuable this learning experience was. I was able to start out backpacking with little equipment and less knowledge. Tom was able to take each persons level of knowledge and leverage it into a nice outdoor experience. I still remember with pleasure several remote and adventuresome places we went, such as "Cowbell Hollow".

Linda plans on repeating this same experience in the Richland Balsam area, near the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This rugged and remote part of the Mountains to Sea Trail promises to be a real adventure in what seems like an inaccessible area.

ALL DAY No. A0402-353 May 15-16 Beginner’s Backpack (Richland Balsam area), 10:00 AM, Hike 6-8, Drive 90, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated AA-B, Linda Beja, 828-293-3849 lrbeja@earthlink.net P400 This hike is designed as an overnight event for beginning backpackers. On Saturday, we will hike in 2-3 miles from the trailhead, set up camp and then dayhike from the camp to interesting destinations in the vicinity; Sunday will be used for another dayhike before breaking camp and returning to Asheville. NOTE: Hikers must make reservations with Linda Beja. Linda anticipates having a meeting with participants before the backpack to discuss gear and itinerary. Topo: Sam Knob; also Natl. Geographic map of Pisgah Ranger District

HIKE SIGN-UP SHEET

An electronic version of the CMC hike sign-up sheet has now been added to the CMC website. To open it, click carolinamtnclub.com/data/CMC Sign-up Sheet.pdf This will be helpful to the hike schedulers, and also for the hike leaders if they don't receive the sheet mailed by the scheduler. (Recently, the mail got lost and one of the hike leaders did not receive his copy.)