All Day  Saturday & Sunday

ALL DAY NO. A0902-459 May 31
MST: NC 128 to Greybeard Overlook 8:00 AM
Hike 8.9, Drive 80, 2600 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA
Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary.avl@gmail.com
SB6K We’ll head up into old growth Balsam and Spruce forests just south of Mt Mitchell and over to 6359 ft. Blackstock Knob. This is a scenic hike with dramatic views and several rocky climbs. Hikers wishing a shorter hike can stop after 6.4 miles at Glassmine Falls O/L. At the end of the hike, an optional climb will be offered up 6080 ft. Craggy Dome. The leader invites hikers to post-hike refreshments at his home. Car shuttle. Second meeting place: Craven Gap on BRP at 8:20 AM. Topo: Mt. Mitchell, Montreat; also MST Profiles, pg. 66-69

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY HIKES - 2 all day hikes on Sunday June 7: 
See the American Hiking Society site for other Trails Day events.

National Trails Day Hike:  ALL DAY NO. A0902-217 June 7
Sandy Mush Bald Ramble 8:00 AM
(strenuous)
Hike 9.5, Drive 40, 3100 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA+
Rob Resnick, 828-255-8066, rob@reschiro.com
Sarah Carothers, 828-586-3282, sjcarothers@hotmail.com
After dividing our group in two for a key swap hike, one group will ascend up Surritt Cove. The other group will hike up Long Branch Cove and both groups will traverse the ridge tops of the Newfound Mountains with their great views to reconnoiter for lunch atop Sandy Mush Bald. Some cross-country hiking required, and be prepared to cross a few barbed-wire fences. Thanks to Long Branch Environmental Education Center for providing access and coordinating permission from contiguous landowners. If the weather is clear, the views do not get any better! Topos: Sandy Mush, Fines Creek. 

National Trails Day Hike:  ALL DAY NO. A0902-137 June 7
Roan Mountain Flower Hike 8:00 AM
(moderate)
Hike 9, Drive 140, 2400 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Les and Catherine Love, 828-658-1489, lesrlove@charter.net
Theme Hike, SB6K We’ll hike the three Roan Mountain 6000 foot peaks, but also take time to stop and identify the flowers. It will be a little early for Gray’s Lily, but we should be able to see about 50 other species. Be prepared for a full day. Topo: Carver Gap; also Nat’l. Geo. South Holston & Watauga Lakes map #783

SATURDAY NO. A0902-604 June 13
Splash Dam via Trace Ridge *10:00 AM
Hike 7.8, Drive 42, 1100 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Dave Wetmore, 828-884-7296, dwetmore@citcom.net
P400 *Note later start time. Meet at Westgate at 10:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Trace Ridge Trailhead at 10:30 AM. This moderate hike will be mostly on old roadbeds up the Big Creek Trail, to what appears to the uninitiated as only a rocky place. If those rocks could talk, they would tell a tale of long arduous months of labor, the pitfalls of succession, the striving of man with nature and the consequences of that effort. Several wet but easy stream crossings. Come and learn the secrets of Big Creek! Topo: Dunsmore Mtn.; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

ALL DAY NO. A0902-644 June 14
Mingus Mill Semi-circular *8:30 AM
Hike 12.2, Drive 110, 2600 ft. ascent, Rated AA-AA
Lenny Bernstein, 828-236-01921, lsberns@att.net
900M, Smokies 75th Anniversary Hike. *Note later start time. We’ll hike up Newton Bald through wildflowers and a rhododendron tunnel to a former bald with flame azaleas blooming on top of the ridge, and then descend on the Mingus Creek Trail. On the way down, we’ll take a short side trip to a cemetery and later see remnants of a former house site. Short car shuttle. Second meeting place: back of Maggie Valley P.O. parking lot on US 19 at 9:00 AM, but contact leader first. Topo: Smokemont; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map #229

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Half Day Sunday Hikes

HALF-DAY NO. H0902-641 May 31
MST: Mt. Pisgah Parking – Stony Bald *1:30 PM
Hike 5.5, Drive 20, 800 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@bellsouth.net
P400 *Only meeting place: BRP French Broad Overlook at M.P. 393.8. This pleasant hike along the MST features open forests, good views and maybe some late-blooming wildflowers. Hike along part of the original Shut-in trail built by the Vanderbilts. Car shuttle. Topos: Cruso, Dunsmore Mtn ; also MST Profiles, pg. 53-54

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY HIKE: HALF-DAY NO. H0902-049 June 7
Big Creek in the Smokies *12:30 PM
Hike 6, Drive 110, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Bonnie Allen 828-645-0357, bonnie@allencats.com
900M *Note early start time. Big Creek, a spectacular mountain stream in the Smokies, offers hikers and walkers an opportunity to slow down and appreciate the wild beauty of this part of the park. The comfortable roadbed meanders along rushing rapids, a waterfall, huge boulders, and deep swimming holes. A beautiful forest and wildflower environment makes for a special experience. An easy in-and-out hike. Bring your bathing suit and camera! Second meeting place: Pilot Truck Stop, off I-40at Exit 24 at 1:00 PM, but call leader first. Topo: Luftee Knob, Cove Creek Gap; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP Map #229   See the American Hiking Society site for other Trails Day events.

HALF-DAY No. H0902-465 June 14
Sam Knob Loop *12:30 PM
Hike 5.6, Drive 80, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Gerry McNabb, 828-274-0057, gerrymcnabb@charter.net
Theme Hike, P400 *Note early start time. Climb to the top of Sams Knob with its 360 degree view, then along the Flat Laurel Trail through a spruce forest and back on the MST to FS 816. Your hike leader and master photographer, Gerry McNabb, will be taking pictures and giving tips along the way. Topo: Sams Knob. Second meeting place: BRP Cold Mountain Overlook (M.P. 412) at 1:10 PM.

All Day Wednesday

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY HIKE: WEDNESDAY NO. W0902-394 June 3
Cataloochee and Little Cataloochee 8:00 AM
Hike 7.2, Drive 90, 2028 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Barbara Morgan, 828-738-3395, bcmorg@hughes.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 possibly, elk. The Dug Road is mostly a 2.7 mile bushwhack on an abandoned trail with obstructions making it more challenging! The hike is not that many miles, but fairly steep - we'll take our time. Participants may be interested in a dinner stop on the way back to Asheville. Second Meeting place: Pilot truck stop, I-40 Exit 24 at 8:30 am. Topo: Cove Creek Gap; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map #229.  See the American Hiking Society site for other Trails Day events.

WEDNESDAY NO. W0902-008 June 10
Bee Tree Gap to Tanbark Tunnel *9:00 AM
Hike 6.2, Drive 30, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated C-B
Joe Burchfield, 828-298-8413, burchfield@niu.edu
*Only meeting place: lower parking lot of Folk Art Center on BRP. A moderate hike on the MST over Lane Pinnacle. Good mountain views and, with luck, the rhododendrons will be in bloom. There are several steep but short ups and downs and a long descent. Car shuttle. Topo: Craggy Pinnacle; also MST Profiles, pg. 63-65

WEDNESDAY NO. W0902-566 June 17
The Roans *8:30 AM
Hike 8, Drive130, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-C
Adrian Lotherington, 828-484-9132, jaloth@charter.net
SB6K *Only meeting place: Rose’s car park (opposite McDonald’s), Exit 19B off I-26, in Weaverville. This in-and-out hike features superb views. From Carver’s Gap we go over Jane Bald and Round Bald, to 6160 ft. Grassy Ridge Bald. These balds are rare and beautiful ecosystems. Hopefully we will hit the time when we will walk among the magnificent mounds of Rhododendrons. If time allows we will drive to the gardens (small fee) and walk ½ mile to see the great view from 6267 ft. Roan High Bluff.

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Hike Reports should be emailed to Dave Wetmore, dwetmore@citcom.net before the Wednesday preceeding an eNews issue. Reports for Wednesday hikes during the eNews publication week will appear in the following eNews

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 Lucy Prim 828-693-6580 lucette32@mchsi.com. Wednesday Hikes are submitted by Charlie Ferguson, 828-398-0213 ccf108@gmail.com and Ann Gleason, 828-859-9387, gleason.ann@gmail.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.