All Day  Saturday & Sunday

OVERNIGHT NO. A0902-645 June 21
Gregory Bald via Gregory Ridge *9:00 AM
Hike 11.4, Drive 250, 3500 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA+
Cindy McJunkin, 828-712-9646, mcjfive@aol.com
900M *This hike will depart from the Cades Cove Visitor Center at 9:00 AM. The leader will reserve a 20-person group campsite at Cades Cove for Saturday night. Contact her to reserve your space and for details about meeting place and tentsites. The hike will climb Gregory Ridge, one of the finest hikes in the Smokies, through old growth forest and virgin Tulip trees. The hike is timed to coincide with the magnificent bloom of flame azaleas on the summit of Gregory Bald. Panoramic views at higher elevations. Topo: Cades Cove; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map #229

SATURDAY NO. A0902-646 June 27
Mt. Noble Lookout Tower *8:30 AM
Hike 8, Drive 110, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Peter Barr, 704-941-9296, pjbarr@unc.edu
900M, LTC *Note later start time. Starting from the Oconaluftee Indian Village in Cherokee, we will hike up the steep Mt. Noble trail to its lookout tower. After enjoying the views, we’ll walk the gravel Adams Creek Rd. and a 0.5 mile manway up to the GSMNP boundary. There we’ll intersect the Mingus Creek Trail and descend to its end with a visit to Mingus Mill. 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 and Hiking NC Lookout Towers, pg. 127

ALL DAY NO. A0902-215 June 28
Mt. Cammerer via Low Gap and Lower Cammerer Trails *7:30 AM
Hike 15.5, Drive 140, 2600 ft. ascent, Rated AA-AA
Carroll Koepplinger, 828-667-0723, carrollkoepp@bellsouth.net
900M, LTC *Note earlier starting time. This beautiful hike from Cosby campground will ascend to the AT, then follow the AT to Mt. Cammerer. After lunch and views from Mt. Cammerer, we will stroll down the Lower Mt. Cammerer Trail to our starting point. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck Stop at exit 24 off I-40, at 8:00 AM. Topos: Luftee Knob and Hartford

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Half Day Sunday Hikes

HALF-DAY NO. H0902-403 June 21
DuPont Forest – Reasonover Trail *12:15 PM
Hike 6, Drive 80, Rated B-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Lucy Prim, 828-693-6580, 32lucette@gmail.com
*Note early start time. Meet at Westgate at 12:15 PM to form car pools, and meet leader at Hooker Falls Parking lot in DuPont Forest at 1:00 PM. This pleasant loop hike in the DuPont Forest includes the Fawn Lake, Corn Mills Shoals, Bridal Veil Falls, Lake Julian and Reasonover Creek Trails and features views of small waterfalls.*

HALF-DAY No. H0902-453 June 28
Max Patch Ramble *12:30 PM
Hike 5.5, Drive 104, 800 ft. ascent, Rated B-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Gail Lamb, 828-350-0450, galmb46@aol.com
*Note early start time. Awesome panoramic views and summer wildflowers make this moderate hike a favorite. We will go up Max Patch, then the Buckeye Ridge Trail to the Appalachian Trail. This will take us north through meadows, woods and across a small stream. We will break at the AT shelter and return on the AT. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck Stop off I-40 at exit 24 at 1:00 PM.

All Day Wednesday

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.

WEDNESDAY NO. W0902-375 June 24
AT: Sams Gap to Rice Gap 9:00 AM
Hike 7.5, Drive 60, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Charlie Ferguson, 828-625-2677, ccf108@gmail.com
An in-and-out hike, on the AT, in the beautiful open forest from Sams Gap to Rice Gap. We'll lunch at the Hog Back Ridge shelter. Topo: Sams Gap

WEDNESDAY NO. W0903-471 July 1
Wagon Road Gap, MST to Big East Fork *8:00 AM
Hike 9, Drive 95, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary.avl@gmail.com
P400  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 reservation. Second meeting place: Cold Mtn. overlook (BRP M.P. 412)at 8:35 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

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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.