Important Notice:  If you are parking at Westgate park only in the far north line of parking spaces beyond Earth Fare. Click here for a map.

All Day  Saturday & Sunday

SUNDAY NO. A1003-703 July 4
Tuckasegee Gorge (Bernard Elias Favorite Hike series #3) *8:15 AM
(strenuous)
Hike 4, Drive 120, 700 ft. ascent, Rated Very Difficult
Ted Snyder, 864-638-3686, tedsnyderjr@bellsouth.net
*Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at Toxaway Post Office (turn right from US 64 to NC 281 north and go 1.5 miles) at 9:30 AM. NOTE: Strenuous and very hazardous. For agile and experienced hikers with good balance. Requires shoes with non-slip soles for extended walking in stream on slippery rock. Sometimes this trip is named “The Potholes” after thousands of precision drilled potholes of every size. We climb over, under and through jumbles of bungalow-sized rocks in a de-watered river gorge. Lunch at Bonas Defeat. Swimming optional. Carry dry shoes for the hike out. Topos: Big Ridge, Lake Toxaway

SUNDAY NO. A1003-051 July 4
Hickey Fork / Whiteoaks Flats / Pounding Mill *9:00 AM
(moderate)
Hike 8, Drive 85, 1900 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Tish Desjardins, 828-656-2191, desraylet@aol.com
*Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at US25/NC208 intersection at 9:45 AM. After the hike there will be a potluck supper in the nearby Bear River Community Lodge. Hikers are requested to contribute food for the supper. Food will be taken to a refrigerator before the hike. Please phone the leader to coordinate what food to bring. Since the Forest Service has built a splendid new footbridge over Hickey Fork, CMC is now able to schedule this hike which we have not done in 10 years. A nice loop hike using three different trails and finishing on the newly and heavily rebuilt Hickey Fork Rd. Topos: White Rock, Greystone; also NatGeo map #782

SATURDAY NO. A1003-076 July 10
Craggy to Little Snowball 10:00 AM
Hike 7.2, Drive 40, 2600 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA
Brenda Worley, 828-684-8656, clworley@bellsouth.net
From Bee Tree Gap, we’ll take the Snowball trail to High Rocks (Hawkbill Mtn.), with its views, and then on to the old lookout site atop Little Snowball, with its great views. Return via the same route. Second meeting place: Craven Gap at 10:20 AM. Topo: Craggy Pinnacle; also USFS South Toe River, Mt. Mitchell & Big Ivy Trail Map

SUNDAY NO. A1003-531 July 11
Pisgah Inn to Beaverdam Overlook *9:00 AM
Ashok Kudva, 828-698-7119, ashok.kudva@att.net
Hike 7.9, Drive 50, 1250 ft. ascent, rated B-B
P400 *Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at Pisgah Inn parking lot near convenience store at 9:45 AM. Enjoy the mountain views along the mst from Pisgah Inn to the Beaver Dam Overlook. After Little Pisgah Mtn, it’s downhill almost all the way. Look for the giant Turk’s Cap lilies near the big funny tree. Car shuttle. Topos: Cruso, Dunsmore Mt.; also MST Profiles book, pg. 42-45

SUNDAY NO. A1003-067 July 18
Douglas Falls & Craggy Gardens *9:00 AM
Hike 8, Drive 45, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Charlie Ferguson, 828-625-2677, ccf108@gmail.com
WC100 *The only meeting location will be the back parking lot of the Folk Art Center. From the Craggy Garden Visitor Center we’ll hike the MST down to the trail to Douglas Falls. The falls are quite high and should have a good amount of water after a rain. We’ll hike back the way we came and on to the Craggy Gardens Picnic area, up to the top which was recently cleared to make more open views, and back to the cars at the Visitor Center. There is an option for people to do just the falls for a 5.6-mile hike. Second meeting place: Craven Gap at 9:10 AM. Topos: Craggy Pinnacle, Montreat; also FS Big Ivy map

SATURDAY NO. A1003-697 July 24
Silers Bald 8:00 AM
Hike 9, Drive 160, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Jeff McGurk, 864-921-6469, jbsbestfan@hotmail.com
900M, SB6K From the Clingman’s Dome parking lot, we will hike to the grassy meadow of Silers Bald. The ridgeline trail offers wonderful views, at one point only a few feet wide with dropoffs on either side. We’ll return via the same route, with a visit to the summit of Clingman’s Dome, the highest point on the AT. Second meeting place: Maggie Valley Post Office at 8:30 AM, but contact leader first Topos: Clingman’s Dome, Silers Bald; also NatGeo maps #229 and #317

SUNDAY. NO. A1003-475 July 25
Hump Mountain from Yellow Mtn. Gap *8:30 AM
Hike 9, Drive 140, 2400 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Lisa Hart, 828-450-6986, tiw.south@gmail.com
We will hike from Roaring Creek Road to Yellow Mountain Gap at which point we join the AT, along an open ridge to Little Hump Mtn. and on to Hump Mtn. where we’ll have lunch on a grassy bald at 5587 ft. We’ll return to Yellow Mtn. Gap and take the Overmountain Victory Loop back to the cars. The fabulous vistas and open meadows make the drive and moderately strenuous hike very much worth while. Topos: Carvers Gap, White Rocks Mtn.; also NatGeo map #783

SUNDAY NO. A1003-572 Aug. 1
Duck Hawk Rock (Bernard Elias Favorite Hike series #4) *8:00 AM
(strenuous)
Hike 10, Drive 150, 3000 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Ted Snyder, 864-638-3686, tedsnyderjr@bellsouth.net
SB6K, 900M *Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at Oconaluftee Visitor Center at 9:15 AM. Duck Hawk was an earlier name for the Peregrine Falcon. Peregrine Peak is atop Alum Cave Bluffs. Big Duck Hawk Rock is part of a knife-edge ridgeline that slants down across from Alum Cave. From Alum Cave Trail we will get a view of the (closed) Big Duck Hawk Rock and the holes in it. As a compromise since we cannot hike to Duck Hawk Rock, we will hike to Mt. LeConte (6593 ft.), visit Cliff Top, then retrace our steps. Topo: Mt. LeConte; also NatGeo map #317

SUNDAY NO. A1003-242 Aug. 1
Sam Knob – Devil’s Courthouse Loop 8:30 AM
(Moderate)
Hike 8.5, Drive 75, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Becky Smucker, 828-231-2198, bjsmucker@gmail.com
SB6K, P400 This hike in the cool high elevations is perfect for a hot summer day. From FS 816 we will ascend Sam Knob (6040 ft.) with its 360 degree views, then hike through high meadows on the Flat Laurel and Little Sam Trails and the MST via Devil’s Courthouse (with its great views). We then return via the MST across FS 816 and up to the summit of Black Balsam (6214 ft.), then down to our cars. Second meeting place: BRP Cold Mtn. Overlook at 9:20 AM. Topo: Sam Knob; also NatGeo map #780

SUNDAY NO. A1003-267 Aug. 8
Horsepasture River 8:00 AM
Hike 8, Drive 105, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Kathleen Hannigan, 828-230-4883, kathleen.hannigan@pgnmail.com
Swimming hike! Come to see the recently re-opened Gorges State Park area. We’ll hike down alongside the Horsepasture River to see the waterfalls – Drift, Turtleback, Rainbow and Stairway, ending at Windy, the final waterfall downstream near Lake Jocassee. One or more swimming breaks will be taken. Second meeting place: Pisgah Forest Bi-lo at 8:35 AM. Topo: Reid; Also Sierra Club guide to Jocassee Gorges.

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Half Day Sunday

July 4th hike cancelled, no leader was available.

HALF-DAY NO. H1003-062 July 11
Daniel Ridge Loop Trail *12:15 PM
Hike 4, Drive 70, 800 ft ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Lucy Prim, 828-693-6580, 32lucette@gmail.com
P400 *Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at Fish Hatchery off FS 475 at 1:00 PM. This moderate loop hike has lots to “C”: Creeks, Chasms, and a Cool Cascade finale.

HALF-DAY NO. H1003-349 July 18
Buck Spring Trail *12:30 PM
Hike 6.2, Drive 50, Rated B-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Jane Laping, 828-277-7342, janelaping@sbcglobal.net
P400 *Form carpools at Westgate, and meet hike leader at Pisgah Inn parking lot near convenience store at 1:15 PM. This pleasant downhill hike starts at the Pisgah Inn and ends at US 276. Car shuttle. MST Profiles book, pg. 40-41

HALF-DAY NO. H1003-702 July 25
DuPont Forest: Buck Forest P.L.#1 *12:30 PM
Hike 5.6, Drive 94, 680 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Ashok Kudva, 828-698-7119, ashok.kudva@att.net
*Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at Pisgah Forest Bi-Lo at 1:05 PM. We’ll see spectacular High Falls, three lakes and the site of an old DuPont film manufacturing plant where once 1000 people worked. The leader, a local DuPont retiree, will explain the exclusive use of these recreational facilities for employees and customers and the uncertain times during real estate development efforts after the demise of manufacturing, which continued until DuPont State Forest was established to delight hikers and nature lovers. Topo: Sandstone Mountain; also DuPont State Forest Map, rev. 3/20/08

HALF DAY NO. H1003-043 Aug. 1
Frying Pan Tower *12:30 PM
Hike 4, Drive 50, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Bobbi Powers, 828-667-5419, bobbipowers@live.com
P400 *Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at Pisgah Inn parking lot near convenience store at 1:15 PM. This is an easy in-and-out hike through a spectacular display of wild flowers to good views from the tower. MST Profiles book, pg. 40.

HALF-DAY No. H1003-465 Aug. 8
Flat Laurel Creek, Little Sam Knob, MST Loop 12:30 PM
Hike 6, Drive 80, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Marcia Bromberg, 828-505-0471, mwbromberg@yahoo.com
P400 Beginning at Sam Knob parking lot, hike Flat Laurel Creek Trail to Little Sam Knob Trail and enjoy views of Sam Knob and early blueberries. Turn up Sam Knob Trail with views of Little Sam and Mt. Hardy. Then head north on Mountains-to-Sea Trail, with great views into Pisgah Natl. Forest, to FS 816 and our cars. Second meeting place: BRP Cold Mtn. Overlook at 1:20 PM. MST Profiles book, pg. 34

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All Day Wednesday

WEDNESDAY NO. W1003-504 July 7
Bull Gap to Lane Pinnacle 8:30 AM
Hike 10, Drive 30, 2900 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Tom Sanders, 828-252-632, tomary.avl@gmail.com
Hike on the MST from Bull Gap, past the Rattlesnake Lodge site, Rich Mountain, and up to good views from our lunch stop at Lane Pinnacle. Second meeting place: Bull Gap at 9:00 AM. Topo: Craggy Pinnacle; also MST Profiles book, pg. 56-59

WEDNESDAY NO. W1003-289 July 14
Glassmine Overlook to Stepps Gap 9:00 AM
Hike 7, Drive 80, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Paula Massey, 828-299-0226, massey.paula@gmail.com
SB6K A beautiful hike through an old balsam forest and some open views. Features two peaks over 6000, Blackstock Knob and Mt. Gibbes. This route has been worked out by Cave Dog and Tom Sanders, with a shortcut bushwhack off the MST around the north side of Potato Knob and on to Clingmans Peak and Gibbes. Car Shuttle. Topos: Mt. Mitchell, Montreat; also PNF S. Toe River, Mt. Mitchell & Big Ivy Trail Map and MST Profiles book, pg. 62-63

WEDNESDAY NO. W1003-246 July 21
Around Coffee Pot Mountain *9:00 AM
Hike 7.5, Drive 40, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Charlie Ferguson, 828-625-2677, ccf108@gmail.com
P400 *Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at Trace Ridge Trailhead at 9:30 AM. We’ll circle Coffee Pot Mtn. by hiking up Trace Ridge Trail to Beaver Dam Gap on the BRP and returning on the Spencer Branch Trail, with a stop to see the Hendersonville Reservoir and dam. Topo: Dunsmore Mtn; also NatGeo map #780

WEDNESDAY NO. W1003-067 July 28
Douglas Falls & Craggy Gardens *9:00 AM
Hike 8, Drive 45, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Jeanie Danner, 828-625-2677, bjbd4111@gmail.com
WC100 *Only meeting location: back parking lot of the Folk Art Center. From the Craggy Garden Visitor Center we’ll hike the MST down to the trail to Douglas Falls. The falls are quite high and should have a good amount of water after a rain. We’ll hike back the way we came and on to the Craggy Gardens Picnic area, up to the top which was recently cleared to make more open views, and back to the cars at the Visitor Center. There is an option for people to do just the falls for a 5.6-mile hike. Second meeting place: Craven Gap at 9:10 AM. Topo: Craggy Pinnacle, Montreat; also FS Big Ivy map

-------- Note: 2 hikes on August 4th---------------

WEDNESDAY NO. W1003-543 Aug. 4
Junaluska Gap - London Bald 8:00 AM
Hike 9, Drive 180, 2500 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA
Brent Martin, 828-587-9453, brent_martin@tws.org
W’ll hike around and over London Bald, through a fern-covered forest floor and with views of the Nantahala Ridge spine and Nantahala Lake. The route uses the Junaluska, Diamond Valley, Appletree and London Bald trails along the ridge that separates Macon and Cherokee counties. Second meeting place: Junaluska Gap trailhead at 10:00 AM Topo: Topton; also NatGeo maps #785 & 784

WEDNESDAY NO. W1003-665 Aug. 4
MST from NC 128 (Mt. Mitchell Road) to a waterfall and back *10:00 AM
(easy alternate hike)
Hike 6.5, Drive 62, 500 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Marcia Bromberg, 828-505-0471, mwbromberg@yahoo.com
*Only meeting place: back parking lot at the Folk Art Center. A gentle hike along the MST to a field beyond a lovely waterfall and return. We'll have views along the Blue Ridge Pkwy. on the drive up to Mt. Mitchell Road where the hike begins. Topo: Montreat, Mt. Mitchell.

WEDNESDAY NO. W1003-369 Aug. 11
Buckeye Gap - Bearpen Gap *9:00 AM
Hike 6, Drive 80, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@bellsouth.net
P400 *Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at BRP Cold Mtn. Overlook at 9:50 AM. We will start by hiking a section of the MST that leads through a lush forest of spruce and birch. The forest floor is covered with mosses and ferns. We will hike through areas that in past years have yielded abundant blueberries and will stop to do some picking. Short car shuttle. Topo: Sam Knob; also NatGeo map #780

Email your hike reports to Dave Wetmore.The deadline for reports is 9:00 p.m. on the Tuesdays before an eNews comes out. Reports for Wednesday hikes during the eNews publication week will appear in the following eNews--The Editor.

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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 appears in the hike description. Driving mileage is round trip, based on the first designated meeting place. Meet at Westgate unless otherwise noted.