CMC Weekly Hike News

11/12/03

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Looking Ahead....

All Day Sunday

ALL DAY No. A0304-271 Nov. 16 Chestnutwood Mtn. 8:00 AM Hike 8.5, Drive 70, 1900 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Don Gardner 828-754-4067 gardog3@charter.net We'll do our major climbing before lunch on this pleasant hike past streams, two nice cascades, a glimpse of the Black Mtns, and a 20 year old timber harvest in the Grandfather District. Some challenging bushwacking and hiking on overgrown trails. Short car shuttle. Topo: Old Fort

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. H0304-296 Nov. 16 MST: Parkway HQ to Folk Art Center 1:00 PM Hike 5, Rated C-C Anita & Richard Walkey 828-681-2967 walkey@juno.com Note the early start time. This easy in & out hike begins at Parkway Headquarters. Suitable for anyone over 10 years old. (Those under 18 MUST be accompanied by adult.) NOTE: Only meeting place will be the Blue Ridge Parkway Headquarters parking area.

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. W0304-288 Nov. 19 Kanuga Conference Center 9 am Hike 8.5. drive 16, rated B-C Fred Chaffee, 828-692-8937 Renewing our the traditional pre-Thanksgiving hike over well-maintained trails including the Doug Stirling trail to Wolf Mtn. overlook, and Long Rocks to the Jim Redd trails, with lunch on scenic Eagle Rock, overlooking Pinnacle Mountain. A pleasant moderate loop hike over varied terrains. First meeting place: parking lot rear of Mountain Bank, corner of White St. & Rt. 25 south, Hendersonville. Second meeting place: Kanuga Conference Center, lower parking lot (rear of Inn ) 9:15.

ALL DAY No. W0304-287 Nov. 12 Montreat Ridge Hike 8:30 am Hike 12, drive 2, rated A-AA Ames Tryon, 828-669-3805, tryonaf@charter.net Gate-to-gate hike. Ascend Stomping Knob Trail to West Ridge Trail to the summit of Greybeard. Will descend the back side of Greybeard back over Stomping Knob to Mt. Mitchell toll road. Return via the toll road, East Ridge trail, and Rainbow Road. Gain of 2700 feet. Meeting place: McDonald's, I-40, exit 64.

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.

Adopt-A-Trail (Section) Maintainers Needed!

We currently have several sections on the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) that would love to have a caring individual who can adopt a section of their very own. As a trail maintainer, you would be the MST's most important advocate and protector. In this role, you would become familiar with trail maintenance techniques so that you understand the big picture as you perform the simple, recurring maintenance and repairs necessary to keep the trail in good repair. One your most important duties would be the "eyes" and "ears" of your section. The section supervisors are responsible for all of the "heavy duty" work and should be contacted to perform trail work you would not feel comfortable doing.

If you are interested please contact me or any of the following and we will explore finding just the right section of trail for you. Don Walton, walt7258@bellsouth.net , 828-298-5084, Stan Smith, ssmith111728@aol.com , 828-456-3042, D.R. Kulp, kulpdr@juno.com , 828-692-0783, Les Love, leslove@aol.com , 828-658-1489, Jorge Munoz, jmunoz@buncombe.main.nc.us , 828-658-0606.

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Looking Back......

All Day Sunday

ALL DAY No. A0304-270 Nov. 9 Cedar Rock Mtn. - John Rock 8:30 AM Hike 8-9, Drive 80, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Barbara Passmore 828-230-2670 bpsss354@aol.com Note later starting time. A moderately paced hike from the Pisgah Fish Hatchery to lunch on the rock face of Cedar Rock Mtn. with its great views .Then return via Cat Gap and more great views from John Rock as we return on the John Rock and Horse Cove Trails. Second meeting place at Fish Hatchery parking lot at 9:15 AM. Topo: Shining Rock. Also Nat'l. Geographic Pisgah Ranger District map.

Post Hike Report: I loved being the leader on this hike and on this day. The weather was just as I like it-cool/cold AND sunny. Many of the persons on the hike are my trustworthy and beloved friends. The two newcomers from Ohio were prompt and impressively strong. Cedar Rock was monumental, moss-covered and ages-old. As usual, John Rock offered an always-new lesson in relativity. The surrounding mountain undulations were as they always are, and I love them in their seemingly changeless existence. Finishing a hike is always a great moment for me because I love to pretend that I am an athlete. The goodbyes were warm, cordial, and promising. I feel good about everything concerning this hike EXCEPT the post-hike report which OBVIOUSLY violates: "Less talk, more walk" Barbara

ALL DAY No. A0304-269 Nov. 2 (strenuous) Richland Balsam Ramble 8:00 AM Hike 10, Drive 90, 2600 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA Dave Wetmore 828-884-7296 dwetmore@citcom.net See some country never before hiked by CMC, the pleasant old roads and beautiful meadow below Richland Balsam. Starting at Richland Balsam, we'll join the MST at Beechflat Branch and take the MST to Haywood Gap. No bushwhacking, but some rough trail and unmaintained old roads. Second Meeting Place: Rough Butt Bald overlook at BRP mile 425.4 at 8:45 AM. Topos: Tuckasegee and Sam Knob

Post Hike Report: 12 hikers enjoyed spectacular clear and warm weather and the great views visible from the BRP Richland Balsam overlook area. We hiked from the overlook, down the Three Spruces Trail and general vicinity, including beautiful open mountain meadows. When we intersected the MST, we followed it north on old logging roads to the access trail that leads up to Bearpen Gap Overlook. A total of about 8.5 miles and 2000' of climbing.

ALL DAY No. A0304-213 Nov. 2 (moderate) Rocky Knob & Greybeard from BRP 8:30 AM Hike 6.2, Drive 60, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Tommie Boston 828-686-5029 tambee2@aol.com Note later starting time. This is a near-repeat of our May hike; this time we're hoping for good weather to enjoy the great views. We will hike from the BRP to Blue Ridge Pinnacle, and an in-out trail to Rocky Knob and Greybeard. Return using a portion of the old Toll Rd. A couple of short steep sections. This primitive trail is a 6-hour hike. The only meeting place will be the back parking lot at the Folk Art Center. Topo: Montreat

Post Hike Report: Ten hikers had beautiful weather and fabulous views as they followed the North Fork watershed trail from the BRP to Blue Ridge Pinnacle and Rocky Knob. Fall weather had obscured part of the trail, so the group dropped from Rocky Knob to the Old Mt. Mitchell Toll Road for the return.

Half Day Sunday

HALF DAY No. H0304-295 Nov. 9 Pump Gap Loop 1:00 PM Hike 4, Drive 80, Rated C-B Jorge Munoz 828-658-0606 jmunoz@buncombe.main.nc.us Note the early start time. From Silvermine trailhead in Hot Springs we have a good climb to the ridge where we will visit an old mountain cemetery, cross the AT and return on Pump Gap Trail. There is beautiful vegetation & scenery to enjoy beside good company.

HALF DAY No. H0304-294 Nov. 02 Picklesimer Fields 1:30 PM Hike 5, Drive 65, Rated C-B Tom Sanders 828-252-6327 mel&tgs@main.nc.us In and out hike from the fish hatchery. We'll take the Butter Gap trail and see how far we get. Second Meeting: Place Fish Hatchery at 2:20 PM. HALF DAY No. H0304-295 Nov. 9 Pump Gap Loop 1:00 PM Hike 4, Drive 80, Rated C-B Jorge Munoz 828-658-0606 jmunoz@buncombe.main.nc.us Note the early start time. From Silvermine trailhead in Hot Springs we have a good climb to the ridge where we will visit an old mountain cemetery, cross the AT and return on Pump Gap Trail. There is beautiful vegetation & scenery to enjoy beside good company.

Post Hike Report: Fourteen people showed up on a beautiful fall day for this hike in the Fish Hatchery area. Starting from the Fish Hatchery we followed Cat Gap Loop Trail and continued on Butter Gap Trail until 4:00, when we turned around to be sure of getting back by dark at 5:30. This is an excellent easy hike with very little uphill and an exceptional variety of flora. Both in and out we took breaks at a beautiful waterfall on the Butter Gap Trail. Trail conditions were good except for a small amount of the inevitable mud. Since this was a nice day a number of mountain bikers were also taking advantage of this lovely route. Tom

All Day Wednesday

ALL DAY No. W0304-286 Nov. 5 Sycamore Cove 9 am Hike 6.5 Drive 2, Rated B-C Kathie Giddings 696-9808 kmgiddings@juno.com A nice easy/moderate late fall loop hike in the Pisgah Forest, with several easy stream crossings. Parking is limited at the trail head, so a car shuttle may be required. Only meeting place: Davidson River Campground Parking Lot.

Post Hike Report: THIS HIKE WAS ALMOST CANCELED BECAUSE OF THE RAIN. BUT FOUR HARDY HIKERS DID SHOW UP AND WANTED TO HIKE, SO HIKE WE DID.THIS HIKE REALLY DOESN'T HAVE GREAT VIEWS, BUT IT'S A NICE WALK IN THE WOODS. AND DESPITE THE HUMIDITY, AND THE RAIN WE HAD A NICE HIKE. KATHIE

ALL DAY No. W0304-285 October 29 Lane Pinnacle 9 am Hike 5-6, drive 60, rated B-B Paula McNabb, 828-274-0057, gcmcnabb@charter.net After a short climb of this high altitude ridge, we can enjoy 4 lovely viewpoints. We'll take the MST trail from Bee Tree Gap to Lane's and return. Meeting place: Folk Art Center lower parking lot.

Post Hike Report: We had planned to start from the picnic area but the road was closed, so we started at Bee Tree Gap. Total length round trip : 4 miles. We had 24 folks on the hike despite brisk winds and temps in the 40's. The fall color could be seen in the valley but was gone at our 6,000 elevation. However, the drive along the parkway was spectacular at the lower levels. -- Gerry