CMC Weekly Hike News

03/17/04

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Looking Ahead....

All Day Sunday

ALL DAY No. A0401-334 Mar. 21 Bull Creek Ramble 9:00 AM Hike 8-9, Drive 25, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Marlene Santa Maria 828-299-9095 marlena98@hotmail.com Note later start time. Marlene's fun hike has become a perennial CMC event that everyone enjoys. The trailhead is at Marlene's home, near Bull Creek Rd. The route will be along old roads and the MST to our lunch spot at Rattlesnake Lodge, where everyone can admire the commemorative plaque. There will be some moderately-paced off-trail hiking. Marlene will have refreshments at her home after the hike. Limited to 25 people, so please e-mail her for reservations or phone if you don't have e-mail. Topo: Craggy Pinnacle

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. H0401-323 Mar. 21 Bent Creek Loop #3 1:00 PM Hike 6, Drive 20, 1250 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Ruth Hartzler, 828-251-0886, ruthmtn@aol.com P400 Note early start time. We will use parts of the Sleepy Gap, Explorer and Pine Tree trails and the Homestead Loop and visit the top of Grassy Knob, Sleepy Gap on the MST, and Lake Powhatan. This loop hike was originated by Tom Bindrim.

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. W0401-254 March 17 Green Knob via Snooks Nose 8:30 AM Hike 11, Drive 65, 3400 ft. ascent Rated A-AA+ Joanne Tulip, 828-299-3495 tulipinnc@aol.com This is a strenuous trip from Curtis Creek that climbs up and over the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Green Knob fire tower. Great views along the way, as well as at the lunch stop on the summit of Green Knob. Topo: Old Fort. Meeting Place: McDonald's, Exit 64, Hwy. 40, Black Mountain.

ALL DAY No. W0401-313 March 17 ALTERNATE HIKE Hot Springs Area Ramble 9:00 AM Hike 6, Drive 70, Rated B-B Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327 mel&tgs@main.nc.us A mixture of Appalachian Trail, Pump Gap Loop, and woods roads. A relaxed stroll through the woods with good views. Meeting place: Westgate.

ALL DAY No. W0401-??? March 17 ALTERNATE HIKE: Penny Rock or Leader's Choice 9:00 AM Hike 6-7, Drive 47, Rated B-B Boyd Brasington, 828-254-8675 boydb@buncombe.main.nc.us A nearby hike may be substituted for Penny Rock. Contact leader for more information. Leader will set a moderate pace. Car shuttle. Meeting Place: Ingles, across from Biltmore Square Mall.

ALL DAY No. W0401-049 March 24 Big Creek 9:00 AM Hike 10, Drive 65, Rated A-B Joe Cirvello, 828-627-1797 joec@brinet.com 900M The Big Creek Trail is described as "one of the most beautiful and interesting walks in the GSMNP." The water rushing around the many huge boulders strewn all along Big Creek make it beautiful in any season, and the early spring flowers should make it spectacular. We will pass the Rock House, Midnight Hole and Mouse Creek Falls, crossing a couple of bridges enroute to Walnut Bottoms. Topo: Waterville. Meeting place: The Pilot Truck Stop at Exit 24 off I-40.

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. A0401-333 Mar. 14 Bearwallow Mtn. 8:30 AM Hike 8, Drive 30, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Lewis and Jane Blodgett 828-274-7863 Note later start time. This hike is an old CMC favorite. From Hickory Nut Gap on US 74A, we will hike over Ferguson Peak, then through undulating, open meadows before reaching our lunch spot at the fire tower on Bearwallow Mtn. Extraordinary views down towards the Lake Lure area. Topo: Bat Cave

Post Hike Report: Eleven people left Hickory Nut Gap on what turned out to be a beautiful day for the Bearwallow Fire Tower. The group delightfully included several new hikers who got to see the beautiful open meadows near the top. The hike goes over some private property with permission of course. The group also was traditionally treated to Jane's delicious fudge like brownies after lunch. On the way back we bushwhacked down the side to Hickory Nut Gap for a different shorter way back. We arrived at the cars about 3pm. Lewis

HALF-DAY No. H0401-322 Mar. 14 UNC-A Loop; Richmond Hill Park 1:30 PM Hike 4, Drive 10, Rated C-C Paula Robbins, 828-281-325, paularww@bellsouth.net Here's a chance to learn two short hikes in Asheville to take when you don't have time to drive out of town but need a workout. The loop around the University has a lot of ups and downs, and we may see the early bloodroot along the trails at Asheville's newest park.

Post Hike Report: Eighteen folks, half newcomers and half such old-timers as Bernard Elias, showed up for a different kind of CMC hike---within the city of Asheville. This was an opportunity to discover places to walk without driving far afield. We hiked the two-mile Periphery Trail around UNC-A, with lots of ups and downs (maps are available from the mailbox along the entrance road). After a brief visit to the Botanical Garden to view the first of the spring wildflowers, the rare Oconee Bells, and for a snack break, we drove across the French Broad River to Asheville's newest park, Richmond Hill. There we walked through the disc golf course and explored some of the unmarked trails in this 180-acre wooded terrain. Paula

All Day Wednesday

Post Hike Report: Five of us met on a damp and overcast morning to hike the south portion of Pump Gap Loop and explore various side trails around the AT. The intention was a moderate trip, in which we took a stroll in the woods for about 3 1/2 hours or 6-7 miles. As the day wore on, weather improved so that we were able to enjoy the diverse and beautiful views in the Hot Springs area. This stint was one of several variations between Tanyard Gap and Hot Springs that Tom has been attempting to develop as accessible and pleasant winter hikes. Tom

HikingNews....

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