All Day  Saturday & Sunday

ALL DAY NO. A0903-527 Aug. 23
Chatooga River & Ellicott Rock *8:00 AM
Hike 8.5, Drive 150, 950 ft. ascent, Rated B-C
Dave Wetmore, 828-884-7296, dwetmore@citcom.net
*Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at the Bi-Lo side parking lot in Pisgah Forest at 8:35 AM. Come stand where 3 states join! View an 1811 boundary marker between Georgia and North Carolina that settled the Walton War but still rankles many Georgians. View an 1813 boundary marker between North Carolina and South Carolina. This hike has gentle grades and goes along the Chatooga River. To really see the markers you’ll have to get knee deep in the river, so come prepared. Topo: Tamassee; also Nat’l. Geo. Nantahala & Cullasaja Gorges map #785

SATURDAY NO. A0903-357 Aug. 29
Pisgah Ridge Loop *8:30 AM
Hike 7.5, Drive 70, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Janet Onan, 828-698-3237, janonan@bellsouth.net
P400 *Note later start time. Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Cold Mtn. overlook (BRP M.P. 412) at 9:05 AM. We’ll do a scenic circle of the entire Graveyard Fields area, using the Pisgah Ridge Trail and MST to lunch at a beautiful overlook. Then we’ll follow the Graveyard Ridge Trail, with a stop for swimming at one of the Yellowstone Falls. Probable blueberry consumption. Topos: Shining Rock, Sam Knob; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780 and USFS Shining Rock & Middle Prong Wilderness map

ALL DAY NO. A0903-190 Aug. 30
MST: Mt. Mitchell to Balsam Gap 8:00 AM
Hike 9.5, Drive 70, 1600 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Barth Brooker, 828-299-0298, barthb@bellsouth.net
SB6K This is one of the really great sections of the MST, and includes two SB6K peaks. The first part of the hike features exceptional views south from the Black Mtns., while the second part showcases the trail-building and rock-work achievements of the CMC. See spectacular scenery from our lunch spot on a rocky outcropping. Topos: Mt. Mitchell, Montreat; also PNF South Toe River, Mt. Mitchell & Big Ivy Trail Map

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Half Day Sunday Hikes

HALF-DAY NO. H0903-070 Aug. 23
Mt. Mitchell Loop *12:30 PM
Hike 5, Drive 60, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Lee Belknap, 828-698-9394, rivergypsy@sprintmail.com
*Note early start time. Starting at Stepps Gap Ranger Station we will use the Camp Alice and Mt Mitchell Trails to create a scenic loop in this rugged high country.

HALF-DAY NO. H0903-297 Aug. 30
Sams Gap South *1:00 PM
Hike 5, Drive 60, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call Gail Lamb, 828-350-0450, galmb46@bellsouth.net
*Note early start time. A moderate in-and-out hike from Sams Gap to the Hogback Ridge Shelter and return along the Appalachian Trail off the new portion of I-26.

All Day Wednesday

WEDNESDAY Easy NO. W0903-247 Aug. 26
Ivestor Gap Blueberry Hike *8:30 AM
Hike 5, Drive 65, 500 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Bonnie Allen, 828-645-0357
P400, SB6K Our traditional hike to the picking fields of Grassy Cove Top in the Shining Rock Wilderness. While others are picking blueberries, there is an optional hike to the top of 6000 ft Grassy Cove Top. Everyone should bring berry picking containers, hat and sunscreen. *Wilderness area hike limited to 10 people. Please contact hike leader to reserve your place. Second meeting place: Cold Mtn. Overlook (BRP M.P. 412) at 9:05 AM. Topo: Sam Knob; also NatGeo map #780

WEDNESDAY Moderate NO. W0903-489 Aug. 26
Bad Fork - Trace Ridge Loop *8:30 AM
Hike 8, Drive 60, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Ashok Kudva, 828-698-7119, ashok.kudva@mchsi.com
P400 *Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools; meet leader at N. Mills River Recreation parking lot at 9:00 AM. From the Trace Ridge parking area, we will hike to the Bad Fork Trail, which will take us to the BRP on a steep 800 ft. ascent. From the BRP, we will have a long, climb to Ferrin Knob. Down to Beaver Dam Overlook for lunch. Then down the Trace Ridge Trail Topo: Dunsmore Mtn; also NatGeo # 780

WEDNESDAY NO. W0903-526 Sept. 2
Down the Incline 9:00 AM
Hike 8, Drive 80, 1350 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Charlie Ferguson, 828-625-2677, ccf108@gmail.com
P400 Some off-trail; historic. Follow MST north; then left onto Buckeye Gap trail (old logging RR); bushwhack down site of old incline; left onto Haywood Gap Trail to Haywood Gap; follow MST north, and right onto access trail to parking lot. Wilderness area, limit 10, so call leader for reservation. Second meeting place: Cold Mountain Overlook BRP at 9:40 AM. Topo: Sam Knob; also USFS Shining Rock map and Natl. 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.