CMC Weekly Hike News
11/27/03
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Looking Ahead....
All Day Saturday
ALL DAY No. A0304-273 Nov. 29 Boogerman Trail 9:00 AM Hike 8, Drive 90, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Jorge Munoz 828-658-0606 jmunoz@buncombe.main.nc.us ote later starting time. A lush forest with giant old-growth Tulip trees and remnants of pioneer life make this a favorite loop hike in the Cataloochee area of the Smokies. If we're lucky we may spot one of the elk that have been introduced into this valley. Topos: Cove Creek Gap, Dellwood
All Day Sunday
ALL DAY No. A0304-274 Nov. 30 Chimney Tops and Alum Cave Bluffs 8:00 AM Hike 9, Drive 150, 2500 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA Amy Treverton 828-298-1882 athikerbabe@yahoo.com Two spectacular Smoky Mountain highlights on one trip! We will first climb Chimney Tops, a rocky outcropping with marvelous views of the Clingman's Dome - Mt. Le Conte area. In the afternoon we will take in Alum Cave Bluffs, another rocky wonder. Second meeting place: Quality Inn at junction of US 19 and US 276 in Maggie Valley at 8:30 AM. Topos: Clingman's Dome, Mt. Le Conte
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. H0304-298 Nov. 30 Sleepy Gap from Hardtimes Trailhead 1:30 PM Hike 4-5, Drive 20, Rated C-C Elizabeth Feil 828-684-8719 hofeil@brinet.com This is a popular loop trail in the Bent Creek area. There is some climbing involved, but it will feel good on a cold day.
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 Nov. 26 NO HIKE SCHEDULED. HAPPY THANKSGIVING
ALL DAY No. W0304-289 Dec. 3 MST: Glassmine Falls Overlook to Stepps Gap 8:30 am Hike 7, Drive 70, Rated B-A Tom Sanders 252-6327 mel&tgs@main.nc.us Features 2 peaks over 6000, Blackstock Knob and Mt. Gibbes. This route has been worked out by Cave Dog and Tom, with a shortcut bushwhack off the MST around the North of Potato Knob and on to Clingmans Peak and Gibbes. Close to 2000 ft ascent. Car shuttle. Topos: Mt.Mitchell and Montreat. Meeting place: Westgate Shopping Center
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.
Wednesday All Day Hike Scheduler Needed
"With the lst quarter of "04, we find we've been scheduling Wednesday hikes for 5 years, and think it's about time that we let someone else have the opportunity". Ken & Carol Deal
We sincerely appreciate the years of dedication that Ken and Carol have made faithfully scheduling the Wednesday All Day Hikes. Paula McNabb will be continuing alternating every other schedule but we will need a new scheduler starting the 3rd quarter of 2004. Please start thinking about who will be inspired to come forward and help with this important rewarding duty. Don Walton
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. A0304-272 Nov. 23 Deep Creek - Kephart's Last Stand 7:30 AM Hike 13.5, Drive 135, 2160 ft. ascent, Rated AA-AA Danny Bernstein 828-236-0192 danny@hikertohiker.org This lovely hike starts at the Deep Creek entrance of the Great Smoky Mtns. Natl. Park, outside of Bryson City. The trail follows Deep Creek past a waterfall, campground and mixed woodlands to Campsite #57, Horace Kephart's last permanent campsite. Next a short, steep section of the Martin Gap Trail and then we go downhill on the Indian Creek Trail where we will enjoy another waterfall. Some rockhopping may be needed for a dry creek crossing. Second meeting place: Rest area on US 23/74 near Waynesville at 8:00 AM. Topos: Bryson City, Clingman's Dome
Post Hike Report: Seventeen hikers showed up for the Deep Creek Circular hike. Maybe it was the great description that attracted them, maybe the Kephart connection, most likely it was the outstanding day. We had several new faces including Roman who was visiting from Michigan. I hope all these new hikers become members.
The Deep Creek Trail started out broad and flat but quickly changed to a leisurely climb. We had lunch at Campsite 57, a horse camp which was Horace Kephart's last campsite. Kephart is best known for having written "Our Southern Highlanders", a book describing his life with the local people in Bryson City and in the Smokies from 1913 to 1931. We looked for the plaque put up by the Boy Scouts memorializing Kephart but we could not find it. We did find some old pots, maybe dating from his era. This is a good time to plug the "Together We Read" program, which next summer will be reading "Our Southern Highlanders". The climb up the Martin Gap Trail was the only substantial climb but it was short. Then a lovely downhill alongside the Indian Creek. We stopped at Indian Creek Falls. All around a great day with lots of great hikers. Danny
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
Post Hike Report: 8 hikers enjoyed an interesting hike in the Mackay Mtn. area, east of Old Fort. We did an 8-mile one way hike up Hickory Branch, then along the ridgeline to the summit of Chestnutwood Mtn. for lunch. Then down on overgrown logging roads and along Paddy's Branch to our waiting car. A lot of bushwhacking, and a confusing maze of old logging roads to pick our way through. Fortunately, we had Tom Bindrim on the hike to keep us on the right route. The weather cooperated with cloudy skies for the entire hike, with rain starting only after we got back into the cars. Bruce Bente
Half Day Sunday
HALF DAY No. H0304-297 Nov. 23 Sams Gap South 12:30 PM Hike 5, Drive 50, Rated C-B Neal Andreae 828-698-2546 nandreae@gowebway.com Note early start time. An AT hike from Sams Gap to Hog Back Ridge shelter & return. An opportunity to check out the relocation under I 26 & an AT parking lot!
Post Hike Report: A gorgeous weather day for this AT hike to the Hog Back Ridge shelter. Ten of us first did a riding tour of the new Interstate 26 section from Mars Hill to Flag Pond, Tennessee since there is no longer direct access to the Sams Gap trailhead. Then of course walked along the NC TN border on some of the original AT route established more than 60 years ago. With the leaves gone - the views were wonderful ! Neal
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.
Post Hike Report: Sunday's half day hike attracted 7 hikers. We had some old veterans, and some new faces. The treat of rain kept the numbers down. A lot of the hikers learned where the Parkway Headquarters is located, and it's proximity to the MST. There was lots of talk and information shared. It took us an hour and a half to get to the Folk Art Center, where we took a break. Coming back we got a little damp, but no one seemed to mind. The trail was in great shape, and offered a few challenging spots for all. This is a nice Fall or Winter hike. Close in and a tad challenging for beginners. Richard and Anita Walkey
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.