CMC Weekly Hike News
02/16/05
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Looking Ahead....
All Day Saturday & Sunday
ALL DAY No. A0501-049 Feb. 20 Walnut Bottom 8:00 AM Hike 11.6, Drive 110, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-B Marianne Newman 828-454-1036 marianneln@msn.com 900M For a change, this time we’ll do this hike in the winter, following a spectacular mountain stream through a beautiful forest to Walnut Bottom. Features to be seen on this hike are the Rock House, Mouse Creek Falls and Dead Man’s Curve. *Meeting places: Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet the leader at Pilot Truck Stop at exit 24 off I 40 at 8:30 AM. Topos: Waterville, Cove Creek Gap and Luftee Knob; also Nat’l. Geo. Map of GSMNP
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. H0501-320 Feb. 20 Swannanoa River Ramble Noon Hike 5.5, Drive 20, Rated C-C Diane Hankins, 828-298-2870 (before 9 PM) Note early start time. Leisurely paced hike at Warren Wilson College includes the River Trail and Dam Pasture Trail through the woods to an old dam site. Suitable for anyone over 10 years of age (Those under 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult.). Only meeting place is Oteen Ingles (near the VA Hospital on Tunnel Road) parking lot at the Post Office flagpole.
Half Day hikes submitted by Paula Robbins 828-687-1651 paularww@bellsouth.net and Pat Elias 828-281-3253 patelias@bellsouth.net . Leaders: Mail please mail your sign-up sheets. Meet at Westgate unless otherwise noted.
All Day Wednesday
ALL DAY No. W0501-399 Feb. 23 John Rock-Cedar Rock Loop 8:00 AM* Hike 10, Drive 80, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Brad Van Diver, 828-669-2740 bravandi@cs.com P400 A lovely winter hike. Beginning at the fish hatchery, we first skirt the eastern side of John Rock to Cat Gap, then follow the Art Loeb Trail through Sandy Gap, and then pass the stunning white cliffs of Cedar Rock. We'll continue to the shelter at Butter Gap for lunch, then return to our starting point via Grogan Creek and Picklesimer Fields. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Fish Hatchery at 8:30 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat'l Geographic Pisgah Ranger District Map.
ALL DAY No. W0501-440 March 2 Mountains-to-Sea from French Broad Overlook 9:00 AM Hike 8, Drive 25-50, Rated C-B (subject to change) Elisabeth Feil, 828-684-8719 hofeil@brinet.com A nearby winter wandering with Elisabeth. We’ll decide what looks best, depending largely on how far the Parkway is open. This may be a car shuttle. Hike may be strenuous. Second meeting place: French Broad Over-look on Blue Ridge Parkway at 9:15 AM.
Wednesday Hikes are submitted by Paula McNabb, 828- 274-0057 gcmcnabb@charter.net and Ann Gleason, 828-859-9387, cowbonetail@yahoo.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.
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Looking Back......
All Day Saturday & Sunday
ALL DAY No. A0501-331 Feb. 13 Cantrell Lodge site via Sharpy Mtn. 8:30 AM Hike 8, Drive 50, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Becky Smucker 828-298-5013 bjsmucker@charter.net P400 Note later start time. This moderate loop hike starts at Turkey Pen with a warm-up climb over Sharpy Mtn. to Wagon Road Gap, then descends to the S. Mills River Trail where we hike upriver to our lunch spot where Cantrell Lodge was originally located. We’ll return via three interesting pedestrian footbridges over the S. Mills River. Second meeting place: Turkey Pen parking area at 9:00 AM. Topo: Pisgah Forest; also Nat’l. Geographic Pisgah Ranger District map. Sunday's hike will be changed due to bridges being washed out!!!
Post Hike Report: This hike had all sorts of problems getting done but finally was successful. First, the scheduled hike could not be done because two of the three S. Mills River pedestrian bridges were washed out by the hurricanes. Next, the scheduled leader became ill the day before and the hike scheduler assumed the role of leader, then finally it was raining on Sunday. So another hike route from Turkeypen was selected (actually, a near duplicate of the one done on Wednesday 2/9). Three intrepid hikers set forth in light rain, properly attired, and hiked down to and across the only remaining pedestrian bridge over the S. Mills River. We then took the S. Mills River Trail and the lower Mullinax trail to a "no-name" trail that cut across to the beautiful Pounding Mill Trail. Then up the Pounding Mill Trail alongside and across Pounding Mill Creek and down the Squirrel Gap Trail to a dry lunch spot under big hemlock trees at Pea Gap. After lunch we hiked back down to and over the bridge and back to our cars. It was actually a nice peaceful hike in the light rain, and was topped off by stopping at an eclectic coffee shop in Brevard for warm refreshments. Bruce
Half Day Sunday
HALF DAY No. H0501-433 Feb. 13 Mill Ridge Ramble 1:30 PM Hike 5, Drive 65, Rated C-C Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327 mel&tgs@main.nc.us We will go through woods and along woods roads but also along some official trails in the area between Mill Ridge and Pump Gap. No steep uphills, just some great walking and views into the Big Laurel-French Broad River valleys.
Post Hike Report: Mill Ridge Ramble Inhibited by drizzle at Westgate at 1:30 pm, only one other person -- Darlene Sahara -- and the leader, Tom Sanders, showed up. However, both of us wanted to hike, and consistent with the pattern when "good weather " Tom leads a hike, the rain had stopped when we arrived at the trailhead on the AT at Mill Ridge, near Tanyard Gap. It was a most pleasant walk, getting to know each other, since we had not met before. Darlene, who occasionally hikes with the CMC, is a mental health counselor planning soon to dog-sled in the Yukon, and a first rate person. We did not bushwhack because of the dampness, but followed the AT south to Pump Gap Loop Trail, taking the northern half of the Loop to Pump Gap, back north on AT once again to Pump Gap Trail, down south and then left on a woods road and the Mill Ridge Trail, which are part of a bikers trail. Distance 5 miles and 2 1/2 hrs. The woods in this area, as usual, beautiful, enhanced by the dampness. Since only we two did the hike, we'll reschedule it in the proximate future. Tom
All Day Wednesday
ALL DAY No. W0501-101 Feb. 16 Big Laurel River 8:45 AM* Hike 7.2, Drive 50, Rated B-C Becky Elston, 828-749-1886 belston@cytechusa.com Trail follows Big Laurel River to the confluence with the French Broad River, lunch here. Pass thru Runion, which was a thriving logging town in the early 1900's. Fairly rocky in spots. Meet at Westgate at 8:45 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Ingles on Hwy. 25/70 at the Marshall Bypass at 9:30 AM.
HikingNews....
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HIKE LEADER SURVEY COMPILATION
Forty people handed in completed surveys. Two of them didn’t do the back side. Almost never do percentages add up to 100%. . Seventy-five percent of the respondents signed their names. Of those adding comments, 82% signed their names. Italicized choices were generated during the compilation phase The hikers are a minority subset of the Club members. The leaders are a minority subset of the hikers. The leaders who took this survey are a minority subset of the leaders. Generalizations on these data are risky. In the broader context, there were 181 hikes in 2004, with 81 leaders. Forty-two percent of the leaders led only one hike. In 2003 there were177 hikes and 71 leaders. —Dave Wetmore
1. How many years have you been a hiker?
Less than five years 7% Five to ten years 14% More than ten years 75%
2. How many years have you been leading hikes?
Less than five years 27% Five to ten years 27% More than ten years 40%
3. How many hikes do you lead a year?
Less than four 55% Four to Six 30% Six or more 7%
(In 2004, 78% of all the leaders led less than four hikes, 15% led four to six hikes and 3% led six or more hikes.)
4. What do you think about the number of hikes you lead each year?
I’m leading about the right number. 68% I’m leading too many 0% I’d lead more if I was asked 23%
5. I prefer to lead hikes in the (check all that apply)
Winter 20% Spring 25% Summer 15% Fall 48% Any Season 43%
6. I prefer to lead hikes
in the Blacks 10% in the Craggys 13% in the Shining Rock area 15% in the Smokies 5% Green-River and DuPont area 2% Bent Creek 2% Mills River 2% Pisgah Forest, south of Parkway 2% no geographical preferences 58%
7. I like to lead (check all that apply)
Half-day hikes 48% All day hikes 85% Backpacking Trips 5% Easy Hikes 15% Moderate Hikes 80% Hard Hikes 38%
8. I prefer to lead
Wednesday Hikes 45% Saturday Hikes 12% Sunday Hikes 60% No preferences 12%
9. I consider myself to be knowledgeable in the following areas (check all that apply)
People/Leadership Skills 65% First Aid Skills 32% Route Finding 45% Tree/Plant Identification 30% Area History 25%
10. I would like to improve my knowledge in the following areas (check all that apply)
People/Leadership Skills 25% First Aid Skills 22% Route Finding 45% Tree/Plant Identification 60% Area History 60%
11. I first found out about the CMC from
Friends 62% CMC Web Site 2% Let’s Go 0% Newspaper 25% ATC Conference 2%
12. The major reasons I joined the CMC are
to learn the area 65% to enjoy nature 82% to get exercise 70% to meet new people 62% to gain hiking skills 35% other 2% Maintenance 2%
13. Can you think of anything the Club can or should do for hike leaders?
“Hold a workshop. Cover all types of hikes (half-day, all day, backpacks, etc.). I would be willing to help.”
“Make mentoring available”
“Tee shirt or sweatshirt with “Hike Leader””.
“Provide a system of mentoring.”
“Encourage us in any way possible”
“Loads, call and ask me.”
“No”
“Mentors for newcomers”
“Need greater flexibility re: dates of hikes to lead”.
“Massages”
“Establish a list of hike leaders willing to fill in for a scheduled leader.”
“Give them whistles and a clear set of calls to control hikers they can’t see.”
“I think the idea of slow, moderate hikes is excellent. Such hikes attract a large following of people”
“Have a workshop for potential leaders. Ask potential leaders to scout hikes.”
“Sponsor a map and compass course”
“I think a workshop would be a great idea. We’ve led several hikes but I still feel like a novice.”
“Mentor! Train!”