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ALL DAY No. A0503-095 July 10 Hemphill Bald from Polls Gap 8:00 AM Hike 9.5, Drive 95, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-B Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@cytechusa.com After a stroll through open forests, the trail emerges into open fields stretching along the GSMNP boundary, with exceptional views all the way to our lunch stop at the big rock on Hemphill Bald. Second meeting place: Quality Inn (US 19 entrance) at jct. of US 19 and US 276 in Maggie Valley at 8:30 AM. Topos: Dellwood, Bunches Bald

ALL DAY No. A0503-246 July 17 Around Coffee Pot Mtn. 9:00 AM* Hike 7.5, Drive 50, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated B-B John Pawcio, 828-299-8126, jpawcio@tycovalves.com P400 *Note later start time. We’ll circle Coffee Pot Mtn., by hiking up Trace Ridge Trail to Beaver Dam Gap on the BRP and returning on the Spencer Branch Trail, with a stop to see the Hendersonville Reservoir and dam. Second meeting place: North Mills River Recreation area parking lot at 9:30 AM, but must phone leader first. Topo: Dunsmore Mtn.; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map

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 No. A0503-295 July 10 Pump Gap Loop 1:30 PM Hike 5.5, Drive 80, Rated B-B Jorge Munoz, 828-658-0606, jmunoz@buncombe.main.nc.us This moderate loop hike starts at the Silvermine Trail Head. After a good climb to the ridge, we will visit an old cemetery, cross the AT and return on the Pump Gap Trail. Hopefully, rhododendron should still be in bloom.

HALF DAY No. A0503-463 July 17 Big Ridge Overlook to Elk Pasture Gap 1:30 PM Hike 4.4, Drive 25, total ascent of 600 ft., Rated C-C Ken and Carol Deal, 828-281-4530, KMCDeal@aol.com P400 We will do a moderate hike from the Big Ridge Overlook to Elk Pasture Gap and return on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. If we're lucky we will see lots of Turk's Cap Lilies in bloom at that time near the Mills River Valley Overlook.

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.

WEDNESDAY No. No. W0503-249 July 13 Buckeye Gap and Haywood Gap Trails Circuit 8:00 AM Hike 9.5, drive 80, 1400 ft. Ascent, Rated A-B Susanna Whitaker, 828-684-5948, susannwhit@earthlink.net P400 Our hike is in the Middle Prong Wilderness area, limited to 10 hikers. Please call the leader for reservations. Buckeye Gap, Haywood Gap, partly on MST. Several stream crossings. Trailhead will be Rough Butt Bald. Second meeting place: Cold Mtn. overlook, BRP M.P. 412 at 8:40 AM.

WEDNESDAY. No. W0503-447July 20 MST Mt. Pisgah to Beaverdam Overlook 8:30 AM Ray Sanow231-7669, raysray@charter.net P400 This moderate hike will start with a round trip up and down Mt. Pisgah, will then follow the MST northbound to Beaverdam Overlook. Good views. Short car shuttle. Second meeting place: BRP French Broad Overlook at 8:40 AM. Topos: Cruso, Dunsmore Mtn. and MST profiles, pp 53-55.

WEDNESDAY No. W0503-384 July 27 Black Balsam (MST) to Skinny Dip Falls 8:00 AM* Hike 5.5, Drive 65, Ascend 400 ft., Rated C-C Siro Del Favero, 828-277-2546 P400 Starting at Black Balsam, will hike to the second (lower) falls for lunch. Then hike on to Skinny Dip Falls, then to Looking Glass Overlook. Car shuttle. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Looking Glass Overlook, BRP M.P. 417 at 8:45 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.

SATURDAY No. A0502-095 June 25 Hemphill Bald from Polls Gap 8:00 AM Hike 9.5, Drive 95, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Carroll Koepplinger 828-667-0723 carrollkoepp@cs.com 900M Beginning with a stroll through hardwood forests, the trail emerges into open fields stretching along the GSMNP boundary, with exceptional views. Lunch spot in open field at Hemphill Bald. Topos: Bunches Bald, Dellwood; also Nat’l. Geographic GSMNP map

Post Hike Report: Five members enjoyed a leisurely hike in the Smokies. We left the trail head at 9:15 AM and returned at 2:30 PM. for a 9.5 mile hike with an accumulated elevation climb of 1,500 ft. The weather was ideal with some sun, clouds and breezes. A longer than usual lunch break on Hemphill Bald was especially relaxing. Flowers noted: Purple-fringed orchids which is listed as an "occasional" flower (one step up from rare). We saw six different ones while at an elevation of over 5,000 ft. Also yellow strawberries, wild geraniums, columbines, bluets and two we could not identify. Also experienced the almond odor of the "almond" caterpillar(apparently a defense mechanism) and several snails. Three of the hikers continued on the Hemphill Bald Trail and Rough Fork Trail to Polls Gap for a loop hike with two of those hiking the additional trails in order to add those to the Smokies 900 miles goal. This added an additional 3.2 miles to their hike and returned to the trail head at approximately 5:00 PM.

ALL DAY No. A0502-449 June 26 Bald Mtns. Loop 8:00 AM Hike 9.7, Drive 135, 2750 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA+ Les Love 828-658-1489 lesrlove@aol.com This is a beautiful Tennessee hike only 1 1/4 hours away and never before done by CMC. We'll hike from the Horse Creek Rec. Area to Pete's Branch Falls, then up Sarvis Cove along the creek to the AT at Cold Spring Mountain for lunch. We'll go back down an old jeep road that has great views. This hike is strenuous and has seven rock-hop creek crossings that may involve wading, so come prepared. Topo: Greystone; also Nat’l. Geographic French Broad & Nolichucky Rivers map

No Hike Scheduled July 3 No hike is scheduled because the Appalachian Trail Conference biennial meeting is being held July 1-8 in Johnson City, TN, with CMC as a co-host.

HALF DAY No. H0502-155 June 26 Picklesimer Fields 1:30 PM Hike 5, drive 40, Rated C-C Tom Sanders 828-252-6327 mel&tgs@main.nc.us P400 This moderate in-and-out hike will start at the Fish Hatchery, take part of the Cat Gap Loop, go through Picklesimer Fields on the Butter Gap trail, and return.

No Hike Scheduled July 3 No hike is scheduled because the Appalachian Trail Conference biennial meeting is being held July 1-8 in Johnson City, TN, with CMC as a co-h

WEDNESDAY No. W0502-137 June 29 Roans above 6000’ 8:00 AM Hike 9, Drive 150, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116 bbente@cytechusa.com SB6K A beautiful AT hike with some of WNC’s finest views. Expect Flame azaleas and Gray’s Lilies to be in bloom. From Carver’s Gap we’ll go north to Grassy Ridge (6160 ft.), then double back south to Roan High Knob (6285 ft.) and the vista from Roan High Bluff (6287 ft.). Topo: Carvers Gap

Post Hike Report: Despite the gloomy weather forecast, 17 hikers showed up for this great hike. We picked up Ray in Weaverville and arrived at Carver's Gap in foggy 60-degree weather. The fog stayed with us until lunchtime but visibility was good enough to enjoy the blooming Catawba rhododendrons and Flame azalea, and even a dozen or so Gray's lilies which were just in the beginning of their blooming phase. We went out to Grassy Ridge Bald, decided it was too cold and windy for lunch and started back. 15 minutes later, we stopped for lunch at a less windy spot and the sun began to peek through. After our return to Carver's Gap, 10 hikers decided they had had enough fun for the day, but 8 of us pushed on to Roan High Knob and Roan High Bluff. 4 of these hikers were collecting peaks for SB6K and were happy to get three more. The new overlook at Roan High Bluff is competed and easy to reach, but the SB6Kers also enthusiastically crawled up the slippery rocks next to the overlook to find and touch the benchmark. We found a forgettable restaurant in Bakersville for supper after the hike.

While most official lightning avoidance advice relies on the shielding properties of established structures, this advice can be of little help to hikers who might be outdoors and can’t easily take shelter in the nearest vehicle or coffee shop.

If threatening storm clouds gather, or thunder sounds, and you are far away from a fully enclosed vehicle or building,

Discard metal objects (pack frame, trekking poles, umbrella) Don’t be the tallest object in the area. If you are on a mountain top, descend. Don’t lie in narrow depressions, shallow caves, or rock fractures, as they can channel currents If all else fails, assume the Lightning Desperation Position; crouching low, hands on top of your head, feet touching each other. If you hair stands up or the air “crackles” assume the Lightning Desperation Position immediately. These tips are not exhaustive, for more information visit www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov .

Do you know a person, organization or business that has made a significant impact in the hiking community this year? Now is your chance to give them the recognition they deserve. You as a member have the opportunity to nominate a deserving individual or group for these prestigious awards. There are seven awards this year and they include the: American Hiking Business Partner Award, American Hiking Trail Achievement Award, Butch Henley Award, Richard Douthit Public Service Award, Jim Kern Award, Glenn T. Seaborg National Public Leadership Award, and Bill Wilcox Award.

CMC FONTANA 2005 HIKING WEEKEND

Rev. 1.0 issued 6-20-05

In response to popular demand, CMC has scheduled a weekend hiking trip to the Lake Fontana area over the weekend of October 1-2, 2005.

We will stay in Fontana Village or nearby campgrounds on Friday and/or Saturday nights, and will hike nearby trails on Saturday and Sunday, including some in the Great Smoky Mtns. Natl. Park.

Details of the trip are:

Lodging:

Make your reservations directly with Fontana Village (1-800-849-2258), and ask for the CMC discounted rate. A block of different room and cottage types will be held for CMC until 8/1/05.

Fontana Village offers a range of accommodations. They have quoted the following rates for CMC attendees:

•hostel-type beds: (bare bed frames, no mattress, with kitchen) (approx. $15/night)

•Camp Cabins: 2BR, 1BA, with kitchen (without bed linens or kitchen utensils) ($43/night/cottage)

•Dogwood Cottage: 2BR, 1BA with kitchen (with bed linens and kitchen utensils) ($58/night/cottage)

•New Dogwood Cottage: 2BR, 1BA with kitchen (with bed linens and kitchen utensils) ($68/night/cottage)

•Laurel Cottage: 2BR, 1BA with kitchen, with bed linens, utensils, TV, air cond.) ($75/night/cottage)

Azalea Cottage: 2 or 3 BR, 2BA with kitchen, bed linens, utensils, TV/VCR, air cond. ($145/night/cottage for 3BR)

•Fontana Inn: 2 double beds ($68/night/room)

•Campground with hookup ($18/night/campsite)

•Campground w/o hookup ($13/night/campsite)

CMC will have use of the swimming pools and other Fontana Village facilities. Mountain bikes and horses are available for rental. Fontana Village has an indoor swimming pool, free for people staying at the Village. Bring your swim suit!

Please look at their website www.fontanavillage.com for more information.

Campgrounds are also available, as follows:

•Fontana Village Campground next to Little Tennessee River (see rate schedule above)

•Cable Cove Campground five miles north of Fontana Village (approx. $8 / night/campsite)

Check-in at Fontana Village:

We will have a CMC table set up in back of the Fontana Village registration counter.

This table will have sign-in sheets for each of the planned hikes (The hikes that people sign up for will be the ones hiked)

Please sign in and make your hike selections after you register.

Our central “Information Center” will be Bruce Bente’s cottage. The cabin number will be posted at the CMC table by the registration counter.

Meals:

Friday:

A number of people are going over earlier on Friday to do some early hiking and to explore the area. We will get together Friday for supper at the Fontana Village Inn restaurant. CMC invites anyone who will be at Fontana by 6 PM to join us.

Meals are available at the Fontana Village restaurant in the Lodge (breakfast $8.95; lunch $7.95, supper entree $13-15). New for 2005: The restaurant is under new management and has upgraded its menu. It also has a full liquor license to serve beer, wine and cocktails.

The Fontana Village restaurant will prepare box trail lunches for $7.95 with advance notice. If you want a box lunch, tell Bruce Bente so he can place an order with the restaurant.

Saturday:

We will make supper reservations at the restaurant in the Lodge for 7 pm Saturday night, so CMCers can eat together and exchange stories about the day’s hikes. (See note above about Friday night supper.)

For a nice Sunday night supper on the way home, the historic Jarrett House in Dillsboro is recommended. Meals are served family-style and the food is good and plentiful. Take US 74 north to the US 23 South exit, go one mile, then turn left at the first traffic light and Jarrett House is immediately to your left.

Hiking:

NOTE: This list is preliminary only and will be revised as plans progress. Check at the CMC table on Friday to learn of any additional changes.

Saturday 10/1 strenuous hike Haw Creek, Tali Gap, Little Fork. Come see the other copper mine, the one on Haw Creek. Many know of it, but few have ever been there. If time permits, we will return via the larger group of mines on Little Fork. Some moderate bushwhacking. Ferry trip across Fontana Lake.

Saturday 10/1 strenuous hike Shuckstack – Lost Cove – Lakeshore Trail loop 13 mls

This hike goes 3.5 miles north on the AT from the trailhead just over Fontana Dam, to the magnificent view of Lake Fontana and the surrounding mountains from the summit of Shuckstack. After Shuckstack, descend on Lost Cove trail and return to cars via Lakeshore Trail.

Saturday 10/1 moderate hike AT from Yellow Creek Gap to Fontana 7.5 mls

Saturday 10/1 Easier hike Twentymile loop trail from Twentymile trailhead 6.5 mls.

Sunday 10/2 10 am at Marina, returning about 4 pm Lance Holland will lead a boat excursion to the head of Hazel Creek and a hike around the abandoned townsite of Proctor and the Proctor Cemetery. Afterwards, the boat will travel to the head of Eagle Creek and will hike around the abandoned Ecoah Branch copper mine. Cost is $10. This excursion was very popular when we did it in 2003. This year there will be a limit of 35 people on the trip (25 in the big boat and 10 on a second smaller boat if needed.)

In addition, Fontana Village has 20 miles of trails around the village for those who want to hike nearby on their own. A trail map will be available at the CMC table next to the registration counter.

Transportation:

The driving time to Fontana Village from Asheville is about 2 hours via I 40 - US 23/74 - US 19/74 - NC 28. It’s all 4-lane divided highway except the last 18 miles of NC 28.

Ferry service across Lake Fontana is available from the Marina, near Fontana Dam. The 20-minute ride across to the hike trailhead will cost about $10-12 per person (round trip), depending on the number of passengers and the time of return.

The Marina opens at 8:00 am, and the last scheduled pickup for return is 3:30pm. However, they will pickup as late as 5:30pm, for an extra charge of $40/boat for overtime. (for example, if the Saturday Hazel Creek hike has 15 people, the round trip, returning at 5:30pm, will cost

$12/person.)

Misc :

For anyone wishing to learn more about the history of the Fontana area, you are invited to look at the following websites:

www.worldisround.com/articles/9485

http://aam.wcu.edu/hogue/index.html

http://aam.wcu.edu/livingston

www.ncroads.com/nc200+/nc288.htm

http://toto.lib.unca.edu/findingaids/photo/austin_brooks/default.htm

http://toto.lib.unca.edu/findingaids/photo/austin_brooks/pages/ab639b.htm