All Day  Saturday & Sunday

ALL DAY NO. A0901-332 March 8
Foothills Trail: Upper and Lower Whitewater Falls *8:30 AM
(strenuous)
Hike 11.6, Drive 115, 1600 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Charlie Ferguson, 828-778-2431, ccf108@gmail.com
*NOTE: First day of Daylight Savings time. The later start time turns out to be earlier due to DST. Come to hike in the warm weather at the lower elevations! We’ll hike part of the Foothills Trail in NC and SC, featuring two of the region’s most stunning waterfalls. We will begin at the Upper Whitewater Falls parking lot, and hike to the footbridge over the Thompson River. We’ll partially retrace our steps, then take the side trail to Lower Whitewater Falls, and finish at the Duke Power Co. Bad Creek parking lot. Short car shuttle. Second meeting place: Bi-Lo in Pisgah Forest at 9:00 AM. Topos: Reid, Cashiers; also Foothills Trail map

SATURDAY NO. A0901-256 March 14
Moore Cove Figure-8 Loop *10:00 AM
Hike 7, Drive 70, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Jan Onan, 828-698-3237, janonan@bellsouth.net
P400 This moderate double-loop trail follows two old USFS paths. There are a couple of short steep sections and two minor creek crossings. There is a good view of Looking Glass Rock from near Bennett Gap, and other views visible only in the winter. *Meet at Westgate at 10:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at the Pisgah Ranger Station on US 276 at 10:40 AM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

ALL DAY NO. A0901-056 March 15
Black Mountain Ramble 8:00 AM
Hike 9.4, Drive 60, 2800 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Michael & Kathy Cornn, 828-698-3672, mcornn@aol.com
P400 This great winter hike starts at Turkey Pen parking area, then over Sharpy Mtn. and around Black Mtn., ending at the Pisgah Maintenance parking lot. A long uphill, but with good views from our lunch spot at Black Mtn. Second Meeting place: Intersection of NC 280 and Turkey Pen Rd. at 8:30 AM. Car shuttle. Topo: Pisgah Forest; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

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Half Day Sunday Hikes

HALF-DAY NO. H0901-485 Mar. 8
Old U.S. 70 and the Railroad *1:00 PM
Hike 5, Drive 60, 1300 ft ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Gail Lamb, 828-350-0450, galmb46@bellsouth.net
*Note early start time. We will walk up on old old U.S. 70, now blocked off from traffic, to Swannanoa Gap. We will enjoy a view of the valley, railroad and tunnel featured in “The Road” by John Ehle, a book about building the railroad up to Swannanoa Gap. Second meeting place: Parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s at Exit 64 of I-40 at 1:20 PM. Topos: Old Fort, Black Mountain.

HALF-DAY NO. H0901-639 Mar. 15
Pretty Place from the North Carolina side *1:00 PM
Hike 6, Drive 60, 600 ft ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@bellsouth.net.
*Note early start time. We have obtained permission to hike on land that has been protected by a conservation easement. We will drive up a rough road (high clearance vehicles preferred), ford a stream by car, and then hike up old forest roads to enjoy the beautiful view from Pretty Place, and then return via the same route. Topo: Standingstone Mtn.

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All Day Wednesday

WEDNESDAY NO. W0901-076 Mar. 11
Craggy to Little Snowball 8:30 AM
Hike 7.2, Drive 70, 2630 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA
Don Walton, 828-654-9904, donwalton@bellsouth.net.
(rescheduled from October) From Bee Tree Gap at Craggy Gardens, we’ll go 135 feet on MST South, then get on Snowball trail over high rocks (Hawkbill Mtn.) to Little Snowball tower site for great views. We’ll return on the same route. Second meeting place: Bee Tree Gap at 9:00 AM. Topo: Craggy Pinnacle; also USFS South Toe River, Mt. Mitchell & Big Ivy Trail Map

WEDNESDAY NO. W0901-400 Mar. 18
Ferrin Knob via Spencer Branch *8:30 AM
Hike 9, Drive 50, 2200 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA
Ruth Hartzler, 828-251-0886, ruthmtn@charter.net
P400 We will ascend on the Fletcher Creek and Spencer Branch Trails, to our lunch spot atop 4060 ft. Ferrin Knob, the former site of a fire tower. Return via the MST and the Trace Ridge Trail. Second meeting place: North Mills Recreation parking lot at 9:05 AM, but call leader first. Topo: Dunsmore Mtn.; also Natl. Geo PRD map #780

Reports for Wednesday hikes during the eNews publication week will appear in the next issue--Editor

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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.