All Day  Saturday & Sunday

SATURDAY NO. A0904-669 Oct. 24
MST: Buckeye Gap to NC 215 8:00 AM
Hike 9, Drive 80, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated A-B
Paul Dickens, 828-476-0010, psdicken@charter.net
Starting at Buckeye Gap, we’ll hike the MST to NC 215, with a side trip out Fork Ridge past Green Knob to overlooks of Middle Prong, Cold Mtn. and Shining Rock. Wilderness area limited to ten hikers--Call leader for reservation. Car shuttle. Second meeting place: BRP Cold Mtn. Overlook at M.P. 412 at 8:40 AM. Topo: Sam Knob; also NatGeo map #780  Deer and Bear hunting season - hike in groups and wear bright orange.

ALL DAY NO. A0904-487 Oct. 25
Bent Creek Loop #9 *9:00 AM
Hike 9, Drive 20, 1600 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Lenny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, lsberns@worldnet.att.net
P400 *Note later start time. This will be a moderate hike around Bent Creek, starting at the Hardtimes trailhead and scheduled when leaf colors should be at their peak. A great close-in hike suitable for everyone. Topos: Dunsmore Mtn. , Skyland; also NatGeo map #780

ALL DAY NO. A0904-670 Nov. 1
Goshen Prong / Huskey Gap *7:30 AM
(strenuous)
Hike 15, Drive 220, 4700 ft. descent, 800 ft. ascent, Rated AA-B
Janet Martin, 502-494-9309, jaykaymartin@msn.com
900M *Note earlier start time, and that this is the first day of EST*. From Clingman's Dome, we’ll follow the AT along a narrow ridge to access Goshen Prong Trail, which has a steep, rocky descent for its first mile. The steep descent will continue until Camp #23 at 3300 ft. The trail continues downhill to the Little River Trail, which we’ll follow for a mile to Huskey Gap Trail. The significant drop of elevation on this hike will highlight the several zones of biodiversity in the park. Second meeting place: Phone leader. Topos: Clingmans Dome, Silers Bald, Gatlinburg; also NatGeo map #229

Scout Report: These maintained trails are in good condition. If the ground cover is wet, slippery leaves will slow our descent on the top section of Goshen Prong. The pace on the lower section and Huskey will be quicker.  It will be cold at the start of the hike. If we have misty fog and wind, it will be frigid at the beginning and along the AT--be prepared with gloves and headgear. Due to steepness in some sections and possibility of occasional ice in depressions on trail, hiking poles are recommended. The views can be great and overall this is a lovely walk thru the woods. The contrast in the vegetation between the top and bottom sections tells its own story..  Janet

ALL DAY NO. A0904-273 Nov. 1
Boogerman Trail *8:30 AM
(moderate)
Hike 7.5, Drive 90, 1100 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Danny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, danny@hikertohiker.com
900M *Note later start time, and that this is the first day of EST. A lush forest with giant old-growth trees, stone walls and a root cellar make this a favorite loop hike in the Cataloochee area of the Smokies. We’ll cross Caldwell Fork ten times on bridges. Second meeting place: Pilot truck stop at Exit 24 off I-40 at 9:00 AM. Topos: Cove Creek Gap, Dellwood; also NatGeo map #229

After the hike, we'll drive further down into the Cataloochee Valley and maybe the elk will still be actively in the rut (mating season).

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Half Day Sunday Hikes

HALF-DAY NO. H0904-666 Oct. 25
Pink Beds – Barnett Branch - Cradle of Forestry Loop *12:30 PM
Hike 5.6, Drive 90, 550 ft ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Ashok Kudva, 828-698-7119, ashok.kudva@gmail.com
P400 *Note early start time. Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at the Pisgah Ranger Station at 1:10 PM. From the left branch of Pink Beds Loop Trail we will go over the Barnett Branch Boardwalk, built by the CMC Friday Pisgah Crew last fall. After climbing over the Barnett Branch Trail and Soapstone Ridge around Rich Mountain, we will descend on a forest service road to the Cradle of Forestry. We will visit a logging machine, a logging locomotive and logging history placards before returning to the cars.

HALF-DAY NO. H0904-062 Nov. 1
Daniel Ridge Loop Trail *12:15 PM
Hike 4, Drive 70, 800 ft ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Bobbi Powers, 828-667-5419, bobbip@netzero.net
P400 *Note early start time. Meet at 12:15 PM at Westgate to form carpools, and meet leader at Fish Hatchery parking lot at 1:00 PM. This moderate loop hike has lots to “C”: fall Color, Creeks, Chasms, and a Cool Cascade finale.

All Day Wednesday Hikes

WEDNESDAY NO. W0904-397 Oct. 28
Bad Fork - Chestnut Cove Overlook 8:30 AM
Hike 9.5, Drive 80, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated A-B
Stuart English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@citcom.net
P400 This in-and-out hike begins at the Trace Ridge Trailhead. We will hike up Bad Fork to the BRP (a steep 700 ft. ascent) to Bent Creek Gap, and then follow the MST to the Chestnut Cove Overlook to enjoy a beautiful view during lunch. Second meeting place: Trace Ridge trailhead at 9:00 AM. Topo: Dunsmore Mtn,; also NatGeo map #780 and MST profiles, pgs. 55-56  Deer & Bear hunting season - hike in groups and wear bright orange.

WEDNESDAY NO. W0904-276 Nov. 4
Street Gap to Big Bald 8:30 AM
Hike 9, Drive 80, 2300 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA
Paula Massey, 828 299-0226 massey.paula@gmail.com
In-and-out hike on the Appalachian Trail, heading north. We will have panoramic views of the Blacks, Smokies and other ranges in WNC and TN. once we reach Big Bald as well as the Wolf Laurel area enroute. Topos: Sams Gap, Bald Creek  Deer & Bear hunting season - hike in groups and wear bright orange.

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Hike and Scouting 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 appears in the hike description. The driving mileage is round-trip based on the first designated meeting place. Meet at Westgate unless otherwise noted.