All Day Saturday & Sunday
ALL DAY No. A0904-589 Dec. 20
Shut-in Trail & Lake Powhatan loop *8:30 AM
Hike 9.6, Drive 15, 1600 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Bob Hysko, 828-645-4626, rhysko@yahoo.com
P400 *Note later start time. This loop follows the Shut-In Trail south, then descends Sleepy Gap Trail, skirts Lake Powhatan and finishes with three miles on the Bent Creek Trail with a dirt road connecting parts of the trail. Second meeting place: BRP French Broad Overlook at 8:45 AM. Topos: Asheville, Dunsmore Mtn., also NatGeo map #780 and Bent Creek Trail Map
SATURDAY NO. A0904-053 Dec. 26
East Fork Pigeon River *8:30 AM
Hike 7.5, Drive 74, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Barbara Morgan, 828-738-3395, bcmorg@hughes.net
P400 Wilderness area, limit 10, so contact leader for reservation. A stroll along one of WNC's most beautiful streams, the East Fork of the Pigeon River, which is often spectacular in the winter. We will ascend to Dark Prong for lunch and then return. Second meeting place: Big East parking area on US 276, north of BRP at 9:15 AM Topo: Shining Rock; also NatGeo map #780
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Half Day Sunday
HALF-DAY NO. H0904-102 Dec. 20
Coontree Loop *12:30 PM
Hike 3.7, Drive 65, 1200 ft ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Lee Belknap, 828-698-9394, rivergypsy@sprintmail.com
P400 *Note early start time. Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Ranger Station on US 276 at 1:10 PM. This loop hike is partially along a lovely creek, with views on Coontree Mountain ridge. Some steep areas.
HALF-DAY No. H0904-499 Dec. 27
French Broad River Greenway 1:30 PM
Hike 3.5, Drive 5, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Paula Robbins, 828-281-3253, paularww@bellsouth.net
Get a little exercise and work off those holiday treats while viewing Asheville’s newest greenway. We will walk 3.5 miles from the Hominy Creek Park to the old French Broad River Park. Short car shuttle.
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WEDNESDAY NO. W0904-345 Dec. 23
Seven Gaps and Seven Knobs *9:30 AM
Hike 6.5, Drive 25, 1100 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Marcia Bromberg, 828-505-0471, mwbromberg@yahoo.com
P400 *The only meeting place will be the Ingles parking lot on NC 191 across from Biltmore Shopping Center. A gentle winter hike along the “rim” of Bent Creek over seven knobs and seven gaps. Car shuttle.
WEDNESDAY NO. W0904-652 Dec. 30
Devil Fork Gap to Rocky Fork Rd. *9:00 AM
Hike 7, Drive 80, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Don Walton, 828-654-9904, donwalton@bellsouth.net
*Be prepared for possible wet stream crossings. This hike ventures into the new Rocky Fork Tract purchase of 10,000 acres near Flag Pond, TN. The first three miles of this hike is on the AT to Flint Gap Shelter and on to Flint Gap and the entry into the Rocky Fork Tract. This route is also the path of a surprise attack on an Indian Camp in the early 1800’s. Car shuttle. Topo: Flag Pond
Reports for Wednesday hikes during the eNews publication week will appear in the following eNews--The 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 appears in the hike description.
Driving mileage is round trip, based on the first designated meeting place. Meet at Westgate unless otherwise noted.
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