All Day  Saturday & Sunday

SATURDAY NO. A1001-679 Feb. 13
Elk Pasture Gap - Mt. Pisgah via MST 10:00 AM
Hike 7, Drive 45, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Paul Dickens, 828-476-0010, psdicken@charter.net
P400 We will hike the MST from the NC 151 / BRP junction to Buck Springs Gap, then up to the summit of Mt. Pisgah. Our return will be on the closed Blue Ridge Parkway. Pack for wind and cold. Trip is dependent on weather and ability to reach the top of NC 151 by car. If heavy snow or ice occur during the preceding week or if a storm is forecast for the hike day, an alternate hike will be chosen. Topo: Dunsmore Mtn.

SUNDAY NO. A1001-592 Feb. 14
ALT – Butter Gap - Long Branch Loop 8:00 AM
Hike 10, Drive 80, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Stu English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@citcom.net
P400 *Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at the side parking lot of the Pisgah Forest Bi-Lo at 8:30 AM. This hike will start at Gloucester Gap and follow the Art Loeb Trail over Chestnut Mtn. to Butter Gap. At the gap, we’ll turn downhill onto the Butter Gap Trail, then the Long Branch Trail and Cemetery Loop past the McCall Cemetery . There will be a short side trip to a beautiful, but rarely visited waterfall. We’ll finish with a short road walk back to the trailhead. Topo: Shining Rock; also NatGeo map #780

SATURDAY NO. A1001-019 Feb. 20  (Rescheduled from January 30)
Winter Plant ID hike 9:00 AM
Hike 8, Drive 20, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Becky Smucker, 828-298-5013, bjsmucker@gmail.com
P400 This moderate-paced hike is designed for identification of plants in the winter. Bring magnifying glasses if you have them. We’ll hike the MST between the French Broad River Overlook and a little beyond Walnut Cove, stopping often to look at various plants along the way. Limited to 12 people; contact leader for reservation. Topo: Skyland; also NatGeo map #780 and MST Profiles book, pg. 57

SUNDAY NO. A1002-558 Feb. 21
Round Top Ridge Trail to Rich Mtn., AT to Hot Springs 8:00 AM
Hike 11.7, Drive 70, 3000 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Paul Benson, 828-251-1909, pdbenson@charter.net
From Hot Springs we climb to the lookout tower on the summit of Rich Mountain via the Round Top Ridge Trail, then descend on the AT through Tanyard Gap, Pump Gap and Lovers' Leap Ridge back to Hot Springs. An option to enjoy a relaxing post-hike soak in the natural hot spring waters is offered. If interested contact the leader by Feb. 17 for reservations. Topo: Hot Springs

SATURDAY NO. A1001-680 Feb. 27
Lost Cove in Tennessee 8:00 AM
Hike 8, Drive 90, 2200 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA
Les and Catherine Love, 828-658-1489, lesrlove@charter.net
On this new CMC hike, we’ll explore the old settlement near the banks of the Nolichucky River that still has three houses standing and old cars in the yard. Optional supper at Farmer’s Daughter in Chuckey. Second meeting place: Rose’s in Weaverville at 8:15 AM, but call leader first. Topos: Huntdale, Chestoa; also NatGeo map #783

SUNDAY NO. A1001-502 Feb. 28
Deep Creek – Sunkota Ridge 8:00 AM
Hike 13, Drive 135, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated AA-A
Bob Hysko, 828-243-3630, rhysko@yahoo.com
900M We will hike alongside Deep Creek, one of the beautiful streams on the east side of the Smokies, and then climb up to and down Sunkota Ridge, which will have good winter views. Second meeting place: Rest area beyond Waynesville on US 23/74 at 8:30 AM. Topos: Bryson City, Clingman’s Dome; also NatGeo map #229

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Half Day Sunday

HALF-DAY NO. H1001-295 Feb. 14
Lover’s Leap/Pump Gap Loop 12:30 PM
Hike 4.6 miles, Drive 70, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Marcia Bromberg, 828-505-0471, mwbromberg@yahoo.com
(If you are coming from Weaverville, call hike leader about possible second meeting place). Beginning at the NOC parking lot on the French Broad River, hike the Appalachian Trail to Lover’s Leap and views of the river and mountains beyond Hot Springs, then continue to intersection with Pump Gap Trail. Return to starting point via Pump Gap Trail and Silvermine Road.

HALF-DAY NO. H1001-687 Feb. 21
Chambers Mountain 1:30 PM
Hike 5, Drive 50, Rated C-A
Nonmembers, call leader, Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@bellsouth.net
LTC We shall hike up an old Jeep road to the tower on this prominent peak near Clyde. On a clear day, expect some of the best views in western North Carolina. Topo: Clyde

HALF-DAY NO. H1001-015  Feb. 28
MST - Rt 74A to Rt 25     1:00 PM
Hike 4.6, Drive 16, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary.avl@gmail.com
An easy hike along the MST along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville. This hike is a change from the description in Lets Go because of the closing of the BRP.  It is one that everyone in Asheville should know for a short, moderate  and quickly accessible leg-stretcher.  We will begin at US 74A and follow a pleasant stretch of the MST and finish at US 25 .   Second Meeting Place: Junction of Rt 74A and the Parkway, on the Parkway 1:15 PM

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All Day Wednesday

WEDNESDAY NO. W1001-041 Feb. 10
Sugar Cove Rd to Mackey Mountain 8:30 AM
Hike 11.5, Drive 87, 2900 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Ames Tryon, 828-669-3805, tryonaf@charter.net
Take Sugar Cove Creek trail to Mackey Mountain Trail and then on Mackey Mountain Trail to Mackey Mountain and return the same way. Second meeting place: Ingles parking lot at Exit 64 of I-40 at 8:50 AM. Topo: Old Fort; also NatGeo map #779

Scout Report:  Ames, Jeanie and I scouted this on Nov. 24.  The weather was cool but pleasant the whole day, with sunshine in the morning.  On the way up there were some nice views through the trees and under the clouds.  As we got closer to the top the clouds started closing in on the mountain top so we didn't see much when we got near the top.  We stopped for lunch about a half mile from the top and decided to head back down.  This hike is quite strenuous due to 3 or 4 steep but not too long climbs.  By February the dry leaves should be packed down and not be slippery.  The first 1,500 feet of climbing is even and gradual over 3 miles.  The total ascent is about 3,100 feet.  Most of the trails are in pretty good condition but long pants are recommended.  I put a new map in the hike database page.--Charlie Ferguson

WEDNESDAY NO. W1001-504 Feb. 17
Lane Pinnacle from Bull Gap 8:30 AM
Hike 10, Drive 30, 2900 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Bob Hysko, 828-243-3630, rhysko@yahoo.com
This will be a challenging winter hike on the MST, past the Rattlesnake Lodge site, and up to good views from our lunch stop at Lane Pinnacle. Due to the substantial altitude change, we may find snow at the higher end. Second meeting place: Bull Gap at 9:00 AM. Topo: Craggy Pinnacle; also MST Profile book pg. 63-64

WEDNESDAY NO. W1001-304 Feb. 24
Shut In Trail to Garenflo Gap to Hot Springs *8:30 AM
Hike 8.6, Drive 90, 2100 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA
Tish Dejardins, 828-656-2191, desraylet@aol.com
*Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at junction of US 25 and NC 208 at 9:15 AM. We’ll start by hiking up the East Fork Shut-in Creek trail to the AT, doing 16 stream crossings and then a pleasant AT hike down Deer Park Mtn. Possible brief wet feet depending on stream level. 5 mile car shuttle. Topo: Lemon Gap, Spring Creek, Hot Springs; also NatGeo map #782

WEDNESDAY NO. W1001-335 Mar. 3
Green Ridge and Fork Ridge Trail on the AT 8:30 AM
Hike 10.5, Drive 90, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Brent Martin, 828-369-7084, brent_martin@tws.org
This strenuous hike in the Shelton Laurel-Carmen area climbs alongside Dry Creek with an attractive waterfall. You will be surrounded by beautiful woods and mountains while you climb up to the AT. On the AT, we will see the Shelton gravesites, the views from Big Butt and maybe a few early AT thru-hikers. After lunch at Jerry Cabin Shelter, we'll descend via the Fork Ridge Trail. Second meeting place: Jct US 25/70 & NC 208 at 9:15 AM. Topo: Greystone, Flag Pond; NatGeo map #782

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.