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All Day  Saturday & Sunday

SATURDAY No. A1004-427 Oct. 30
Soapstone Ridge 8:30 AM
Hike 10, 1200 ft. ascent, Drive 90, Rated A-B
Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary.avl@gmail.com
P400 We will begin at the gauging station and follow a mild bushwhack up Soapstone Ridge to the Black Mountain Trail which we’ll follow to our lunch spot at Buckhorn Gap Shelter. We’ll then take the Buckhorn Gap trail down to the S. Mills River trail and back to our cars. Second Meeting Place: Pisgah Ranger Station at 9:05 AM. Topos: Pisgah Forest, Shining Rock; also NatGeo. map #780

SUNDAY NO. A1004-709 Oct. 31
Hawksbill & Tablerock Mtns. 8:30 AM
(Bernard Elias Favorite Hikes series #8)
Hike 5, 2060 ft. ascent, Drive 140, Rated C-AA
Ted Snyder, 864-638-3686, tedsnyderjr@bellsouth.net
This Linville Gorge hike will consist of two steep and strenuous ascents and descents (caution!), with spectacular views from exposed rock pinnacles. We will first climb Hawksbill on the Hawksbill Trail, then descend to our cars and drive to the Spence Ridge trailhead, where we will do a loop hike up and down Tablerock Mountain on the Spence Ridge and Little Tablerock trails and the MST. Wilderness area, limit 10, so contact leader for reservation. Second meeting place, if needed: Ingles parking lot off Exit 64 of I-40 at 8:50 AM. Topo: Linville Falls; also NatGeo map #779

SUNDAY NO. A1004-710 Nov. 7
Celo Knob from Cattail Creek *7:00 AM EST
(strenuous)
Hike 9, 2100 ft. ascent, Drive 90, Rated A-AA
Jake Blood, 828-678-0755, thebloods@hotmail.com and
John Whitehouse, 828-682-3217, johnwhitehouse@verizon.net
SB6K * Note change to EST today. Meet at Westgate at 7:00 AM EST (8:00 AM EDT) to form carpools, and meet leaders at the Cattail Community Center on Cattail Creek Rd. 2.2 miles from NC 197 at 8:00 AM EST. This new CMC in-and-out hike begins and ends at the cabin of one of the hike leaders on the west side of the Black Mtn. range. It first ascends from 4200 to 5700 ft. on an old logging railroad right-of-way. Lunch at the abandoned Isom mica mine with spectacular views of the Blacks and the upper Cane River valley. The hike continues up a locally known trail, “Grace’s Ladder”, to the top of Celo Knob at 6327 feet. Return to the cabin for drinks and supper (limited to 14 hikers--RSVP by e-mail to johnwhitehouse@verizon.net.) Topo: Mt. Mitchell; also NatGeo map #779

SUNDAY NO. A1004-711 Nov. 7
Asheville MST East *9:00 AM EST
(moderate)
Hike 8.3, 1200 ft. ascent, Drive 15, Rated B-B
Marianne Newman, 828-257-2136, marianneln@att.net
This pleasant hike along the MST around the eastern end of Asheville will start at the Folk Art Center and end at US 25. Car shuttle. *Note change to EST today. Only meeting place: back parking lot of the Folk Art Center. Topos: Asheville, Oteen; also MST Trail Profiles, pg. 50 - 53

SATURDAY NO. A1004-712 Nov. 13
Purchase Knob – Hemphill Bald 10:00 AM
Hike 7.5, 1500 ft. ascent, Drive 80, Rated B-B
Kathy Skerl, 828-254-4827, kmskerl@bellsouth.net
900M This new CMC hike will begin below Purchase Knob, climb up the Ferguson Cabin Trail to the Cataloochee Divide Trail, then follow the ridgeline to Hemphill Bald. Possible visit to GSMNP Science Center. Visit a historic cabin and enjoy spectacular views. Topo: Dellwood; also NatGeo map #317

SUNDAY NO. A1004-671 Nov. 14
Raven Cliff Falls – Naturaland Trust *8:00 AM
Hike 12, 2000 ft. ascent, Drive 100, Rated A-AA
Jeff McGurk, cell: 864-921-6469, jbsbestfan@hotmail.com
*Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, stop at Bi-Lo in Pisgah Forest at 8:35 AM to meet more hikers, and meet leader at Caesar’s Head S.P. Visitor Center at 9:00 AM. This new hike in Caesar’s Head State Park will go from US 276 to Raven Cliff Falls, then double back and follow the Naturaland Trust trails back to US 276 near the Visitors Center. There will be a cable crossing of Matthews Creek. Short car shuttle. Topos: Table Rock, Cleveland; also Mtn. Bridge Wilderness Area map

SUNDAY NO. A1004-051 Nov. 21
Hickey Fork / Whiteoaks Flats / Pounding Mill *9:00 AM
(moderate)
Hike 8, 1900 ft. ascent, Drive 85, Rated B-A
Tish Desjardins, 828-656-2191, desraylet@aol.com
*Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at US25/NC208 intersection at 9:45 AM. After the hike there will be a potluck supper in the nearby Bear River Community Lodge. Hikers are requested to contribute food for the supper. Food will be taken to a refrigerator before the hike. Please phone the leader to coordinate what food to bring. We are scheduling this hike for the third time this year in the hopes that the “third time’s the charm”. .Starting at the splendid new footbridge over Hickey Fork, we’ll do a nice loop hike using three different trails and finishing on the newly and heavily rebuilt Hickey Fork Rd. Topos: White Rock, Greystone; also NatGeo map #782

SATURDAY NO. A1004-479 Nov. 27
Kagle Mtn. *8:30 AM
Hike 9, 1100 ft. ascent, Drive 80, Rated B-B
Charlie Ferguson, 828-625-2677 (cell: 828-778-2431), ccf108@gmail.com
P400 *Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at Pisgah Forest Bi-Lo at 9:05 AM. This loop hike will start from Cathey’s Creek Rd. and follow an overgrown forest road to the Art Loeb Trail, with lunch at the Butter Gap shelter. We’ll return via a no-name trail for variety. Nice views. Topos: Rosman, Shining Rock; also NatGeo map #780

SUNDAY No. A1004-373 Nov. 28
Yellow Mountain *8:00 AM
Hike 10, 2900 ft. ascent, Drive 125, Rated A-AA
Brent Martin, 828-587-9453 (cell: 828-371-0347), brent_martin@tws.org
*Hikers must contact leader beforehand to register. Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at Franklin Bi-Lo at 9:30 AM. Get off US 441 bypass at US 64 Exit and go towards Franklin—Bi-Lo is on left side. We’ll hike in the Cowee Mtns on a heavily forested high altitude trail that ascends four peaks going in and three on the way back. Views from the Yellow Mtn. observation tower are great – a fine lunch spot. Strenuous but rewarding. A stop will be made at the rest area beyond Waynesville at 8:30 AM. Topos: Highlands, Glenville; also NatGeo map #785

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Half Day Sunday

HALF DAY NO. H1004-349 Oct. 31
Pisgah Inn to US 276 12:30 PM
Hike 6.6 miles, Drive 50, 800 ft ascent, Rated B-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary.avl@gmail.com
Moderate downhill for 5 miles with views into Pink Beds area and then 800 foot ascent over 1.6 miles to US 276. Option afterwards of snacking at Pisgah Inn. Car shuttle. Second meeting place: parking area of Pisgah Inn, near convenience store, at 1:00 PM.

HALF-DAY No. H1004-035 Nov. 7
Looking Glass Rock *11:00 AM
Hike 6, Drive 70, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Nonmembers, call leader, Kathleen Hudson, 828-698-5208 (cell: 828-329-6939), mstish1325@gmail.com
P400 *Meet at Westgate at 11:00 AM to form car pools, and meet hike leader at the Pisgah Forest Bi-Lo at 11:35 AM. A moderately difficult well-graded trail leads to the top of this mountain with beautiful views along the way. In-and-out hike.

HALF-DAY NO. H1004-434 Nov. 14
Laurel Mountain Trail *12:30 PM
Hike 5.4, Drive 40, 950 ft ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703, greggoodman@bellsouth.net
P400 *Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at the North Mills River parking area at 1:00 PM. This loop hike will start at FS 1206, go along a ridge trail toward Black Mountain, and return via the Laurel Mountain Trail. There should be good views of the Mills River Valley.

HALF-DAY NO. H1004-295 Nov. 21
Lover's Leap/Pump Gap Loop 12:30 PM
Hike 5, Drive 80, 1200 ft, ascent, Rated C-B
Nonmembers, call leader, Marcia Bromberg, 828-505-0471, mwbromberg@yahoo.com
This loop begins on the AT with a climb up to Lover's Leap where we'll stop to enjoy the view. We'll stay on the AT until the intersection with the Pump Gap Trail, which will bring us back to our starting point. Second meeting place: Roses parking lot in Weaverville at 12:50 PM

HALF-DAY NO. H1004-707 Nov. 28
MST - Craven Gap to Haw Creek Overlook *12:30 PM
Hike 5.5, Drive 10, 700 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Nonmembers, call leader, Jorge Munoz, 828-658-0606, jorgemunoz1927@hotmail.com
*Only meeting place: back parking lot of Folk Art Center. This is a delightful in-and-out hike along the MST from Craven Gap to Haw Creek Overlook where we shall enjoy beautiful views of the valley.

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All Day Wednesday

WEDNESDAY NO. W1004-367 Nov. 3
Art Loeb, Grassy Ridge to Bridges Camp Gap *8:30 AM
Hike 8.5, 1650 ft. ascent, Drive 65, Rated B-A
Laura Frisbie, 828-337-5845, laurafrisbie@charter.net
P400, SB6K, WC100 *First meeting place at Ingles across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191.. Hike ALT to Black Balsam (6214 ft.) and Tennent Mtn. (6040 ft.), then descend to Ivestor Gap and hike down Grassy Cove Ridge to Big East Fork of Pigeon River. Two stream crossings, one or both of which will be wet, then up Bridges Camp Trail to MST and Bridges Camp Gap. Second meeting place: BRP Cold Mtn. Overlook at 9:00 AM. Car shuttle. Wilderness area hike, limit ten, so contact hike leader for reservation. Car Shuttle. Topo: Shining Rock; Nat Geo map #780

WEDNESDAY NO. W1004-213 Nov 10
Pinnacle, Rocky Knob and Graybeard from BRP *8:30 AM
Hike 6, 2000 ft. ascent, Drive 65, Rated B-A
Lee Silver, 828 668-7147 (cell: 828 442-6549), mhsrunning@yahoo.com
*First meeting place: back parking lot of Folk Art Center. Great views and side trip to Walker’s Knob a possible addition. Second meeting place: Craven Gap at 8:45 AM. Topos: Mt Mitchell and Montreat

WEDNESDAY NO. W1004-008 Nov 17
Bee Tree Gap to Ox Creek Rd 8:30 AM
Hike 7.9, 1500 ft. ascent, Drive 30, Rated B-B
Joe Burchfield, 828-298-8413, Burchfield@niu.edu
A moderate hike on the MST over Lane Pinnacle and past the Rattlesnake Lodge site. There are several steep but short ups and downs and a long descent. Car shuttle. Second meeting place: Craven Gap at 8:45 AM. Topo: Craggy Pinnacle; also new MST Profiles, Pg. 58-59

WEDNESDAY NO. W1004-627 Nov 17
Montreat Ridges and Greybeard *8:30 AM
Hike 9.5, 3200 ft, ascent, Drive 30, Rated A-AA
Ames Tryon, 828-669-3805 (cell: 828-335-6044), tryonaf@charter.net
*Form carpools at Westgate, and meet leader at Ingles parking lot off Exit 64 of I-40 at 8:50 AM. From Big Piney parking area on Greybeard, ascend to the East Ridge Trail via Rocky Head and follow old Trestle Rd to Greybeard and descend to Montreat via the West Ridge and Big Piney Trail. Great views! Topo: Montreat; also Montreat Trail Map

WEDNESDAY NO. W1004-295 Nov 24
Pump Gap Loop 9:00AM
Hike 7, 1500 ft ascent, Drive 80, Rated B-B
Stuart English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@comporium.net
From Silvermine parking area, we will ascend to the AT, go to Lover’s Leap and return down to French Broad River, Hot Springs and our cars. Topo: Hot Springs, also NatGeo map #782

Email your hike reports to Dave Wetmore.The deadline for reports is 9:00 p.m. on the Tuesdays before an eNews comes out. 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.