Multi-Club Meet at Sherando Carolina Mountain Club Lake Recreation Area P.O. Box 68 Hosted by the Natural Bridge Appalachian Asheville, NC 28802 Club (NBATAC) the September THIRD QUARTER 2005 Multi-Club Conference for the AT C Southern Region will be held at Sherando Return Service Requested Quarterly News Bulletin Lake, VA -USFS Recreation Area over the Labor Day weekend, September 2-5, 2005. and Hike Schedule Sherando is located on the west side of the Blue Ridge and has easy access fro m P.O. Box 68, Asheville, NC 28802 • www. c a ro l i n a m t n c l u b . o rg • e-mail: cmcinfo @ c a ro l i n a m t n c l u b . o rg Interstate 81 near Staunton, Virginia, and the . For those serious hikers, there are many FONTANA SUCCESS hikes planned for Saturday and Sunday both on the AT and side trail areas. They will OF 2003 PROMPTS range from all day hikes to ? day easy hikes REPEAT with NBATC members as guides. There are many easy scenic hike areas on the Blue Two years ago, 50 CMCers' spent a Ridge Parkway (Humpback Rocks, etc.) that relaxing September weekend at are available for small children. Fontana Village, NC, hiking nearby The host club says it intends to make it in the Smokies and enjoying a an enjoyable weekend for every o n e . NE X T C M C C OUNC IL ME ET ING Dinners, entertainment hikes and tours are When: July 12, 2005 boat trip and tour of an abandoned planned for participants on Saturday & Where: Earth Fare Meeting Room, Westgate Shopping Center town and the old Eagle Creek copper Sunday. Detailed sign-up information will Time: 6:00 PM m i n e . We plan to schedule a similar be provided to each Club by early June and Meal: Earth Fare has tasty cafeteria-type food service available adjacent to the meeting trip this year. So set aside the week- anyone needing general information before room, but please let Gerry McNabb know if you plan to attend so that we can set a chair for you. Call him at 828-274-0057. All CMC members are welcome to attend. end of Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 to join us. then can contact the NBATC at our website Additional information will be posted SAVE THE DATE!!! w w w. n b a t c . o rg or e-mail [email protected]. THE PRESIDENT’S CORNER Further in the future in the eNewsletter as This Yea r ’s Annual Dinner and information is available Meeting will be at 6:00 p.m. on ou will notice this plans develop. Please contact Bru c e issue of the Let’s Go at www.carolinamtnclub.org Bente at [email protected] or Friday, November 11 at The Chariot Y MOUNTAINEERING INFORMATION many trail maintenance efforts. Contact a Club is now eight page s Consult the trip leader for additional information about regulations officer for details 828-692-0116 for any questions or sug- in Hendersonville. Full details in the instead of six. This is a regarding a particular hike. Hikes may be cancelled due to gestions that you have about this trip. next issue of Let’s Go. test in re s p o n se to a CAROLINA MOUNTAIN CLUB OFFICERS adverse weather or dangerous road and trail conditions. Please call hike probable recommenda- Gerry McNabb–274-0057 President leader if weather conditions are questionable. Lenny Bernstein–236-0192 Vice President tion of the Communi- Visitors are cordially welcome but should select trips within their Dave Wetmore–884-7296 Secretary cations Task Force. Early endurance. When reservations are required as listed in the hike sched- CMC WANTS YOU!! Carroll Koepplinger–667-0723 Treasurer implementation of this change will give us all ule, the leader must be called to reserve a space. Hikers will carpool Don Walton–654-9904 Immediate Past President CALL FOR 2005 CMC NOMINATING COMMITTEE a chance to see how it works. With the advent from the meeting places to trailheads and back. Passengers are expected Council Members: Les Love–658-1489, Misha Lazer–259-9729, to contribute 5 cents per mile towards the driver's operating expenses. CA N D I D A T E S A N D 2 0 0 6 CMC COUNCIL NOMINATIONS of the internet as a communications tool, and Ruth Hartzler–251-0886, Piet Bodenhorst–298-8371, the development of our web page, the club CLOTHING & EQUIPMENT, ETC. Bruce Bente–692-0116, Stuart Tauber–254-0824. This is your opportunity to get involved in become either a member of the finds itself in strange new territory when it Footwear comes first. Never start a mountain trip in brand new footwear. Quarterly Council meetings are open to all Club members. Call any your club's leadership. Applications are Nominating Committee or, serve on the comes to re l ating our news to members. Hiking boots are recommended. Clothing of any substantial type will do. Council member for date, time and place. now being accepted for the 2005 Council as a councilor or as an officer of Some say we could save lots of money by Carry a sweater, even in summer, and some kind of rain wear. THE : The Carolina Mountain Club is a member Nominating Committee, and for officer the club. Don’t forget CMC WA N T S Equipment for all-day trips should be a lunch, plenty of water, first e l i m i n ating Let’s Go, but the Council has of the Appalachian Trail Conference, PO. Box 807, Harpers Ferry, West and council positions for the 2006 CMC YOU to get involved, and become a part of aid kit, cellphone if available and personal medication including allergy vetoed that… and properly so. All members, Virginia 25245 Telephone (304) 535-6331. medication. Council. Serving on the Nominating your club’s leadership. Applications are due regardless of their internet connectedness, RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFETY Committee is one of the most important to [email protected] by June should have access to the news of the club. CLUB TRIP REGULAT I O N S : Both members and visitors are expected to Each CMC member, guest or non-member hiker agrees to accept responsibilities within the club. You partic- 30, 2005. Call Don Walton, 654-9904 to Printed newsletters and hike schedules still abide absolutely by club regulations and by instructions of the leader. personal responsibility for his or her safety and the safety of minors ipate in a process that determines the next let him know of your interest in being on Visitors should make themselves known to the leader on arrival at assem- have their place in a world where not every- accompanying such persons. The Club cannot ensure the safety of any generation of leaders of your association. the Nominating Committee or the bly place announced for the trip. No one is to start ahead of the leader one is connected to the Net. We estimate participant on hikes. In participating in Club hikes, each such person without definite permission, or lag unreasonably far behind the group. Serving as a member of the council is a Council. For more information regarding that more than 50 or 60% of the club has an agrees to hold harmless and free from blame the hike leaders, and the commitment that yields countless rewards. CMC’s organization please refer to the internet connection. Clearly it is becoming MEMBERSHIP: Everyone is eligible for Club membership by complete CMC, its officers and members, for any accident, injury or illness which If you consider yourself a strategic thinker Club Bylaws on the CMC web site, or con- an increasingly significant part of the fabric a Membership Application Form and paying dues. Annual dues are $20 might be sustained from participating in hikes or other Club activities. with the executive ability to get things tact Don Walton, [email protected]. for individuals and $30 for families, and should be sent to the Carolina of our lives. Who can say what the future will Editor this issue: Gerry McNabb–274-0057 done, then CMC wants you! I strongly Don’t be shy, get involved. Thank you. Mountain Club, P.O. Box 68, Asheville, NC 28802. Frequent non-member hold down the line? For now, it looks like Editor next issue: Ginger Graziano–236-2075 [email protected] participants in Club hikes are expected to join the Carolina Mountain encourage you take this opportunity to -- Don Walton, Immediate Past President club co m m u n i c ations will continue in its Deadline next issue: Aug. 15, 2005 Club. All members are encouraged to participate in one of the Club's dual mode. 8 1 MAP READING COURSE REVIEW THE CMC SMOKIES CAMPING TRIP WAS A SUCCESS o you know where you are on the trail? Do you know where you have been and most Dimportantly, do you know where you are going? On the map reading course led by Dave diverse group gathered in Townsend,TN Wetmore and Tom Bindrim, these were not just philosophical questions but practical ones. Ato hike, talk, sing, eat and drink The Eight students (all hike leaders) met to learn how to answer these questions. Becky Johnson weather was great - blue skies and shorts and from the Smoky Mountain News also attended. Armed with compasses and a Forest Service t-shirt temperatures. The campgrounds gave edition of the Dunsmore Mtn. topo map, the group met at Earthfare for a classroom lecture. us our own tenting area and the flowers were It examined contour lines, ridgelines, grades, creeks, gaps and draws as the instructors at their peak: irises, several types of trilliums, emphasized the need to stop and think when orienteering. stonecrop, pink lady slippers, and more. For the practical side of the course, both groups did the same mini hike. As we walked, The hiking was concentrated on the far Dave kept posing questions and sometimes told us that we had our head in the map too western end of the Smokies at the Abrams often and we were not looking at our compasses enough. We stopped often and tried to pre- Creek and Gold Mine entrances, areas not dict what the trail ahead would look like. Would it be steep? Where would the creek cross?. normally hiked by the club. When the group got back to the cars, it was decided that the course had been definitely Saturday, Bruce Bente led the moderate worthwhile. If you didn’t get to attend this map reading course, Dave and Tom say they may hike to Abrams Falls from Abrams Creek. repeat it later. – Danny Bernstein Linda Beja and Don Gardner led the strenu- COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ous hike as a keyswap, one group from Ace Gap and the other from Gold Mine. CMC BY-LAWS REVISION the Deep Creek Trail in the Smokies. The S u n d a y, Linda led the strenuous hike C M C ’s current bylaws were first appro v e d CMC HIKE FEATURED IN s h o r t write-up includes directions to the through various trails in the Abrams Creek in 1957. While they have been amended BACKPACKER MAGAZINE trailhead and map and guide inform a t i o n area. After about eight miles, there was a several times since then, our Club has to the area. The CMC website is highlight- challenging water crossing.. We all managed The Carolina Mountain Club will be part changed dramatically in the last 50 years, ed so we should get more web traffic on our to cross without falling in. Bruce and his of Backpacker M a g a z i n e ’s regional hiking and our bylaws no longer reflect the way site with this large, regional exposure. This group went to Cades Cove to do the Rich section. Starting with the May issue, we operate. Since the beginning of the is a club eff o rt so if you have a favorite hike Don Walton Elected Chairman of AT’s Deep South Mountain Loop. Danny Bernstein will provide Backpacker y e a r, a Committee chaired by Lenny you want to publicize, send it to Danny at Information was distributed about the traf- with a local hike or short backpack every B e r nstein has been working on updating d a n n y @ h i k e rt o h i k e r. o rg or call (828) 236- Regional Partnership Committee (RPC) fic issues in Cades Cove which affect us all as two months. This issue, she writes about our bylaws. The Committee will present a 0 1 9 2 Don Walton is the CMC representative to the Appalachian Trail Conference Deep South hikers. The National Park Service is propos- draft set of bylaws to the Council at its July RPC. At their last meeting, Don was elected Chairman of the organization, and as a result ing several alternatives to handle the bumper 12 meeting. If the Council approves the has begun easing himself out of some of the many jobs he has done for CMC over the past to bumper traffic in the Cove and is soliciting draft, it will be presented to the member- VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR few years in order to devote more time to his new duties there. Some of the jobs still with- input from the interested public. See http://www. c a d e s c o v e p l a n n i n g . c o m / ship for approval at our Annual meeting. If NOMINATIONS SOUGHT out replacements are MST Coordinator, E-Newsletter Editor, Hike Database editor, Trail you’d like more information, plan on Condition Report Editor, and Trail work Supervisor for MST Roy Taylor Forest area near and click on the newsletter for the summary attending the Council meeting, or contact The CMC is seeking nominations for the Rt. 215. Anyone interested in taking on one of these, contact the president or anyone on of the alternatives. Lenny at [email protected] or c l u b’s Distinguished Service Awa rd and the Council. Let’s Go salutes Don in his new position. – Danny Bernstein (828) 236-0192. Award of Appreciation for 2005. Please send an email or a letter with your nomi- nation and your reasons for your selection CMC MAKES HISTORY BA RTH BROOKER APPOINTED MST to Carroll Keopplinger, carrollkoepp@bell- WITH EXTENSION MIKE ELLIS TO TAKE OVER AS WEBMASTER south.net or to his home: 3306 Idle Hour SECTION LEA D E R Drive, Asheville, NC 28806. OF MST Mike Ellis, a relatively new member and native of who returned here October The Carolina Mountain Club, in recogni- last year, has volunteered to become the club’s Webmaster following the resignation of Don American Hiking Society (AHS) seeks Barth Brooker, 828-299-0298, has volunteered to nominations for this year’s Volunteer of the tion of Trail Day, on March 19, 2005, under- Walton from this post. took to extend the MST another 1000 ft accept the position of Section Leader of the MST Mike is a software developer, consultant, and entrepreneur. He was co-founder of IBEX Year awards. AHS will be awarding nine from the Folk Art Center to the Black Mountain regional awa rds and one of these nine towards the Smokies. With the Saturday Process Technology, a venture-funded startup in Lowell, MA that employed neural network Work Crew led by Les Love as a nucleus and C a m p g r ound. He succeeds George Munoz who technology to semiconductor process control. He is currently regional winners will be chosen “National resigned the position recently. The job involves Volunteer of the Year." The work for which the enthusiastic participation of The interested in developing low-cost software tools for collabora- Hayward Hikers, Hendersonville Friday supervising some 10-12 sections maintainers in keep- tion and group decision making and negotiation. s/he is being nominated must benefit hik- ing this section of the MSST in good hiking condi- ers and/or the hiking experience. For more Crew, Waynesville MST Sect. Maintainers He says that if the Council approves, he has several goals and the Asheville Crews, an invasion of 43 tion. It is one of the most beautiful sections of that he will be working on as he assumes responsibility for our details or to nominate your volunteer go to the MST. w w w. a m e r i c a n h i k i n g . o r g /eve n t s /n t d eager workers attacked the slopes of the site: Parkway by the Cascade Overlook. After six Barth retired to Asheville over a year from a long 1 Build on the excellent foundation that's already in place. /awards.html. If you have questions please career with IBM that included living in Hawaii. contact Shirley Hearn at 1-800-972-8608, hours of hardy work and great fellowship, a 2 Make it easy for CMC members collaborate and contribute new piece of the MST was put into the Barth has been working with the CMC Monday crew to the site. ext. 206 or by Shea r n @ A m e r i c a n H i k i n g . o rg . for about a year and has recently been leading that D o n’t let good deeds go unnotice d , History Books. 3 Update the layout and organization of the site. Great job !!!! Many thanks to all who par- crew. Let’s welcome Barth and support him in his 4 Improve site's appeal to potential members. nominate someone for these three posi- new responsibilities. tions today! ticipated !!! 5 Add capability for online member surveys. – Piet Bodenhorst

2 7 described in hike listings. HALF DAY NO. H0503-112 Aug. 14 Spencer Branch Trail 1:00 PM* Ray Sanow231-7669, [email protected] cars. Bring sandals to cross creeks, one of Black Balsam Knob, Hike 6, Drive 6, Rated B-C HIKE SCHEDULE P400 This moderate hike will start with a which may be knee-deep. Second meeting HALF-DAY NO. H0503-064 July 10 Tennent Mtn. via Art Loeb, Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703 Third Quarter 2005 round trip up and down Mt. Pisgah, will place: Boyleston Baptist Church on NC Pump Gap Loop 1:30 PM Shining Ledge Trails 1:00 PM* P400 Note early start time. From the then follow the MST northbound to 280 at 8:45 AM. Ed Hauschild will assist Hike 5.5, Drive 80, Rated B-B Hike 5, Drive 70, Rated B-B Trace Ridge Trailhead, we will hike in a Hike Ratings Beaverdam Overlook. Good views. Short in leading. Jorge Munoz, 828-658-0606, Paula Robbins, 828-281-3253, moderate loop along the Big Creek Trail, First Letter Second Letter car shuttle. Second meeting place: BRP [email protected] [email protected] past the Hendersonville Reservoir, and along Distance Elevation Gain French Broad Overlook at 8:40 AM. WEDNESDAY. No. W0503-357 Aug. 24 This moderate loop hike starts at the P400 *Note early start time. This moder- the Spencer Branch, Middle Fork and AA: Over 12 miles AA: Over 2,000 ft. Topos: Cruso, Dunsmore Mtn. and MST Pisgah Ridge Loop 8:30AM* Silvermine Trail Head. After a good climb to ate loop hike begins at Forest Service Road Fletcher Creek Trails. There will be a few A: 9-12 miles A: 1,500-2,000 ft. profiles, pp 53-55. Hike 8.5, Drive 70, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B the ridge, we will visit an old cemetery, cross 816 off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Second stream crossings. *Meeting places: Meet at B: 6-9 miles B: 1,000-1,500 ft. Kathie Giddings, 828-696-9808, the AT and return on the Pump Gap Trail. meeting place, Pisgah Inn parking lot near Westgate at 1:00 PM to form carpools, and C: Under 6 miles C: Under 1,000 ft. WEDNESDAY No. W0503-384 July 27 [email protected] Hopefully, rhododendron should still be in Convenience Store. meet leader at pull-out just before North Black Balsam (MST) to P400 Starting at the Graveyard Fields bloom. Mills River Recreation Area at 1:30 PM. Also in the hike descriptions, the terms easy, Skinny Dip Falls 8:00 AM* parking lot, we will follow the Pisgah Ridge HALF DAY NO. H0503-403 Aug. 21 moderate or strenuous reflect the overall Hike 5.5, Drive 65, Ascend 400 ft., Rated C-C trail to the MST and lunch at a beautiful HALF DAY No. H0503-463 July 17 Dupont Forest: HALF DAY NO. H0503-035 Sept. 25 trail conditions, the physical challenge and Siro Del Favero, 828-277-2546 overlook. Then we will continue on the Big Ridge Overlook to Fawn Lake P.L. #5 12:30 PM* 1:00 PM other factors influencing hike difficulty. If P400 Starting at Black Balsam, will hike to MST to Graveyard Fields, follow a trail to Elk Pasture Gap 1:30 PM Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, Hike 6.2, Drive 60, Rated B-B, Elevation you have questions, or if the weather for the the second (lower) falls for lunch. Then hike one of the Yellowstone Falls, then on to Hike 4.4, Drive 25, total ascent of 600 ft., [email protected] gain 1,669 day of the hike is questionable, CONTACT on to Skinny Dip Falls, then to Looking Skinny Dip Falls. *Meeting Places: Meet at Rated C-C Hike 6, Drive 90, Rated B-C Jane and Lew Blodgett, 828-274-7863 THE LEADER. Glass Overlook. Car shuttle. *Meet at Westgate at 8:30AM to form carpools, and Ken and Carol Deal, 828-281-4530, *Note early start time. A moderate loop P400 Note early start time. A moderately Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, meet leader at Cold Mtn. overlook, BRP [email protected] hike covering portions of six different trails difficult well-graded trail leads to the top of CHALLENGE PROGRAMS: and meet leader at Looking Glass M.P. 412, at 9:15A.M. P400 We will do a moderate hike from the and featuring Reasonover Creek. There is this mountain with beautiful views along the SB6K For hiking all 40 peaks above 6000’. Overlook, BRP M.P. 417 at 8:45 AM. Big Ridge Overlook to Elk Pasture Gap and one “boots-off” creek crossing--bring suitable way. In-and-out hike. Second meeting place: For information, contact Dave Wetmore WEDNESDAY. No. W0503-477 Aug. 31 return on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. If footwear and a towel. *Meet at Westgate at Ranger Station on US 276 at 1:30 PM. [email protected]. WEDNESDAY No. W0503-219 Aug. 3 THEME HIKE: Geology of the we're lucky we will see lots of Turk's Cap 12:30 PM to form carpools, and meet P400 For hiking every trail in Pisgah Flat Creek Trail 8:30 AM Wi n d o w 8:10 AM* Lilies in bloom at that time near the Mills leader at side parking lot of Pisgah Forest HALF DAY NO. H0503-467 Oct. 2 Ranger District. For information, contact Hike 5, Drive 95, Rated C-C Hike 6, Drive 100, ca. 1000 ft. Ascent, River Valley Overlook. Bi-Lo at 1:00 PM. Dupont Forest: Dave Wetmore [email protected]. Diane Hankins, 828-298-2870 Rated B-B Cascade Lake P.L. #1 12:30 PM* 900M For hiking every trail in GSMNP. (before 9:00 PM) Brad Van Diver, 828-669-2740 HALF-DAY NO. H0503-349 July 24 HALF-DAY NO. H0503-465 Aug. 28 Hike 5+ miles, Drive 75, Rated C-C For information, contact John Gallemore 900M Leisurely paced high elevation hike (participants must call), [email protected] Buck Spring Trail 1:30 PM Sam Knob Loop 1:30 PM Rusty Breeding, 828-692-0359, [email protected]. in National Park. The Grandfather Mountain Window is a Hike 6.2, Drive 50, Rated B-C Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, [email protected] Hike from Heintooga Ridge Rd. (BRP M.P. gigantic erosional hole through stacked Diane Hankins, 828-298-2870 (before 9 PM) [email protected] Note early start time. Hike begins at 1:30 WEDNESDAY HIKES 458) to the picnic area and back to the road. thrust fault sheets, where the underlying P400 This moderate downhill hike starts Hike 5-6, Drive 70, Rated C-C PM at the Cascade Lake Road parking lot. Topo: Bunches Bald; also Nat’l. Geo. rocks, aged .75 to 1.0+ billion years, are Wednesday hikes submitted by Paula behind the Pisgah Inn and ends at US 276. SB6K, P400 This will be a loop hike from One boots-off creek crossing; bring water GSMNP map exposed. This hike will take us up along the short car shuttle. We’ll take time to identify the Black Balsam parking lot. The route will shoes. Highlights: Bridal Veil Falls from the McNabb, 828-274-0057, gcmcnabb@char- crest of GM to the summit at Calloway the flowers we see. include Sam Knob (6040’) and hiking in top and Big Rock overlook. *Meet at ter.net. Driving distance is round-trip from WEDNESDAY. No W0503-475 Aug. 10 Peak, with several stops to observe geologic beautiful high-altitude open meadows. Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools, Asheville. All hikes assemble at Westgate Hump Mountain/ features. En route, we will pass through, Shopping Center near I-240 exit 3B HALF DAY NO. H0503-464 July 31 Possible blueberry sightings. and meet leader at side parking lot of Yellow Mountain Area 8:30 AM around and over a Disneyland of huge talus UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. Balsam Gap to Pisgah Forest Bi-Lo at 1:00 PM. Hike 9, Drive 130, Ascend 2400 ft., blocks, with ladders placed at strategic spots. Greybeard Overlook 1:30 PM* HALF-DAY NO. H0503-294 Sept. 4 Rated B-AA Views are outstanding. Entrance fees are as Hike 3.6, Drive 44, total ascent 600 ft., Picklesimer Fields 1:30 PM NO HIKE SCHEDULED JULY 6 Adrian Lotherington, 828-350-8065. follows: age 60+ $12, age 13-59 $14. Rated C-C Hike 5, drive 40, Rated C-C WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS No hike is scheduled because the We will hike from Roaring Creek Road to We will also be able to visit the Nature Pat Elias, 828-687-1651, Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, Appalachian Trail Conference biennial Yellow Mountain Gap at which point we Museum, Wildlife Habitats, and other meeting is being held July 1-8 in Johnson [email protected] [email protected] Elizabeth Allen, Art Almeida, Chuck Anderson, join the AT, along an open ridge to Little attractions lower on the mountain. Come Tim and Beth Bates, Roy Bell, Edward Bentson, City, TN, with CMC as a co-host. A pleasant walk through the woods, stop- P400 This moderate in-and-out hike on the Hump Mt and on to Hump Mt where will join the fun. *Meeting places: Meet at Bob Boydston, Cam Collins and Jane Bramham, ping for a snack at an open area with great Butter Gap Trail starts at the Fish Hatchery. have lunch on a grassy bald at 5587 ft. We Westgate at 8:10 AM to form carpools, Martin Brumer, Joe Burchfield, Gail Buzby, Don views. Short car shuttle. *Only meeting Second meeting place: Fish Hatchery at WEDNESDAY No. W0503-249 July 13 return to Yellow Mt Gap and take the and meet leader at parking lot adjacent to and Sharon Christensen, Keila and Rick Cochran, place: Back parking lot at Folk Art Center 2:00 PM. Buckeye Gap and Haywood Overmountain Victory Loop back to the car McDonalds at Black Mountain (Exit 64 Matt and Pam Collis, Michael Cornn, Robin on BRP. Gap Trails Circuit 8:00 AM park. The fabulous vistas and meadows full from I-40) at 8:30 AM. Courtvriend, Grace Curry, Beth Yeager Eckstein, Hike 9.5, drive 80, 1400 ft. Ascent, HALF DAY No. H0503-466 Sept. 11 of flowers make the drive and moderately Christine Grant and Michael Ellis, Stuart English, Rated A-B HALF-DAY NO. H0503-054 Aug. 7 Buck Spring Lodge Site 1:30 PM strenuous walk very much worth while. WEDNESDAY No.W0503-326 Sept. 7 Judy Fisher, Laura Frisbie and Jim Gordon, Karen Susannah Whitaker, 828-684-5948, John Rock via the Hike 4.4, drive 30, Rated C-C ONLY MEETING PLACE. Rose's car Tanyard Gap, Lover's Leap, Green, Norma Grivich, Ed and Linda Hauschild, Old Horse Cove Trail 1:30 PM Don Walton, 828-654-9904, 828-713-9375 [email protected] park, across from McDonalds at the 25/70 Pump Gap Loop 8:30 AM Warren Hilger, Alistair Hoehne, David Ireland, Hike 4, Drive 40, Rated C-B, Elevation gain, [email protected] P400 Our hike is in the Middle Prong Weaverville exit. Topos: Carver's Gap, Hike 7, Drive 72, Ascend 2000 ft., Rated B-A Joseph Isola, Ivan Ivanov, John Webb and Lori 1300 ft. We will visit the Buck Spring Lodge site to Wilderness area, limited to 10 hikers. Please White Rocks Mtn. Jay Bretz, 828-658-1220, Kincaid, Courtney Mauzy, Peggy Moore, Mark call the leader for reservations. Buckeye Laura Stallard, 828-697-1579 look at the site cleared by CMC last fall, [email protected] Monnin, Nan Needs, Mike Piercy, Lisa Poole, Gap, Haywood Gap, partly on MST. Several P400 This moderate in-and-out hike begins including a two-mile hike to the source of WEDNESDAY. No. W0503-476 Aug. 17 Start at Tanyard Gap to Lover's Leap. Great Barbara Pope, Ned Sanders, Heidi Saugen, Carrie stream crossings. Trailhead will be Rough at the Fish Hatchery at the opposite end of water for the lodge. We will look at the Schmitz, Leighton Scott, Susan Sentell, Larry South Mills River, Mullinax Tr., Laurel views of the French Broad and Hot Springs. the parking lot from the Wildlife Visitor spring house and the hydraulic ram water Butt Bald. Second meeting place: Cold Mtn. Creek Tr. 8:15 AM Return via Silvermine and Pump Gap Trails, Sobil, Matthew Sowles, Mariana Spivak, Nancy overlook, BRP M.P. 412 at 8:40 AM. Center onto the Horse Cove side of Cat Gap system, including the remains of the dam to and Steve Stipton, Barbara and Eric Van Deusen, Hike 9, drive 50, rated B-C back to Tanyard Gap. Second meeting Trail (orange blaze). The John Rock Trail provide the thrust for the ram. Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703 place: Rose's Department Store parking lot Jack Wa l ter s, Tommy Wa rden, Ellen We l l e s , WEDNESDAY. No.W0503-447 July 20 starts at a right hand junction off Cat Gap P400 Loop hike. S. Mills River to in Weaverville, across from McDonald's, Stephen Wherley, Al Williams, Michelle and MST Mt. Pisgah to Trail. Second meeting place: Fish Hatchery HALF DAY NO. H0503-064 Sept. 18 Mullinax Trail, to Laurel Branch Trail, then exit 25/70 at 8:45. Joseph Worth. Beaverdam Overlook 8:30 AM at 2:00 PM. Fletcher Creek via to Bradley Branch, then back by Pea Gap to 6 3 WEDNESDAY. No.W0503-247 Sept. 14 ALL DAY NO. A0503-357 July 31 Pigeon River to Big East. Short car shuttle. Ridge Circuit (strenuous) 8:00 AM in the Greenbrier section of the Smokies Ivestor Gap Blueberry Hike 8:30 AM Pisgah Ridge Loop 8:30 AM* Second meeting place: BRP Cold Mtn. Hike 11, Drive 60, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-A where we will see a cemetery and a SMHC Drive 75, hike 6, rated B-C Hike 7.5, Drive 70, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B overlook (M.P. 412) at 8:40 AM. Topo: Mike Ellis, 828-658-1830, cabin, used until 1981. Then we veer west to Paula McNabb, 274-0057, Becky Smucker, 828-298-5013, ; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map [email protected] start the climb on the Brushy Mountain [email protected] [email protected] and MST Trail Profiles, pg. 50-51 S B 6 K This popular diversified hike feature s Trail to Brushy Mountain. The trail, rocky in P400 Our traditional hike to the picking ALL DAY NO. A0503-095 July 10 P400 *Note later start time. We’ll do a beautiful Douglas (Carter Creek) Falls, a spots, goes through old growth hemlock for- fields of Grassy Cove Top in the Shining Hemphill Bald from Polls Gap 8:00 AM scenic circle of the entire Graveyard Fields SATURDAY WORK DAY climb through a hemlock forest to the MST, est. At the top, we can see Mt. LeConte and Rock Wilderness. Limit 10 hikers. Call for Hike 9.5, Drive 95, 1500 ft. ascent, area, using the Pisgah Ridge Trail and MST and a scenic lunch stop at the BRP Gatlinburg below. Second meeting place: Here is a great chance to learn what is reservation. *Meeting Places: Meet at Rated A-B to lunch at a beautiful overlook. Then we’ll G r e y b e a rd overlook. Optional climb to Pilot Truck Stop at exit 24 off I-40 at Westgate at 8:30AM to form carpools, and Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, follow the Graveyard Ridge Trail, with a side involved in trail maintenance. We will Craggy Dome (6080 ft.) during lunch stop. 8:00 AM. Topo: Mt. Le Conte; also Nat’l. meet leader at Cold Mtn. overlook, BRP [email protected] trip to one of the Yellowstone Falls. Second meet on August 20 at the Moose Café at the After lunch, we’ll see great views from a high Geographic GSMNP map M.P. 412, at 9:15AM. After a stroll through open forests, the trail meeting place: BRP Cold Mtn. overlook Farmer’s Market on Rte. 191 at 8:00 a.m. for mountain meadow leaded with ripe blueber- emerges into open fields stretching along the (M.P. 412) at 9:10 AM. Topos: Shining b r e a k f a s t . We will re t u rn to Asheville ries, andf then bushwhack down Locust SATURDAY NO. A0503-314 Sept. 24 WEDNESDAY. No. W0503-II Sept. 21 GSMNP boundary, with exceptional views Rock, Sam Knob; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map around 4 p.m. Come join the fun. Call Ridge. Topos: Montreat, Craggy Pinnacle M S T: Double Top to Balsam Gap 8:00 AM* Leader's Choice, contact all the way to our lunch stop at the big rock and USFS Shining Rock & Middle Prong Les Love at 828-658-1489 to verify date. Hike 10, Drive 90, 500 ft. ascent, Rated A-C leader for info 8:30 AM on Hemphill Bald. Second meeting place: Wild. map ALL DAY NO. A0503-473 Sept. 4 Marianne Newman, 828-454-1036, Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, Quality Inn (US 19 entrance) at jct. of US ALL DAY NO. A0503-044 Aug. 21 Mt. Mitchell – Maple Camp [email protected] [email protected] 19 and US 276 in Maggie Valley at 8:30 ALL DAY NO. A0503-193 Aug. 7 Lost Cove 8:00 AM Bald loop (moderate) 8:30 AM Have you ever wanted to hike that long AM. Topos: Dellwood, Bunches Bald MST: Bearpen Gap to NC 215 Hike 7.5, Drive 140, 1000 ft. ascent, Hike 8.5, Drive 70, 1600 ft. ascent, Rated B-A MST ridge down to Balsam Gap? Here is WEDNESDAY. #W0503-040 Sept. 28 via Mt. Hardy (strenuous) 8:30 AM* Rated B-B Ruth Hartzler, 828-251-0886, your chance in the downhill direction, MST in Marion 8:30 AM ALL DAY NO. A0503-246 July 17 Hike 9, Drive 85, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated A-B Les Love, 828-658-1489 [email protected] enjoying the views along the way. Car shut- Hike 4.8, Drive 60, 1500 ft. Ascent, Around Coffee Pot Mtn. 9:00 AM* Carroll Koepplinger, 828-667-0723, This hike in the Wilson Creek area features SB6K Note later start time. We’ll do a tle. *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form Rated C-B Hike 7.5, Drive 50, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated B-B [email protected] spectacular waterfalls and the best swimming moderate loop with great views, starting at carpools, and meet leader at rest stop Don Walton, 828-654-9904, John Pawcio, 828-299-8126, SB6K, P400 *Note later start time. This anywhere. Bring your bathing suit. Be pre- Mt. Mitchell, following the MST/Mt. beyond Waynesville on US 23/74 at 8:30 [email protected] [email protected] MST hike leads through a beautiful forest of pared for several wet-foot stream crossings. Mitchell and Buncombe Horse Range Trails, AM. Topo: Hazelwood We will spot cars, then hike along the MST P 4 0 0 *Note later start time. We’ll circ l e spruce, birch, rhododendron and maple with Optional supper at Little Siena. Second stopping at Maple Camp Bald, then taking from Woodlawn Picnic area down to the C o f fee Pot Mtn., by hiking up Trace Ridge mosses and ferns lining the forest floor. A meeting place: parking lot adjacent to the Big Tom Gap Trail 191-A up to the ALL DAY NO. A0503-074 Sept. 25 North Fork of the Catawba River, where we Trail to Beaver Dam Gap on the BRP and special feature is a short side trip up 6110 Ft. McDonald’s at exit 64 of I-40 at 8:20 AM. Crest Trail, and returning via Big Tom and Tanawha Trail 8:00 AM will see the now completed footbridge, the re t u rning on the Spencer Branch Trail, with a Mt. Hardy, with first-rate views on its north Topo: Grandfather Mtn.; also USFS Wilson Mt. Craig. Second meeting place: Craven Hike 13.3, Drive 150, 1300 ft. ascent, longest on the MST. We will go out on the stop to see the Hendersonville Reservoir and side. Partly through the Middle Prong Creek map Gap at 8:45 AM. Topo: Mt. Mitchell; also Rated AA-B Forest Service Rd. to Creek Road. Second dam. Second meeting place: North Mills Wilderness, so limited to ten. Phone leader PNF South Toe River, Mt. Mitchell & Big Don Gardner, 828-754-4067, meeting place: parking lot adjacent to River Recreation area parking lot at 9:30 for reservation. Second meeting place: Cold SATURDAY NO. A0503-462 Aug. 27 Ivy trail map. [email protected] McDonald's at exit 64 of I-40 at 8:50 AM. AM, but must phone leader first. To p o : Mtn. O/L on BRP (M.P. 412) at 9:10 AM. Buladean to Roan High A fragile and ancient ecosystem, rhododen- D u n s m o re Mtn.; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map Topo: Sam Knob; also USFS Shining Rock Bluff Picnic Area 8:00 AM ALL DAY NO. A0503-337 Sept. 11 dron and laurel tunnels, hardwood coves, ALL DAY SATURDAY & Middle Prong Wildernesses map and Hike 5.5, Drive 110, 3400 ft. ascent, Shining Rock from Black Balsam 8:30 AM boulder fields and great views make this a AND SUNDAY HIKES ALL DAY NO. A0503-469 July 24 Nat’l. Geo. PRD map Rated A-AA+ Hike 11, Drive 65, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-A special trip. Optional supper stop at Little MST: Craggy Gardens to Dave Wetmore & Don Walton, Lenny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, Siena. Second meeting place: parking lot All-day hikes submitted by Bruce Bente 828- Bull Gap 8:30 AM* ALL DAY NO. A0503-470 Aug. 7 828-884-7296, [email protected] [email protected] adjacent to McDonald’s at exit 64 of I-40 692-0116, [email protected]. Driving Hike 8.7, Drive 40, 1650 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Fork Mtn. – Birdstand Mtn. 8:00 AM This key swap hike is a new one for the SB6K, P400 Note later starting time. This at 8:20 AM. Topo: Grandfather Mtn. distance is round-trip from Asheville. All Jorge Munoz, 828-658-0606, (moderate) Club. We'll take the little-known hike was cancelled twice in 2004--the third Saturday and Sunday hikes assemble at jmunoz@buncombe,main,nc.us Hike 9, Drive 85, 550 ft. ascent, Rated A-C Cloudlands Hotel service road between time’s the charm! We will take the Art Loeb FONTANA HIKING WEEKEND Westgate Shopping Center near I240 exit 3B *Note later meet time. This pleasant hike Larry Modlin, 828-251-5092, Buladean to the Cloudlands site near Roan Trail from FS 816 to Shining Rock (6040’), Oct. 1-2 UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. on the MST will start at the Craggy Gardens [email protected] High Bluff. Most of the hike follows old climbing Black Balsam (6214’), Tennent This weekend’s events will be based at Visitor Center and feature Lane Pinnacle P400 For the P400 fans, here is a chance to roads up Shell Ridge to the Cloudlands Mtn. (6040’) and Grassy Cove Top (6040’) Fontana Village Resort near Fontana Dam in No Hike Scheduled July 3 and the Rattlesnake Lodge site. Car shuttle. bag a remote trail from the Black Balsam Hotel site on Roan Mtn. Topo: Bakersville along the way. This will be your chance to the Smokies. We will schedule a variety of No hike is scheduled because the Second meeting place: Craven Gap at 8:50 parking lot down to NC 215. Be prepared for bag four SB6K peaks while enjoying beauti- hikes of different lengths for Saturday, Oct. 1 Appalachian Trail Conference biennial AM. Topos: Montreat, Craggy Pinnacle; also a 3200 ft. descent, with only a short climb ALL DAY NO. A0503-472 Aug. 28 ful views covering the area from Pilot Mtn. and Sunday, Oct. 2. Additional information meeting is being held July 1-8 in Johnson MST Trail Profiles, pg. 63-65 up Birdstand Mtn. There will be a wet-foot Sam Knob – Little Sam Loop 8:00 AM* to Cold Mtn. We’ll return via the Ivestor will be posted on the CMC E-Newsletter, City, TN, with CMC as a co-host. crossing of the West Prong of the Pigeon Hike 10, Drive 75, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Gap Trail to get a different perspective on including descriptions of the planned hikes SATURDAY NO. A0503-243 July 30 River at the end of the hike. Car shuttle. Tom Bindrim & Joan Lemire, 828-273-3880 the same area. Wilderness area hike limited and Fontana Village information, including SATURDAY NO. A0503-468 July 9 Forney Creek Circuit to Topos: Shining Rock, Sam Knob; also Nat’l. SB6K, P400. Everyone has been to Sam to 10 people. Please contact hike leader to reduced room rates for this event. For those AT: to I-40 8:00 AM Fontana Lake 8:00 AM Geo. PRD map and USFS Shining Rock & Knob. How many of you have been to Little reserve your place. Second meeting place: without access to the Internet who wish a Hike 15, Drive 120, 1800 ft. ascent, Hike 10, Drive 145, 800 ft. ascent, Rated A-C Middle Prong Wild. map Sam Knob? Today we do both, using some BRP Cold Mtn. overlook at 9:10 AM. paper copy of this information, please tele- Rated AA-A Ray Sanow, 828-231-7669, MST, Little Sam and Sam Knob trails, and Topos: Shining Rock, Sam Knob; also Natl. phone Bruce Bente at 828-692-0116. Lenny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, [email protected] ALL DAY NO. A0503-471 Aug. 14 some off-trail. Hopefully great scenery. Geographic map of Pisgah Ranger District [email protected] 9 0 0 M This is your chance to go hiking and Wagon Rd. Gap - Bridges *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form HALF-DAY SUNDAY HIKES This great AT hike features spectacular swimming on the same day. This mod e r a t e Camp Gap – Big East 8:00 AM carpools, and meet leaders at Cold Mtn. ALL DAY NO. A0503-474 Sept. 18 scenery from Max Patch and from the hike begins at the end of the Road to Hike 11, Drive 70, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-A O/L (BRP M.P. 412) at 8:40 AM. Topo: Porter Creek to Brushy Mtn. 7:30 AM Half-day hikes submitted by Paula Robbins, Snowbird Mtn.. Moderate climbing in our N o w h e re, through the tunnel, then contin- Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, Sam Knob; also USFS Shining Rock & Hike 11.8, Drive 160, 2500 ft. ascent, 828-281-3253, [email protected]. southbound direction. Second meeting ues along the Lakeshore Trail and along cas- [email protected] Middle Prong Wildernesses map and Nat’l. Rated A-AA Driving distance is round-trip from place: Pilot Truck Stop, Exit 24 off I-40 at cading Forney Creek to our lunch spot at the P400 We will hike from Cold Mtn. over- Geographic PRD map Danny Bernstein 828-236-0192 Asheville. All hikes assemble at Westgate 8:30 AM. Topos: Lemon Gap, Waterville; Fontana Lake shoreline. Second meeting look up to Green Knob (Penny Rock) and to [email protected] Shopping Center (Exit 3B off I-240) also PNF Harmon Den & Hot Springs Area place: Rest stop beyond Waynesville on US Bridges Camp Gap on the MST, then drop ALL DAY NO. A0503-250 Sept. 4 900M Note earlier start time. The first UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. Some Trail Maps 23/74 at 8:30 AM. Topo: Noland Cre e k down to the Big East Fork Trail along the Douglas Falls – Locust mile of the hike is on the Porter Creek Trail, hike will have second meeting places as 4 5