SECOND QUARTER 2012 Quarterly News Bulletin and Hike Schedule P.O. Box 68, Asheville, NC 28802 • www.carolinamountainclub.org • e-mail: [email protected] National Forests non-motorized trail strategy The US Forest service is looking for the 82 people who attended. Some assistance. I wonder, though, if the group a few good men and women. Since the thoughts by CMC attendees: (bikers, horsemen, hunters, hikers, etc.) that majority of trail work is done by vol- Tish Desjardins, CMC Chair of provides the best grant assistance ends up get- unteers, the Forest Service is conduct- Conservation, said: “I thought it was ting what they want in the forest. With all the ing a number of workshops at various interesting that they are looking to us maintenance that CMC performs, it would be locations in Western North Carolina for possibly applying for grants for destructive if bikes or horses come along on to bring different types of trail users projects that we could apply for. They the hiking trails that we maintain. Hopefully together to provide input on trail plan- sure seem to be desperate for financial continued on page 7 ning. The diverse types of trail users include hikers, bikers, and horsemen. These people were brought together to share trail experiences, identify the types of trails that fit in a recreational context, and help develop a sustainable system of trail management. Initial workshops were held in Morganton, Andrews, Mars Hill, Franklin and Brevard. Several CMC members joined the 264 participants in the five meetings. Seventy diverse organizations were represented. The workshop in Brevard had to be moved to a larger location to accommodate Trail strategy participants at the meeting in Franklin. COUNCIL CORNER Greetings One of our biggest challenges as a Sun all-day hikes, as well as maintaining the from the Hiking committee is recruiting, training and hike database. He told me he takes about two Committee. Our retaining our great group of hike lead- weeks off after he finishes one quarter before committee con- ers. Bonnie schedules the half day he starts working on the next. Bruce does such sists of Bruce Sunday hikes. The last few quarters she a great job, it would be easy to forget all the Bente, Charlie has been struggling to get enough lead- work he does for CMC. Ann and Brenda alter- Ferguson, Ann ers for all the dates. Over the next few nate quarters doing the Wednesday schedule. Gleason, Marcia months we are asking all-day leaders At times they struggle to fill their schedule Bromberg, Carroll to consider leading a half day Sunday also and are happy to hear when a leader Koepplinger, hike from time to time. Any leader who already knows what hike they want to do, Bonnie Allen, Brenda Worley, Kayah would be interested in helping out with including all details. All these guys do a great Gaydish and me. The last four years these hikes please feel free to email job. the hiking committee has been led very Bonnie or me and we will add you The Hiking Committee is looking for a well by Charlie Ferguson. In addi- to the list. I am sure that Bonnie will volunteer to assist Bruce in his duties as tion to all his work with the hik- appreciate any help she can get. scheduler while he is working on the 2013 ing committee, Charlie has played While we’re on the subject of sched- ATC Biennial Conference hike schedule. Feel a major part in the development of ulers, as I see it, schedulers have one free to email me or any member of the Hiking our new website. I am more than a of the most complicated and at times Committee if you would like to volunteer to little nervous about following in his the most underappreciated duties in the assist in any way. footsteps as Councilor for Hiking. club. Bruce does the scheduling of Sat/ – Jim Reel 1 Hike leaders dinner – Big night for the 7% Fifty-plus hike leaders (that’s about 7% to take company and of CMC members) met at Pack’s Tavern it’s really beautiful up Century Room on Feb. 24 for a Thank-You there.” Dinner sponsored by the Club. …Charlie recognized The evening began with a waiter offering and thanked several new demitasse cups of smooth butternut squash hike leaders: Heather soup (very appealing on a blustery night) to and Russ Cooper, Paul mingling, laughing groups of people moving Dickens, Bev McDowell, Hike leaders gather before the dinner (l to r) Paul Benson, between the bar and a loop slide show. The John Sanders, and Dick Paul Dickens, Kathleen Hannigan, Kathy and Michael photos, taken on CMC hikes, included bath- Zimmerer. Cornn, and Bob Hysko. ing beauties at waterfalls, gorgeous scenery, …Bruce Bente offered and one large rattlesnake. some lessons to be learned from “Other the sweep took off about 2 minutes later, The buffet dinner was similar to that Hike Leaders’ Foibles” and unwittingly and you guessed it. He went right. enjoyed by diners at the Annual Dinner, generated the biggest guffaws of the even- The evening ended with 7 lucky but the food was even tastier. The dessert ing. attendees winning door prizes. Thank – creamy lemon bars with a sugary crunch– • The Case of the Lost Scout: An experi- you so much to Diamond Brand and REI was a sinful delight. enced hike leader went out ALONE to scout for donating these items! Charlie Ferguson coordinated several his trail and got lost. Emergency crews had The 7% thanks the 93% for provid- speakers who had short announcements, to assembled and were ready to walk into the ing a very fine evening. If any of you find out who is interested in taking a CPR forest when he finally emerged at 11:30 93 percenters would like to attend this course, that there are CMC patches and busi- p.m. dinner next year, CMC is always looking ness cards available, and the importance of • The Case of the Lost Maintainer: for new hike leaders. Training and men- hike sign-up sheets/reports and… Another experienced hike leader went out toring are provided. You too can become …Sherman Stambaugh formally ALONE to maintain his trail, and you part of the 7%! announced his retirement from hike leading guessed it. He was very late getting home at age 90-something. He put in a plug for and gave his wife a big scare. hiking at the old Richmond Hill property, • The Case of the Lost Sweep: While the Spring is on the way just off Riverside Drive, which has newly sweep was calibrating his GPS before the marked trails. He noted, “It’s a nice place hike began, the group took off heading left, One harbinger of spring for CMC members is our annual Spring Social, held every year at the NC Arboretum. Join the Carolina Mountain Club This year will mark the seventh year Hike—Save Trails—Make Friends of the event. The dinner will again be catered by Bubba Q and two after- Carolina Mountain Club P. O. Box 68 noon hikes will be held. The evening Asheville, NC 28802 Photo by Elaine Pearsons program will be provided by our own www.carolinamountainclub.org We lead 180+ hikes each year, [email protected] maintain over 425 miles of trails, Danny Bernstein, who will talk and and support trail conservation. Member Appalachian Trail Conservancy show slides of her recent completion We invite you to visit our website and join us. of the entire Mountains-to-Sea Trail. An insert will be included in this news- letter with more details and a tear-off New business cards for CMC form to fill out and send in with your Barbara Morgan, our new Councilor and Chair for check for the occasion. Non-members Membership, has designed new business cards for the club. will be welcome. For several years, these cards have been part of a packet sent to new members along with a newsletter, a CMC How to join the CMC bumper sticker, and a CMC hiking brochure. On one side of 1. Go to www.carolinamountainclub.org the card is the famous CMC Asheville P.O. box number, our 2. Click on Join (top left) or Join CMC! website, reference to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, (right center). and our logo. On the reverse side is a reference to the 3. You will see instructions number of hikes we lead yearly and trails we maintain. for joining online or via mail. or ... write to us at Also there is a beautiful photograph of a meadow on Roan CMC, PO Box 68, Mountain taken by Elaine Pearsons, a professional photog- Asheville, NC 28802 rapher and CMC member. and we'll mail you an Barbara Morgan with the card. application 2 TRAIL MAINTENANCE CHALLENGE PROGRAMS WEDNESDAY NO. W1202-653 Apr.18 All members are encouraged to participate SB6K For hiking all 40 peaks above 6000’. Flat Creek Falls *8:00 AM in trail maintenance activities. Non-members Contact Peter Barr, [email protected] Hike 7 Drive 125, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated B-B are invited to try it a few times before deciding P400 For hiking every trail in Pisgah Ranger Sawako Jager, 828-687-2547, [email protected] WC100 *Form carpools at Westgate, and meet if they want to join the Club and be a regular District. Contact Dave Wetmore, dwetmore@cit- leader at Pisgah Forest Bi-Lo at 8:30 AM. Flat part of a crew. We train and provide tools. com.net Creek Fall is an awesome 200 ft waterfall nestled Below is a general schedule of work days.