3rd Quarter 2005

Hike Ratings

First Letter       Second Letter

Distance           Elevation Gain

AA: Over 12 miles        AA: Over 2,000 ft.

A: 9-12 miles    A: 1,500-2,000 ft.

B: 6-9 miles      B: 1,000-1,500 ft.

C: Under 6 miles           C: Under 1,000 ft.

Half-day hikes submitted by Paula Robbins, 828-281-3253, paularww@bellsouth.net . Driving distance is round-trip from Asheville. All hikes assemble at Westgate Shopping Center (Exit 3B off I-240) UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. Some hike will have second meeting places as described in hike listings.

HALF-DAY  No. H0503-295   July 10 Pump Gap Loop 1:30 PM Hike 5.5, Drive 80, Rated B-B Jorge Munoz, 828-658-0606, jmunoz@buncombe.main.nc.us  This moderate loop hike starts at the Silvermine Trail Head. After a good climb to the ridge, we will visit an old cemetery, cross the AT and return on the Pump Gap Trail. Hopefully, rhododendron should still be in bloom.

HALF DAY   No. H0503-463   July 17 Big Ridge Overlook to Elk Pasture Gap 1:30 PM Hike 4.4, Drive 25, total ascent of 600 ft., Rated C-C Ken and Carol Deal, 828-281-4530, KMCDeal@aol.com  P400 We will do a moderate hike from the Big Ridge Overlook to Elk Pasture Gap and return on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. If we're lucky we will see lots of Turk's Cap Lilies in bloom at that time near the Mills River Valley Overlook.

HALF-DAY   No. H0503-349  July 24 Buck Spring Trail 1:30 PM Hike 6.2, Drive 50, Rated B-C Diane Hankins, 828-298-2870 (before 9 PM) P400 This moderate downhill hike starts behind the Pisgah Inn and ends at US 276. short car shuttle. We’ll take time to identify the flowers we see.

HALF DAY   No. H0503-464   July 31 Balsam Gap to Greybeard Overlook 1:30 PM* Hike 3.6, Drive 44, total ascent 600 ft., Rated C-C Pat Elias, 828-687-1651, patelias@bellsouth.net  A pleasant walk through the woods, stopping for a snack at an open area with great views. Short car shuttle. *Only meeting place: Back parking lot at Folk Art Center on BRP.

HALF-DAY   No. H0503-054  Aug. 7 John Rock via the Old Horse Cove Trail 1:30 PM Hike 4, Drive 40, Rated C-B, Elevation gain, 1300 ft. Laura Stallard, 828-697-1579 P400 This moderate in-and-out hike begins at the Fish Hatchery at the opposite end of the parking lot from the Wildlife Visitor Center onto the Horse Cove side of Cat Gap Trail (orange blaze). The John Rock Trail starts at a right hand junction off Cat Gap Trail. Second meeting place: Fish Hatchery at 2:00 PM.

HALF DAY   No. H0503-112  Aug. 14 Black Balsam Knob, Tennent Mtn. via Art Loeb, Shining Ledge Trails 1:00 PM* Hike 5, Drive 70, Rated B-B Paula Robbins, 828-281-3253, paularww@bellsouth.net  P400 *Note early start time. This moderate loop hike begins at Forest Service Road 816 off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Second meeting place: Pisgah Inn parking lot near Convenience Store.

HALF DAY   No. H0503-403   Aug. 21 Dupont Forest: Fawn Lake P.L. #5 12:30 PM* Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, belston@cytechusa.com  Hike 6, Drive 90, Rated B-C *Note early start time. A moderate loop hike covering portions of six different trails and featuring Reasonover Creek. There is one “boots-off” creek crossing--bring suitable footwear and a towel. *Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at side parking lot of Pisgah Forest Bi-Lo at 1:00 PM.

HALF-DAY  No. H0503-465   Aug. 28 Sam Knob Loop 1:30 PM Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@cytechusa.com  Hike 5-6, Drive 70, Rated C-C SB6K, P400 This will be a loop hike from the Black Balsam parking lot. The route will include Sam Knob (6040’) and hiking in beautiful high-altitude open meadows. Possible blueberry sightings.

HALF-DAY   No. H0503-172   Sept. 4 John Rock Loop 1:30 PM Hike 57, 1200 ft elevation, drive 40, Rated B-B Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary@charter.net  P400 This moderate in-and-out hike on the Butter Gap Trail starts at the Fish Hatchery. Second meeting place: Fish Hatchery at 2:00 PM.

HALF DAY   No. H0503-466   Sept. 11 Buck Spring Lodge Site 1:30 PM Hike 4.4, drive 30, Rated C-C Don Walton, 828-654-9904, 828-713-9375 walt7258@bellsouth.net  We will visit the Buck Spring Lodge site to look at the site cleared by CMC last fall, including a two-mile hike to the source of water for the lodge. We will look at the spring house and the hydraulic ram water system, including the remains of the dam to provide the thrust for the ram.

HALF DAY   No. H0503-064   Sept. 18 Fletcher Creek via Spencer Branch Trail 1:00 PM* Hike 6, Drive 6, Rated B-C Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703 P400 *Note early start time. From the Trace Ridge Trailhead, we will hike in a moderate loop along the Big Creek Trail, past the Hendersonville Reservoir, and along the Spencer Branch, Middle Fork and Fletcher Creek Trails. There will be a few stream crossings. *Meeting places: Meet at Westgate at 1:00 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at pull-out just before North Mills River Recreation Area at 1:30 PM.

HALF DAY   No. H0503-035   Sept. 25 Looking Glass Rock 1:00 PM* Hike 6.2, Drive 60, Rated B-B, Elevation gain 1,669 Jane and Lew Blodgett, 828-274-7863 P400 *Note early start time. A moderately difficult well-graded trail leads to the top of this mountain with beautiful views along the way. In-and-out hike. Second meeting place: Ranger Station on US 276 at 1:30 PM.

HALF DAY   No. H0503-467   Oct. 2 Dupont Forest: Cascade Lake P.L. #1 12:30 PM* Hike 5+ miles, Drive 75, Rated C-C Rusty Breeding, 828-692-0359, bree@planetusa.net  Note early start time. Hike begins at 1:30 PM at the Cascade Lake Road parking lot. One boots-off creek crossing; bring water shoes. Highlights: Bridal Veil Falls from the top and Big Rock overlook. *Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools, and meet leader at side parking lot of Pisgah Forest Bi-Lo at 1:00 PM.