4th 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 No. H0504-467 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; meet leader at side parking lot of Pisgah Forest Bi-Lo at 1:00 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0504-286 Oct. 9
Sycamore Cove Trails 1:00 PM*
Hike 6, Drive 70, Rated B-B
Pat Elias, 828-687-1651, patelias@bellsouth.net
A moderate hike (some uphill) in the Pisgah National Forest along several trails: Thrift Cove, Grassy Road. *Meet at Westgate at 1:00 PM to form carpools; meet leader at entrance to Davidson River Campground parking lot on US 276 at 1:45 PM.
HALF DAY No. H0504-008 Oct. 16
Bee Tree Gap Road to Rattlesnake Lodge 1:00 PM
Hike 5.7, Drive 35, Rated B-B
Don Walton, 828-654-9904, donwalton@bellsouth.net
Note early start time. This moderate hike will feature good views and a variety of trees and late wild flowers in bloom. Car shuttle. Second meeting place: Folk Art Center lower parking lot at 1:20 PM.
HALF DAY No. H0504-485 Oct. 23
Old U.S. 70 and the Railroad 12:30 PM
Hike 5-6, Drive 60, 1,000-ft ascent, Rated C-B
Danny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, danny@hikertohiker.org
Note early start time. We will walk up on old U.S. 70, now blocked off from traffic, to Swannanoa Gap, where we will enjoy a view of the valley, the railroad and tunnel. This hike is the CMC contribution to the WNC “Together We Read” program; this year’s book is The Road by John Ehle, about building the railroad up to Swannanoa Gap. (See www.togetherweread.org.) Second meeting place: Parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s at exit 64 of I-40 at 12:50 PM. Topos: Old Fort, Black Mountain.
HALF-DAY No. H0504-068 Oct. 30
Balsam Gap to Point Misery 1:00 PM
Hike 6, Drive 70, Rated B-B
Jorge Munoz, 828-658-0606, jmunoz@buncombe.main.nc.us
Note early start time. This in-and-out hike begins at Balsam Gap (Milepost 359.7) on the Blue Ridge Parkway and follows the ridge crest to Point Misery, with superb views of Mt. Mitchell and the Blacks. Second meeting place: Craven Gap at 1:20 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0504-023 Nov. 6
Bent Creek Gap to Beaver Dam Overlook 1:30 PM
Hike 3.8, Drive 30, Rated C-C
Renate Rikkers, 828-298-9988, rerikkers@aol.com
A moderate in-and-out hike over the top of Ferrin Knob on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.
HALF-DAY No. H0504-058 Nov. 13
Looking Glass Rock 1:00 PM*
Hike 6, Drive 33, Rated B-B
Barbara Passmore, 828-667-8684, bpsss354@netzero.com
*Note early start time. This in-and-out hike to the top of a granite monolith provides a good workout and beautiful views. *Second meeting place: Ranger Station on US 276 at 1:30 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0504-316 Nov. 20
Carl Sandburg 1:00 PM*
Hike 4, Drive 50, Rated C-C
Laura Stallard, 828-697-1579
*Note early start time. This loop hike begins at the parking lot of the Carl Sandburg Park in Flat Rock and follows the trail taken by the poet and Lincoln biographer to the top of Big Grassy Mountain. *Second meeting place: Sandburg Park parking lot at 1:30 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0504-377 Nov. 27
Lake Powhatan to MST Connector 1:30 PM*
Hike 4.5, Drive 30, Rated C-C
Sherman Stambaugh, 828-254-1736
This moderate hike is on a well-graded trail, on the small creek trail to an unnamed connector trail to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Just what you need after Thanksgiving! *Second meeting place: Ingles Parking lot across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 off I-26 at 1:40 PM.
HALF DAY No. H0504-486 Dec.. 4
Yellow Gap to Bradley Creek 1:00 PM*
Hike 4-5, Drive 56, Rated C-C
Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703
*Note early start time. Drive to Yellow Gap Parking area, then hike in-and-out along FS 5015 to Bradley Creek to view scenery and results of clear-cutting. *Meet at Westgate at 1:00 PM to form carpools; meet leader at the North Mills River parking area at 1:30 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0504-430 Dec. 11
Green River Game Lands 12:30 PM*
Hike 5, drive 70, Rated C-C
Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, belston@cytechusa.com
*Note early start time. We will hike the Long Ridge/Turkey Gut/Stair Step trails to form a five-mile loop. There should be nice winter views of Mt. Tryon and other mountains. Join hike leader for dinner at Cracker Barrel after the hike. *Meet at Westgate at 12:30 PM to form carpools; meet the leader at Cracker Barrel off I-26, exit 53 at 1:00 PM at the NW corner of the parking lot.
HALF DAY No. H0504-299 Dec. 18
Christmas Party Hike Noon*
Hike 4-5, Drive 50, Rated C-C
Diane Hankins, 828-298-2870 (before 9 PM)
*Note early start time. A leisurely paced annual hike. Bring a little gift (wrapped, please) and receive one too. Where we go will depend on the weather. *Only meeting place: Ingles Parking lot across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 off I-26. Suitable for anyone over 10 years of age. (Those under 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult.)
Merry Christmas! No hike Christmas Day.
HALF-DAY No. H0504-431 Jan. 1
Chestnut Cove to Sleepy Gap to Explorer Trail 1:00 PM*
Hike 5, Drive 20, Rated C-C
Paula Robbins, 828-281-3253 (before 9 PM), paularww@bellsouth.net
*Note early start time. Work off all those extra holiday party calories on this moderate loop hike in Bent Creek on part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. *Second meeting place, Ingles parking lot across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 south of I-26 at 1:10 PM.