2st 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) near I-240 UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. Some hikes will have second meeting places as described in hike listings

HALF-DAY  No. H0502-101  Apr. 10 Lower Big Laurel Creek Wildflower Stroll Noon Hike 6, Drive 60, 200-ft ascent, Rated B-C Diane Hankins, 828-298-2870 (before 9 PM) Note early start time. Leisurely paced in-and-out hike along Lower Big Laurel Creek to the site of Runion, an early 1900s settlement. Suitable for anyone over 10 years of age (those under 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult). We’ll take time to identify the flowers we see. Long pants suggested (poison ivy sprouts early).

Half Day Hike  No. H0502-162   April 17 Mt. Pisgah from Elk Pasture Gap 1:00 PM Hike 5.5, Drive 30, Rated C-A Elisabeth Feil 828-684-8719 hofeil@brinet.com  P400 Note early start time. This moderate car-shuttle hike starts at Elk Pasture Gap (BRP and NC 151). The first two miles up to Little Pisgah Mtn. are steep (1100 ft in two miles). Then we'll descend to the Mt. Pisgah parking lot and climb another 700+ feet to the summit. Great views in good weather. Return from the parking lot. Second meeting place Mt. Pisgah Parking Lot.

HALF-DAY  No. H0502-450   April 24 Graveyard Fields 1:30 PM Hike 4, Drive 40, Rated C-C Heather and Barry Fletcher 828-299-4776 hmflet@aol.com  P400 Enjoy a moderate loop hike to the spectacular waterfall with a side trip to the Yellowstone Prong falls. Second meeting place: Graveyard Fields Parking Lot at BRP Milepost 418.8 at 2:15 PM.

HALF DAY  No. H0502-062   May 1 Daniel Ridge Loop 1:00 PM Hike 4, Drive 70, 1200-foot ascent, Rated C-B Pat Elias 828-687-1651 patelias@bellsouth.net  P400 Note early start time. This pretty loop hike goes up along the Davidson River, then climbs up and over Daniel Ridge and ends at a spectacular 90-ft. waterfall. Second meeting place: Bi-Lo in Pisgah Forest at 1:30 PM.

HALF-DAY  No. H0502-451   May 8 MST from Beaverdam Overlook to Sleepy Gap 1:30 PM Hike 5.5, Drive 35, Rated C-C, 960-ft. ascent Sherman Stambaugh 828-254-1736 P400 A moderate hike on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, with a climb to Ferrin Knob, site of a former fire tower. Easy hiking to Chestnut Cove, then over Truckwheel Mountain to Sleepy Gap. Short car shuttle. Second meeting place: Ingles on NC 191 across from Biltmore Square Mall at 1:45 PM.

HALF DAY  No. H0502-452   May 15 Dupont Forest: Fawn Lake P.L. #4 12:30 PM* Hike 6, Drive 94, Rated B-C Becky Elston 828-749-1886 belston@cytechusa.com  Note early start time. A pleasant loop with break at the bottom of Bridal Veil Falls. Weather and conditions permitting, we can walk behind the falls. Meet at 12:30 PM at Westgate to form carpools, and meet leader at Hooker Falls Parking Area at 1:30 PM.

HALF DAY  No. H0502-384  May 22 Black Balsam Road to Looking Glass Overlook 12:30 PM Hike 5.3, Drive 65, 1300-ft. ascent, Rated C-B Ruth Hartzler 828-251-0886 ruthmtn@aol.com  P400 Note early start time. Hike from Black Balsam Road (FS816) via Graveyard Fields and Skinny Dip Falls to Looking Glass Overlook. Short car shuttle. Second Meeting Place: BRP Cold Mountain Overlook at 1:15 PM. Topo: Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geographic Pisgah Ranger District map.

HALF-DAY  No. H0502-022   May 29 MST: Bent Creek Gap to Chestnut Cove 1:00 PM Hike 5.4, Drive 60, 400 ft. ascent, Rated C-C Paula Robbins 828-281-3253 (before 9 PM) paularww@bellsouth.net  P400 A pleasant in-and-out hike on a mostly level section of the MST, at a good time to see the mountain laurels in bloom. Map: MST Profiles, Pg. 55-56

HALF-DAY  No. H0502-343   June 5 Mount Mitchell Loop via Commissary Ridge 1:30 PM Hike 5, Drive 70, Rated B-B Jane and Lew Blodgett 828-274-7863 This moderate hike goes from the Ranger Station to the summit and returns via the Camp Alice Road. Sweeping views to the east on a clear day. Only meeting place: Folk Art Center lower parking lot.

HALF DAY  No. H0502-008   June 12 Bee Tree Gap Road to Rattlesnake Lodge 1:30 PM Hike 5.7, Drive 35, Rated B-B Don Walton 828-654-9904 donwalton@bellsouth.net  This moderate hike will feature good views and a variety of trees and wild flowers in bloom. Car spot. Second meeting place: Folk Art Center Lower Parking Lot at 1:45 PM.

HALF DAY  No. H0502-453  June 19 Max Patch Ramble 1:30 PM Hike 4, Drive 75, Rated C-C Gail Lamb 828-275-4500 gllamb@bellsouth.net  Awesome panoramic views and summer wildflowers make this moderate hike a favorite. We will go up Max Patch to the AT and north through meadows, woods and past a small stream. Then we will loop back on a side trail.

HALF DAY No. H0502-155   June 26 Picklesimer Fields 1:30 PM Hike 5, drive 40, Rated C-C Tom Sanders 828-252-6327 mel&tgs@main.nc.us  P400 This moderate in-and-out hike will start at the Fish Hatchery, take part of the Cat Gap Loop, go through Picklesimer Fields on the Butter Gap trail, and return.

No Hike Scheduled July 3 No hike is scheduled because the Appalachian Trail Conference biennial meeting is being held July 1-8 in Johnson City, TN, with CMC as a co-h