Wednesday hikes submitted by Charlie Ferguson 828-333-5165, ccf108@gmail.com and Ann Gleason 828-859-9387, gleason.ann@gmail.com . Driving distance is round-trip from Asheville. All Wednesday hikes assemble at Westgate Shopping Center parking lot near CVS (Exit 3B off I-240) UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. Some hikes will have second meeting places as described in hike listings. Please contact the hike leader if you are not sure of the meeting location. Meeting times vary.

WEDNESDAY NO W0803-374 July 2
Good Road to MST to Bald Knob 8:00 AM
Hike 9,5, Drive 80, 2500 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Janet Martin, jaykaymartin@msn.com
We’ll go north of our usual hiking area to hike the MST south from NC 221 to the North Fork of the Catawba River After crossing the new MST bridge over the river, we’ll hike north to the summit of Bald Knob, and return via the same route. Second meeting place: Parking lot adjacent to McDonalds at Exit 64 of I-40 at 8:20 AM Topo: Little Switzerland

Scouting Report: Janet and Charlie Ferguson scouted this hike on June 20. The weather was mostly cloudy which helped keep us cool. Afte parking and walking down the Forest Service road we arrived at where the MST meets the footbridge accross the North Fork of the Catawba River. The CMC hike before this one required fording the river someplace where it was wider and shallower - down river about a half mile. The river crossing looked very inviting on this warm day but we opted to cross the bridge, thereby testing it for the bigger crowd to follow. After waiting for a long empth coal train to pass we crossed the tracks and climbed to an old service road. About a half mile later the MST left the road and went up a little valley. The whole trail was steady uphill and graded well, with numerous switchbacks where the mountainside gets steep. There are perodic opening along the trail for views of the distant mountains. It was a bit hazy but the whole Black Mountain Crest was in perfect profile with it's nine 6000 foot peaks being easily identifiable. On the way up we pass a big hole next to the trail that we could only guess was an old mine of some sort. We had our first tasty blueberries of the season - a lot of the trail was lined with short blueberry plants. Perhaps there will be more ripe ones on the hike. At the top we walked along the Bald Knob ridgeline untill we arrived at the highest point and had lunch. There were good views of Lake James, Linville Gorge and the Black Mountain Crest again. There were no significant obstacles in the trail, which had been cleared in the past few years. This hike is shorter than originally advertized.

 

WEDNESDAY NO W0803-611 July 9
Big Ivy - Walker Ridge Loop 8:30 AM
Hike 8.2, Drive 34, 1950 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Ken & Carol Deal, 828-281-4530, cnkdeal@charter.net
We'll start our hike on the Walker Creek Trail, veer off to the steep and rocky Staire Creek Trail, and continue up on the Bear Pen Trail. Most of the altitude gain is accomplished during the first hour of the hike. The ascent will be at a moderate pace. Our next two miles is a stroll on the meadow-like Laurel Gap Trail, before heading back down to the cars, using the Perkins and Walker Creek Trails. These trails are rocky and steep in spots. There are several stream crossings on this hike. We walk near lovely creeks on part of the trail. Topo: Mt Mitchell, Craggy Pinnacle, Montreat; also South Toe/Big Ivy FS map RG355 and Nat’l. Geo. Linville Gorge Mt. Mitchell map #779

WEDNESDAY NO W0803-529 July 16
Fletcher Fields & Spencer Branch Trail *8:30 AM
Hike 9, Drive 60, 900 ft. ascent, Rated B-C
Greg Goodman, 828-684-9703
P400 *Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at pull-out just before Mills River Recreation Area at 9:00 AM. This will be a woods hike, crossing small creeks, mostly using log bridges. It will cover Fletcher Creek and Spencer Branch trails, with an in-and-out on the Middle Fork trail, and returning on FS 5097, an easy bushwhack, the Big Creek Trail, past the Hendersonville Reservoir, then to the Trace Ridge trailhead. Topo: Dunsmore Mt; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

WEDNESDAY NO W0803-044 July 23
Lost Cove Stream Hike 8:00 AM
Hike 6.8, Drive 150, 1950 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Brenda Worley, 828-684-8656, clworley@bellsouth.net
Everyone enjoyed this Sunday hike in the Wilson Creek area last year, so we're offering it on Wednesday for the first time. It features spectacular waterfalls and the best swimming anywhere. Bring your bathing suit. Be prepared for several wet-foot stream crossings. Optional supper afterwards at Little Siena. Second meeting place: Parking lot adjacent to McDonald's off I-40 at Exit 64 at 8:20 AM. Topo: Grandfather Mtn.; also USFS Wilson Creek map and Nat'l. Geo. Linville Gorge Mt. Mitchell map #779

Scouting Report:

Scout 6/30/08 of Lost Cove Stream Hike No W0803-044:
Members of scout: Charlie Ferguson, Susanna Whitaker, Greg Goodman, Jeannie (last name?), Brenda Worley
Weather: Partly Cloudy, about 85
Began Hike: 10:15am
Returned to cars: 7pm

Hiked on MST from parking lot then went left to first waterfall and swimming hole on Lost Cove Creek. Went right and crossed river and hiked up toward waterfalls on Gragg Prong. Lunch spot will be 2nd group of waterfalls and swimming holes on Gragg Prong. Crossed river and hiked to Roseborough Parking Lot. Turned left and continued toward Timber Ridge on a hot pink blazed trail. Continued right on hot pink blazed trail at first crossroads. Hiked hot pink blazed trail to MST and took MST back up trail to cars. Hiked approximately 10 miles with approximately 3000' elevation gain.  Brenda.

Note that the hike scouted above included a 4 mile addition with an added 1000 feet of climbing.  We will not be doing the extra stuff on July 23.  If the July 23 hike is done as a loop (see the map) it will be about 7 miles and 2000 feet (more ascent than originally described). There is an option to do the hike as an in/out hike and reduce the climbing even more.  With good balance and hiking poles it's possible to cross the streams without getting boots soaked, although water shoes or wet boots are moe likely to work.  (Getting wet is a feature of this hike).   Charlie.

WEDNESDAY NO W0803-249 July 30
Haywood Gap / Buckeye Gap *8:30 AM
Hike 9, Drive 80, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Stuart English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@citcom.net
P400 *Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Cold Mtn. Overlook on BRP at 9:10 AM. We'll hike the MST and the Buckeye Gap Trail in the Middle Prong Wilderness, down a ridgeline on an old logging railroad grade, then pass an old logging camp. At the junction with the Haywood Gap Trail, we'll hike steeply up alongside Haywood Gap stream to Haywood Gap and follow the MST back to our cars. Wilderness area hike, limited to ten hikers—call leader for reservations. Topo: Sam Knob; also Nat'l. Geo. PRD map #780 and USFS Shining Rock and Middle Prong Wilderness map

Scouting Report:

On July 1 six of us scouted this hike in the Middle Prong Wilderness. It was a beautiful day that started very cool: 59 degrees and windy. The Buckeye Gap trail was very overgrown and seemingly unmaintained. It was hard to follow in places. There were a lot of blow downs that we had to crawl over and under. There was one huge blow down that obscured the trail and made it hard to find again. The Haywood Gap trail was much better but very steep in places. There was a big rock that we had to climb down that would be a problem if wet. The stream crossings were not bad, but could be with more rain.

The point is that anyone considering this hike should not let the 9 miles and 1500 feet ascent mislead them. This is a strenuous hike and took 7.5 hours. Stuart

WEDNESDAY NO W0803-357 Aug. 6
Pisgah Ridge Loop 9:00 AM
Hike 7.5, Drive 70, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Joe Burchfield, 828-298-8413, burchfield@niu.edu
P400 We'll do a scenic circle of the entire Graveyard Fields area, using the Pisgah Ridge Trail and MST to lunch at a beautiful overlook. Then we'll follow the Graveyard Ridge Trail, with a side trip to one of the Yellowstone Falls. Possible early blueberry sightings.
Second meeting place: Cold Mtn. overlook on BRP at 9:40 AM. Topos: Shining Rock, Sam Knob; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780 and USFS Shining Rock & Middle Prong Wilderness map

WEDNESDAY NO W0803-475 Aug. 13
Hump Mountain/Yellow Mountain Area *8:30 AM
Hike 9, Drive 140, 2400 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA
Adrian Lotherington, 828-484-9132, jaloth@charter.net
*ONLY MEETING PLACE: Rose's car park, across from McDonalds at the US 25/70 Weaverville Exit #19 at 8:30 AM. We will hike from Roaring Creek Road to Yellow Mountain Gap, at which point we join the AT along an open ridge to Little Hump Mtn. and on to Hump Mtn. where we will have lunch on a grassy bald at 5587 ft. We will return to Yellow Mtn. Gap and take the Overmountain Victory Loop back to the car park. The fabulous vistas and meadows full of flowers make the drive and moderately strenuous walk very much worthwhile. Topos: Carvers Gap, White Rocks Mtn.; also Nat’l. Geo. South Holston and Watauga Lakes map #783

WEDNESDAY NO W0803-612 Aug. 20
Flat Laurel Creek - Devil's Courthouse *8:00 AM
Hike 7.5, Drive 70, 500 ft. ascent, Rated B-C
Becky Elston, 828-749-1886, belston@cytechusa.com
P400, SB6K *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form car pools, and meet hike leader at Cold Mountain Overlook on BRP at 8:40 AM. We will go south on the Art Loeb Trail and view Pilot Mountain from an off trail overlook and then to Little Sam Trail north to have lunch on Flat Laurel Creek. Then south to Devil's Courthouse and back to the cars. Possible optional side trip to SB6K Chestnut Bald. Should be cooler at the 5000 feet elevation. Topos: Shining Rock, Sam Knob; also Natl. Geo. PRD map #780

WEDNESDAY NO W0803-337 Aug. 27
Shining Rock from Black Balsam *8:30 AM  (Cancelled and re-scheduled for September 17)
(difficult)
Hike 11, Drive 65, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Charlie Ferguson, 828-333-5165, ccf108@gmail.com
SB6K, P400 We will take the Art Loeb Trail from FS 816 to Shining Rock (6040’), climbing Black Balsam (6214’), Tennent Mtn. (6040’) and Grassy Cove Top (6040’) along the way. This will be your chance to bag four SB6K peaks while enjoying beautiful views covering the area from Pilot Mtn. to Cold Mtn. We’ll return via the Ivestor Gap Trail to get a different perspective on the same area. *Wilderness area hike limited to 10 people. Please contact hike leader to reserve your place. Second Meeting Place: BRP Cold Mtn. overlook at 9:10 AM. Topo: Shining Rock, Sam Knob; also Natl. Geo. PRD map #780.

WEDNESDAY NO W0803-247 Aug. 27
Ivestor Gap Blueberry Hike *8:30 AM
(easy)
Hike 5, Drive 65, 500 ft. ascent, Rated C-C
Bonnie Allen, 828-645-0357
P400, SB6K Our traditional hike to the picking fields of Grassy Cove Top in the Shining Rock Wilderness. While others are picking blueberries, there is an optional hike to the top of 6000 ft Grassy Cove Top (more blueberries). Everyone should bring berry picking containers (milk jugs) and a hat and sunscreen. Maybe put some water in a jug to pour over your head or shirt if it's hot. *Wilderness area hike limited to 10 people. Please contact hike leader to reserve your place.. Second Meeting Place: Cold Mtn. Overlook on BRP at 9:10 AM. Topo: Sam Knob; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

WEDNESDAY NO W0803-091 Sept. 3
Blacks South of Mt. Mitchell 8:00 AM
Hike 9, Drive 90, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary2@charter.net
SB6K From Mt. Mitchell we will follow the Old Mitchell Trail south with a bushwhack to climb Mt. Hallback (6320 ft.), then to 6571 ft. Mt. Gibbes and continuing to Potato Knob, with return by partially alternate route. You can also climb Mt. Mitchell to fill out your list of 6000+ ft. peaks. Second Meeting Place: Parking lot adjacent to McDonalds at Exit 64 of I-40 at 8:20 AM. Topo: Mt. Mitchell, Montreat; also USFS. South Toe River, Mt. Mitchell & Big Ivy Trail Map

WEDNESDAY NO W0803-520 Sept. 10
Clawhammer via Pressley Cove *9:00 AM
Hike 7.7, Drive 70, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Ashok Kudva, 828-698-7119, ashok.kudva@mchsi.com
P400 *Meet at Westgate at 9:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Ranger Station at 9:35 AM. This hike will start with a steep climb on the Pressley Cove Trail, then finish the climb on the Black Mtn. Trail. Great views at lunch from the Clawhammer overlook. Short car shuttle. Topo: Pisgah Forest; also Nat'l. Geo. PRD map #780

Note: Two hikes on Sept.17 - one moderate and one difficult:

WEDNESDAY NO W0803-242 Sep. 17
Sam Knob-Devils Courthouse *8:30 AM
(moderate)
Hike 8.5, Drive 75, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Ruth Hartzler, 828-251-0886, ruthmtn@charter.net
SB6K, P400 From FS 816 we will ascend Sam Knob (6040 ft.) with its 360 degree views, then hike though high meadows on the Flat Laurel and Little Sam Trails and the MST via Devils Courthouse (with its great views). We then return via the MST across FS 816 and up to the summit of Black Balsam (6214 ft.), then down to our cars. Note: Ask the leader about options which can reduce the distance and ascent for this hike. Second Meeting Place: Cold Mtn. Overlook on BRP at 9:10 AM. Topo: Sam Knob; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

WEDNESDAY NO W0803-337 Sept. 17   (rescheduled from Aug 27)
Shining Rock from Black Balsam *8:30 AM
(difficult)
Hike 11, Drive 65, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Charlie Ferguson, 828-333-5165, ccf108@gmail.com
SB6K, P400 We will take the Art Loeb Trail from FS 816 to Shining Rock (6040’), climbing Black Balsam (6214’), Tennent Mtn. (6040’) and Grassy Cove Top (6040’) along the way. This will be your chance to bag four SB6K peaks while enjoying beautiful views covering the area from Pilot Mtn. to Cold Mtn. We’ll return via the Ivestor Gap Trail to get a different perspective on the same area. *Wilderness area hike limited to 10 people. Please contact hike leader to reserve your place. Second Meeting Place: BRP Cold Mtn. overlook at 9:10 AM. Topo: Shining Rock, Sam Knob; also Natl. Geo. PRD map #780.  (This hike is also being done on Sunday Sept 21).

WEDNESDAY NO W0803-250 Sept. 24
Douglas Falls – Locust Ridge Circuit 8:00 AM
Hike 11, Drive 60, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@bellsouth.net
SB6K This popular diversified hike features beautiful Douglas (Carter Creek) Falls, a climb through a hemlock forest to the MST, and a scenic lunch stop at the BRP Greybeard Overlook. Optional climb to Craggy Dome (6080 ft.) during lunch stop. After lunch, we’ll see great views from a high mountain meadow, and then bushwhack down Locust Ridge. Short car shuttle. Topo: Montreat and Craggy Pinnacle; also Nat’l. Geo. Linville Gorge Mt. Mitchell map #779

Scouting report for hike 250 for Wednesday 9/24

This hike was scouted on 8/23 and a GPS track showed that it is only 8 miles long, not 11 as listed in Lets Go. Douglas Falls had very little water due to the drought, but with luck this may be different when we hike it on 9/24. After the waterfall, we climbed about 1000' to the MST and then followed it to the Greybeard overlook for lunch. The MST portion is rocky with some slippery spots--poles will be helpful. The lunch stop was pleasantly quiet since the BRP is closed here. The bushwhack down Locust Ridge in open forest is fun to do and follows a very faint old trail most of the way down the ridge.