All-day hikes submitted by Bruce Bente 828-692-0116, bbente@bellsouth.net. Driving distance is round-trip from Asheville. All Saturday and Sunday 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.

Directions to Westgate (Call leader for directions to other meeting places)

Scout Dates: If the hike leader is open to others hiking the scout, hikes might have a scout date listed.   If you want to go on the scout then call the hike leader.

ALL DAY NO. A0903-337 July 5
Shining Rock from Black Balsam *8:30 AM
(strenuous)
Hike 11, Drive 65, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Lenny Bernstein, 828-236-0192, lsberns@worldnet.att.net
SB6K, P400 *Note later start time. In honor of the 40th Anniversary of the Art Loeb Trail, we’ll take the ALT from FS 816 to Shining Rock (6040 ft.), climbing Black Balsam (6214 ft.), Tennent Mtn. (6040 ft.) and Grassy Cove Top (6040 ft.) 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: Cold Mtn. Overlook (BRP M.P. 412) at 9:05 AM. Topos: Shining Rock, Sam Knob; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

ALL DAY NO. A0903-657 July 5
Carvers Gap – Yellow Gap 8:00 AM
(moderate)
Hike 8, Drive 130-140, 2300 ft. (SB), 1100 ft. (NB) ascent, Rated B-AA (SB) or B-B (NB)
Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@bellsouth.net and Carroll Koepplinger, 828-667-0723, carrollkoepp@bellsouth.net
SB6K Key swap hike. From Carvers Gap, the NB direction will hike north on the AT through open meadows with spectacular 360º views and many Gray’s Lilies in bloom, with a side trip over Grassy Ridge Bald (6160 ft.) to a scenic lunch spot. We’ll then return to the AT and follow it north past the AT shelter barn, and turn down to our cars at the end of Roaring Creek Rd. Second meeting place: Burnsville McDonalds at 8:40 AM. Topos: Carvers Gap, White Rocks Mtn.; also Nat’l. Geo. Cherokee & Pisgah Nat’l. Forests map #783

SATURDAY NO. A0903-658 July 11
Gabes Mtn. – Maddron Bald Trails *10:00 AM
Hike 7.8, Drive 150, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Janet Martin, 502-494-9309, jaykaymartin@msn.com
900M *Note later start time. This hike is on a mostly gentle trail from Cosby Campground in GSMNP through dense laurel and rhododendron with a short, steep side trip to the bottom of Hen Wallow Falls. Then we’ll continue westward and turn right onto the Maddron Bald Trail to our cars. Car shuttle. Topos: Hartford, Luftee Knob; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map #229

ALL DAY NO. A0903-473 July 12
Mt. Mitchell/Maple Camp Bald *8:30 AM
Hike 8.5, Drive 70, 1600 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Bob Hysko, 828-645-4626, rhysko@yahoo.com
SB6K *Note later start time. We’ll do a moderate loop with great views, starting at Mt. Mitchell, following the MST, Mt. Mitchell and Buncombe Horse Range Trails. We’ll stop at Maple Camp Bald, then take the Big Tom Gap Trail #191-A up to the Crest Trail, and return via Big Tom and Mt. Craig. Second meeting place: Craven Gap at 8:50 AM. Topo: Mt. Mitchell; also PNF South Toe River, Mt. Mitchell & Big Ivy trail map

ALL DAY NO. A0903-120 July 19
Charlies Bunion – Kephart Prong 8:00 AM
Hike 10.2, Drive 140, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-B
Michael & Kathy Cornn, 828-698-3672, mcornn@aol.com
900M An outstanding rock outcrop along the AT and stunning views are the highlights of the trip. From Newfound Gap, we’ll hike 4 miles to our lunch spot at Charlies Bunion, then hike Dry Sluice Gap, Grassy Branch and Kephart Prong Trails down to US 441. Note that this hike has 2800 ft. of descent. Car shuttle. Second meeting place: Maggie Valley Town Hall at 8:30 AM, but call leader first. Topos: Clingman’s Dome, Mt. Guyot, Smokemont; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map #229

SATURDAY No. A0903-405 July 25
Mills River Overlook to Pisgah Inn, and return *8:30 AM
Hike 9.2, Drive 30, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Barbara Morgan, 828-738-3395, bcmorg@hughes.net
P400 *Note later start time. We will start at the BRP Mills River Overlook (M.P. 404.5) and follow the MST across Little Pisgah, past the site of the old Buck Spring Lodge, to the Pisgah Inn. There are two steep climbs, with switchbacks. We’ll retrace our steps back to the Mills River Overlook after lunch. Topos: Dunsmore Mtn., Cruso; also MST Trail Profiles, pg. 53-54 and Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

Scout Report:  Brenda Worley and Mary Beth Gwinn accompanied hike leader Barbara Morgan on a scout of this hike on July 21. The hike is part of the MST and pretty much parallels the parkway southward to Pisgah Inn. It has a round trip length of 9.2 miles, 2000' elevation gain, and is considered difficult. In the hike as scheduled, the group will have lunch at the vicinity of Pisgah Inn, but not at the restaurant there, so bring your lunch as usual. We'll find a nice place to eat near the inn, hopefully with a view of the panorama of mountains there. However, there are cold drinks, ice cream maybe, etc available a the "General Store" there, so bring some money if you want.

In the scout, though, we did the hike to Pisgah Inn and had another car there, so full trip times are estimated. We started at Mills River Valley overlook (milepost 404.5 BRP). We crossed the Parkway at Elk Pasture Gap. After a series of several fairly long climbs we arrived at the parking area for the trail to Mt. Pisgah (not part of the hike as scheduled). Continuing on, we reached the area of Pisgah Inn with approximately 2 1/2 hours of hiking time for our one-way trip. I'd estimate that our return to Westgate on the day of the hike will be between 2:30 and 3:00.

I'd wondered if the proximity of the Parkway would mean lots of road noise on the hike, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was not so. We were treated to lots of Turks' Cap Lillies, Black Cohosh, and other mid-summer wildflowers. There were various fungi that were very pretty, too. The 2000' of elevation gain seems daunting, but except for one climb, it isn't too bad - the terrain is rolling, so not all the climb is at once.

The official meeting place is Westgate at 8:30 for both hikes, but several have planned to meet at the BRP overlook instead at 9:00, so that's fine.

Barbara

ALL DAY NO. A0903-659 July 26
Elk Park – Yellow Mtn. Gap 8:00 AM
Hike 8, Drive 140-150, 2000 ft. (NB),
2400 ft. (SB) ascent, Rated B-AA
Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327, tomary.avl@gmail.com and Steve Bowers, 828-273-1117, farawaysteve@yahoo.com
Key swap hike. From Elk Park, southbounders will climb Hump Mtn. to a junction with the AT, then hike open meadows with spectacular 360º views through Bradley Gap and up over Little Hump Mtn. We’ll stop to see the only AT shelter that is in an old barn, and then hike down to our cars at the end of Roaring Creek Rd. Second meeting place: Burnsville McDonalds at 8:40 AM. Topos: Carvers Gap, White Rocks Mtn.; also Nat’l. Geo. Cherokee & Pisgah Nat’l. Forests map #783

ALL DAY NO. W0903-214 Aug. 2
Kimsey Creek Trail – Standing Indian Circuit *8:00 AM
Hike 11, Drive 170, 2800 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Brent Martin, 828-369-7084, brent_martin@tws.org
*Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader in Franklin at the Roller Mill shopping center, in front of K-Mart, on US 64 at 9:30 AM. A stop will be made at the rest stop beyond Waynesville on US 23/74 at 8:30 AM. We’ll hike this great spring flower hike in the summer for a change. The Standing Indian area in the Nantahala National Forest is known for its beautiful forest, rushing streams and excellent vistas. We’ll hike up the Kimsey Creek Trail to the AT, and the AT to our lunch spot, Standing Indian. At 5498 ft., it is the highest mountain on the AT south of the Great Smoky Mountains, with outstanding views. Topo: Rainbow Springs

ALL DAY NO. A0903-652 Aug. 2
Devil Fork Gap to Rocky Fork Rd. *9:00 AM
(moderate)
Hike 7, Drive 80, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Don Walton, 828-654-9904, donwalton@bellsouth.net
*Note later start time. This new CMC hike ventures into the new Rocky Fork Tract purchase of 10,000 acres near Flag Pond, TN. The first three miles of this one way hike is on the AT to Flint Gap Shelter and on to Flint Gap and entry into the Rocky Fork Tract. This route is also the path of a surprise attack on an Indian Camp in the early 1800’s. Car shuttle. Topo: Flag Pond

ALL DAY NO. A0903-068 Aug. 9
Big Butt from BRP *9:00 AM
Hike 7, Drive 55, 2200 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA
Ruben Marshall, 828-299-1497
*Note later start time. Only meeting place is Folk Art Center, back parking lot. We will take the Big Butt trail from Balsam Gap on the BRP, following the ridgeline to Big Butt (Yeates Knob), a short bushwhack at just under 6000 ft., and return via the same route. We will stop at Point Misery for lunch and views of the Black Mtns. Topos: Montreat, Mt. Mitchell; also South Toe River PNF map

SATURDAY NO. A0903-369 Aug. 15
Buckeye Gap – Gage Bald – Bear pen Gap *10:00 AM
Hike 6, Drive 80, 950 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Kathleen Hudson, 828-698-5208, mstish1325@gmail.com
P400 *Note later start time. Meet at Westgate to form carpools, and meet leader at Cold Mtn. Overlook (BRP M.P. 412) at 10:35 AM. We will start by hiking a section of the MST that leads through a lush forest of spruce and birch. The forest floor is covered with mosses and ferns. At Wet Camp Gap in a field of blooming phlox, a side trail will be followed to Gage Bald with its great views. We will hike through areas that in past years have yielded abundant blueberries and will stop to do some picking if we find them. Short car shuttle. Topo: Sam Knob; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

Scouting report for hike #369 to be hiked on Saturday 8/15/09
This hike was scouted on 8/9/09. A GPS track measured the hike length as 6 miles, not 8 miles as listed in Lets Go.
Many blueberries were ripe at Sherman's Field and fewer at Wet Camp Gap. Very few were found at Gage Bald.
WARNING! Due to abundant nettles and blackberry bushes along the first half of the hike, shorts should not be worn on this hike. We trimmed the worst of the blackberry bushes, but not all of them. Long pants will make the hike more enjoyable.
-reported by Bruce Bente

ALL DAY NO. A0903-267 Aug. 16
Horsepasture River 8:00 AM
Hike 8, Drive 105, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Kathleen Hannigan, 828-230-4883, kathleen.hannigan@pgnmail.com
Swimming hike! Come to see the newly re-opened Gorges State Park area. We’ll hike down alongside the Horsepasture River to see the waterfalls – Drift, Turtleback, Rainbow and Stairway, ending at Windy, the finale downstream near Lake Jocassee. One or more swimming breaks will be taken. Second meeting place: Bi-lo side parking lot in Pisgah Forest at 8:35 AM. Topo: Reid; Also Sierra Club guide to Jocassee Gorges.

ALL DAY NO. A0903-527 Aug. 23
Chatooga River & Ellicott Rock *8:00 AM
Hike 8.5, Drive 150, 950 ft. ascent, Rated B-C
Dave Wetmore, 828-884-7296, dwetmore@citcom.net
*Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at the Bi-Lo side parking lot in Pisgah Forest at 8:35 AM. Come stand where 3 states join! View an 1811 boundary marker between Georgia and North Carolina that settled the Walton War but still rankles many Georgians. View an 1813 boundary marker between North Carolina and South Carolina. This hike has gentle grades and goes along the Chatooga River. To really see the markers you’ll have to get knee deep in the river, so come prepared. Topo: Tamassee; also Nat’l. Geo. Nantahala & Cullasaja Gorges map #785

SATURDAY NO. A0903-357 Aug. 29
Pisgah Ridge Loop *8:30 AM
Hike 7.5, Drive 70, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Janet Onan, 828-698-3237, janonan@bellsouth.net
P400 *Note later start time. Meet at Westgate at 8:30 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Cold Mtn. overlook (BRP M.P. 412) at 9:05 AM. 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 stop for swimming at one of the Yellowstone Falls. Probable blueberry consumption. Topos: Shining Rock, Sam Knob; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780 and USFS Shining Rock & Middle Prong Wilderness map

Scouted on 8/17/09.  A nice moderate hike with excellent views.  Trail is in good condition, suitable for shorts.  Large quantities of blackberries are along trail, along with a fair amount of blueberries.  Since the actual hike is 12 days after the scout, expect fewer blueberries but probably the same amount of blackberries.  A 30-minute stop  was made for swimming at the swimming hole at the bottom of one of the waterfalls, and will be done on the actual hike, weather permitting. - reported by Bruce Bente

ALL DAY NO. A0903-190 Aug. 30
MST: Mt. Mitchell to Balsam Gap 8:00 AM
Hike 9.5, Drive 70, 1600 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Barth Brooker, 828-299-0298, barthb@bellsouth.net
SB6K This is one of the really great sections of the MST, and includes two SB6K peaks. The first part of the hike features exceptional views south from the Black Mtns., while the second part showcases the trail-building and rock-work achievements of the CMC. See spectacular scenery from our lunch spot on a rocky outcropping. Topos: Mt. Mitchell, Montreat; also PNF South Toe River, Mt. Mitchell & Big Ivy Trail Map

ALL DAY NO. A0903-660 Sept. 6
Chimney Tops from Newfound Gap 8:00 AM
(strenuous)
Hike 10.4, Drive 140, 3250 ft. ascent,
Rated A-AA+
Jeff McGurk, 864-801-1314, jbsbestfan@hotmail.com
900M For the 900M fans, we’ll do an in-and-out hike on the AT from Newfound Gap to Indian Gap, then follow the Road Prong and Chimney Tops trail. Expect spectacular views, steep climbs and wet feet from the many stream crossings. Second meeting place: Maggie Valley Town Hall at 8:30 AM, but call leader first. Topos: Clingman’s Dome, Mt. Le Conte; also Nat’l. Geo. GSMNP map #229

ALL DAY NO. A0903-469 Sept. 6
MST: Craggy Gardens to Bull Gap *8:30 AM
(moderate)
Hike 7.6, Drive 40, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Ashok Kudva, 828-698-7119, ashok.kudva@mchsi.com
*Note later start time. This pleasant hike on the MST will start at the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center and feature Lane Pinnacle and the Rattlesnake Lodge site. Car shuttle. Second meeting place: Craven Gap at 8:50 AM. Topos: Montreat, Craggy Pinnacle; also MST Trail Profiles, pg. 63-65

Scout Report: Hike 469 was scouted on Thursday, 8/27. Long pants are recommended because of nettles and other nasty vegetation along the trail.  We will start at Bee Tree Gap instead of Craggy Gardens Visitor Center to reduce car shuttle time. Some sections of the BRP have only one lane open, with traffic light control. To compensate for the reduced distance, the hike will be extended to Ox Creek Rd. on the other end. The total hike will be 8 miles with a climb of about 1500 ft. There may be heavy vegetation on the Bull Gap to Ox Creek Rd. section unless a CMC maintenance crew is able to weed-whack it before the day of the hike. Recommend wearing long pants.

ALL DAY NO. A0903-396 Sept. 13
Pilot Rock/Pisgah/Thompson Creek *8:00 AM
Hike 11, Drive 80, 3000 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA
Charlie Ferguson, 828-625-2677, ccf108@gmail.com
P400 *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Ranger Station at 8:40 AM. We will climb 1500 feet in 2 miles up the well-graded Pilot Rock trail, with a gentler 2 miles before climbing 750 feet in 2/3 miles up Mt. Pisgah trail to our lunch spot on the summit of Mt. Pisgah, and then down the Thompson Creek trail. Expect great views along the way. Topos: Dunsmore Mtn., Cruso; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

SATURDAY No. A0903-615 Sept. 19
Black Balsam Loop via Graveyard Ridge Trail & ALT 10:00 AM
Hike 6, drive 70, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B
Marcia Bromberg, 828-505-0471, mwbromberg@yahoo.com
P400 Begin at FS 816, north on MST to Graveyard Ridge Trail. Left on Graveyard Ridge Trail to Ivestor Gap. Return on Art Loeb over Tennant and Black Balsam. We’ll stop at Ivestor Gap for possible late blueberries, and at the high points to enjoy great views! Second meeting place: Cold Mtn. Overlook (BRP M.P. 412) at 10:35 AM. Topos: Sam Knob, Shining Rock; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780

ALL DAY NO. A0903-211 Sept. 20
MST: Pigeon Gap to NC 151 *8:00 AM
Hike 10.7 Drive 50, 1980 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Stuart English, 828-883-2447, stuengo@citcom.net
P400 *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Cold Mtn. Overlook (BRP M.P. 412) at 8:35 AM. We’ll hike the MST past the Pisgah Inn, over the top of Little Pisgah Mountain, and down to Elk Pasture Gap, enjoying mountain views along the way. Car shuttle. Topos: Shining Rock, Pisgah Forest; also Nat’l. Geo. PRD map #780 and MST Profiles, pg. 52-54

SATURDAY NO. A0903-329 Sept. 26
Blackrock Mtn./Fisher Creek Trail *8:00 AM
Hike 10.8, Drive 96, 3000 ft. ascent, Rated A-AA+
Cindy McJunkin, 828-712-9646, mcjfive@aol.com
SB6K *Meet at Westgate at 8:00 am to form carpools, and meet leader at rest area on US 23/74 near Waynesville at 8:30 AM. This hike starts at the end of Fisher Creek Rd. east of Sylva and climbs to the summit of Blackrock Mtn. The trail, mostly old logging roads, is steep and rocky in places, but the views from Blackrock Mtn. are superb. Next we’ll go over Yellowface Mtn. and finish at the Waterrock Knob parking lot. Car shuttle. Topo: Sylva North  Deer bow hunting season - hike in groups and wear bright orange.

ALL DAY NO. A0903-074 Sept. 27
Tanawha Trail 8:00 AM*
Hike 13.3, Drive 150, 2600 ft. ascent, Rated AA-AA
Jim Reel, 828-738-0751, jimr57@yahoo.com
*Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM, stop at second meeting place in Ingles parking lot adjacent to McDonald’s at Exit 64 of I-40 at 8:20 AM, and meet leader at Beacon Heights overlook at 9:30 AM. One of our best hikes when the weather cooperates. A fragile and ancient ecosystem, rhododendron and laurel tunnels, hardwood coves, boulder fields and great views make this a special hike. It will be a long day, consider an optional supper stop. Topos: Grandfather Mtn., Valle Crucis; also Nat’l. Geo. Cherokee NF map #783 and Linville Gorge map #779