HIKE SCHEDULE First Quarter 2004
Half Day Sunday Hikes
Hike Ratings First Letter Second Letter Distance Cumulative 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.
P400: Indicates that this hike qualifies for the P400 award. SB6K: Indicates that this hike qualifies for the SB6K award. Also in the hike descriptions, the terms easy, moderate or strenuous reflect the overall trail conditions, the physical challenge and other factors influencing hike difficulty. If you have questions, CONTACT THE LEADER.
Driving distance is round-trip from Asheville. All Saturday and Sunday hikes assemble at Westgate Shopping Center near I 240 UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
Half-day hikes submitted by Pat Elias, 828-687-1651, peliasy@aol.com and Paula Robbins, 828-281-3253, paularww@bellsouth.net . Driving distance is round-trip from Asheville. All hikes assemble at Westgate Shopping Center near I-240 UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
HALF-DAY No. H0401-168 Jan. 4 Pink Beds Loop 1:00 PM Hike 5, Drive 80, Rated C-C Elisabeth Feil 828-684-8719 hofeil@brinet.com P400 Note early start time. From Pink Beds parking lot we will make a pleasant loop past meandering streams & wildlife clearings. An easy popular hike with negligible elevation changes. Second meeting place: Pink Beds parking area at 2:00 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0401-316 Jan. 11 Carl Sandburg 1:30 PM Hike 4 Drive 50, Rated C-C Laura Stallard, 828-697-1579 Our route at this historic site will traverse the same trails that poet/author Carl Sandburg enjoyed. We will leisurely hike to the overlook on Big Glassy Mountain. NOTE: ONLY MEETING PLACE is Carl Sandburg Parking Area, Flat Rock
HALF-DAY No. H0401-317 Jan. 18 Shut-In (MST) and Owl Ridge Trails 1:00 PM Hike 4.5, Drive 0, 850 ft. ascent, Rated C-C Siro A. Del Favero, 828-277-2546 P400 Note early start time. Begin the New Year with a warm-up hike to begin at the French Broad Overlook. We will hike up Glenn Bald (2703 ft.) on the Shut-In Trail and return on the Owl Ridge Trail. NOTE: ONLY MEETING PLACE is French Broad Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway MP 394.
HALF-DAY No. H0401-043 Jan. 25 Frying Pan Tower or leader's choice 1:30 PM Hike 5-6, Drive 40, Rated B-B Boyd Brasington, 828-254-8675, boydb@buncombe.main.nc.us We will walk to the tower from Pisgah Inn or, if the Parkway is closed, another hike will be chosen. NOTE: ONLY MEETING PLACE is Ingles across from Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 (take I-26, exit 2).
HALF-DAY No. H0401-318 Feb. 1 East Fork, Pigeon River 12:30 PM Hike 5-6, Drive 90, Rated C-C Richard and Anita Walkey, 681-2967, Walkey@juno.com Note early start time. An in-and-out walk along one of Western NC's most beautiful rushing streams, perhaps ringed with ice and snow. We'll see how far we get within the time limits, but, hopefully, to a large rock in the middle of the river. Second meeting place: Big East Fork parking area on US 276, north of the Blue Ridge Parkway at 1:30 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0401-035 Feb. 8 Looking Glass Rock 12:30 PM Hike 6.2, Drive 70, 1700 ft. ascent, Rated C-B Elisabeth Feil, 828-684-8719 Note early start time. A moderately difficult, well-graded trail leads to the top of this interesting mountain. There are excellent view points along the way. Second meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station new parking lot at 1:15 PM.
HALF-DAY No. H0401-319 Feb. 15 Holmes Educational Forest 1:30 PM Hike 6, Drive 20, 500 ft. ascent, Rated B-C Doris Thibodeau, 828-274-9637, dorthib@aol.com A good winter hike with "talking trees" and a Forest Demonstration Trail explaining good forestry practices. NOTE: ONLY MEETING PLACE is Bi-Lo at U.S. 64 and U.S. 276, Pisgah Forest.
HALF-DAY No. H0401-320 Feb. 22 Swannanoa River Ramble noon Hike 5.5, Drive 20, Rated C-C Diane Hankins, 828-298-2870 (before 9 PM) Note early start time. Leisurely paced hike at Warren Wilson College includes the River Trail and Dam Pasture Trail through the woods to an old dam site. Suitable for anyone over 10 years of age (those under 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult). NOTE: ONLY MEETING PLACE is Oteen Ingles (near the VA hospital on Tunnel Road) parking lot at the post office flag pole.
HALF-DAY No. H0401-256 Feb. 29 Moore Cove Figure Eight 2:00 PM Hike 6, Drive 7, Rated B-B Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116, bbente@cytechusa.com P400 Note later start time. This hike is a re-scheduling of the rained-out hike last July. It is a nice double loop trail following two old USFS paths that are not on the map. There are a couple of short steep sections and two minor creek crossings. There is a good view of Looking Glass Rock and other sights visible only in the winter. NOTE: ONLY MEETING PLACE is Pisgah Ranger Station new parking lot.
HALF-DAY No. H0401-321 Mar. 7 Turkey Pen Ramble 1:00 PM Hike 6, Drive 70, Rated B-B Neal Andreae, 828-698-2546, NAndreae@gowebway.com P400 Stretch your legs on a loop including parts of the South Mills River, Pounding Mill, Mullinax, Squirrel Gap, and Bradley Creek trails. NOTE: ONLY MEETING PLACE is Turkey Pen trailhead on Turkey Pen Road just past Boylston Baptist Church on NC 280.
HALF-DAY No. H0401-322 Mar. 14 UNC-A Loop; Richmond Hill Park 1:30 PM Hike 4, Drive 10, Rated C-C Paula Robbins, 828-281-325, paularww@bellsouth.net Here's a chance to learn two short hikes in Asheville to take when you don't have time to drive out of town but need a workout. The loop around the University has a lot of ups and downs, and we may see the early bloodroot along the trails at Asheville's newest park.
HALF-DAY No. H0401-323 Mar. 21 Bent Creek Loop #3 1:00 PM Hike 6, Drive 20, 1250 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Ruth Hartzler, 828-251-0886, ruthmtn@aol.com P400 Note early start time. We will use parts of the Sleepy Gap, Explorer and Pine Tree trails and the Homestead Loop and visit the top of Grassy Knob, Sleepy Gap on the MST, and Lake Powhatan. This loop hike was originated by Tom Bindrim.
HALF-DAY No. H0401-324 Mar. 28 Bent Creek Loop #4 1:00 PM Eugene Jaroslaw, 828-255-9925 Hike 5, Drive 6, Rated C-C P400 Note early start time. A pleasant loop hike starting off the Bent Creek Gap Road, using parts of the Explorer Loop and the Chestnut Cove, MTS, and Sleepy Gap Trails. NOTE: ONLY MEETING PLACE is Ingles across from the Biltmore Square Mall on NC 191 (Take I-26, Exit 2).
HALF-DAY No. H0401-325 Apr. 4 Tanyard Gap to Rich Mountain 1:30 PM Hike 5, Drive 72, Rated C-B Jorge Munoz, 658-0606, jmunoz@buncombe.main.nc.us After a good and easy climb on the Appalachian Trail, we will be rewarded with an outstanding view of the Hot Springs area from the fire tower. Side benefits: spring flowers showing off all over, besides good company.