Wednesday Hikes
HIKE SCHEDULE
Second Quarter 2004
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.
Submitted by Paula McNabb, 828-274-0057, gcmcnabb@charter.net .
The meeting place for each hike will be
designated by the hike leader and will appear in the hike description. Driving mileage will be listed, round trip, from the first designated meeting place.
ALL DAY No. W0401-315 April 7
Black Mountain Bushwhack 8:30 AM
Hike 8, Drive 1, Rated B-A
Larry Ballard, 828-891-4318 leballard@cytechcis.net
Eileen McGill, 828-891-4409 dolphins@ioa.com
P400 Starting on Yellow Gap Trail, we hike up FS 5051, then bushwhack up Black Mountain, on to Rich Gap, down to FS 5055, and back to Yellow Gap Road. Topo: Dunsmore Mountain; also Nat’l. Geographic Pisgah Ranger District map. Meeting Place: North Mills River picnic area.
ALL DAY No. W0402-339 April 14
AT Hike: Garenflo Gap
to Lemon Gap 8:30 AM
Hike 7.4, drive 125 (roundtrip), 3000 ft cumulative climb, rated B-AA
Curt Holladay, 628-9477,
We will start the hike southbound on the AT at Garenflo Gap and while we are still fresh take on the challenge of the 2500 ft climb up Bluff Mt (4686 ft). There should be some worthwhile views at the top. We will descend the south slope of Bluff Mt through Catpen Gap down almost 1000 ft to Kale Gap and from there climb about 500 ft up Walnut Mt. It really is all downhill from there to Lemon Gap. Meeting place: Westgate Shopping Center.
ALL DAY No. W0402-289 April 21
MST: Glassmine Falls Overlook
to Stepps Gap 8:30 AM
Hike 7, Drive 70, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated B-A
Tom Sanders 828-252-6327 mel&tgs@main.nc.us
SB6K Features 2 peaks over 6000, Blackstock Knob and Mt. Gibbes. This route has been worked out by Cave Dog and Tom, with a shortcut bushwhack off the MST around the North of Potato Knob and on to Clingmans Peak and Gibbes. Car shuttle. Topos: Mt.Mitchell and Montreat. Meeting place: Westgate Shopping Center
ALL DAY No. W0402-033 April 28
Ramsey Cascades 8:00 AM
Hike 8, Drive 160, 2000 ft. ascent,
Rated B-AA
Tommie Boston 828-686-5029 tambee2@aol.com
900M This is one of the classic spring wildflower hikes in the Smokies. Sixty-foot high Ramsey Cascades is located in a rich forested glen with an amazing variety of wildflowers and a grove of old-growth Tulip trees. The drive and effort to reach this trail are a small price to pay for the reward .First meeting place: Westgate Shopping Center. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck Stop at exit 24 off I 40 at 8:30 AM. Topo: Mt. Guyot
ALL DAY No. W0402-276 May 5
AT: Streets Gap to Big Bald 8:30 AM
Hike 9, Drive 75, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-A
Jay Bretz, 828-658-1220, williambretz1220@msn.com
Big Bald is one of the crown jewels of our section of the AT, with views of the Blacks, Smokies, and other ranges in WNC and Eastern Tennessee. This is an in-and-out hike from the Tennessee side. Topos: Sams Gap and Bald Creek. Meeting place: Westgate Shopping Ctr.
ALL DAY No. W0402-060 May 12
Pilot Mtn. from Gloucester Gap 9:00 AM
Hike 5-6, Drive 80, 2000 ft. ascent,
Rated C-A
Elisabeth and Heinz Feil 828-684-8719 hofeil@brinet.com
P400 This loop trail (which is part of the Art Loeb Tr. and the Alternate MST) starts at Gloucester Gap and climbs 2000 ft in two miles to the summit. We'll take the Forest Service road back down to the cars. Pinkshell azaleas should be in full bloom and maybe some rosy twisted stalk. Bring insect repellent - there are bugs at the top. Meeting place: Pisgah Ranger Station, US 276
ALL DAY No. W0402-340 May 19
3 Best waterfalls in S. Carolina 8:30 AM
Hike 6, drive 160 (from exit 53), rated B-C
Jack Fitzgerald, 828-685-2897, suejackfitz@brinet.com
Visit the 3 highest rated waterfalls in South Carolina on 3 in-and-out hikes. Best: Yellow Branch Falls, 3 miles, beautiful setting & falls. Next best: Issaqueena Falls, great picnic lunch. Add a visit inside Stumphouse Tunnel. Final best: Lee Falls, 3 miles, several stream crossings, final quarter mile very strenuous rock hopping. Meeting place: Cracker Barrel at exit 53 (old exit 22) of I 26
ALL DAY No. W0402-359 May 26
MST - Balsam Gap to Bee Tree Gap, WILDFLOWER HIKE. 8:30 am
Hike 8, Drive 46, Rated B-B.
Brad & Bev Van Diver, 828-669-2740,
Car shuttle. A beautiful, moderate hike with Wonderful views. Meeting place: lower lot at Folk Art Center.
ALL DAY No hike scheduled for June 2
ALL DAY No. W0402-172 June 9
John Rock Loop 10:00 A.M.
Drive 0, Hike 6.5, Rated B-B
Paula McNabb, 828-274-0057, gcmcnabb@charter.net
P400 A repeat of the popular John Rock hike. Starting at the fish hatchery parking lot, we follow the Cat Gap Loop Trail, to John Rock Trail, to the summit. Beautiful views. Return via the connector. A moderate summer hike. Only meeting place: Fish Hatchery Parking lot. Topo: Shining Rock.
ALL DAY No. W0402-341 June 16
MST: Buck Springs Trail
or Leaders Choice 9:00 AM
Hike 6, Drive 40, Rated B-B
Boyd Brasington 828-254-8675
P400 We will walk from Pigeon Gap to Pisgah Inn via the MST and the Buck Springs Trail. This is a beautiful hike with several step over water crossings. Wear non slip shoes. Meeting place is Ingles across from Biltmore Square Mall at 9:00 AM. Second meeting place is Cold Mountain overlook where US 276 crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway (M.P. 412).
ALL DAY No. W0402-342 June 23
MST: Forest Service Road 816, Black Balsam to Skinny Dip Falls 9:00 AM
Hike 6-7, drive 7, rated B-B
Siro DelFavero, 828-277-2546
Starting at Black Balsam, we’ll hike to the lower falls at Graveyard Fields for lunch. Then we’ll go on to Skinny Dip Falls and end at the Looking Glass overlook. Car shuttle. Meeting place: Looking Glass Rock Overlook at Milepost 417.
ALL DAY No. W0402-343 June 30
Mount Mitchell Loop via
Commissary Ridge 9:00 AM
Hike 7, drive 60, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated C-B
Gerry McNabb, 828-274-0057, gcmcnabb@charter.net
We will hike from the ranger station to the summit, returning via the Camp Alice Road to the ranger station. Ample bathrooms. Cell phone will be on after 8 a.m. (828-231-8274) Topo: Mt. Mitchell. Meeting Place: Folk Art Center off Blue Ridge Parkway, lower parking lot