Hike Ratings:  Easy - up to 5 miles and/or elevation change up to 1000 feet.
                     Moderate - 5 - 10 miles and/or elevation change 1000-2000 feet
                     Strenuous - over 10 miles or over 2000 feet elevation change.
                           ( Rough terrain or bushwhacking is likely to increase the difficulty rating.)
No radios or firearms are permitted on Sierra Club Outings.

Hikers in hunting season are strongly advised to wear blaze orange!
 

Note:  All participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard liability waiver.  Prospective participants under the age of 18 will require a signature from a parent or guardian.  If you would like to read the waiver before you choose to participate on an outing, refer to the public Web site at:
http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/national/participantforms/liabilit.pdf

ROADLESS AREA HIKES

Starting with his April 2001 hike, Ted Snyder will lead  hikes into North and South Carolina National Forest Roadless Areas, part of a campaign to achieve eventual protection of them.  The series will take in both Inventoried Roadless Areas, and de facto roadless areas.  We think this series will last for about three years.  These hikes are essential for for members and others who want a first-hand impression of these critically important places.  On the ground we will identify significant features which make them special.  No particular order has been established, but higher elevations or big swimming holes are indicated for the hot months.  The Bald Mountains, on the North Carolina-Tennessee border, (the first hike, run in April) is one of the largest roadless tracts, at 20,000 to 30,000 acres.  The Forest Service, however, wants to consider only the Tennessee side in the current planning cycle, and hopes to ignore the North Carolina portion until its Forest Plan comes due three or more years away.  That's like cutting a valuable canvas in half, and throwing one part away.

Hikes already run appear below, with links to web pages on the area, some with pictures.

Sunday, May 13, 2001.  Fishhawk Mountain - Roadless Area Hike # 2
One after another, glorious view after glorious view. That's the appeal of this hike along the main ridge of the Fishhawk Mountains, west of Highlands, N.C.  In addition to a dozen bluffs, cliffs, and outcrops, there are at least two miles in old growth hardwood forest. Three side trips will be taken to even more cliffs, and we will vote on a fourth to Cedar Cliff. Our route was on Section 2 of the North Carolina Bartram Trail. 7.5 miles with 1.0 mile of scheduled side trips, for a total of 8.5 miles. Moderate, because little climbing: level, then down. Altitude loss: 2,000 feet. Gain on side trips: 800 feet. Topo: Scaly Mountain.
This hike ran with 13 people.  It was a super fine day with the wildflowers in full glory.  The trillium in bloom at Jones Gap covered the forest floor for acres.  The views at lunchtime from Whiterock Mountain's south face were breath-taking.

Sunday, June 17, 2001 - Wilson Creek Trail - Roadless Area Hike #3
Upper Wilson Creek is dead center in a National Forest Roadless Area, as well as being North Carolina's most recently designated Wild and Scenic River.  Most of the hike is alongside the creek. There are sparkling alluvial rock deposits, cascades, big boulders, little boulders, and aerated plunge pools.  This area has a high priority for protection. and you will agree once you have seen its stunning beauty. Moderate. About 7 miles.  Altitude gain: 480 feet. Topo: Grandfather Mountain. Easy shuttle.  This hike ran with 13 people.  Good time had by all.

Saturday, July 7, 2001 - Mt. Hardy and Middle Prong Wilderness
Moderate hike up Mt. Hardy off the Blue Ridge Parkway.  One of our favorite places with open blueberry meadows and sweeping views.  Summer flowers.  We will see a mountain bog and discuss causes of the die-off of spruces and firs on the 6000 ft plus summit.  Return by way of Buckeye Gap.  5 miles, 1200 ft up, 1400 ft down.  Short shuttle.
Leaders:  Bill and Shirl Thomas, 828-885-8229  This hike went with five people, a glorious ramble along the high open top of Fork Ridge.  A highlight was Bill's nearly stepping on a turkey with young chicks practically on the trail.  We must go back.  It's a magical place up there.

Sunday, July 15, 2001 - Chunky Gal - Roadless Area Hike #4
From Deep Gap, on the edge of the Southern Nantahala Wilderness (Standing Indian), we will cruise west on various trails, including a segment of AT, to examine this major addition to the existing wilderness.  Explore White Oak Stamp, with its massive virgin trees. See a great array of old growth red oak and white oak. Lunch on Raven Rocks lookout. After lunch we leave the AT at traverse the ridge of Chunky Gal Mountain crossing the Old Macon Trail, and passing through the Riley Knob Special Interest Area. All high altitude and hopefully cool. 9.2 miles.  Moderate.  Altitude gain 300 feet; loss 1000 feet. One steep climb. Moderate. Topos: Rainbow Springs, Shooting Creek.

Saturday and Sunday, September 15 and 16, 2001 - Roadless Area Camporee with Trimmings, Hikes #6 and #7
Two days of hiking  take us deep into the Mackey Mountain and Jarrett Creek Roadless Areas.  Mackey Mountain is one of our highest priorities, with the largest block of old growth forest in any of these areas. Jarrett Creek is one of the loveliest streams in creation.  These Roadless Areas are part of the much larger Black Mountains Cluster of Roadless Areas.  A series of hikes took place on Saturday and again on Sunday.  Camping was  at the Curtis Creek (Forest Service) Campground, near Old Fort, N.C.  A fantastic BAR-BE-QUE SUPPER was enjoyed by 25 people.  Hikes along Mackey Mountain Ridge(long); Snooks Nose (long); Heartbreak Ridge (long);  Hickory Fork-Chestnutwood Mountain (short), Hickory Fork-Mackey Creek; and Woods Mountain - Armstrong Creek loop (medium) were run.   The weather was perfect, cool and sunny after a rainfall on Friday evening.

Sunday, February 17, 2002 -   ROADLESS AREA HIKE NUMBER SEVEN -  Laurel Mountain Roadless Area.
This hike goes up Thompson Creek, through a broad flat cove with pretty big trees. As the valley narrows we will be pleased by the clear views of the dashing stream, and long vistas through open woods. The high point is Little Bald Mountain, 5280 feet. From that peak we angle down behind Pisgah Inn. This leads us to a junction with a trail that descends the nose of Thompson Ridge.  Here there are some ancient gnarly pines, and some expansive outlooks.  Approximately 5.5 miles. Altitude gain and loss: 1860 feet.  Moderate (with some steep sections). Topos: Dunsmore Mountain and Cruso. Call leader for details.
Leader: Ted Snyder, 864/638-3686, before 9:320 P.M., please. Or, tedsnyder@carol.net.

Sunday, March 17, 2002 - ROADLESS AREA HIKE NUMBER EIGHT - Woods Mountain Roadless Area
This hike is a balloon on a string in the Armstrong Creek region.  We begin at Buck Creek Gap, where the Blue Ridge Parkway crosses NC 80.  The hike starts on the MST trail, but we soon turn off the Woods Mountain Ridge onto the Armstrong Creek Trail. This route winds down through older woods to a junction where the creek flattens out. In order to avoid multiple wet crossings, we turn up an unnamed tributary of Armstrong Creek, and passing a chasm, climb back to the main ridge. Returning, we walk the MST again, passing at least one high, open viewpoint. A little under six miles. Altitude gain and loss: 1600 feet. Topo: Celo. Moderate. Call leader for details.
Leader: Ted Snyder, 864/638-3686, before 9:30 P.M., please. Or, tedsnyder@carol.net.

Sunday, April 14, 2002 -  ROADLESS AREA HIKE NUMBER NINE - Lost Cove Wilderness Study Area.
This outing is to the area drained by Lost Cove Creek, a tributary of Wild and Scenic River, Wilson Creek. The initial portion of our route is on the MST, descending Gragg Prong, with a long stretch of cascades, slides, mill races, sluices, and falls.  If the ice has melted, we will be able to walk on the sloping rocks at a few points. Reaching Lost Cove Creek, we turn upstream on it, and climb to Hunt-Fish Falls and its swimming pool (for which bring bathing suit). Continuing upstream, we come to a junction and turn off on the Bee Mountain route, which is climbed on 12 switchbacks, and a steep gully.  The gully leads to Timber Ridge, whose broad back we descend. 7.75 miles by my measurements. Altitude gain and loss: 1240 feet.  Numerous creek crossings, which will be wet ones if the spring rains have been on time. Moderate. Topo: Grandfather Mountain. Call leader for details.
Leader: Ted Snyder. 864/638-3686, before 9:30 P.M., please.  Or tedsnyder@carol.net.

Sunday, May 19, 2002 -  ROADLESS AREA HIKE NUMBER TEN - Tusquitee Bald Roadless Area
The Tusquitee Mountains enclose one of our largest roadless areas.  Tusquitee Bald is the high point on a rim trail that circles the roadless upper Fires Creek watershed.  To reach this peak on the usual route would take two days of a three day backpack.  We will shorten that by punching in on a trail up Big Tuni Creek, a portion of the famous Chunky Gal Trail.  That trail is in good shape, but the rim trail is in need of assistance.  Having reached Tusquitee Bald, we will pause for refreshments (if you remembered to bring them)  and significant views.  We continue by taking the Rim Trail to County Corners. And from there, we descend to Old Road Gap, and walk out the old road to complete the hike.  A short shuttle will ensue. 7.4 miles. Altitude gain and loss: 2080 feet. Moderate.  Topos: Andrews, Topton, Hayesville, Shooting Creek. Call leader for detail.
Leader: Ted Snyder. 864/638-3686, before 9:30 P.M., please.  Or, tedsnyder@carol.net.

Saturday, February 22, 2003 - Big Mountain Ridge Hike
We will make the traverse of this potential Roadless Area from Cathey's Creek Road up Negro Prong to Big Mountain Ridge and then over to US 215 near Macedonia Church Road, travelling over part of the route of the proposed relocation of US 215.  We will see how this road, if ever built, would cut the Big Mountain area in two.  Five miles, climb and descend 1700 ft, Moderate.
Leader:  Bill Thomas, 828-885-8229

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