December 14, 2019 Hike Report: Loco on Lookout

It was a somewhat wetty morning, and our local loco hikers wanted not to slog in the mud. Where to go? Somewhere high and dry, and preferably somewhere with a waterproof surface.

The Point Lookout Trail filled the bill admirably. It was most all pavement, a remnant of the former main drag from Hickory to Asheville, Old Highway 70.

So, off went our local loco hikers, Amy (Carol's daughter, well known to most of our hikers) Carol, Mary Leonard, David, Margaret K, Sydney, and Ellen.

They hiked down to the railroad tunnels, where they really went loco when a loco motive emerged from one of the tunnels, accompanied by a string of railroad boxcars.

This was an exciting event, the first time in memory when a train has greeted our hikers at the tunnels.

Magnificent choice of trails! Magnificent timing for a fine bunch of local loco hikers!

Thanks to Margaret K, Sydney, and Atossa for reportage about the hike. Your scribe was away on a business trip, shown below.

December 7, 2019 Hike Report: Sunny Day on Reedy

We hiked today in perfect weather: sunny and crisp with no wind.

We had an interesting time deciding where to hike. The scheduled called for Reedy Creek Greenway in Asheville, but we also had the option of fulfilling last week's schedule of a hike at Kitsuma.

We quickly took a vote and Kitsuma won out by a fair margin. But then we had the discussion we should have had before taking the vote, and we heard some pretty good reasons for doing Reedy Creek instead of Kitsuma, so we voted again and Reedy Creek was the almost unanimous choice.

The clincher seemed to be that Kitsuma might be quite leafy-slippery.

So, off we went in four cars, to the parking lot at the Botanical Gardens. We then hiked the length of the Reedy Creek Greenway, and then on up the hill to Montford Avenue, and then toward downtown a block or so, to the little sandwich shop on the corner, where most of us indulged in coffee and where Spence and Liz indulged in a very oversize muffin.

We then walked down Montford to the park, then through the park and back down onto the greenway and to our cars.

On the way, we saw many interesting houses and one interesting gentleman, pictured below, who said his name was Pine Saw.

This was a very enjoyable stroll of approximately two miles. What a beautiful day in the Montford neighborhood!

Participating were Ellen, Tom, Mary Kay, Liz, Margaret K, Mary Leonard, David K, Atossa, Bill, Sydney, Margaret S, Ran, and Spence.

Two photos by Sydney Wilson:

November 30, 2019 Hike Report: Thanksgiving Townies

Yes, Townies we were, indeed, with a two mile shakedown hike right in the middle of Black Mountain.

The six of us (Atossa, Mary Kay, Carol, Ellen, Mary Leonard, and Tom) went into town in two cars and parked them near the new Open Oven cafe on Church Street

We then walked up to Connally Street and then on down and around Lake Tomahawk, and then over to New 70 by the Episcopal Church and on up the hill and back to the cafe, where we enjoyed a fine repast.

Between the hiking and the repast, we about broke even on caloric balance.

November 23, 2019 Hike Report: Raindropped Out except for Carless Suzanne

Lotsa dropouts today, just because of a few million raindrops out.

In fact, only one hiker appeared at the Garden Parking Lot this morning: Suzanne Sutherland.

She had ambulated under her umbrella, all the way from Meadowmount III, just to see what was happening with the Hikers today!

And what was happening? Nothing! So, she ambled back home to resume reading her mystery.

Speaking of dropouts, Suzanne has orchestrated a big dropout in her life. She has dropped out of car ownership. Yes, folks, she has voluntarily given up car ownership.

Let us all join in applauding our environmental steward as she embarks on a carless existence.

November 16, 2019 Hike Report: Rhodo Trail, Great Hike, Minor Discombobulation

What's a little discombobulation among friends? I hope you will lean a bit in my direction and agree that we are all very good hiking friends, even though some of us may be a little discombobulated from time to time.

This time the discombobulation arose in the usual fashion, springing from a tad of unclarity in regard to transportation arrangements. We all drove up to the parking lot above Weatherford Hall, and instead of just leaving one car there as a shuttle, we parked all the cars and everyone, all sixteen of us, got out and bobulated. Then we got back in cars, leaving one car behind, and drove to the lane that goes over to the lake, only to find that the gate was closed. So, we parked across the way and walked in and eventually, miraculously, found ourselves properly arrayed along the Rhododendron Trail. It deserved Capitals because it ain't that easy to find, but we found it!!

The gradual uphill hike was a delight. We plowed steadily through the beautiful rhododendron hells, and we managed to hold our footing in a few spots where the slippery leaves seemed to be taunting us.

We all stuck together quite well on this hike, with various persons taking the lead and the sweep.

We met just two other hikers: a lady and her black lab.

Our superb group of expert hikers today consisted of Margaret F, her granddaughter Harper Day, Margaret K, Craig, Ran, Margaret S, Mary Leonard, Ellen, Allan, David K, Tom, Sidney, Sam, Nancy, Atossa, and Ann.

And oh, yes, there was also a bit of discombobulation at the end of the hike when the shuttlables were somewhat scattered around and the drivers were a bit out of bobular rhythm, but so far as is known, everyone made it back to the farm.

All remaining ph0tos are by Ran.

November 9 Hike Report: Treasure Tree in Christmount

Our outing today focused on a beautiful tree, a dawn redwood in Christmount, about a block from the entrance, just a short distance from the road, on the right.

We learned from Craig Cooley that this tree was to be designated as a Treasured Tree.

We arrived at Christmount around 9:30, and the Tree ceremony was scheduled for 10 A M, so we had time to hike the short Merry Lane loop trail and still make it to the ceremony, which was very well done by various tree-oriented people. The weather was perfect and about 50 people attended the ceremony. We learned that several trees in Back Mountain are now “Treasured”. You can read more about the program at the following website:

https://www.history.swannanoavalleymuseum.org/treasuredtrees/

Our group more or less disintegrated after the ceremony, partly due to a balky ignition key in David Kaylor's car. We thank Ken Wiig for rescuing part of our group.

Hiking on this beautiful day were Margaret K, Liz, Spence, Ann, Carol, Allan, Mary Leonard, Tom, and David K (almost!). Joining us at the ceremony were Margaret F and Craig.

November 2 Hike Report: No Slips on Piney

 That’s right, we did Lower Piney without any slips, in spite of oodles of wet and slippery leaves, and in spite of some of our hikers being poleless.

Hiking today were Nancy, Sydney, Ursula, Bob, Margaret F, Margaret K, Craig, Buzz, Liz, Spence, Tom, Mary Leonard, and Mary Leonard’s daughters Margaret Brown and Katherine Conklin.

 We took four cars, two going to the lower end of Lower Piney and two going to the upper end. We executed a car key trade at mid-trail, and then we finished the hike and drove down to the Montreat gate and got all four cars back to their rightful owners.

Several hikers then went back up to Moore Hall, which is below Ten Thousand Villages, and surveyed our fellow hiker David Kaylor’s fine wood-turning items, which were a standout part of a craft show.

Except for the slippery leaves, which turned out to be quiescent beneath our sure-footed troopers, this was a perfect hiking day, with a Carolina Blue Sky, no wind, bright sun, ideal cool hiking temperatures, and nearly perfect hikers. All went very well!

Next we have five photos by Sydney Wilson.

And now, four photos by Buzz Yoder.

October 26 2019 Hike Report: Ten Creakers on Bull Creek

Ten creaking Highland Farmers showed up this morning despite the misty weather: Atossa, Anne, Mary Leonard, Ursula, Marian, Liz, Spence, Buzz, Allan, and Tom.

With the rain gods sneaking all around us, we thought it would be good to walk in the sheltery woodsy Bull Creak area, per the suggested schedule.

We went in two cars and parked at the Baptist Church. In honor of the late Ben Pickard, Carol's husband and co-founder of the current hiking group, we hiked the Bull Creek Dam Loop in a counter-clockwise direction. This works well because it enables us to take the one somewhat steep section in an uphill direction, which is easier than doing it downhill.

Some of our creakers seemed to have some sort of moss-eating disease. Although we didn't see them actually ingesting any moss, they seemed to have an inordinate fondness for examining every mossy morsel and lagged behind the non-mossy creakers.

We all got back together at the dam site and stayed pretty much together for the remainder of the hike.

We encountered a little mist once or twice, but it was cool and very quiet in the woods and we all enjoyed the experience and got back home ready for a little lunch.

October 19, 2019 Hike Report: Ecumenicism in the Oaks

Eight souls in the Oaks: Margaret K, Anne, Margaret F, Mary Leonard, Ursula. Craig, Allan, and Tom.

The morning was cloudy, windless, and delightfully cool for hiking in a jacket or sweater. We parked at what is commonly called the “vets park lot”, took the bridge across the Swannanoa River, and turned left into the woods and over to the path by the railroad tracks.

Paralleling the tracks through the easily traversable muddy spots for a bit, we then angled off to the right on the “slant” trail and made our way to the devotional benches near the aerial course, where it was time for a little religion!

We ascertained that the Presbyterians among us, surprisingly, were not in the majority. We had two of them and one Catholic and one Methodist and three and a half Unitarians!! (The extra half might have been leaning Daoist.)

We did not get into any serious discussions but there was at least partial consensus that some religionists sometimes had done some naughty things.

We headed up near the Terry mansion and then through the woods back to our starting point, pausing just once for a little teeter-tottering, and getting back home in plenty of time for lunch and the great Fred Moyer piano performance.

Hike on!!

October 12, 2019 Hike Report: Out on the Town

We had only six hikers today: Carol, Mary Leonard, Anne, Ellen, Marian and Tom.

We dutifully attempted the scheduled hike, on the Flat Creek Greenway and town streets, except for about five yards of bushwacking between Village Parkway and John Myra Road.

We parked in the lot at the downstream terminus of the Flat Creek Greenway, walked up the greenway, and then walked the following streets:

Village Parkway, John Myra Road, Hamlet Street, Teresa Way, Montreat Road, Pine Street, Mountain Street, Conally Street, Church Street, State Street, Ridgeway Avenue, and Charlotte Street.

Our hike featured two memorable stops. The first was at the little memorial garden behind the Unitarian Universalist Church, where a memorial monument contains the names of the husbands of two hifarm hikers, Ursula and Betsy. At this spot we sat and chatted for a nice little interlude.

Then we went on to the site of the old bakery across from the Methodist Church. There we had another nice respite, which included a chat with the gentleman who is about to open a breakfast and brunch cafe on the site. The cafe will seat at least thirty people inside and and another dozen or more at the outside tables. It looks quite promising.

While we rested at the cafe-to-be, a considerable din was caused by a passing parade on State Street, featuring sirening fire trucks and a big noisy helicopter, all celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Black Mountain Fire Department, we were told.

There seemed to be a lot of action all over downtown, presided over by Smokey The Bear, pictured below.

So you can see, this was an interesting hike. We all thought we must do a similar hike again, aimed at the new cafe when it opens.

October 5, 2019 Hike Report: Catawba Multitudes

Do you ever drive or walk in Givens Highland Farms and experience that lonesome feeling that you are in a ghost town?

It does happen now and then that no residents are out and about, except perhaps for one or two stray dog walkers. Makes you wonder what kinds of shenanigans are going on behind all those drawn blinds.

Well now, buck up! We have the antidote for any feelings of isolation. Just head over to Catawba Falls, where the multitudes await you.

That is what we hikers did today, and it paid off big for the people-lovers among us. There were hundreds, yes hundreds of people on the trail, going both directions, all of the time. And there was a veritable mob of people at the falls.

It was by far the largest crowd of people we have seen in our eight years of hiking these mountains. Buzz did some counting and estimating and mathematicizing, which led to the conclusion that there may well have been more than a thousand people on the trail this morning. And of course there was also the usual complement of four-legged companions.

These multitudes may have prevented a Thoreauvian experience today, but they didn't prevent us from enjoying the pleasantly cool temperatures and the beautiful deep canyon of the Catawba river below the falls.

We had a pleasant sojourn on a rocky patch down below the usual lunch spot right below the falls, the latter being overrun by people and doggies.

Hiking today were Buzz, Allan, Mary Leonard, Margaret K, Anne, Tom, and special guest and veteran Highland Farms hiker and Chimney Rock botanist, Elisabeth with an s Feil, who was visiting from her current home in Pennsylvania. It was so good to be on the trail with you, Elisabeth!!

And two nice flower photos by Buzz Yoder.

September 28 Hike Report: Baptized to Wolfpit

That's right, we got baptized clean out of Ridgecrest and into Wolfpit Circle at Blue Ridge Assembly.

When we arrived at the Ridgecrest gate, a very polite sentry asked if we were staff or guests. Upon determining that we were neither, he informed us that we were not allowed to hike at Ridgecrest, now or any time. He handed us a little sheet of paper announcing this new policy, which has been in effect since May 28, 2019 and is reproduced below.

We submissively turned our cars around and headed for the sentryless Blue Ridge Assembly and the McCarty parking lot, and then we hiked Wolfpit Circle.

All went well on the hike. On our ascent of the circle we were passed by three dozen, yes, three dozen younger hikers, all heading for High Windy. Rarely are we outnumbered like that!

We also met another dozen hikers over on the downward side of the Circle.

Our splendid and affable group consisted of Carol, Atossa, Sydney, Ellen, Paulette, Mary Leonard, David K, Allan, Bill, Tom, and first-time-with-us hiker Margaret Kleiber, who lives in Meadowmount III. Welcome, Margaret K, it was indeed a pleasure to have your pleasant and sprightly self in our midst today. Oh, is sprightly the wrong word? Does it connote elderliness? Certainly not by our standards!!!

And now we turn to some very nice photos by Atossa Kramer.

September 21, 2019 Hike Report: Fall on Suicide Loop

Was today the last day of summer or the first day of fall?

Let's call it fall and say we celebrated with a nice fall round of Suicide Loop.

We left in a pretty thick fog, but by the time we got to the trailhead the fog had burned off and we had ideal cool sunny hiking weather.

We headed up the hill, past the rock cliff, and to the junction and then to the right on Cold Springs Trail and all the way around to the big open hillside with the great view. We then headed down along the fence to the little cow gate and back into the woods and along by the soccer field and back to the trailhead.

Most of the treadway on this hike is good, but there is a downhill stretch on Cold Springs Trail that is a little steep and a little slidey. We came through it all right, but it is terrain that begs the use of poles!

Hiking today were Carol, Atossa, Ellen, Margaret, Sydney, Allan, Sam, Tom M, Buzz, Bill, Paulette, and Tom J.

Many photographs were taken and we shall see what turns up below on the website!!!!

Our next hike is scheduled for the Adventure Trail in Ridgecrest, up to the helipad and back. It is about three miles up and back, with considerable uphill but not steep, and the trail is good, forest road.

A photo of milkweed by Sydney Wilson:

Nature artistry series by Atossa Kramer:

September 14, 2019 Hike Report: Mugged in Montreat

Just mugged in the sense that the weather was very cloudy and muggy, but we managed just fine, doing the long uphill from the Montreat Gate to Lake Susan and back.

The numerous steps and footbridges along the Elizabeth trail were somewhat slippery because of the light sprinkling of rain we had received Friday evening, but the creeks were quite low. We really need not a sprinkling but a dousing.

We took the roadside footpath on the way back. It is easier and also interesting because of the houses and yard decorations along the way.

Hiking today were Ellen, Sydney, Mary Leonard, Ellen, Margaret, Carol, Buzz, David K, Allan, Tom, and Liz, who met us at the Montreat Gate parking lot after strolling down from her nearby home.

We saw quite a few people along the way. It was good to see so many folks and kiddies and doggies enjoying the natural splendor of the Flat Creek walkway and parkway in beautiful Montreat.

The most noteworthy sighting today was what appeared to be a Mandarin duck at Lake Susan.

Three floral bouquets from Buzz:

And finally, a nice bit of whimsy from Sydney:

September 7, 2019 Hike Report: Owen and Plowin

We were blessed with another sunny and reasonably cool morning for hiking.

We decided to postpone the scheduled Montreat gate-to-Susan hike and head over to Warren Wilson, where they were celebrating plowday.

We started at Owen Park, walked up through the woods and pine rows and down to the farm and back around to Owen. Some of us then headed home, while others drove over to Riceville Road to take in the plowday festivities. Perhaps we'll receive a report from the latter group on the plowing.

A notable feature in the Warren Wilson woods was the extensive work they are doing at the site of the old swimming hole. A young lady student told us that they were restoring the stream bed and were abandoning the dam and swimming hole.

This was a nice hike, with just a handful of other hikers on the trail.

Our hikers today were Buzz, David, Bob, Allan, Tom, Ellen, Atossa, Ursula, Sydney, and Carol.

Now isn't that a nice group?

Now some photos by Atossa:

The remaining photos are by your scribe

August 31, 2019 Hike Report: Clipto-Split at Terry

Well, well, Labor Day weekend. Would anyone show up at the garden parking lot?

Surprise surprise! We had seventeen hikers today.

And their names were Bill, Paulette, David, Buzz, Mary Leonard, Carol, Atossa, Sam and Tom Maynard, Ellen, Margaret, Nancy, Hoyt, Tom J, Suzanne, and Suzanne's two guests from Michigan, Joanne Patterson and Don Sheill.

The aromas from Four Sisters Bakery failed to penetrate all the way to the garden parking lot. Consequently there appeared to be limited enthusiasm for road-walking our way to the bakery.

We arrived at a compromise. We would hike in The Oaks, and we would make a circle, going over to the footpath near the railroad tracks and then to the Terry mansion. At that point, those who wished to head on toward the bakery could do so, and those who wanted to head back home could circle over to the greenway and on toward their cars.

That is what we did. And to the surprise of your scribe, it was not a major fracture of the group. It was more like a little clipping, with only three of us heading on to the bakery. Would you have guessed that it would be three of us skinny ones? Well, it was! Mary Leonard, Nancy, and Tom J. (Yes, I say we are among the skinny hikers!!!)

The three of us trudged on for 92/100 of a mile to the bakery, where we were greeted by Marian and daughter-in-law Evie and a bevy of sweet rolls. And then we got a ride home.

As for the other hikers, we do not know what happened to them. We just hope they did not perish from lack of proper bakery nutrition.

August 24, 2019 Hike Report: Artistry from the Center

Lucky Seven!

Just seven hikers today under threatening skies, but we kept the rain gods at bay all morning.

Hiking were Hoyt, Sydney, Buzz, Margaret F, Craig, Mary Leonard, and Tom.

When we assembled at the Garden Parking Lot, the point was made that the Folk Art Center was a fair piece away and was hung over by threatening clouds. But our assemblage collectively emitted a sneer at the rain gods, and off we went.

We quickly discovered that many other hikers and runners must have sensed our powerful vibrations, as there was quite a stream of both hikers and runners on the Mountains-to-the-Sea Trail as we headed north. The various side roads and trails in the area were also in use by many, but not too many to affect our enjoyment of the forest.

We had a 2.75 mile outing, involving a rather long uphill mile on the way north., giving us a a pleasant workout.

This enjoyable hunk of the MTSea Trail will definitely stay in our repertoire!

Five nature photos by Buzz:

August 17, 2019 Hike Report: Cool Hells

The morning today was a bit on the warm side, but we stayed cool in those dense rhododendron hells on the Rhododendron Trail in Blue Ridge Assembly.

We parked a shuttle car up at the Weatherford Hall parking lot and then drove two cars down to our starting point near the lake.

The first part of Rhododendron Trail is a little confusing, but we lucked out at a couple of choice points and made it directly onto the proper trail, winding gradually up through the rhododendron hells and through the shady woods, and then we made the proper two right turns and lo and behold we ended up at the Weatherford parking lot.

This was a pleasant hike, shady all the way. We met no other hikers or doggies on the trail, and the stream crossings were very easy as the creeks were quite low.

Hiking today were Atossa, Sidney, Carol, Buzz, Hoyt, Bill, Bob, David, and Tom.

Of course we missed other hiking friends, but today we especially missed Doc, David's canine companion, who is sojourning elsewhere in David's extended family.

Now some photos by Buzz.

And some photos by Sidney.

August 10, 2019 Hike Report: Sanctuary Soaks Six. Bakery Beckons.

Only six hikers showed up at the Garden Parking Lot this morning. Maybe the absentees were busy with other pursuits, or maybe some of them just knew that the rain gods were in a rambunctious mood today.

It was quite foggy when we started out, a typical Swannanoa summer morning on a day when the fog lifts and we have sunny, partly cloudy skies. But today it didn't work that way. The rain gods lifted up the fog and condensed it into rain clouds.

When we started up Sanctuary Trail it just seemed to be a little condensation dripping off the trees, but with each step up those switchbacks it became more obvious that the rain gods were definitely in charge, and by the time we got to the little circle with wet benches at the Julia Woodward Trail junction, it was raining quite hard and we had to capitulate and head down Julia Woodward and onto the rivuletted road and back to our cars.

At our cars we recalled that we had missed out on one or two bakery hikes in recent months, so we headed for the Red Rocker bakery, where we were able to commandeer a table for six and enjoy beverages and bakery goods while we dried off.

Enjoying this unusual outing were David and doc, Bob, Ursula, Carol, Mary Leonard, and Tom.

Oh yes, we noticed the rain and reacted sensibly to it. Only doc seemed oblivious.

So sorry, we have none of those beautiful nature photos by Atossa and Buzz to show you today!

August 3, 2019 Hike Report: Strung Out on Outward and Inward

That's right, we strung out a crew of fifteen hikers along those trails in Outward Bound and then inward to Warren Wilson woods.

Our hikers today were Carol, Amy, Bill, Hoyt, Mary Leonard, Buzz, Atossa, David (and Doc), Bob, Allan, Suzanne, Nancy, Ellen, Ursula, and Tom. We were in a fog at the Garden Parking Lot, but it lifted during the hike and we ended up in a little patch of warm and humid sunshine on our final sprint across those two meadows near Outward Bound.

We really did get strung out along the trail on this hike, which includes the two meadow stretches and then a streamside walk in the Warren Wilson woods and then an uphill stretch and then a gradual looping acsent to the western terminus of Suicide Ridge where the view is.

At that view point our way was barred by an electric fence, but our powerful magnetism seemed to have neutralized it, thanks especially to Hoyt's pioneering daredeviltry.

Then it was down the hill, onto the trail going by the fungusless mushroom farm, and back around to Outward Bound.

We saw only a small handful of other hikers today, most notably a gentleman with two dogs. The three of them appeared to be delighted to bypass our string by bushwacking up the hill to Suicide.

This was a pretty nice hike with lots of flora and mushrooms and of course pleasant conversations.

Following are Buzz’s photos

And here are Atossa’s photos

July 27, 2019 Hike Report: A Slim Majority at the Arboretum

This was an unusual foray for our hiking group. We were almost outnumbered by our guest hikers.

There were eight of us and seven guests!

And here is how it developed. Meeting at the Garden Parking Lot were regulars Buzz, Hoyt, Allan, Ellen, Carol, Sandy, and Tom. We took off in two cars, one of which went directly to the Arboretum, and the other of which got there by a rather circuitous route which included a stop at the Folk Art Center.

Meeting us at the Arboretum parking lot was another car with visitors Josh and Robin Gurlitz (Chapel Hill), Laura Seiselmal and Erin Bergstrom (Durham), and Peter Granat (Eskilstuna Sweden); and another car with Spence and Liz and guests Jane and Scott Provan (Chapel Hill).

So, eight hikers and seven guests, and how should we work it in the multi-trailed Arboretum. What we did was to split into two groups, one led by Buzz and going clockwise, and the other more or less leaderless and going counterclockwise. But alas, there are so many trails and offshoots and roads and nooks and crannies in the Arboretum that the two groups never did meet up.

Until lunch, that is, at the Bent Creek Bistro, where we took over half of their outdoor tables and enjoyed a leisurely lunch. Then we all took off in various directions and presumably all is well now with all fifteen of us.

The weather today was moderate, with a high around 80 or so, and it was quite nice in the deep woods and by the lovely gurgling Bent Creek.

Of course we saw perhaps a dozen or so hikers, but they and their doggies were quite widely dispersed in the capacious Arboretum. It was all nice. Very nice.

We at this point have no photos of Spence, Liz, Jane, and Scott. Maybe they took some and will send us some!!!

And now for some very nice photos by Buzz Yoder.