Hiking - Camporees - 2012 -2013
FIRST MOUNTAIN TREASURES CAMPOREE
Mortimer Campground -- April 13-15, 2012
Two days of hiking will fill this car-camping weekend. From one central location a blast of hikes will show us a cluster of N.C. Mountain Treasures. There will be four hikes on Saturday and four more on Sunday.
A group Bar-B-Que Saturday night will add to the festivity. To sign up for the BBQ, see Note 5 below. For driving directions from Asheville, see Note 6 below.
SATURDAY HIKES
Saturday No. April 14
Upper Wilson Creek Time: 9:00 a.m.
Mountain Treasures Hike # Strenuous
Hike: 6.6 miles; 750 ft. ascent; Rated B-C
Jim Reel; 828-738-0751; jimr57@yahoo.com
A highly scenic hike along boulder-strewn upper Wilson Creek Wild and Scenic River, and its tributaries, Stack Rock and Andrews Creeks. River Rocks bleached white by sandy flash floods. Many crossings, at least one of which will be wet, and more depending on water level. One narrow foot log, This is wild and remote country. Shuttle.
Topo: Grandfather Mountain. Nat.Geo. Map:
Saturday No. April 14
Roseborough to Beacon Heights Time: 9:00 a.m.
Mountain Treasures Hike # Strenuous
Hike: 7.5 miles; 2,700 ft. ascent; Rated B-AA
Paul Benson; 828-251-1909; pdbenson@charter.net
A hike on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. We'll take a side trip to lunch on a hillside meadow with a view, and visit the old Gragg graveyard. Spectacular high altitude views from Beacon Heights. Shuttle.
Topo: Grandfather Mountain. Nat. Geo. Map:
Saturday No. April 14
Upper Creek Time: 9:00 a.m.
Mountain Treasures Hike # Strenuous
Hike: 10.1 miles; 2,200 ft. ascent; Rated A-AA
Ted Snyder; 864-638-3686; tedsnyderjr@bellsouth.net
WC100 Most of Upper Creek watershed is Forest Service land. The creek is an outstanding trout fishery. We make a cross-cut through the area. After following the creek for a mile we have a very steep and strenuous climb. We then skid back down to Upper Creek and cross twice. Leaving it, we follow the MST on an old logging railroad grade. We have a superb view of the upper falls of S. Harper Creek. End up north of Kawana. Three crossings, of which two may be wet. Optional 1.5 mile side trip to three gap jumps. Shuttle.
Topo: Chestnut Mountain. Nat. Geo. Map:
Saturday No. April 14
Little Lost Cove Cliffs Time: 9:00 a.m.
Mountain Treasures Hike # Strenuous
Hike: 5.6 miles; 1,320 ascent; Rated C-B
Les & Catherine Love 828-658-1458 lesrlove55@gmail.com
This hike drops down to North Harper Creek in the Wilderness Study Area, and climbs along the stream, with six or more wet crossings. Lunch spot at a scenic waterfall. Then climb out of the valley and along the edge of Little Lost Cove Cliffs. Great views with a sea of forest at our feet. Wear waterproof boots or hike in wet ones. Shuttle.
Topos: Chestnut Mountain; Grandfather Mountain. Nat. Geo. Map:
SUNDAY HIKES
Sunday No. April 15
Schoolhouse Ridge and Thorps Creek Time: 9:00 a.m.
Mountain Treasures Hike # Moderate Half-day
Hike: 4.9 miles; 760 ft. ascent; Rated C-C
Jill Gottesman; 828-587-9453 jill_gottesman@tws.org
This loop hike begins and ends at Mortimer Campground. At first there is a climb up to Schoolhouse Ridge. The trail does a ridge-runner to a low gap. Here the trail turns right, downhill to Thorps Creek. Reaching Thorps Creek, the trail descends along it back to the campground.
Topos: Chestnut Mountain, Grandfather Mountain. Nat. Geo. Map:
Sunday No. April 15
Harper Creek loop Time: 9:00 a.m.
Mountain Treasures Hike # Strenuous
Hike: 9.76 miles; 1,400 ft. ascent; Rated A-B
Jacob Cox 828-584-0395 JCox@mfgnc.com
WC100 Harper Creek is a Congressionally designated Wilderness Study Area. Its main feature is the tumultuous central creek in a forest recovering from logging about 1920. Two waterfalls will be examined, including the 200 foot upper falls on S. Harper Creek. Twelve creek crossings are required, some of which will be wet. Hikers should wear waterproof boots or plan to walk in wet ones. This large watershed is a key future Wilderness Area.
Topo: Chestnut Mountain. Nat. Geo. Map:
Sunday No. April 15
Lost Cove Creek and Timber Ridge loop Time: 9:00 a.m.
Mountain Treasures Hike # Strenuous
Hike: 7.75 miles; 1,240 ft. ascent; Rated: B-B
Ted Snyder; 864-638-3686; tedsnyderjr@bellsouth.net
WC100 This hike will pass the notorious Hunt-Fish Falls with time for a swim if warm enough. Also, Little Lost Cove Creek Falls. The Lost Cove watershed is a Congressionally designated Wilderness Study Area. Timber ridge offers old growth hardwood forest. Rock-bound Gragg Prong will be traversed. One very steep segment climbing Bee Mountain. Numerous wet crossings. Wear waterproof boots or plan to walk in wet ones.
Topo: Grandfather Mountain. Nat. Geo. Map:
Sunday No. April 15
Pine Ridge loop Time: 9:00 a.m.
Mountain Treasures Hike # Strenuous
Hike: 6.7 miles; 1.300 ft. ascent, 900 ft. descent; Rated B-B
Jim Reel; 828-738-0751; jimr57@yahoo.com
Here's a new trail found by Jim on the new Wilson Creek map. Pine Ridge boasts many medium aged white pines, d.b.h. 24" to 30" and hardwoods looking good. The trail climbs to the ridge on many switchbacks, the up-and-down along it. From an unnamed top it follows a gentle decline to a gap near the head of Phillips Branch. Now on a dug trail, we pass two exquisite waterfalls on Phillips Branch. Unless a shuttle is set up, there will be a road walk of an additional 1.2 miles to close the loop.
Topo: Chestnut Mountain. Nat. Geo. Map:
WHY MOUNTAIN TREASURES HIKES
North Carolina's Mountain Treasures are places on the Nantahala/Pisgah National Forests identified by The Wilderness Society as deserving protection. That could include Wilderness or Wild and Scenic River status, set by Congress, or any number of administrative designations. The revision of the Forest Management Plan will begin soon. It is important for citizens to be prepared to work hard for the protection of the Mountain Treasures. As part of the effort, Carolina Mountain Club is hosting a series of hikes into the Mountain Treasures. On our hikes we will be on the lookout to observe and record old growth and recovering forest, rare plants, streams, waterfalls, and other noteworthy natural and geological features. This field knowledge will provide essential data in our efforts to save what is wild.
NOTES
1. All the trails described are also shown on the US Forest Service Wilson Creek Map, revised June 2009.
2. We urge hikers to arrive at Mortimer Campground on Friday evening.
3. Starting times for all hikes are from Mortimer Campground. There will be no formal meeting at Westgate.
4. The Saturday hikes all have shuttles. All the Sunday hikes are loops, with no shuttles, except for Pine Ridge.
5. Barbecue. There will be a group Bar-B-Que Saturday night. Persons desiring to partake must register with Ted Snyder, 864-638-3686, tedsnyderjr@bellsouth.net, by April 12th. There will be a charge, to be shared pro rata on a cost basis. Although we cannot accommodate other dietary regimes, we will have vegetarian baked beans with the regular BBQ. BYOL.
6. Driving Directions from Asheville:
a. Take I-40 east to Exit 100, Jamestown Road.
b. At Exit 100, take ramp and at stop turn left on Jamestown Road.
c. Follow Jamestown Road (N.C. 126 merges in) 3.4 miles to N.C. 181 (6 minutes).
d. Turn Left on N.C. 181, and then go 10.7 miles to SR 1405, Brown Mountain Beach Road, at Smyrna Baptist church (15 minutes).
e. Turn Right on SR 1405, and then go 5.0 miles to SR 1328, Brown Mountain Beach Road. Note Forest Service sign for Mortimer Campground at far side of intersection on left (11 minutes).
f. Turn left on SR 1328 and go up Wilson Creek Gorge (mostly gravel) 8.6 miles to its end at N.C. 90 (20 minutes).
g. Turn left on N.C. 90, and go 0.1 mile to entrance on right to Mortimer Campground (less than 1 minute).
Total mileage and time from Exit 100: 27.8 miles; 53 minutes.
SECOND MOUNTAIN TREASURES CAMPOREE
Appletree Group Campground – July 13–15, 2012
The second Mountain Treasures Camporee will follow the Mortimer organization. Saturday hikes will be longer and have shuttles. Sunday hikes will be loops or in-and-out, without shuttles.
Below is a list of hikes for the two days. At this time a leader for each of them is needed. I have gotten started by listing the hikes that are most convenient to do from Appletree. Leaders may suggest others.
SATURDAY HIKES
Saturday No. July 14
Tusquitee Bald (p. 35) Time: 9:00 a.m.
Mountain Treasures Hike # Strenuous
Hike: 8 miles; 2100 ft. ascent; Rated B-AA
Brent Martin 828-587-9453 brent_martin@tws.org
The Fires Creek horseshoe is one of our largest wilderness candidates. Tusquitee Bald is the highest point on its rim. It has significant old growth forest, especially on Big Choga Creek. Run in June 2010 as a Bernard Elias Favorite. Route is up Big Tuni Creek, noting old growth buckeye grove where trail turns to climb out of the valley. Big views from the Bald. The Rim Trail takes us to County Corners. The trail to Old Road Gap takes us off the mountain. Shuttle.
Topos: Topton, Andrews, Hayesville, Shooting Creek. Nat. Geo Map: 784
Saturday No. July 14
Cheoah Bald (p.34) Time: 9:00 a.m.
Mountain Treasures Hike # Strenuous
Hike: 10.4 miles; 2160 ft. ascent; Rated
This hike can be done entirely on the Bartram Trail, or with a shuttle to add in other logging road trails. Mileage and ascent given are for the shuttle variant. Upper Ledbetter Creek is exceptionally scenic. The top of Cheoah (5062) is known as “The Grandstand of the Smokies” for its long range views. Much old growth is found on the precipitous north slope of the Nantahala Gorge. Shuttle, depending on route.
Topo: Hewitt Nat. Geo. Map:
Saturday No. July 14
Piercy Mountains (p.41) Time: 9:00 a.m.
Mountain Treasures Hike # Strenuous
Hike: 8.3 miles; 940 ft. ascent; Rated:
Leader:
This hike is the closest to the campground. From Junaluska Gap the hike climbs on the London Bald Trail, in and out of clearcuts, with spectacular views of the Tusquitee Range. Lots of Ladies’ Tresses, an orchid. Return directly into the campground on the Apple Tree Trail. Shuttle.
Topo: Topton Nat. Geo. Map:
Saturday No. July 14
Wesser Bald (p.40) Time: 9:00 a.m.
Mountain Treasures Hike # Strenuous
Hike: 10.4 miles; 2350 ascent; Rated:
Leader:
LTC The excellent route starts at the end of the Wesser Creek road and climbs to the ridge on the old location of the Appalachian Trail. Beautiful forest environment, along a mountain stream. On reaching the ridge, join the A.T. and continue south to the Wesser Bald Tower. This is the old fire tower, the top half of which has been removed, and a large deck added. Here are 360 degree views. Return on the new location of the A.T. to N.O.C. Shuttle.
Topo: Wesser Nat. Geo. Map:
Other options abound, especially in the Fires Creek watershed.
SUNDAY HIKES
Sunday No. July 15
Wayah Bald (p.39). Time: 9:00 a.m.
Mountain Treasures Hike # Strenuous
Hike: 8.6 miles; 1100 ft. ascent; Rated:
Leader:
LTC. This is an in-and-out hike, starting at Burningtown Gap and running south on the Appalachian Trail to top out on Wayah Bald (5342). On the rock tower there are lots of plaques identifying peaks on the skyline.
Topo: Wayah Bald. Nat. Geo. Map:
Sunday No. July 15
Tellico Bald (p. 39). Time 9:00 a.m.
Mountain Treasures Hike # Strenuous Rated:
Hike: 9.5 miles; 885 ft. ascent northbound; 1240 ft. ascent southbound
Leader:
Another in-and-out, also starting at Burningtown Gap, and turning around at Tellico Gap. This trail falls entirely in old growth deciduous forest. Not what you think because of its thin, rocky soil. Inspiring, interlaced trees; no conifers at all. Must be several thousand acres of this forest. Trail crosses over or beside five balds: Burningtown, Copper Ridge, Tellico, Black and Rocky, all over 5,000 feet. Long range views from rock outcrops and high ridge. If wished, could be cut in half with a shuttle.
Topo: Wayah Bald; Wesser Nat. Geo Map:
Sunday No. July 15
Appletree loop Time: 9:00 a.m.
Mountain Treasures Hike # Strenuous
Hike: 8.6 miles; 800 ft. ascent Rated:
Leader:
This hike begins in the campground, where we turn onto the Bartram trail, northbound. The trail first follows the Nantahala River, in old growth forest. Then it climbs over a ridge, and descends to Piercy Creek. Just past that creek we reach the terminus of the Laurel Creek Trail. It leads up to an intermediate ridge, where it joins the Apple Tree Trail. The Apple Tree Trail takes us back to the campground.
Topo: Topton Nat. Geo. Map:
Sunday No. July 15
Piercy Creek Canyon
