Regular departure time and place: The Lowe’s Assembly area in the Lowe’s parking lot at the curb-line closest to and parallel with US64. Please be there by 8:50 a.m. to allow time for sign-up, chitchat and whatnot. We leave promptly at 9:00 a.m. For DuPont hikes, check the description for a 2nd meet-up location and time for hikers coming from Henderson County.
A moderately paced hike, we expect to hike 3 – 6 miles without a huge amount of elevation gain.
Friday Rollers Group Leader: Richard Mayberry mayberryfinearts@gmail.com
FRIDAY ROLLERS WINTER/SPRING 2024 SCHEDULE
January 19 QUARRY TRAIL, DUPONT FOREST
3.0 miles, 350’ ascent, 400’ descent, R2, car fee: S2.00
A loop trail. From Corn Mill Shoals parking we go out Wilkie trail, right onto Micajah trail, left onto Rock Quarry rd. to the quarry. We then return on Rock Quarry trail to Staton rd., short right then left onto Twixt trail, then right onto Longside trail to Corn Mill Shoals trail to parking.
January 26 SOAPSTONE RIDGE
6.2 miles, 600’ climb, R6, $3.00
From the gauging tower off Yellow Gap Rd. we hike in on the South Mills River trail, take a right onto a “user trail” hike up Soapstone Ridge to Barnett Branch, right, then down to Pink Beds, right, right again to the connector trail returning to our cars.
February 2 SHINING CREEK RAMBLE*
3.2 miles, 450’ ascent, R5, recommended car fee: $3.00
From parking on the other side of the East Fork of the Pigeon River, we hike out taking the Shining Creek trail to a turning point then back to cars.
February 9 BILL MOORE/FLETCHER PARK
3.4 miles, 20’ ascent, R3, suggested car fee: $5.00
A circumnavigation of Fletcher Park. Lunch at the Blue Sky Cafe.
February 16 BUTTER GAP, SHORT VERSION*
4 miles, 500’ ascent, R4, car fee: $2.00
An out and back hike, we hike up Cat Gap Loop, make a right onto Butter Gap, hike to water falls, have lunch and return.
February 23 DUPONT FOREST – FAWN LAKE LOOP
6.0 miles, 635’ ascent, R6, suggested car fee if riding: $3.00
A loop, from Fawn Lake parking we hike out Reasonover Creek trail to Lake Julia and have lunch. Then we continue on Camp Summit Rd. trail to Conservation Rd. trail to Fawn Lake Rd. trail returning to parking.
March 1 GREEN RIVER GAME LANDS – NORTH SIDE, 2
5.2 miles, 980’ ascent, R7, suggested car fee: $5.00
A loop hike off Big Hungry Road. Hike down Pulliam Creek Trail to left at Green River Cove trail , out and back, then right up Bear Branch trail, the sharp left onto Bishop Branch trail to Big Hungry Rd., left back to cars.
March 8 PANTHERTOWN, GREEN LAND CREEK FALLS *
2.5 miles, 300’ ascent/descent, R5, car fee: $5.00
From Cold Mtn. parking we hike out Macs Gap then straight on Greenland Creek trail to the falls and return.
March 15 TWIN FALLS/CLAWHAMMER LOOP
6 miles, estimated 800’ climb, R7, car fee: $1.00
From Avery Creek Road hike in on Buckhorn Gap trail to Twin Falls returning via Buckhorn Gap to Clawhammer Cove.
March 22 SASSAFRAS MTN. TO HWY 178 VIA THE FOOTHILLS TRAIL
4.5 miles, 120’ ascent, 2,000’ descent, R6, suggested car fee $4.00
A shuttle hike from the top of Sassafras we descend on the Foothills trail to highway 178.
March 29 DUPONT FOREST, CORN MILLS/BURNT MTN
4.8 miles, 380’ climb, R4, $3.00
From the Corn Mills Shoals parking we hike that trail to Little River, back to Burnt Mtn., do the loops, have lunch, and return.
April 5 NORTH SLOPE VARIATION: FROM RANGER STATION VIA EXERCISE TRAIL
5 miles, 650’ ascent, R4, no car fee
A lollipop hike, with a short stick, from Ranger Station parking we hike clockwise through camping area with lunch at the Exercise Loop benches at Davidson River swimming area.
April 12 PINK BEDS*
5.4 miles, 150’ ascent, R4, car fee: $2.00
From Pink Beds parking we hike the loop.
April 19 GREEN RIVER GAME LANDS – GRN. RIVER COVE TRAIL
7 miles, 750’ ascent, R7, $5.00 car fee
An in and out hike. Access from I-26/Saluda exit on Green River Cove Rd., park at Wilderness Cove parking.
April 26 UNUSUAL FLOWER HIKE
6.3 miles, 700’ ascent est., R6, Suggested car fee: $4.00
FIRST, we drive out Avery Creek Rd. to the horse stables and walk to the Perry Cove trailhead, hike up and back to see a stand of white dwarf irises.
SECOND, we drive to the fish hatchery and hike maybe 1/3 mile clockwise up Cat Gap Loop to find a very short left turn to a large grouping of pink Lady Slippers just off the trail on the left.
THIRD, we drive to the Pisgah Inn and hike out the Mountains to Sea Trail to the base of Mt. Pisgah, hike a very short distance and turn left onto the Campground Trail. After searching for 4 and 5 leaf Trillium we return to the Pisgah Inn perking via the Campground Trail. Hike distance 3 miles.
ing.
May 3 GUION FARM TO HOLMES ED. STATE FOREST
4.1 miles, 250’ ascent, R5, suggested car fee: $2.00
From Guion Farm parking we head out Flatwoods trail, left on Shoal Creek trail, right on Sky Valley Rd., continue on Old CCC Rd. to Holmes Educational State Forest going left of dirt/grass road to the Demonstration trail (right) to park.
May 10 FLAT LAUREL CREEK/LITTLE SAM LOOP
5 miles, 450’ ascent, R6, $5.00 car fee
From the side parking on road 816 we walk down to the Big Sam parking. From there we hike on the Flat Laurel Creek trail to Little Sam Trail, go up to Little Sam and out on the rock for lunch. Then we return to our cars via the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.
May 17 TRANS DUPONT FOREST, SOUTH TO NORTH
A shuttle hike, from Fawn Lake Parking to Guion Farm Parking
May 24 PISGAH RIDGE TO SKINNY DIP FALLS*
3.8 miles, 150’ ascent, 400’ descent est., R4, suggested car fee: $4.00
A shuttle hike, we hike from Parkway Rd. 816 on the Pisgah Ridge trail to the intersection with the MST, then down to Skinny Dip Falls for lunch. We then go to Looking Glass overlook.
*This denotes a different sort of hike. I am requesting that the hiking after lunch be in silent contemplation all the way to our cars. This is to honor the natural, spiritual aspect of the wonder around us. If this proves too difficult I am requesting that those who wish to talk hike ahead several hundred yards.
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