Kilted hike/Night in Western NC

[Kiltedmusiclover]

This idea has been kicked around for a nearly a year now and I
think it's time has come.

Tartan Hiker (Bill) has agreed to lead us and has a great trail already
for our use from June to the end of July.
Being that Grandfather is on the 14 and 15 th I vote for the end of July.

What are your thoughts.

[HeathBar]

I was one of those who kicked the idea around. So pencil my name in.
I too vote for the end of July. Isn't the 14th and 15th kinda late for GMHG?

[Avonlea22]

So where would this hike be?

[Kiltedmusiclover]

I was one of those who kicked the idea around. So pencil my name in.
I too vote for the end of July. Isn't the 14th and 15th kinda late for GMHG?

GMHG is always the second full weekend.
So this year is as late as it can
be.

[Tartan Hiker]

Most of the folks who have indicated interest are within a few hours of Asheville, so my idea is that we could put together a Friday night dinner / pub activity, then have Saturday for hiking. There are lots of reasonable motels in the Black Mountain / East Asheville area, as well as several campgrounds. I'll be happy to handle those logistics as soon as we have numbers and dates.

Saturday we could put together two half-day hikes in Montreat, or make an all-day venture. My favorite is walking from Montreat to the summit of Mount Mitchell (highest peak east of the Rockies) which is 14 miles, but not a difficult walk at all, passing through lots of diverse and beautiful habitats. The weather would be the major determinant in that decision, as Mt. Mitchell is not a happy place with thunderstorms in the area. After the hike up we ride down the Blue Ridge Parkway back to Asheville and celebrate our achievement with another dinner / pub activity.

If anyone wanted to stay over on Sunday we could put together another half-day trip, perhaps south along the Parkway toward Mt. Pisgah and the Brevard area. Again, flexibility is the key with our unpredictable weather.

These are just suggestions and I'm totally flexible.

[Barclay]

I'm in. Can the pups still come too?

Mt. Mitchell is not a happy place with thunderstorms in the area.

ROFL! Ain't it the truth? And that is the most diplomatically I've heard that said.



Yo Heath, glad to see you back on the board, cousin! Hope you can make it over.

[HeathBar]

As it stands, I'm probably the furthest away. I'm probably 4.5 to 5 hours away. I would likely take off on Friday and come back early on Sunday.
So throw some dates around. I think I can manage July 27-29. I have a commitment the weekend before.

Just a thought, is camping a possibility? Not backcountry camping, but poping up some tents at a camp ground?

[furrycelt]

i'm definitely interested and hope that i would be able to get away to do this. i would probably opt for camping as that would be more affordable (or crash at my parent's house in Shelby NC)

[Barclay]

There's a really nice KOA just a few miles from Montreat in East Asheville. They have group / multi-site rates, too. Maybe worth looking at working something out with them of you guys want to camp. I had some friends stay there a couple of years ago and can attest that it is a nice place.

http://www.koa.com/where/nc/33116/

[macsim]

I might want to get in on that if I can work the schedule out. Sounds like fun!