That's "NASTAR" not "NASCAR."

We start the year by offering something for a variety of ability levels. Been on the sidelines for a while but have vowed to move more in 2012? We’ve got a mellow, one-mile guided hike at Goose Creek State Park that’s bound to make you want to get out more and stay out longer. Already active but ready to up your game? At South Mountains State Park there’s a 7.5-mile ranger-led hike over hilly terrain that will test your fitness level. And for the active and competitive, there’s NASTAR.

NASCAR? How’s driving fast gonna get me more physically active?

That’s “NASTAR,” Bubba. Sit tight and we’ll explain.

Coast

Saturday at 2 p.m., Goose Creek State Park offers a hike ideal for the newbie hiker. For one, it’s short, just a mile. It’s at the coast, so it’s flat, and it lasts about an hour, so there’s no blistering pace to fret over. And, the compelling scenery of this coastal forest — with stately oaks dripping with Spanish moss, tanic swamps and an understory dense with ferns and shrubs — will be so compelling that that hour and that mile will fly by.

A boardwalk elevates you above the wetter sections of Goose Creek State Park.

Logistics: Meet at the last parking lot inside the park, which is southeast of Washington, N.C., on the Pamlico River. 252.923.2191 or the Goose Creek Web site for more info.

Saturday forecast: High of 62 and partly cloudy. Get the latest prognostication here.

Piedmont

Winter is made for long hikes. Cooler temperatures mean longer distances and more challenging climbs don’t seem as ... long and challenging. Plus, the absence of leaves makes for long views you won’t find through the canopy of summer. All good reasons to check out Saturday’s Shinny Trail Extended Backcountry Hike at South Mountains State Park. This 7.5-mile hike is especially attractive as it takes in the park’s Disney attraction, High Shoals Falls, but also explores South Mountain’s more rugged, mountainous interior on the Shinny Trail. The hike is rated “strenuous,”  starts at 10 a.m., and is estimated to take 4.5 hours.

High Shoals Falls at South Mountains State Park.

Logistics: The hike is free, but space is limited and pre-registration is required, by calling 828.433.4772. For more on South Mountains State Park, including where it is and how to get there, go here.

Saturday forecast: High of 63 with partly cloudy skies. For the latest guess, go here.

Mountains

Actually, that NASCAR misunderstanding from earlier wasn’t that far off the mark. Think of NASTAR as NASCAR on skis with amatuers behind the poles. NASTAR is a citizen racing program held at various ski areas around the country, including North Carolina’s Sugar Mountain. At noon on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the season, a slalom course is set up on the mountain’s Big Red (intermediate) run. Pop for $6 ($2 for each subsequent run; you must already have a lift ticket) and you can take a timed run and see how you stack up against the nation’s top skiers. And anyone can do it (I’ve done it!). Plus, mid-week’s cold temperatures are letting Sugar Mountain make lots of snow, so conditions should be decent (though judging from the weather forecast below, Sunday may be your best bet).

Logistics: More info on Sugar Mountain here, on NASTAR here, and on ski conditions throughout the Southeast, here.

Weekend forecast: Highs of 43 Saturday and 39 Sunday, with a chance of light rain Saturday afternoon. Find the latest forecast here.

* * *

Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.

GetGoingNC.com

Promote Your Page Too

Gone for the winter (good news for your hike around Lake Waccamaw).

This weekend, avoid alligators, avoid trails, but don't avoid the first big weekend of the Southeast ski season.

Coast

Remember the old Peter, Paul & Mary hit, “Where Have All the Reptiles Gone?” No, wait. That wasn’t PP&M in the 1960s. That’s Lake Waccamaw State Park this Sunday at 2 p.m., when a ranger explains why the park’s alligators are no longer on the prowl, why the turtles aren’t out catching some rays ... basically why the entire reptile population is laying low. A great opportunity to learn a little something, then take a long (Lakeshore Trail, 5 miles) or short (Sand Ridge Trail, 0.75 mile) hike to look for the reptiles that aren’t supposed to be there.

More about the park, including directions, here.

You won't need no stinkin' trails Saturday at Crowders Mountain.

Piedmont

Trails are good, but off trails are better. At least when you’re in the company of someone who doesn’t need a blaze and solid tread under foot to find his way. Saturday, tag along with a ranger to explore the lesser-known nooks of Crowders Mountain State Park. These rare excursions give you a chance to get to reknow a place you might have thought you knew, plus, especially in the case of popular Crowders Mountain, a chance to escape the trail-bound crowds.

Saturday’s off-trail hike starts at 3 p.m from the visitors center. Sturdy hiking boots and clothes you don’t mind getting ripped (briars) are recommended. Here for more information.

Mountains

Snow guns a blazin' at Appalachian (though the Boone ski area doesn't plan to open this weekend).

Not only has cold weather in the North Carolina high country gotten the ski areas’ snow guns going, but they’ve had the real thing as well — four inches total the past couple of days at Beech Mountain! Thus, you can add skiing/riding to your list of options this weekend. Beech, Sugar and Cataloochee all expect to be open this weekend, according to SkiSoutheast.com. How much of each mountain will open remains to be seen; we suggest checking SkiSoutheast.com Friday evening before making definitive plans.

* * *

Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.

Coast

It may be too late to sign up (let alone train) for the 2nd Annual Quintiles Wrightsville Beach Marathon, but you’ve probably got at least a 5K in you. Just south of Wrightsville Beach, in Carolina Beach, you’ll find the 7th Annual Steve Haydu St. Patricks Lo-Tide Run benefiting one or more cancer patients and their families. (If you’ve got more than a 5K in you there’s a 10K as well.) Starts on the beach, ends on the beach. Registration starts at 7 a.m., the 10K at 8:45, 5k at 9. $27. Go here for more details.

Piedmont

Two ways you can tell spring is upon us: the crack of the bat and the dip of the paddle. Take part in the second sign Saturday from 10 a.m.-noon at Lake Crabtree County Park, when the park sponsors a guided canoe trip on the lake. “Come join park staff as we take an energetic, calorie burning canoe trip across Lake Crabtree,” reads the official invitation. All equipment is provided, appropriate clothing is recommended. Note: While the forecast for Saturday calls for temperatures in the low 80s, the water will still be cold. $5 per person, $10 per canoe max of three per boat). Pre-registration is required, by calling the park at 460-3390.

Mountains

Last call for skiing. Beech Mountain, Cataloochee, Sapphire and Wolf Ridge have all closed for the season, but most of the rest of the Southeast’s ski areas — including Sugar Mountain, Appalachian and Wintergreen — will be open at least through this weekend. And with highs Saturday forecast in the mid-60s (rain is in the forecast Sunday), it could be your last chance — and a rare opportunity to ski/board in shorts and a T-shirt. Find out the latest at SkiSoutheast.com.

* * *

Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.

Coast

Think this weather is for the birds? Well ... you’re right. It may seem cold to you, but for hundreds of thousands of birds from more northerly climes, North Carolina’s coast is to them what Florida is to humans. That makes this time of year ideal for getting out in the wild for some birdwatching. Here are three programs this weekend where you can go out with trained naturalists and learn just who likes to spend their winter at the coast:

Saturday
8:30 a.m., Merchants Millpond State Park, Gatesville.
9:30 a.m., Dismal Swamp State Park, South Mills.

Sunday
3 p.m., Goose Creek State Park, Washington.

Piedmont

The NHL All-Star game is in Raleigh this weekend, but with the possible exception of baseball, all-star games are rarely about the sport. They’re about the pomp, the pageantry and the multitude of ways to attract tourist dollars associated with the sport. In the case of this weekend, though, there’s also lots of hands-on potential for the active among us. Among other things Saturday in downtown Raleigh you can go down a giant sledding hill, ice skate or learn how to play hockey.

Intrigued? Some if it’s free, some of it not. Learn more here.

Mountains

Blowing Rock’s Winterfest, which begins today and runs through Sunday, isn’t so much outdoor-activity driven (unless you’d care to participate in Saturday’s Polar Plunge in Chetola Lake) as it is the perfect event for mixed relationships — "mixed" meaning those consisting of someone who loves to get out and sweat and someone who loves to get out and shop. While the shopper is guzzling free hot chocolate downtown, shopping ‘til dropping at The Tanger Outlet and wine tasting, the sweater can slip up  the road to Moses Cone Park for some hiking (or cross-country skiing), head over to Appalachian Ski Mountain for some snowboarding or do any number of the other high-country related activities you can do nearby.

The shopper can go here for more on Winterfest. The sweater is advised to check in at the Footsloggers on Main Street, where they’re always happy to make suggests on what you might do and where you might do it.

Photo: Come look for the yellow-rumped warbler Sunday at Goose Creek State Park.

* * *

Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.

Back in the old days – meaning before I got a GPS – I knew I'd been on a good hike when I couldn't wait to get home and perform a topopsy. That would be a postmortem in which I would get out a topo map and try to figure out why, instead of going from Point A to Point B, I’d wound up at Q. Nothing quite like that post-hike thrill of figuring out that you should have gone left at the junction just past the beech cove rather than right, which, it turns out, dumps you in the backyard of a rustic type with a fondness for easily-angered dogs and cinderblocked pickups bearing bumper stickers of a laissez-faire theme.

I still get that thrill, only now I get it after plugging the Garmin Colorado into the Mac, downloading my tracks and waypoints, then basking in the laptop glow of failure. I mean adventure.

Last weekend I headed up to the mountains. The initial plan was to backpack. When my hiking partner backed out and the winter weather turned out to be more wintery than someone with my backcountry skill set should attempt solo, I modified the plan: use the Davidson River campground, under about eight inches of snow, as basecamp for testing some winter gear, doing some cross-country skiing and a hike. (I wrote about the skiing end of the trip earlier in the week). I was indecisive about the hike until I noticed that the Carolina Mountain Club was doing a Sunday hike in the Shining Rock Wilderness.

I've hiked and backpacked a fair amount in Shining Rock, a 18,500-acre wild area that has some of the best views in the state. But I'd never done this 10-mile loop because I didn't know it existed. In fact, it doesn't exist, at least on any map I have of the area. Alas, by the time I tried to sign up, the hike was full (groups are limited to 10 people in a wilderness). “I'll let you know if we have a cancellation,” hike leader Charlie Peterson emailed me.

Turns out they did, but I didn't find out about it until the hike was about ready to start. I quickly packed and made the 45-minute drive from my Davidson River base camp to the trailhead. I said the hike didn’t exist on paper: That’s not entire correct. The main legs of the hike – the ridgeline out on Fork Mountain Trail, the return along the Little East Fork of the Pigeon River, do exist. It's the climb from the Daniel Boone Scout Camp up to Fork Mountain Trail, and the descent down to Little East Fork that you won't find on a map. And, I discovered, unless you're a CMC hike leader, you'll be very hard pressed to find the trailhead.

The trip map on the CMC Web site (OK, the loop does exist on one map) shows the trailhead just past the dam as you enter the Daniel Boone complex. The accompanying trail description simply says: “Climb to High Top tower site, follow the Fork Mtn. ridge, then descend to Little East Fork of Pigeon River.:-)” It's the smiley that gets me.

The problem wasn't that I couldn't find a trail, the problem was I found too many trails: The wilderness borders Forest Service land criss-crossed with logging roads. Did the trail follow an old logging road? I started following a likely suspect, likely because it appeared maintained, likely because it seemed to follow the route on the CMC map, likely because there were bootprints in the foot-deep snow. At least for a mile or so. Then the footsteps abruptly retreated back down the mountain, all except a set of deer tracks that soldiered on. To heck with people, I thought. I'll go with the deer. Onward and upward I continued.

Periodically, I stopped to try and reconnoiter my position with the CMC map. As the logging roads forked I chose the one that seemed the most likely to take me up to the ridgeline and the Fork Mountain Trail. But none of these roads seemed interested in reaching the ridge. I’d follow a spur line for 15 minutes, but at some point, usually tantalizingly close to the top, the trail would peter out. At one point I was within 200 vertical feet of the ridge, but with no easy way to get there. I should have been frustrated. And yet … .

And yet, I was hiking in a North Carolina forest with a foot of snow on the ground. The sky was cloudless much of the day, the temperature in the low 40s. Because of the snow, it was remarkably quiet. And I had zero chance of getting lost, since my lone set of bootprints followed me whereever I went. I hiked for about four hours, covered about nine miles, returned to the car exhausted and elated. And befuddled.

I was even moreso after getting home and downloading my GPS. I had assumed that I was hiking well north of where I should have been. In fact, I was a little south. But at some point, according to my GPS and the CMC map, I should have crossed paths with the actual trail. Multiple times, in fact. At my zenith, 200 feet from the ridge, the electronic topo gives the impression of a ridiculously easy scamper to the ridge. I close my eyes, picture the reality and sigh. I’m baffled, then elated. There’s only one way to solve this mystery, I realize.

A return trip.

The plan was to go backpacking at Mount Rogers, a plan that was ultimate done in by it's inspiration

A winter trip to the highest, most exposed part of Virginia during one of the snowiest winters in recent memory? Epic! But then the area got an additional foot of snow last week on top of an existing foot (sending drifts up over six feet from their original four, according to an advisory posted on the Web site for Grayson Highlands State Park, which adjoins Rogers). Even more snow was forecast overnight. Then a backpacking colleague pointed out that what blazes there are at Mount Rogers (mostly on rocks, since trees are scarce in spots) would likely be covered. Finally, my partner for the trip backed out.

Solo? In two feet of snow? In a moonscape? I haven't been to the Davidson River/Shining Rock area in a while, I suddenly realized.

One of my original motivations for this trip was to winter-test some equipment. I'd just bought a new 0 degree sleeping bag and was curious to see whether one could actually sleep snugly in frigid cold. I was also curious about my year-old Jetboil camp stove. It's a canister stove, and canister stoves generally don't perform well in the cold. This one, though, was getting good cold weather reviews online. Plus, I couldn't recall the last time I'd hiked in snow, let alone backpacked in it. I was overdue.

I've also been resmitten of late by an old flame, cross-country skiing. Twenty-five years ago I had a brief fling with Nordic skiing in Colorado. Ten years ago it was rekindled on a trip to the White Grass ski touring center in West Virginia. I rented skis, then bought them, then didn't use them again until December, when a rare 8-inch snowfall was enough to get me to make the 12-minute drive to Umstead. That was enough to make me take the three-hour drive a week later to North Carolina's high country, which lately have seen snowfall more on the order of the Sierra Nevadas than the Southern Appalachians. And that was enough to make me wonder about the Nordic possibilities near Davidson River, which happens to have one of the National Forest Service's few year-round campgrounds. Davidson River is rich with trails, with hiking, mountain biking and in this case perhaps most tantalizingly, equestrian trails. Horse trails tend to be wider, letting more snowfall in, and have less severe turns and climbs. Surely, Davidson River was buzzing with cross-country activity.

If it was, it turned out, that was news to the two outfitters at the gateway to the region. “Wow, I don't know,” said the sales associate at The Hub. “Except for the past two winters, we just haven't gotten enough snow up here.” The response was similar at Looking Glass Outfitters. “There's always the Blue Ridge Parkway.” Fifteen miles of occasionally icy, sometimes snowpacked US 276 later, I was clipping into my Rossignals and ducking under the gate barring motorized access to the snowpacked westbound (souhthbond officially, if not geographically) BRP.

With that, my words end and the photos begin.

Piedmont

At first blush (a blush suggestive of hypothermia?), the notion of taking a 4-hour kayak trip in 30-degree weather might seem daft. But then, this particular trip is on Belews Lake, which the sponsoring Piedmont Environmental Center notes, “being a power plant lake [Duke Energy] where water is used to cool energy-producing turbines, the heated water ... is much warmer than ambient air temperatures. The result is a three-foot deep blanket of warm air — perfect for the kayaker!”

On the surface (the surprisingly toasty surface) Saturday’s Kayak Breakfast on Belews Lake may have something of a 1950s, sci-fi, Creature-from-the-spookily-warm-Black Lagoon” feel to it, but then again, it’s sponsored by the Piedmont Environmental Center, so it has to be safe — and from the sounds of it, potentially habit forming. Paddle through this three-foot-high heat dome as a naturalist points out the natural world beyond. Birds, deer, beaver, “steam devils” — all are common attractions on this trip. Plus, there’s a hot breakfast midway. Starts at 7:30 a.m., ends noonish. $40 for PEC members, $50 for nonmembers.

For more info or to sign up, go here.

Coast

Unlike Belews Lake, the Atlantic Ocean is not heated and there will not be a 3-foot-high blanket of hot air above it when the 3rd Annual Cold Stroke Classic kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Blockade Runner on Wrightsville Beach. Probably doesn’t matter to the paddlers, anyway, since this is standup paddle boarding and everything above your privates would freeze anyway.

That’s right, a stand-up paddle board race, featuring the 7-mile Elite course and for you newcomers to stand-up paddle boarding, a 3.5-mile recreational course. It’s a great opportunity to check out the fast-growing sport of stand-up paddle boarding, which basically involves ... well, standing on a board longer and wider than a surfboard and propelling yourself with a single paddle. In addition to the race, there’s a clinic Friday at 2 p.m. by Dan Gavere and a manufacturer’s expo. Demos, too (but again, this water isn’t heated; bring your dry suit).

More info here. Curious about stand-up paddle boarding? Check out our dalliance with the sport last summer at Lake Crabtree, here.

Mountains

It’s hard to imagine that skiing in North Carolina can get much better than it is

The riding at Wolf Ridge on Monday. Photo courtesy SkiSoutheast.com/Todd Mingus

right now. The state’s ski areas have already gotten about twice as much snowfall as they do in a typical winter — and it’s only early January. Even better, continued frigid temperatures have created a sustained window for snowmaking: the ski areas are operating wide open and are reporting powder and packed powder conditions. And with temperatures forecast to climb into the upper 30s this weekend, with lots of sun, the time is perfect to go skiing or riding.

Check out conditions at SkiSoutheast.com.

* * *

Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, below.

Just when it looked like December’s excellent cross-country skiing conditions in North Carolina’s high country was a once-in-an-every-five-years-or-so occurrence, it looks like Mother Nature might be staging an encore starting this weekend.

Weather.com and Weather Underground both see snow starting in the Boone area Friday and lasting at least through Wednesday of next week. The omnipotent Ray’s Weather, the definitive source for mountain weather, is likewise suggesting snow for the next week, and says some higher elevations could get a foot or more alone out of the system moving through today and Saturday. Along with the snow: dang cold temperatures, possibly not getting out of the 20s for much of the next week.

All of which couldn’t be better news for North Carolina’s cross-country skiing enthusiasts. If you have your own equipment, great, you’re ready to role. If you need equipment, the High Country Ski Shop in Pineloa is the only place in the state that rents or sells Nordic equipment, and even during the height of December’s cross-country frenzy, they still had plenty of skis available. (They also offer instruction.)

To further whip you into a frenzy, check out this slide show from my trip Dec. 29 to Moses Cone. Located just outside Blowing Rock, Moses Cone Memorial Park is an ideal venue for beginners to intermediates. Its 25 miles of carriage trails have mellow grades and enough tree cover to minimize the bare spots. On my visit, there were only two bare spots on a 6-mile loop, neither more than 20 feet long. For the most part, it was a foot or so of dry snow, ideal for cross-country skiing.

A couple quick reminders before the show. One, check out last month’s GGNC primer on x-country skiing in the state to find out where to go and who to check with for both snow conditions and road conditions before heading up. Of the former, ExploreBooneArea.com is running a Nordic Ski Report, which relies on reports from local skiers for current conditions. As such, you’ll get frank descriptions of what you’ll find.

OK, enjoy the show. May it inspire your own Nordic adventure.

Umstead is a 5,400-acre sylvan oasis in the heart of the Triangle. Hikers love its 20 miles of serene hiking trail, cyclists and runners take to the park’s 13 miles of bike and bridle trail. It’s the later that transform Umstead in a Nordic skier’s dream. The bridle trail’s smooth, finely crushed screened gravel surface offers few jolting surprises, which is why even six inches of snow is sufficient base. Add a canopy that opens just enough to let the snow in and you’ve got prime cross-country terrain.

“I think you need to press this button down,” Ben said as I stood flummoxed, staring down at the ski binding. Ben had never skied before; I was the veteran. Of course, the button opened the front of the binding, allowing the bar just beneath the boot’s toe to securely clip in. “The last time I used these was six, seven years ago,” I said in weak defense.

With only one pair of skis, the plan was for me, the veteran, to start on the skis, Ben, who runs cross country in high school, to run along side. After a couple miles, we’d switch. Tentatively, I pushed off. Fortunately, my marginal skills hadn’t abandoned me as well. And fortunately, the stretch of trail we were on were flat, forgiving and still packed with much  of the 8 inches of snow that had fallen

The delusional author having Kochian Olympic dreams.

Glide with the left ski, pole plant, glide with the right ski, pole plant ... Glide, plant, glide plant ... I was cooking! My pole planting arms and striding legs were in synch. It was poetry; I felt like I was floating over the snow. Glide, plant, glide plant ... just like Bill Koch used to do it. I glanced over to see if Ben was able to keep up.

He was walking.

“Your turn,” I said.

The first time I was on cross-country skis, at a Nordic center near Breckenridge, Colorado, I had trouble simply standing, let alone putting one ski in front of the other. The skis are narrow, a couple inches wide at most. Remaining upright is Step One in Nordic 101. Ben took off down the trail. Twenty minutes later, when I’d caught up with him at the car, he said, “That was fun!”

Indeed, it was.

Photo at top: Ben having fun.

At this point the boots are winning.

The latest from WRAL is up to two inches of snow is possible for the Triangle, a dusting is more likely. East of I-95, it could be sledding whether — if you can find a slope steep enough to sled down. Snowboarding and skiing will be the order of the day in the high country. More about that in a sec.

With hiking boots in the lead, here’s a quick look at especially good places to take them. I've mostly targeted places in urban centers that are easier to get to in the event of icy roads. The trails suggested are ones with features accentuated by winter weather — those with great views, with rocky sections or along water.

A caveat: Christmas Day is the one day of the year that North Carolina’s State Parks are closed. Rangers and other park personnel deserve one day of the year off, a day when they don’t have to worry about finding someone who’s missing or rescuing someone who’s twisted an ankle, two scenarios whose likelihood increases with snow-covered trails. So for the state parks trails listed, waited until Sunday (when it’s still supposed to be snowy) to go and get lost or twist your ankle. That said:

Triangle

Umstead State Park, Raleigh. Company Mill Trail. The first mile of this hike is the park’s most popular in any weather; it’s even more so with snow blanketing the three gentle ridges that lead down to Crabtree Creek. Continue on the five-mile loop for a quieter commune. On the north side of the park, Sal’s Branch Trail offers a 3-mile walk through gently rolling forest.

Eno River State Park during a 2002 snow. Photo by Dave Cook, courtesy North Carolina State Parks.

Eno River State Park, Durham. Buckquarter Creek/Holden’s Mill figure-eight loop.  I’m a sucker for this combo: It’s equal parts ridgeline and riverbank hiking and if you want you can cut this 4.1-mile hike short and just do the Buckquarter Creek loop.

Mountains-to-Sea Trail, Wake and Durham counties. Much of this trail, which now runs about 60 miles from the Falls Lake dam in Wake County north and west to Pennys Bend in Durham County, is on land managed by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and is officially open Christmas Day. Periodic road crossings make setting a shuttle easy for hiking the MST in 3- to 5-mile sections.

Triad

Hanging Rock after a recent snow. Photo by Dave Cook, courtesy North Carolina State Parks.

Hanging Rock State Park, Danbury (north of the Triad). Your closest shot for real elevation, and thus, views of the surrounding snowy countryside. Short option: the 1.3-mile Hanging Rock Trail, which takes you up to the park’s namesake attraction, a rocky knob (which could offer dubious footing in snowy weather, so beware). Longer, less-crowded option: The Moore’s Wall Trail, a 4.3-mile loop that takes you up to 2,579-foot Moore’s Knob, which offers especially good views south and west.

View of the surrounding countryside from near the top of Pilot Mountain after a 2009 snow. Photo by M. Windsor, courtesy of North Carolina State Parks.

Pilot Mountain State Park,  Pinnacle (north and west of the Triad). If you’re lucky and it’s snowy enough, the windy two-mile road to the top will be closed, meaning you’ll have to take the aptly named Grindstone Trail 3 miles up to the top, a prospect that will give you a rare day of quiet atop the otherwise bustling Pilot Mountain.

Coast

Neusiok Trail, Croatan National Forest, Havelock. Down East is forecast to get up to four inches of snow, making for an exceptionally rare chance to hike a coastal forest in the snow. If the opportunity arises, hike the northernmost five miles (described here), which has some surprisingly rolling stretches. National Forests, btw, are open Christmas Day.

Charlotte

Crowders Mountain State Park, Kings Mountain (west of Charlotte).   Crowders Mountain has two good summit areas: Crowders Mountain and Kings Pinnacle. Kings Pinnacle gets the nod, for two reasons: a little less crowded, greater opportunities for non-urban views. A “strenuous” 1.7-mile hike from the Visitors Center.

Mountains

Throw a dart — some of the best hiking in the East abounds. A good place to throw that dart: the Carolina Mountain Club, which has an extensive database of prime mountain hikes.

Skiing

In addition to a forecast calling for as much as 16 inches of snow in the incoming weather system, in addition to snowfall totals thus far that already exceed the annual average, and in addition to continued cold making for ideal snowmaking conditions, resist the urge to go skiing or snowboarding through New Year’s Day. It’s the busiest time of year on the slopes and lift tickets are more expensive (holiday pricing!), meaning you’ll pay more and get less. If you’re dead set on going, however, you can find the current conditions and more at SkiSoutheast.com.

And if you’re of a mind, a reminder that there is one form of skiing that’s not subject to the commercial pressures of the holidays. Check it out here.

Merry Christmas, and happy hiking! (Or sledding, or skiing, or ... )

Photo at top: Umstead's Company Mill Trail after a light dusting early this year.