Tag Archives: Cataloochee

Our 5 favorite group campgrounds in North Carolina

We take a lot of groups on weekend hiking trips to the mountains. As a result, we stay in a lot of group campgrounds. When we book a group campground, we look at a number of factors, including:

  1. Proximity to good hiking. Ideally, we look for a campground with immediate access to trails — and not just any old trails, but trails that will yield a full day of memorable hiking. If we can treat people to an entire day of using just their own feet to get around, we we find they enjoy the day that much more..
  2. Shaded camping. We hike mostly in summer, so we need to pitch tents where they won’t broil during the day. 
  3. A commons area. A big fire pit, a picnic table or two, rocks or logs to sit on — we don’t ask much, but these are biggies.
  4. Basic amenities. We need water at the campsite, we’d like a privy not too far away. A bathhouse, of course, is nice. And if we can park a reasonable distance away — within 50 yards of the campsite, say — all the better.
  5. Privacy. From others in the group, to some degree (hey, we all need a little me time), but mostly from neighboring campers. We escape to the wild for various reasons; it’s those who escape to the wild to be wild that we prefer to avoid.
  6. Good vibe. Most importantly, the site must have a good vibe. It needn’t be immaculately groomed; rather, we like a spot that fits in with the natural surroundings. Sometimes you know the second you drive up, sometimes it takes a night or two of camaraderie to summons the vibe. 

There are other factors, but these are the basics. Based on these basics, here are our our five favorite group campgrounds in North Carolina. read more

This weekend: Wing It

WP.Coast

Wings Over Water dominates the statewide outdoors scene with a bevy of events running through Sunday. Meanwhile, the fall migrants are on the move at Lake James while fall color enjoys one last big weekend in the mountains before focusing on the Piedmont.

Coast

As far is Wings Over Water is concerned, your weekend started Tuesday.

Now in its 19th year, Wings Over Water is the coast’s premier celebration of the natural world. From Tuesday through Sunday, Wings Over Water events are held in a five-county region of northeastern North Carolina, an area that includes six National Wildlife Refuges: Alligator River, Pea Island, Pocosin Lakes, Mattamuskeet, Mackay Island and Currituck. There are birding events, there are paddling trips, there are photo safaris and this year there’s a new stand-up paddleboard tour.  If you’re curious about an aspect of nature at the coast, you’ll likely find a program to fill you in.

Logistics: Tuesday, Oct. 20 through Sunday, Oct. 25, five-country area of northeastern North Carolina. Fees per session are generally between $25 and $40. For a complete schedule and information about the program, visit the WOW home page.

Forecast through the weekend: Very fall-like, with daytime highs around 70 under mostly sunny skies.

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Looking ahead: Bummed because you already have plans for the next few days and can’t make Wings Over Water? Then you’ll be cheered to hear that this year there’s a WOW Encore Weekend, Friday, Dec. 4 through Sunday, Dec. 6. Details here.

Piedmont

There’s more to fall than just the woods brimming with color. The bird population, for instance, is busy making winter travel plans.

Saturday, at Lake James State Park you can hang out with ranger Jamie Cameron and watch the fall migrants head south. Jamie can tell you which birds are which, as well as where they’re coming from and where they’re headed.

Logistics: Saturday, Oct. 24, 8 a.m., Lake James State Park, Nebo. Free. More information here.

Saturday forecast: A temperature of 53 at 8 a.m. under mostly sunny skies.

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Looking ahead: Working on your Thanksgiving Day plan and realize it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get in a hike? See how your North Carolina State Parks can help, here.

Mountains

If you’re contemplating a trip to the mountains this weekend, it’s likely in hopes of catching a last gasp of great color as autumn’s road show moves into the Piedmont. We’re guessing that color is part of the motivation behind the Carolina Mountain Club’s trip to Big and Little Cataloochee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Sunday.

Another motivator: the chance to explore the trails less traveled. In this case, the old “dug roads,” which date back to the 1850s and remain as viable paths today. This 6.5-mile hike will stick largely to these old roads, starting from the church in Cataloochee and crossing Noland Mountain before returning.

Logistics: Sunday, Oct. 25, 8 a.m. (carpool meeting time in Asheville). For more info, contact hike leader Mike Knies at 828.628.6712, or knies06@att.net.

Sunday forecast: High of 65, chance of afternoon showers.

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Looking ahead: Race to the Taps #5, Nov. 14, Oskar Blues Brewery in Brevard: a six-pack of four-mile, chip-timed road races starting and ending at several of WNC’s premier craft breweries. Details here.

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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed 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 coastal 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 read more

Last call for fall, weekend winter advisory

FallColor

Some quick notes for the weekend:

Saturday, will be cool (50s) and rainy in the Piedmont. If you’ve got stuff you need to get done (yardwork excluded), this would be the day to get it done because —

Sunday will be dry, sunny and cool (50s) in the Piedmont. Sunday could also be your last chance to catch good fall color in the region. Wondering where to go?

* NCHikes November hike recommendations. NCHikes.com, our sister site, has just posted its six recommendations for hikes especially suited to November. Why November? You’ll have to go here to see. www.nchikes.com
*

BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina Health & Wellness Blog recommendations read more

This weekend: Winter!

Will this be the scene this weekend at Cataloochee? (Photo courtesy Cataloochee)
Will this be the scene this weekend at Cataloochee? (Photo courtesy Cataloochee)

Yup, that’s right: winter arrives big time in North Carolina’s mountains this weekend, with heavy snow forecast for higher elevations. More important, cold overnight temperatures should support prolonged snowmaking, signaling the start of the Southeast ski season.

Coast

Though it will dip down to freezing overnight and precipitation is in the forecast, daytime highs in the 50s will forestall winter from covering up the emerging fall color at Merchants Millpond State Park.

No, fall color isn’t confined to the Piedmont. It’s starting to trickle into the coastal plain. On Saturday, a park ranger will lead a hike starting from the millpond boathouse to check out signs of fall in this swamplike park.

Logistics: Saturday, 8:30 a.m., Merchants Millpond State Park, Gatesville. For more info call 252.357.1191.

Saturday forecast: High of 59, chance of rain.

Piedmont

Tuesday, we did a little scouting along the shores of Lake Brandt, one of the Greensboro Watershed Lakes. Our scouting was sufficient to convince us that this weekend should be great for checking out fall color along the lakes. You can do this in one of two ways:

One, on the 40 miles of trail (some of which is open to mountain biking) along the lakes. Or two, on one of four pontoon boat rides scheduled for Saturday. (Though both options would give you two perspectives on what likely will be the peak weekend for fall color in the Triad.)

Logistics: Saturday, Nov. 1, at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., Lake Townsend Marina, 6332 Townsend Road, Brown Summit. $5 per person. 336.373.3694. For more on trails along the lakes, go here.

Saturday forecast: High of 49, chance of rain.

Mountains

Boone-based SkiSoutheast.com is speculating that with 3 to 6 inches of snow forecast and with overnight lows dipping into the low 20s making for prime snowmaking conditions, that Cataloochee and Sugar Mountain will both open this weekend. Those potential openings carry an asterisk:
Opening, but with minimal terrain — perhaps a slope or two.
Opening, but perhaps just for a day or two, until the cold weather moves out.

Still, it’s skiing! And you could make first tracks by keeping a close eye on developments, as mentioned below.

Logistics: To find out if any slopes do open, check in with SkiSoutheast.com. More specifically, you can check with the two prime candidates themselves, Cataloochee  and Sugar Mountain.

Weekend forecast: Winter storm watches are posted for the weekend in nine North Carolina mountain counties. Follow the latest developments at Ray’s Weather.

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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed 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 read more

This weekend: Surf ‘n’ slope

It’s the transition season in North Carolina: standup paddleboarding at the coast, skiing in the mountains and hiking in between.

Coast

The Surf to Sound Challenge at Wrightsville Beach typically marks the end of the standup paddleboard season at the coast — a late and chilly end, in most folks’ books. The two-day challenge features the 6.5-mile Surf to Sound Challenge and the 4-mile Harbor Island Outer Loop challenge on Saturday, and a new competition, the Surf SUP Competition on Sunday. If you’ve got the will and a wet suit, head on down to Wrightsville Beach.

Logistics: Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 16-17. More info here or by calling 910.256.2251.

Weekend forecast: Highs in the low to mid 70s, 30 percent chance of rain Saturday.

Piedmont

I’m smitten by Saturday’s 7.2-mile Birkhead Mountain Wilderness hike in the Uwharrie National Forest of central North Carolina for two reasons. One, the Uwharries this time of year are, in my opinion, at their best. There’s still some color, but most of the leaves have fallen, opening great views through a forest dominated by hardwoods and with more elevation than you’ll generally find in the Piedmont.

The other reason I like it is because I’ll be leading the hike, through the GetHiking! Triangle hiking group. It’s a good mix of beginning hikers and more experienced hikers looking to explore new trails. Good for you beginners to know: it’s a no-drop hike.

Logistics: Saturday, Nov. 16, 9:15 a.m. at the trailhead off Tot Hill Farm Road of NC 49 west of Asheboro (see map here).  More info on the hike here.

Saturday forecast: High of 66 with a 20 percent chance of rain.

Mountains

When the Southeast ski season “opens,” it’s usually a short initial opening. The cold front that dusted the Piedmont with snow Tuesday evening brought  a dusting to the high country as well. More importantly, it brought cold temperatures that allowed Cataloochee and Sugar Mountain to fire up their snow guns and open for business Wednesday. Today, Cataloochee opened with 6 of 17 runs open and 3 of 5 lifts operating; Sugar had one run open and one lift.

The forecast for the weekend wasn’t promising, but there’s a chance both could remain if overnight lows drop below freezing, counteracting daytime highs in the upper 40s.  If you’re taken by the idea of making first tracks this weekend, we suggest you check skisoutheast.com before heading out, for the latest news from the slopes.

Logistics: Check skisoutheast.com for current ski conditions.

Saturday forecast: Highs in the mid 50s.

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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed 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 read more