If you’re a hiker who’s been sidelined by the cold and snow, you must be looking at the warmer forecast for this week, licking your chops and thinking, “I’ve got a lot to make up for.” Well, next weekend there are opportunities aplenty for making up. So you like to hike 20 or so miles in a month? How about covering it all in a day? Your options … .

Triangle

Every month, Rod Broadbelt leads a long hike at Umstead State Park, a really long hike at Umstead. And the colder the weather, the longer the hike. On Saturday, January 16, he’ll be leading whoever shows up at 8 a.m. a 17-mile hike. Unlike some of Rod’s treks, this one is all on blazed trail. And if you’re not sure you have 17 miles in you, options of 4.5, 6, 9, 11 and 14 miles are available. Bring water and lunch (which will be consumed at the Visitors Center on the far side of the park). Rod keeps a brisk pace and figures the expedition should return by 2:45 p.m.
Specifics
Where: Umstead State Park, parking lot off Harrison Avenue at I-40.
When: 8 a.m. departure.
More info: Email Rod at rbroadbelt@nc.rr.com, or call him before 7 p.m. at (919) 363-6611.

Brevard / Davidson River

The Carolina Mountain Club, rumor has it, likes to keep a brisk pace as well. In fact, newcomers report having the sneaking suspicion that the club’s senior members take a certain pride in dropping the uninitiated. All of which is to say that if you want a good workout, you might check out this 5.7-mile hike of the John Rock Loop planned for Saturday. The hike is in the Davidson River area north of Brevard, where an abundance of trails explore the southern Blue Ridge escarpment. Read a trail description on HikeWNC.com here.
Specifics
Where: Trailhead is at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education Fish Hatchery. To get there from Asheville: Go south on I-26 east to the Asheville Airport (Exit 40). Go right on NC 280 for 16 miles to Brevard. At the intersection with US 276/64, turn right US 276. Go 5.2 miles; turn left on FR 475. Go 1.4 miles to the Center for Wildlife Education and Fish Hatchery. Turn left, cross the bridge and park in the parking lot.
When: Saturday, 10 a.m.
More info: Hike leader Victoria Tripp, (828) 348-4505, torrose@gmail.com

Cashiers
To folks who’ve been there, the mere mention of Panthertown Valley evokes a look of longing. It’s one of those places where, as soon as you’re back to the trailhead you can’t wait to go back. Panthertown has been called the Yosemite of the East. In fact, it’s more of a scale model. There are eight major waterfalls (Schoolhouse being the granddaddy), a granite dome in Little Green Mountain and white pines that soar, if not quite as high as Yosemite’s sequoias. It’s one of the state’s jewels, and the Carolina Mountain Club will explore 8 miles of it Sunday. Bring your camera.
Specifics
Where: Panthertown Valley, but the club will carpool from Asheville at 8. Check with the hike leader (see below) for details.
When: Meet at 8 a.m.
More info: Contact Hike leader Dave Wetmore at (828) 884-7296, dwetmore@citcom.net

Photo at top: Panthertown Valley, looking toward Salt Rock.