Carolina Beach Double Sprint Triathlon: the triathlon so nice they let you do it twice. Plus, surviving the wilds of South Mountains and experiencing Mount Mitchell’s gentler side.
Coast
Loaded with energy? Say, twice the energy you typically have?
Then perhaps you’re up for Saturday’s Carolina Beach Douple Sprint Triathlon in Carolina Beach. Swim 375 meters in the Atlantic, run 1.5 miles, bike 20K. Then, instead of collapsing and kicking back a cold one, collect yourself for another 1.5-mile run, another 375 meters in the ocean. The course is described as flat.
Logistics: Carolina Beach Double Sprint Triathlon, Saturday, June 24, 7 a.m., Carolina Beach, $85. More info here.
Saturday forecast: Partly cloudy with a race start temperature of 79.
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Looking ahead: Sharks Tooth Island Full Moon Kayak Trip, Aug. 7, Halyburton Park, Wilmington. More info here.
Piedmont
You’re happily exploring, then, suddenly, you’re lost. Now what?
You’ll know what if you attend Saturday’s Wilderness Survival 101, which borrows a page — several, actually — from the Boy Scouts of America Handbook to cover basic first aid, shelter and a variety of other issues that can pop up in the wild.
Logistics: Wilderness Survival 101, Saturday, June 24, 2 p.m., South Mountains State Park, Connelly Springs. More info here.
Saturday forecast: Mostly sunny, afternoon high in the mid 80s.
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Looking ahead: Saturday and Sunday, July 1 and 2: the trails at Hanging Rock State Park’s Vader Mecum area are open. More info here.
Mountains
Pretty rugged terrain at Mountain Mitchell State Park, atop the East Coast. The rocky spine that defines the Black Mountains is a challenge to even the most experienced and nimble hiker. While the thought of hiking Mitchell is appealing, the reality can be intimidating.
Unless, that is, you drop off the ridge a short distance to the Commissary Trail. This former high country highway is flatter, friendlier and still takes in much of the high alpine, spruce and fir ecology that gives Mount Mitchell State Park its appeal. It’s also the site of a Guided Commissary Trail, a ranger-led hike Saturday.
Logistics: Guided Commissary Trail, Saturday, June 24, 11 a.m., Mount Mitchell State Park. More info here.
Sunday forecast: High at hike time of 60 with a chance of thunderstorms.
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Looking ahead: Riverboard Demo Day, July 22, Ledges Whitewater Park, Alexander (on the French Broad River). More info here.
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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.
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
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.
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
Great Outdoor Provision Co.
Calendar includes three weekly events for each of its seven markets: Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Raleigh, Wilmington and Winston-Salem. Search by market.
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.
U.S. National Wildlife Refuges
Rundown, by month, of regular activities at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuges in North Carolina.
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