Winter is the honest season. Stripped bare of busy ground cover and a blurring canopy, winter is incapable of keeping a secret. Stone foundations from homesteads long abandoned lie exposed. Distant mountain peaks are revealed. Critters have nowhere to hide. It’s the perfect time to be in the woods.
Trail etiquette Part II: Now, about your dog …
Last week’s post on trail etiquette prompted a reader to note we had neglected one particularly important area: dogs.
“Also, please leash your pets,” Jennifer commented on our Facebook page. “I know they love to run, but some of us have been attacked and this situation makes me a nervous wreck.”
GetOut! Your Friday Nudge for Weekend Adventure
Yes, it rained for a few days there. The good news? It was during the week. The even better news? We’ve got a bright and sunny weekend on tap. Some ways to enjoy:
Sunday Morning Birds, Sunday, 8:30 a.m., Eno River State Park: Fews Ford Access, Durham. Ever wonder why you don’t see or hear many birds on the trail? Maybe it’s because you aren’t on the trail early enough? Not that you need to be out in the woods ridiculously early, as this program at Eno River State Park suggests. Bring your binos, see who’s flitting about on an autumn morning. Learn more and sign up here.
If you please, a few notes about trail etiquette
On a recent Sunday at crowded Umstead State Park, we honestly weren’t looking to get all Miss Manners on our trail companions. But events conspired to make apparent that it’s time for a reminder about trail etiquette.
Here are a few things to keep in mind on the trail:
GetOut! Your Friday Nudge for Weekend Adventure
There is still good fall color to be had, and based on the forecast, it’s to be had against a backdrop of crisp baby blue skies. That said, some thoughts on the weekend ahead.
- Fall Foliage Hike, Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Haw River State Park, Browns Summit. What we said above about the forecast should make the colors pop even more. Learn more here.
- Fall Tree ID Hike, Saturday, 10:30 a.m., Stone Mountain State Park, Roaring Gap. When was the last time you slow down enough on the trail to learn a thing? Can’t recall? Then this could be the most informative half mile you’ll come across this year. Learn more here.
- Weymouth Goes to the Dogs!, Sunday, 3 p.m., Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve, Southern Pines. Learn more here.
As always, you can find more opportunities this weekend here:
- North Carolina State Parks have a variety of adventures planned for the weekend. Check those options here.
- North Carolina Environmental Education Centers has an extensive calendar of what’s happening at its affiliates; check it out here.
- You can also find more adventures right here, at GetGoingNC.com.
Learn more about where we spent last weekend, featured in the video, by visiting Umstead State Park and the Mountains-to-Sea Trail at Falls Lake.