Years ago, in the late 1990s, I was reporting a story about the wafting program run by River Dave on the Eno River in Durham. It was popular program that involved paddling up a mile-long mill-dammed section of the Eno, then drifting back down, both physically and spiritually.
A surprise breath of adventure
“I’ll be right back,” I said, heading for the door. “Just stepping out for some air.”
I was helping to recruit correctional officers for a minimum security facility — “helping” may be stretching it. In fact, I was just making sure the laptops used to fill out applications remained charged; my colleagues with the Department of Adult Corrections were doing the actual hiring. We were two hours into a four-hour Saturday shift and traffic had slowed. It seemed like a good time to slip out.
Learning from What Went Wrong
Watching Darwin onthetrail’s three-part film on his 2025 trek through Alaska’s Gates of the Arctic reminded me of the importance of reviewing — and learning from — a trip gone bad.
The first two episodes chronicle the 17-day, 400-mile trip, a mix of hiking and pack rafting in one of the most wild and remote spots around. The scenery and struggle are compelling. But it’s the third episode that’s especially worth watching (though you need to watch the first two episodes for the full impact).
Trout lilies! Let Spring Begin
I’d just finished leading a hike at the Butner Game Lands along Falls Lake. I had 5 miles under my belt, a good day in my book, and besides, I had a boatload of chores to do at home. But the sky was a cloudless blue, the temperature was on its way into the mid-70s, and I was 15 minutes from the only place in the piedmont where I was 99 percent sure I would find the thing that, for me, means spring has truly arrived.
From Imbolc to Equinox
Spring officially is three weeks away; is it too soon to start the countdown?
Actually, it’s a bit late.
Here’s how my spring countdown unfolds, beginning with …
Imbolc, Feb. 1. This traditional Gaelic observance marks the mid-point of winter, halfway between the winter solstice (Dec. 21) and the spring equinox (March 20).