Category Archives: Hiking

Ten hikes for the End of Days (for 2012, that is)

The views atop Shortoff Mountain on the east rim of Linville Gorge are crisp on a winter's day.

Throughout much of North Carolina, the forecast through New Year’s Day couldn’t be much better for one thing.

Taking a hike.

In the Triangle, for instance, we’re looking at daytime highs in the mid- to upper 40s and sunny to partly sunny skies through New Year’s Day. Good timing since most of you likely have some time off over this same time period. Since the weather today is universally ugly and thus ideal for planning, we offer 10 hikes especially well-suited for this time of year. Look ‘em over, consult the listed sources for additional information. If nothing tickles your hiking fancy, head over to our sister site, NCHikes.com, for more options. read more

This weekend: We survived! Get out and celebrate!

The reserve in summer.

Well, bummer. I wasn’t planning on doing a Weekend Plans this week because I assumed there wasn’t going to be a weekend. Wiley Mayans! So I’m both gullible and slack. Since it appears the weekend will happen, since it isn’t the end of the world as we know it, some last-minute thoughts on how to celebrate life going on. read more

What the heck is it?

Anyone? Anyone?

We were walking an off-the-beaten path trail at Lake Johnson when we came upon the … devices. They were laying along the bank, and appeared to have been carefully placed there. They were identical, each consisting of two one-liter plastic pop bottles painted gray and linked with about six inches of pvc pipe. Another piece of pvc, about two feet long and wrapped in lime green water noodle foam, was attached at the midpoint, forming a T. read more

Weekend Plans? Plan to try something new

Tote that bike! Cyclo-cross racers give their bikes a lift. (Photo: BostonBiker.org)

Maybe you’ve been fishing, maybe you’ve kayaked — but have you fished from a kayak? Maybe you consider yourself an avid hiker. But how many times do you venture off the trail for some real exploring? Or maybe it’s time you tried the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup of cycling: cyclo-cross. An array of new experiences await this weekend in North Carolina. read more