Haiku Hike, Saturday, 10:30 a.m., Eno River State Park, Durham. Literary hike / along the gorgeous Eno / read some, compose some. Learn more here.
Occoneechee Geology Hike, Saturday, 2 p.m. Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, Hillsborough. The massive slash on the north face of mighty Occoneechee, at 867 feet the high point of the Triangle, means the pyrophyllite peak has few secrets to keep. But despite begin an open book, what does it all mean? Geologist Jean-Michel Margot has studied the mountain for decades, and shares his findings in this monthly gathering. Learn more here.read more
After a week of overnight lows, at least in our next of the Piedmont, in the low 40s and long-sleeve shirts reappearing during the day, we’re suddenly looking at temperatures as high as the low 90s in parts of our exploring area. read more
We’re finally in full leaf-out and had our first taste of summertime temperatures. Some thoughts on how you can get out and enjoy.
16th Annual Paddle for the Border, Saturday, 8 a.m., Dismal Swamp State Park, South Mills. Picture one of those races where they release hundreds of tiny rubber ducks into a stream. Now, instead of tiny ducks, picture hundreds of paddlers. Crazy, no? That’s the craziness you’ll find this weekend as hundreds of paddlers make their way from the park up the Dismal Swamp Canal to the Virginia border. About a 7.5-mile paddle. Check it out here.read more
After a teasing blast of fall early in the week, we’re back to the realities of July in the Southeast this weekend. Not a bad thing, just something to take into account as you plan your weekend. We share our thoughts on what might make for a grand weekend of adventure below.
That fall reprieve we just had sure was nice. One day it didn’t get out of the 70s. One morning I stepped out and it was 52. In three days I did six hikes.
Then, this morning I woke up and it was not 52 degrees and the humidity was not 20 percent. I still took my morning half-hour hike, but I found my thoughts had strayed …
To paddling.
We haven’t talked about paddling lately. Truth be told, I’ve gotten out of practice. I had both my kayaks out over Father’s Day, but for the benefit of others. I haven’t personally dipped a paddle since … well, it’s been too long.
To get back in the spirit, I’ve pulled some videos of paddle trips past. Don’t worry: there’s no rambling dialogue, no waxing, not much audio at all. Each is mercifully short, just 90 seconds of paddling from 10 different spots. And while some of the footage looks like it was shot in the 1940s on a Bell+Howell Super 8, it’s all within the last six years. Stick around to the bottom of the column and find information about paddling the spots you’ve seen.
Who knows, maybe the next time we see you it’ll be on a blue trail.
Goose Creek
Washington (N.C.)
Milltail Creek
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
