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.

* * *

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.

* * *

Looking ahead: Riverboard Demo Day, July 22, Ledges Whitewater Park, Alexander (on the French Broad River). More info here.

* * *

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

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The post This weekend: a 2X Tri, Wilderness Survival and the Friendly Side of Mitchell  appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

Rarely do we recommend a spectator activity, what with GetGoingNC being about active, adventurous living and all. But today’s recommendation is spectating that could lead to sweating.

Saturday, it’s the annual running of the Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon. That’s a 2.4-mile swim (in Banks Channel at Wrightsville Beach), followed by a 112-mile bike ride out to the White Lake area and back, followed by a marathon. We’re not necessarily suggesting that watching an Ironman will make you want to do an Ironman, but it likely could inspire you to, initially, do a shorter tri (they come in in a variety of smaller sizes; to learn more, visit here).

And then, who knows?

Logistics: Beach2Battleship Ironman Distance Triathlon, Saturday, Oct. 22, 7:15 a.m. into the evening, Wrightsville Beach. More info here.

Saturday forecast: Sunny, high of 65.

* * *

Looking ahead: Surf-to-Sound Challenge, stand up paddleboard race, Nov. 4, Blockade Runner Resort, Wrightsville Beach. More info here.

Piedmont

We love physical activity that doesn’t seem like physical activity. An activity, say, where you walk for two hours, then say, “Wow! I just walked for two hours!”

That would describe Saturday’s Ghost Walk of Davidson, a two-hour ramble through the town of Davidson, learning about the town’s history and ghostly past. It’s a family-oriented activity, a good way to jump-start the clan’s plans to be up and about.

Logistics: Ghost Walk of Davidson, Saturday, 7-9 p.m., Davidson. $10 for adults, $5 for the 7-12 set. More info by calling 704.896.7743.

Saturday evening forecast: High in the mid-50s, darkening.

* * *

Looking ahead: Canoe Hike, Saturday, Oct. 29, Jordan Lake State Recreation Area. More info here.

Mountains

A river runs through Stone Mountain State Park — actually, several do. Combined, they include 20 miles of designated trout waters, making the park a great place to fly fish. And, not coincidentally, a great place to learn to fly fish.

Sunday, check out Beginner Fly Fishing, a two-hour class led by Ranger Michael Wood that covers rules and regulations, stream sampling, knot tying, casting, and actual fishing instruction. It’s a great introduction to the sport, and it’s free, though pre-registration is required (the class is limited to 10, so don’t dawdle).

Logistics: Beginner Fly Fishing, Sunday, Oct. 23, 1-3 p.m., Stone Mountain State Park. Free, but preregistration is required, by emailing Ranger Michael Wood at michael.wood@ncparks.gov.

Sunday forecast: Sunny skies, high of 63.

* * *

Looking ahead: Senior Trek Hike to Laurel River Trail, Nov. 2,Oakley Recreation Center, Asheville. More info here. .

* * *

Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

Coast

The post Your weekend: It’s not just about fall hiking appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast / Coastal Plain

It’s every kid’s perfect summer night: wait until sunset, then grab a flashlight and wander through the local cemetery. A rite of youth fraught with the forbidden: sneaking out after dark, trespassing, cavorting among the dead … . No wonder it was a highlight of being a kid.

Now, those illicit evening romps are back, albeit with the edge replaced by education. Saturday evening, join local historians Dr. Chris Fonvielle and Robin Triplett, along with cemetery superintendent Eric Kozen on an Evening Flashlight Walking Tour through Wilmington’s Oakdale Cemetery. Learn about the history of Oakdale, Civil War veterans, funerary art and interesting Port City citizens, all while reliving those carefree days — nights, rather — of youth.

Vital Stats: Evening Flashlight Walking Tour, Saturday, July 16, 8 p.m., Oakdale Cemetery, Wilmington. $15. More info and to sigh up: 910.762.5682, friends@oakdalecemetery.org

Saturday forecast: 8 p.m. temperature of 82 with a 24 percent chance of rain.

* * *

Looking ahead: Kayak Eco Tour to Masonboro Island, Aug. 16, Halyburton Park. More info here.

Piedmont

Think of Pilot Mountain and you think of crowds. Of cars slowly making the two-mile drive to the summit, of trying to find a place to park, of elbowing your way down the Jomeokee or Ledge Spring trails.

Sunday, we invite you to experience a different side of Pilot Mountain on the trails less traveled. At 9:30 a.m., our GetHiking! Triad hiking group will take a 6-mile hike on the Mountains and Grindstone trails, circumnavigating the conical mountain’s base. We’ll avoid both the clouds and the heat.

Vital Stats: Pilot Mountain hike, GetHiking! Triad, Sunday, July 17, 9:30 a.m. More info and to sign up, here.

Saturday forecast: Temperature of 72 at the start, with a chance of rain.

* * *

Looking ahead: Occoneechee Geology Hike, Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, Hillsborough, Saturday, July 23. More info here.

Mountains

It may seem oxymoronic to put the words “sprint” and “triathlon” in succession. Most of us generally associate a triathlon with an endeavor of endurance: swimming, then biking, then running. In the case of an Ironman, that’s swimming 2.4 miles, then cycling 112 miles, then running a marathon, or 26.2 miles. Lordy.

In that context, then, the dimensions of Sunday’s Asheville Triathlon — a 400-meter pool swim, 11.6-mile bike ride, and a 5K (3.1 miles) — may indeed seem like a sprint. Which isn’t to diminish the challenge, a challenge taken up by up to 200 participants annually.

Feeling like a challenge? Details below.

Vital Stats: Asheville Triathlon, Sunday, July 17, 6:45 a.m., Asheville Recreation Park, Asheville. $60. More info here.

Sunday forecast: 63 degrees at 7 a.m. under partly cloudy skies.

* * *

Looking ahead: “Movie: Winter on Mount Mitchell,” July 31, 2:30 p.m., Mount Mitchell State Park. More info here.

* * *

Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

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The post Your Weekend: Adventure as different as night and day appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

You’re in pretty good shape; maybe not midseason form, but you feel you could take on a good challenge. The Carolina Beach Double Sprint 2016, perhaps?

It’s a pentagon, of sorts: swim 375 meters in the Atlantic, run 1.5 miles, bike 11 miles, run another 1.5 miles, swim another 375 miles. No individual distance is too daunting. Again, provided in you’re in “pretty good” shape. Sound like fun? Get out your calendar for some pertinent facts …

Pertinent facts: Carolina Beach Double Sprint 2016, Saturday, 7 a.m., Carolina Beach. $60-$95. More info here.

Saturday forecast: Racetime temps in the low 80s, chance of thunderstorms.

* * *

Looking ahead: Kayak Eco-Tour, Halyburton Park, Wilmington, Aug. 16. More info here.

Piedmont

Too hot for a race during the days of summer? Maybe. But not during the nights.

Saturday, for instance, the temperature is expected to hit a steamy 90 during the day. But by 8:55 p.m., it will have cooled into the more exercise-tolerable mid-80s. Minus the sun, it will seem that much cooler. Good news if you’re planning to run the Fort Mill Bootlegger 5K in Fort Mill, S.C., on the Anne Springs Close Greenway. Run 3.1 miles in the dark (with a headlamp, of course), then cross the finish and celebrate “with cocktails made from handcrafted moonshine and a live bluegrass concert!” And you get to keep the Mason jar the aforementioned celebratory libation comes in.

Vital Stats: Fort Mill Bootlegger 5k, Fort Mill, S.C., Saturday, 8:55 p.m. $43. More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 90, chance of thunderstorms.

* * *

Looking ahead: Night Paddle, Lake Higgins, Greensboro, July 13, 27, Aug. 10, 24. More info here.

Mountains

Sometimes all it takes to join one of the non-profits you admire that makes our outdoor experience a better place is some good incentive. In the case of the Blue Ridge Naturalist Network, that incentive would be Friday’s Members Hike on the Little Cataloochee Trail. It’s described as a moderate-easy hike of 4.7 miles exploring the natural and cultural history of the Cataloochee area of the Smokies.

Vital Stats: Members Hike to Little Cataloochee, Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free to members of the Blue Ridge Naturalist Network. More on how to become a member by contacting Charlotte at BRNNetwork2013@gmail.com.

Friday forecast: High of 79, partly cloudy.

* * *

Looking ahead: Lake Lure Olympiad, Chimney Rock State Park, Aug. 12-14. More info here.

* * *

Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

* * *

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The post Your weekend: A sprint pent, a night run, a hike for good appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

Perhaps you’re conflicted about what to do with Dad this weekend. On the one hand, he likes a good challenge. On the other, he likes to kick back and relax. What to do, what to do?

What to do, is sate both sides of Dad by entering him in Saturday’s Good Hops 5K Beer Run at Carolina Beach State Park. Dad gets to run 3.1 miles through this enchanting (and flat!) coastal state park, then kick back and enjoy the fruits of the sponsor’s thirst-slaking labors (which will happen outside the dry state park, we presume), for not only does Dad score a t-shirt, he also gets — provided he’s over 21 — a coupon for a pint of brew. Live music, food trucks and door prizes as well.

Logistics: Saturday, June 18, 8 a.m., Good Hops Brewery/Carolina Beach State Park, Carolina Beach. $30. More info here.

Saturday forecast: Race time temperature of 73, slight chance of rain.

* * *

Looking ahead: O’Neill/Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest, July 15-17, Wrightsville Beach. More info here.

Piedmont

Remember when Andy and Opie would go fishing, usually in a row boat, sometimes in a row boat that leaked? Didn’t that look like the ideal Dad/Kid activity?

Even if you’ve never touched a rod, you and Dad can capture some of that Mayberry magic Sunday (Father’s Day, btw) at Falls Lake State Recreation Area. And not just fishing, fishing and crafts. Equipment is limited, participation limited to the first 15 kids who sign up.

Logistics: Fishing with Dad, Sunday, June 19, 1-3 p.m., Falls Lake State Recreation Area, Wake Forest. Free, but preregistration is required, calling the park office at 919.676.1027.

Sunday forecast: High of 80, sunny skies.

* * *

Looking ahead: Fort Mill Bootlegger 5K, Saturday June 25, Anne Springs Close Greenway, Fort Mill, S.C.. More info here.

Mountains

A triathlon typically isn’t something you decide to do at the last minute. But if you’re in reasonable condition, you’re prone to whims and you find you’re calendar blank this weekend, then you might consider Saturday’s Enka Triathlon at Biltmore Lake in Enka. It’s a sprint — 750 meter swim, 17.8-mile bike ride, 3-mile run — which, even without a boatload of training, might seem doable — especially with the great weather forecast for the weekend.

Intrigued? You can sign up on site; details below.

Logistics: Saturday, June 18, 8 a.m., Enka Triathlon, Biltmore Lake, Enka, fees range from $80 to $115, depending on how you appoach the event (individual, team, aquabiker). Add another $15 for a one-day USAT license if you aren’t a member.  More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 79, sunny.

* * *

Looking ahead: Naturalist Niche: Big Basswood Hike into a hidden cove where the state’s largest basswood tree lives, July 16, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Chimney Rock State Park. More info here.

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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

The post Your weekend: Make a date for Adventure with Dad appeared first on GetGoing NC!.