Coast

Every once in a while, the Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge opens its roads allowing the public in to better explore this 8,219-acre refuge in Currituck County. To explore its low-lying freshwater and brackish marshes, it’s upland and lowland eastern pine hardwood forests. And this time of year, to be treated to a variety of migrating waterfowl (including snow geese and Canada geese) in addition to year-round residents such as the bald eagle and osprey.

That once-in-a-while is this weekend at Mackay Island, when the roads will be open from 7 a.m. to sunset. Learn more about the preserve here.

Piedmont

Saturday, I spent three hours in my kayak on Jordan Lake. The only thing that could make this better, I thought, would be if someone  magically appeared and served breakfast. OK, I didn’t really think that, at least until I saw the post for this Saturday’s Kayak Breakfast on Belews Lake, sponsored by the Piedmont Environmental Center in High Point. Here’s the deal: Shove off at 7:30 a.m., pull over to the shore at some point for breakfast, then paddle some more, until noon. All the while learning about the natural world engulfing Lake Belews.

$50, $40 if you’re a member of the Piedmont Environmental Center. Details here.

Mountains

Three years ago, while I was reporting “Backpacking North Carolina,” I got to explore some incredible wild areas in the state. Today, I

can thumb through the book and remember a surprising amount about all 43 trips. Some, though, stand out more than others. One of those is the Standing Indian area southwest of Franklin, where the Appalachian Trail traces an oxbow ridgeline; coupled with the handful of trails that climb out of the Standing Indian Campground you have a number of loop options, unusual on the AT, which generally trends in a straight line southwest to northeast from Springer Mountain, Ga., to Katahdin, Maine. One of those loops is the objective of a group hike by the Nantahala Hiking Club this Saturday.

From the campground, the group will hike up the Kimsey Creek Trail to Deep Gap, where it Ts into the AT. From there, they’ll hike north to 5,498-foot Standing Indian Mountain, then head back to the trailhead on the Lower Ridge Trail. Twelve miles of great hiking, that you can be a part of by reserving a spot with hike leader Don Neil, at 828.586.5723.

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Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.

The post This weekend: Penetrate a preserve, paddle & picnic on a lake, hike the AT appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Piedmont

At first blush (a blush suggestive of hypothermia?), the notion of taking a 4-hour kayak trip in 30-degree weather might seem daft. But then, this particular trip is on Belews Lake, which the sponsoring Piedmont Environmental Center notes, “being a power plant lake [Duke Energy] where water is used to cool energy-producing turbines, the heated water … is much warmer than ambient air temperatures. The result is a three-foot deep blanket of warm air — perfect for the kayaker!”

On the surface (the surprisingly toasty surface) Saturday’s Kayak Breakfast on Belews Lake may have something of a 1950s, sci-fi, Creature-from-the-spookily-warm-Black Lagoon” feel to it, but then again, it’s sponsored by the Piedmont Environmental Center, so it has to be safe — and from the sounds of it, potentially habit forming. Paddle through this three-foot-high heat dome as a naturalist points out the natural world beyond. Birds, deer, beaver, “steam devils” — all are common attractions on this trip. Plus, there’s a hot breakfast midway. Starts at 7:30 a.m., ends noonish. $40 for PEC members, $50 for nonmembers.

For more info or to sign up, go here.

Coast

Unlike Belews Lake, the Atlantic Ocean is not heated and there will not be a 3-foot-high blanket of hot air above it when the 3rd Annual Cold Stroke Classic kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Blockade Runner on Wrightsville Beach. Probably doesn’t matter to the paddlers, anyway, since this is standup paddle boarding and everything above your privates would freeze anyway.

That’s right, a stand-up paddle board race, featuring the 7-mile Elite course and for you newcomers to stand-up paddle boarding, a 3.5-mile recreational course. It’s a great opportunity to check out the fast-growing sport of stand-up paddle boarding, which basically involves … well, standing on a board longer and wider than a surfboard and propelling yourself with a single paddle. In addition to the race, there’s a clinic Friday at 2 p.m. by Dan Gavere and a manufacturer’s expo. Demos, too (but again, this water isn’t heated; bring your dry suit).

More info here. Curious about stand-up paddle boarding? Check out our dalliance with the sport last summer at Lake Crabtree, here.

Mountains

It’s hard to imagine that skiing in North Carolina can get much better than it is

right now. The state’s ski areas have already gotten about twice as much snowfall as they do in a typical winter — and it’s only early January. Even better, continued frigid temperatures have created a sustained window for snowmaking: the ski areas are operating wide open and are reporting powder and packed powder conditions. And with temperatures forecast to climb into the upper 30s this weekend, with lots of sun, the time is perfect to go skiing or riding.

Check out conditions at SkiSoutheast.com.

* * *

Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, below.

The post Weekend plans? A heated lake, a frigid ocean, snow appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

Sometimes luring the recalcitrant into the outdoors is simply a matter of offering the right bait. A mere walk in a cold forest may not appeal to someone more involved in cerebral pursuits, but throw in a map, a compass and the opportunity to calculate your way over hill and dale and suddenly a hike doesn’t seem so bad. Sunday at 2 p.m. just such an opportunity will be offered at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park near Goldsboro, when a park ranger leads a beginner course in map reading and using the compass. (If you have a compass, bring it; otherwise, the park has some spares you can use.) It’s free and should last about an hour and a half.

Directions and more about Cliffs of the Neuse here.

Piedmont

Opportunities to take a guided kayak trip are few during cold weather months, fewer still are those trips that throw in a hot breakfast. Take advantage of such a rare opportunity Saturday morning on a four-and-a-half-hour guided tour on High Point’s Belews Lake. Conducted by the Piedmont Environmental Center, the tour will check out the birds, beaver and other wildlife that live along the lake; all gear is included, including a heated lake! (A power plant on the lake uses lake water to cool its turbines.) Cost is $50, $40 if you’re a member of the PEC. The trip is appropriate for beginners.

More info here.

Mountains

Just like that, we’re in the middle of ski season. At mid-week, North Carolina’s ski area’s were reporting mid-season conditions, thanks to a weekend dump of snow and cold weather making for ideal snowmaking conditions. Ski Beech, for instance, has already recorded 21.6 inches of snow for the season and coming into this week had 4 of 8 lifts operating. Just down the road, Sugar Mountain was reporting 15.3 inches of snowfall to date with a base ranging from  26 to 56 inches! Not only will you be able to ski this weekend, but conditions should be good and a fair amount of terrain should be open. The lone caveat: You won’t be alone.

For the latest, most objective report on conditions on the state’s slopes, visit SkiNC.com.

Photo: Sugar Mountain gets off to a fast start for the 2010-11 season. (Photo courtesy Kenny Griffen/SkiNC.com.)
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Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.

The post This weekend: wayfind, paddle, ski appeared first on GetGoing NC!.