Start the year with a traditional polar plunge at the coast, then head to higher, drier and warmer ground for a hike.
Coast
We would be remiss if, in this New Year’s edition of Weekend Plans, we didn’t include at least one polar plunge, that peculiar tradition born in the north where we strip down to our skivvies and immerse ourselves in water that hasn’t frozen over — though in some northern climes the tradition requires drilling a hole through the frozen-over lake surface, then jumping in. An impressive level of lunacy.read more
This July 4, celebrate our independence in the freedom of the great outdoors.
Note: Most coastal state parks are planning to close Thursday and Friday in anticipation of Hurricane Arthur. Their reopening is dependent upon Arthur’s wrath. Check the North Carolina State Parks website before heading to any park that may be affected by the storm.read more
Blue Clay Bike Park. Photo courtesy SirBikesALot.com
Let’s not forget mom this Mother’s Day weekend! Take her for a mountain bike ride at the Coast on Saturday, then on Sunday go looking for wildflowers in the Piedmont or take her for a mountain hike. (Er, and in the spirit of Leave No Trace, resist the urge to pick those wildflowers for mom. She’ll understand.)read more
Run through Wilmington and help make this happen? How good of a run is that?
It’s shaping up to be good weekend for getting out in North Carolina. Saturday might be a little wet, but warm; Sunday cool and mostly sunny. Plan to take advantage.
Coast
Hooch wants to get out more, you need to get out more: what better opportunity for mutt and master to bond and fulfill a mutual want/need than Saturday’s paws4people Run Walk on the UNC Wilmington campus. If you two have stayed active over the winter, you may be interested in the 10K race. If you haven’t but crave a challenge, consider the 5K. And if the two of you are on the couch looking at each other thinking, “We really should do this; it would be good for us,” but neither of you are making a move to register, there’s always the 1-mile fun run/walk.read more
They look excited! Photo courtesy CarolinaBeachToday.com
The pending changing of the seasonal guard is evident this weekend. At the coast we have a sweaty 5K that ends with a bracing dip in the brisk Atlantic Ocean; in the Piedmont, the Eno River Association’s weekly Winter Hike Series is drawing to a close; and in the mountains there’s the opportunity to hike in snow — in 50-degree temperatures.read more
