Winter is a season disliked more in anticipation than in reality.
That dislike begins the first day of summer. Though we generally do spend the summer solstice reveling in the most daylight of the year — 14 hours, 35 minutes and 8 seconds — in the back of our minds we know that it’s all downhill from here. The day after the solstice we’ll be down to 14 hours, 35 minutes and 6 seconds, two seconds that we won’t actually notice, but two seconds that we’re shorted all the same.
Consider the coming weekend as preparation for the winter ahead: high temperatures throughout much of the region won’t get out of the 40s. That makes it an opportune time to dig out your cold weather gear, see what works, see what needs replacing. Make good use of this test-run weekend and you’ll be ready for the winter months ahead!
It’s been cool most of the week throughout our blogging area, and it will be cool again at least on Saturday, making this the perfect summer weekend to get in a hike.
Mount Jefferson Downhill Skateboarding Event, Saturday and Sunday, starts at 9 a.m. both days, Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, West Jefferson. Scratching your head, are you? Here’s the deal: The 1.6-mile road to the summit of 4,683-foot Mount Jefferson will be closed to vehicles both days to accommodate the mountain’s annual downhill skateboard race. Yup, youngsters on skateboards — more than 100 of ‘em — will skateboard down the mountain, dropping more than 700 vertical feet along the way. However, there will be shuttle service to the top of the mountain: park at the Lowe’s in West Jefferson and take a shuttle to the top, where you can hike the park’s 5 miles of trail. And you can check out the race as well. (FYI, one of the sponsors for the race, the Ian Tilmann Foundation, will be giving helmets to the first 100 kids who sign a pledge to wear a helmet while skateboarding.) Learn more about the race here and hiking at Mount Jefferson here.
This weekend appears to be a carbon copy (here’s a history lesson, kids) of last weekend: lots of rain during the week, lots of sun on Saturday — and this weekend, Sunday, too. That being the case, some thoughts on how to spend a sunny first weekend of 2019:
As always, you can find more opportunities this weekend here:
=&4=& have a variety of adventures planned for the weekend. Check those options here.
=&5=& has an extensive calendar of what’s happening at its affiliates; check it out here.
You can also find more adventures right here, at =&6=&
Our intent isn’t to add to the pressure of the holidays. Rather, to distract from it, with one of these options for getting out on a weekend that promises to be perfect for adventure, with temperatures in the 50s and hardly a cloud in the sky. Under such glorious conditions you could …
=&0=& (Boulders Access), Saturday, 9 a.m, Crowders Mountain State Park, Kings Mountains. Hike leader David Brantley hosts Hike Your Own Hike Day: you could hike 12 miles, you could hike 10; you could hike 8, you could hike 6. That’s the beauty of the Ridgeline Trail, connecting the Boulders Access with the Kings Pinnancle. A great way to avoid the crowds at Crowders’ main entrance. Learn more and sign up here.
=&1=&, Saturday, 2 p.m., Hanging Rock State Park, Danbury. Maybe you love the idea of hiking at Hanging Rock, but are intimidated by the distances, the rocky train, the elevation changes. On Saturday’s Lake Hike, there’s none of that. The hike is a mile long, it goes around the park’s 12-acre lake, and it’s pretty tame. You’ll learn a thing or two about the park as well on this ranger-lead hike. Learn more and sign up here.
=&2=& Sunday, 10 a.m., Eno River State Park: Pump Station Access, Durham. It’s the camaraderie of a group hike minus the chatter. Learn more and sign up here.
As always, you can find more opportunities this weekend here:
