In case you missed the weekend, here’s a look at how ours went: specifically, our Sunday GetHiking! hike at Medoc Mountain State Park.  And when you’re done kicking yourself for not taking advantage of this incredible, vow not to let it happen again. In fact, vow to not let it happen despite the fact we are heading into the busy holiday season. Because really, there’s no reason not to get out, especially since we’ve put together a holiday hiking package that includes 16 hikes in November and December on various days (and nights of the week): Sunday afternoon, Tuesday night, Friday morning — even a couple of Wednesdays at the end of December. You’ve got a free minute? We’ve likely got a hike planned. 

Check out our GetHiking! Through the Holidays program here for single hikers, here for couples and families.

The post Monday, Monday! Keep hiking thru the hectic holidays! appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Well, some of them.

In the first of our every-other-Thursday Lunch with GetHiking! Zoom gatherings, we’ll talk about  ways to find the trails less traveled. Some of our tips may be obvious — hike early in the day, hike late in the day — some not so much. We’ll discuss a couple examples of less populated trails at some of our most popular hiking venues. And we’ll take a few minutes to talk hiking gear with our friends at Great Outdoor Provision Co. Our first Lunch with GetHiking! is Thursday, Sept. 16 at noon. Find an exclusive invitation (our Zoom membership limits us to 100 participants) here. 

Why Lunch with GetHiking!? Mainly, because come fall and its ideal conditions we can’t wait for the weekend. That’s why we started our Fall Friday Morning Hike Series. But even Friday morning didn’t seem soon enough, so we’ve started posting our GetGoingNC.com GetOut! blog, with thoughts on weekend adventures, late Thursday afternoon. And why now we’re starting the weekend even earlier, at noon every other Thursday, with Lunch with GetHiking!

We’ll gather for a half hour or so, long enough for an informative talk, not long enough to irk Mr. Dithers if you’re on the clock. Our topics will all be hiking specific, and seasonally appropriate, when possible. 

Here’s a look at what we have planned (note: topics are subject to change; we see a shiny thing, we’ll be on it).

What’s for lunch

Sept. 16 — Finding the Trails Less Traveled. This early run of fall-like weather has been both blessing and curse. After a summer of heat and humidity, the first half of September has been hiking-perfect: you can’t wait to get on the trail — and neither can the seasonal masses who discover hiking every year at this time. Today, we’ll talk about  ways to find the trails less traveled.

Sept. 30 — Our Favorite Piedmont hikes (that aren’t crowded). As a follow-up to our first session, we look at some of our favorite trails that, for various reasons, don’t attract the masses. 

Oct. 14 — Fall color comes to the Piedmont. Color should be in full bloom in the region. We discuss where to find the best color.

Oct. 28 — Longer hikes. Maybe your hikes have been in the 3- to 5-mile category so far this fall. Lately, maybe feel the urge to hike farther (cool weather will do that). We discuss what to consider as you start hiking longer, including a look at some of our favorite hikes in the 5- to 10-mile range.

Nov. 11 — Coastal Hiking. It’s finally cool enough that the biting bugs and slithery critters are at bay. It’s time to look east for a hiking destination. We discuss 5 of our favorite coastal hikes.

Nov. 24 (Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving) — Where to take the visiting kin for a Thanksgiving Day/Weekend hike. Our shorter favorite trails that showcase the best the region has to offer.

Dec. 9 — Winter hiking. It’s a knee-jerk reaction: it’s getting cold, time to hang up the hiking gear until spring. Yet winter can be a magical time on the trail; we discuss how, and why you should keep hiking through this unjustly maligned season. 

Dec. 23 — Hike in the New Year. Where to hike in the new year and what to expect on a First Day hike. Plus, setting goals for 2022.

Join us for Lunch!

Again, we’ll meet every other Thursday at noon. Find your invitation here. And about the photo? The main course is John Marzetti, a mainstay of the lunch program in the Denver Public Schools in the 1960s. Mmmm … .

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And to get you out on the trail this weekend, we’re offering our hiking guides to you for 50 percent off. 

What’s so special about these guides? you ask.

If you’re an avid hiker and know the local trails well, probably nothing. These guides are aimed at folks who: 

• Don’t hike as much 
• Aren’t sure where to go
• Are nervous about exploring a trail on their own, especially a new one

Our GetHiking! guides help take the mystery out of a trail by including: 

• Overview of the hike so you can tell if it’s something that appeals to you 
• A short video, to give you an even better feel for the experience
• Key details such as how to get to the trailhead, distance, difficulty, trail length, type of hike (loop, out-and-back), whether there are restrooms at the trailhead, kid friendliness, whether dogs are allowed and more.
• A custom map showing the route
• A detailed route description

We also have packets that include hikes with a common theme. For instance:

• 3 Hikes for Avoiding the Masses. Avoiding the crowded trails of fall can be a challenge. You’ll encounter far fewer people on these trails. Check it out here.
• 5 Great Hikes for Beginners. Just getting into hiking, or just coming back after a hiatus? These 5 hikes are suited for newbies. Check it out here.
• 5 of Our Favorite Land Trust Hikes. If nature is hiking’s big draw for you, these 5 hikes on land trust properties should be especially appealing. Check it out here.
• 5 Great Short Hikes. Short on time? These hikes of 2 to 3 miles are ideal quick escapes. Check it out here.
• 3 Hikes for Fall. These would seem especially appropriate, no? Check it out here.

Don’t let a little uncertainty keep you from enjoying a gorgeous September weekend on the trail. You can find all of our hikes here. And, through Sunday, if you enter the code GETOUT at checkout, you’ll get 50 percent off.

A little direction will help you get the most out of the weekend. GetOut! And enjoy!

The post GetOut! The Weekend Forecast? Go for a Hike! appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Who wants to wait until Saturday to kick off the weekend? Especially when you have the option for a Friday Morning Hike.

We launch our new GetHiking! Fall Friday Morning  Hike Series a week from today (Sept. 10), with a 4-mile hike on the Cox Mountain Trail at Eno River State Trail — the very same trail that we hiked this morning — in long sleeves and a vest, which one does when the temperature is just 48 degrees! That’s a good omen for our 8-week series, which gives you a jump on the weekend without playing hooky (the hikes start at 7:30 a.m., we’re done by 9).

We can’t guarantee that every hike will be 48 degrees. But we’re pretty darn sure you won’t find a better way to start your fall weekends. Learn more and sign up to join us here.

The post Get a jump on your weekend with a Friday Morning Hike appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

This is the weekend you’ve been waiting for. It’s time to get out and explore. Our thoughts on the subject.

Friday

GetHiking! Friday Morning Chill Hike at Cox Mountain, 7:30 a.m., Fews Ford Access, Eno River State Park, Durham. Why wait for the weekend when you can hit the trail Friday morning under sunny, brisk (with a temperature in the mid-50s) skies. We’ll hike the Cox Mountain Trail, a 4-mile jaunt including a climb up Cox Mountain, a walk along the Eno, and fab early morning light. Learn more and sign up to join us here.

Birdwatching Hike, 2 p.m. Fews Ford Access, Eno River State Park, Durham. Not an early bird. Some birds aren’t, either. Presumably those are the ones that will be the focus of binoculars at this mid-afternoon birdwatching session, led by a naturalist. They’ll hike about a mile; bring water and hiking shoes. Learn more and sign up (registration is limited) by calling 919.383.1686.

Saturday

Alder Trail Hike, 10 a.m., Lake Norman State Park, Troutman. Been a while since you’ve hiked and not sure about your stamina? This hike of less than a mile, to learn about local flora and fauna, may be just the ticket. Registration is limited to 10, call 704.528.6350 to register. 

Nature Hike, noon, Mount Mitchell State Park, Burnsville. It won’t make it out of the 50s on Saturday at Mount Mitchell State Park, the highest point east of the Black Hills, giving you a chance to bypass early fall and head directly to the season’s fleecy part. This is a 3/4-mile hike through a spruce-fir forest. Learn more here. And if you like that hike, stick around for the Appalachian Rainforest presentation at 2:30 p.m., followed by the Wildflower Hike at 4:30 p.m.

Sunday

Invasive Plants and Animals, 9:30 a.m., Pilot Mountain State Park (Hauser Road Access), Pinnacle. You’re on a hike and the terrain appears to be dominated by a single type of plant. When that’s the case, there’s a good chance it’s a plant not native to the area. Rather, it’s an invasive that flourishes because the area lacks the flora and fauna that otherwise keeps it in check. Learn why this is trouble and what can be done to control these guests. Learn more here.

GetHiking! Fall Sunday Hike Series, 1 p.m., various locations in the Triangle. A plug for our popular Fall Sunday Hike Series that begins this Sunday and runs every Sunday through Nov. 21. We hike a different trail every week, for 11 weeks. Our first hike in the series is this Sunday. Learn more and sign up to join us here.

Fall is here, at least through the weekend. Get out and enjoy!

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Hike DIY

Wanna take a hike on your own but not sure where to go? Our GetHiking! Trail Guides cover many of our favorite hikes and provide all the information you need, from an overview of the hike and how to reach the trailhead, to a custom map and route description (not to mention a video preview). Check ‘em out here.

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