For the first time in a while, there’s a chance of rain in the weekend forecast. But how much and where exactly is hard to tell — harder to tell than usual, because the source of the rain is a fickle hurricane. Or the remnants of a fickle hurricane.

Delta, which is expected to make landfall this evening in Louisiana, is forecast to continue into the Midwest, then curl into the Northeast, possibly bringing moist tropical air into our region starting late in the day Saturday. So it could be wet from late Saturday into Monday. But, again, it’s a hurricane, and they aren’t known for sticking to script.

In any event, Saturday into mid-day looks the most promising for getting out and exploring. And it you’re like us, what’s on your mind this second weekend of October is finding fall color. One spot where we’ve found it getting a jump in the Piedmont: the Bunter-Falls of Neuse Game Lands north of Falls Lake.

Mostly bordering the north rim of the lake, this 40,670-acre spread is devoted to cultivating a healthy wildlife population. That means managing the land, and to manage it, you need access to it. That happens via gravel roads open only to N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission vehicles and to those of us on foot. There’s a lot to discover here, the discovery starting with simply where to find a trail. NCWRC has maps on their site (find the Butner map here), but they are general overviews and vague on specifics. (See “GetOut!” below for a less iffy approach.)

That’s one option for the weekend. Another: embrace the rain by suiting up and immersing yourself in its midst. It’s another sure way to avoid the crowds.

Rain or shine, GetOut! this weekend and explore!

GetOut!

Butner made easy. Intrigued by the Butner-Falls of Neuse Game Lands but leery of exploring a new place with no direction? Our GetHiking! Guide to Hiking the Bunter-Falls of Neuse Game Lands gives you all the information you need — from directions to the trailhead, to a step-by-step trail guide, to a map — to reduce the stress of our visit. Check it out here.

Hiking in the rain may seem intimidating (and messy!) at first, but not when you know a few tricks. We share our favorite hiking-in-the rain tips in our GetHiking! Guide to Hiking in the Rain. Check it out here.

Today’s video

Today’s video takes you on a tour of the Butner-Falls of Neuse Game Lands near the Butner Depot.

The post GetOut! Rain? Don’t let it keep you inside this weekend appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

We had to skip our morning walk this morning, the first since we started taking you along with us on our new Morning Walk with Joe Facebook live feature. The reason: the weather. 

We’ve long advocated hiking in the rain — a light rain. Not a driving rain that spend the previous day and night rampaging across the country spawning heavy rain, thunderstorms and tornados, causing death and destruction. That’s what we woke up to this morning. Rather than take a stroll, we opted to hunker down in the bathtub instead. 

But while we were curled up in the preferred shelter of place when a tornado is lurking about, we thought of the reasons we like hiking in the rain:

• No one else is out, especially attractive right now.
• Your commune with nature is all the more special as your world (already narrowed) is further condensed into an intimate dome.
• Time is suspended. I know, time already feels that way. But this is in a good way, a way you know is temporary and thus, soothing.
• You have no compunction to get anywhere. Too often on a hike many of us feel compelled to get from Point A to Point B within a certain amount of time. When you’re out in the rain, simply being out is enough. The rain creates obstacles — slippery tree roots, impromptu puddles, normally mellow creeks turned into raging streams — that slow your progress.

Of course, enjoying a rainy day outside is dependent upon dressing for the elements: a rain jacket that doesn’t leak, rain pants that won’t make you sweaty, shoes that don’t leak. In today’s video, we go into more detail on dressing for a light rain.

More rain is in the forecast for Wednesday — just rain. No thunder, no lightening, no tornadoes. 

Be prepared and enjoy.

More info

Order a copy of our “Explore Your Neighborhood: A Guide to Discovering the World Immediately Around You in these Shelter-in-Place Times” and we’ll include our three-page tip sheet on Hiking in the Rain. It covers everything from outfitting yourself with the proper clothes, to choosing the right rainy-day trail, to what to be aware of on the trail. Head here for more info and to order.

The post Hiking in the Rain (but not under a Tornado Warning) appeared first on GetGoing NC!.