We’ll end the suspense on the weekend weather forecast by simply saying it calls for more of the same: temperatures in the low- to mid-90s, chance of afternoon thunderstorms.
The good news?
Tropical Storm Isaias isn’t expect to visit until Monday. Woo hoo!
In the past couple of weeks, it’s become hot. Summer hot.
And that means when we head out for a hike, we’ll look more favorably on trails that have water as a main feature. Just enough to cool our feet in, maybe splash some water in our face. Trouble is, you can’t always choose how much water you get. When that happens, when your trail comes across a stream or creek without a bridge or an obvious way to get across, you need a strategy for a safe crossing.
In Wednesday’s post, we noted that the Texas Medical Association, among others, has deemed camping one of the lowest-risk things you can do in these coronavirusly challenging times. Only opening your mail offers a lower risk.
Wednesday, we explained why camping is low risk and that even if you think you don’t have any camping gear, you probably have most of what you need. Today, we promised to share five of our favorite campgrounds in the state, with a quick description of why.
Ah, Fourth of July Weekend! The fireworks displays, the Festival for the Eno, the cookout gatherings … .
OK, so maybe we can’t celebrate our nation’s independence the way we usually do. But we can certainly celebrate our independence by getting out and exploring. And this year in particular by doing so in the true American spirit of being a maverick, a lone wolf. Someone who likes to get out and take an adventure of their own. Alone. Or at least six feet from anyone else.
I was contemplating a backpack trip in the Black Mountains, and step 1, in general but especially in these pandemic times, was to make sure the route I was considering was open.
It’s not.
I was marginally surprised, only because so many of the trails that had been closed in the Pisgah National Forest in April have since reopened. But not, according to the U.S. Forest Service, the Black Mountain Crest Trail from Cattail Peak north to the trail’s northern terminus, at Bolens Creek. The specific reason for the closure wasn’t given, simply for “public health and safety.”
