Coast

The Surf to Sound Challenge at Wrightsville Beach typically marks the end of the standup paddleboard season at the coast — a late and chilly end, in most folks’ books. The two-day challenge features the 6.5-mile Surf to Sound Challenge and the 4-mile Harbor Island Outer Loop challenge on Saturday, and a new competition, the Surf SUP Competition on Sunday. If you’ve got the will and a wet suit, head on down to Wrightsville Beach.

Logistics: Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 16-17. More info here or by calling 910.256.2251.

Weekend forecast: Highs in the low to mid 70s, 30 percent chance of rain Saturday.

Piedmont

I’m smitten by Saturday’s 7.2-mile Birkhead Mountain Wilderness hike in the Uwharrie National Forest of central North Carolina for two reasons. One, the Uwharries this time of year are, in my opinion, at their best. There’s still some color, but most of the leaves have fallen, opening great views through a forest dominated by hardwoods and with more elevation than you’ll generally find in the Piedmont.

The other reason I like it is because I’ll be leading the hike, through the GetHiking! Triangle hiking group. It’s a good mix of beginning hikers and more experienced hikers looking to explore new trails. Good for you beginners to know: it’s a no-drop hike.

Logistics: Saturday, Nov. 16, 9:15 a.m. at the trailhead off Tot Hill Farm Road of NC 49 west of Asheboro (see map here).  More info on the hike here.

Saturday forecast: High of 66 with a 20 percent chance of rain.

Mountains

When the Southeast ski season “opens,” it’s usually a short initial opening. The cold front that dusted the Piedmont with snow Tuesday evening brought  a dusting to the high country as well. More importantly, it brought cold temperatures that allowed Cataloochee and Sugar Mountain to fire up their snow guns and open for business Wednesday. Today, Cataloochee opened with 6 of 17 runs open and 3 of 5 lifts operating; Sugar had one run open and one lift.

The forecast for the weekend wasn’t promising, but there’s a chance both could remain if overnight lows drop below freezing, counteracting daytime highs in the upper 40s.  If you’re taken by the idea of making first tracks this weekend, we suggest you check skisoutheast.com before heading out, for the latest news from the slopes.

Logistics: Check skisoutheast.com for current ski conditions.

Saturday forecast: Highs in the mid 50s.

* * *

Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

Like us on Facebook and get health, fitness and outdoors news throughout the day.

GetGoingNC.com

Promote Your Page Too

The post This weekend: Surf ‘n’ slope appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Race at a new nature park near Wilmington in honor of the groundhog, Bushwhack it on a mountain bike in the Piedmont, celebrate the cold in the high country in the most appropriate way possible. Another diverse weekend is on tap in North Carolina.

If you’re looking for something closer to home, check out the new weekly calendar listings at the Great Outdoor Provision Co. Three events every week near Great Outdoor Provision’s seven North Carolina markets: Charlotte, Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Greenville, Raleigh, Winston-Salem and Wilmington.

Coast

Here’s the great thing about an inaugural race: Few people know about it, enhancing your chances for a podium finish in your age group. That’s one reason we endorse Saturday’s first-ever Whistle Pig 5K and 1-mile run. Another reason: It’s at the new Westgate Nature Park in Leland. The 150-acre park has trail and boardwalk for hiking and biking through a wetland environment. With Saturday’s forecast, it’s the perfect time to run through a boggy environment.

Logistics: $30 for the 5K, $20 for the 1-miler. Race starts at 9 a.m. More info here.

Saturday forecast: Sunny, high of 48, probably in the mid-30s come race time.

Piedmont

It’s a banner time to be an endurance mountain bike racer in the Triangle — or even someone who just likes long rides with other people. Last weekend it was the January Mountain Bike Marathon at Governor’s Creek in Sanford, next weekend it’s TORC’s BD & NL Challenge at Falls Lake, and this weekend, it’s the Bushwhack Mountain Bike Challenge. Similar to what the January Mountain Bike Marathon does, this race does a loop on singletrack at Lake Crabtree, heads over to Umstead for some bike & bridle trail, then finished with another loop at Crabtree. 32 miles in all.

Logistics: Sunday, 9:30 a.m. at Lake Crabtree County Park in Morrisville. More info here.

Sunday forecast: High of 50, partly sunny.

Mountains

Gotta go with skiing and snowboarding this weekend in the high country. True, there was big rain midweek. But reports from SkiSoutheast.com indicate it didn’t do as much damage as you might suspect. And, that rain turned to snow when the cold front rolled through, and snowmaking temps will remain. Consider, too: Just over a month of skiing remains. Act now.

Logistics: Check the latest conditions at SkiSoutheast.com.

Weekend forecast: Highs in the mid 30s, lows in mid 20s.

* * *

Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.

U.S. National Wildlife Refuges
Rundown, by month, of regular activities at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuges in North Carolina.

* * *
Like us on Facebook and get health, fitness and outdoors news throughout the day.

GetGoingNC.com

Promote Your Page Too

The post This weekend: Whistle Pig, Bushwhack, Schuss appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

You’ll need a wet suit to participate in Saturday’s second annual North Carolina Surf to Sound Challenge, you won’t need a firearm to go on Saturday’s gunless deer hunt at Lake Crabtree, and you will need skis or a board but not a lot of money to go skiing in the mountains.

Coast

If you’ve become caught up in stand-up paddleboard fever, then head to Wrightsville Beach Saturday for the North Carolina Surf to Sound Challenge. More experienced paddleboarders will paddle south from the Blockade Runner in the Atlantic, hang a right through Masonboro Inlet, then paddle through the channel. Not-so-experienced paddleboarders will test themselves on the more placid waters around Harbor Island.

Logistics: Starts at 9 a.m., $60 to compete. For more info call 910.256.2251, to register (registration closes at 10 p.m. Friday), go here.

Saturday forecast: High of 57 (wet suit weather), overcast.

Piedmont

Like the concept of hunting — quietly stalking wildlife in the woods — but a little cool to the whole end-game aspect of it? Saturday, at Lake Crabtree County Park you can tag along with a park ranger on a two-hour deer “hunt” — a hunt minus the guns. Says the program description: “Learn how to track deer by looking for signs they leave behind, as well as deer behavior and habitat.” Cameras are permissible.

Logistics: Saturday, 4-6 p.m., Lake Crabtree County Park in Morrisville. $3 per person or $5 per family. Pre-register by calling (919) 460-3390. Check out the park here.

Saturday forecast: High of 54, partly cloudy.

Mountains

This weekend, Cataloochee, Sugar Mountain and Appalachian ski areas are all expected to be open (Cataloochee and Sugar reopened Wednesday). Conditions aren’t the best and fewer than a handful of slopes will be open at the three areas. But lift ticket prices are reduced and this could be the last time you get to ski without the crowds until the holidays have passed. Our recommendation: Check out the ski report on Friday (see “logistics,” below), then act accordingly.

Logistics: SkiSoutheast.com has up-to-the-minute reports on conditions at the Southeast’s ski areas. Check mid-morning to see what conditions look like for the weekend.

Weekend forecast: Overnight temperatures should accommodate snowmaking while daytime highs in the upper 40s with mostly clear skies should make for decent conditions.

* * *

Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.

* * *
Like us on Facebook and get health, fitness and outdoors news throughout the day.

GetGoingNC.com

Promote Your Page Too
 

The post This weekend: A stand-up event, a gunless hunt, an early season schuss appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

This weekend, avoid alligators, avoid trails, but don’t avoid the first big weekend of the Southeast ski season.

Coast

Remember the old Peter, Paul & Mary hit, “Where Have All the Reptiles Gone?” No, wait. That wasn’t PP&M in the 1960s. That’s Lake Waccamaw State Park this Sunday at 2 p.m., when a ranger explains why the park’s alligators are no longer on the prowl, why the turtles aren’t out catching some rays … basically why the entire reptile population is laying low. A great opportunity to learn a little something, then take a long (Lakeshore Trail, 5 miles) or short (Sand Ridge Trail, 0.75 mile) hike to look for the reptiles that aren’t supposed to be there.

More about the park, including directions, here.

Piedmont

Trails are good, but off trails are better. At least when you’re in the company of someone who doesn’t need a blaze and solid tread under foot to find his way. Saturday, tag along with a ranger to explore the lesser-known nooks of Crowders Mountain State Park. These rare excursions give you a chance to get to reknow a place you might have thought you knew, plus, especially in the case of popular Crowders Mountain, a chance to escape the trail-bound crowds.

Saturday’s off-trail hike starts at 3 p.m from the visitors center. Sturdy hiking boots and clothes you don’t mind getting ripped (briars) are recommended. Here for more information.

Mountains

Not only has cold weather in the North Carolina high country gotten the ski areas’ snow guns going, but they’ve had the real thing as well — four inches total the past couple of days at Beech Mountain! Thus, you can add skiing/riding to your list of options this weekend. Beech, Sugar and Cataloochee all expect to be open this weekend, according to SkiSoutheast.com. How much of each mountain will open remains to be seen; we suggest checking SkiSoutheast.com Friday evening before making definitive plans.

* * *

Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.

The post ‘Tis the season to save your sanity by getting out appeared first on GetGoing NC!.