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This weekend: Hike a hill at the coast, ski one in the mountains

JoeMiller — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 15:08:58 +0000

Hike into history at the coast, make hay with the cold on a mountain ski slope, or have a range of trekking adventures in the Triad.

Coast

Sugarloaf Dune

Like a little history with your hike? Saturday, at Carolina Beach State Park, Chris Fonvielle. history professor at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, will discuss the role that the park’s Sugarloaf Dune played in the Civil War.

If you’ve yet to visit Carolina Beach State Park, this is a good opportunity to remedy that situation. The 55-foot dune provided a natural watchtower for Confederate troops to watch for Union ships attempting to enter Wilmington via the Cape Fear River. This was especially important considering — well, that’s why you should attend the hike: you may know how this story ends, but Sugarloaf Dune plays a key role in the plot.

Logistics: Saturday, Jan. 31, 2 p.m., Carolina Beach State Park, Carolina Beach. The program is free, but space is limited. Reserve your spot by calling 910.458.8206.

Saturday forecast: Sunny, high of 46.

Piedmont

Looking for a hike but not sure what kind? Do you want a real challenge? A mellow ramble? Something in between?

The Piedmont Hiking and Outing Club has all your bases covered this weekend. For those looking for a long but not-too-taxing hike, PHOC will be hiking 8 miles on the Lake Townsend Trail in Greensboro on Saturday, and 7 miles on the Laurel Bluff and Reedy Fork trails, also along Greensboro’s watershed lakes, on Sunday. Looking for a little more elevation? How about 11 miles Saturday at Hanging Rock? And if you’re looking for true adventure — and have crampons — the club will be doing a 13-mile assault on Mount Mitchell on Saturday.

Read on for more information.

Logistics: All of these hikes are detailed at the PHOC online hike calendar, which you can find here.

Weekend forecast: For the Triad area, high of 47 both Saturday and Sunday, clear Saturday with a chance of rain Sunday. For Mount Mitchell on Saturday, high of 42 and mostly sunny.

Mountains

photo courtesy SkiSoutheast.com

If you’ve been bemoaning the cold, perhaps you haven’t been looking at it in the proper perspective. Let the cold work for you.

If you were a skier or snowboarder, you’d be appreciating the cold, especially going into this weekend. There’s a chance of light snow throughout the weekend in much of the high country, but more importantly it will be cold, allowing for continued snowmaking. SkiSoutheast.com reports conditions are already excellent at North Carolina’s ski areas and will only get better as the cold continues. As of Thursday, for instance, Sugar Mountain reports 20 of 21 slopes open, Ski Beech reports all 15 slopes open, and App reports all 12 of its slopes open.

Logistics: Check SkiSoutheast.com for the latest conditions.

Weekend forecast: Daytime highs in the mid to upper 30s, overnight lows in the low 20s. Chance of light snow.

* * *

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

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

Great Outdoor Provision Co.
Calendar includes three weekly events for each of its seven markets: Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Raleigh, Wilmington and Winston-Salem. Search by market.

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.

* * *

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The post This weekend: Hike a hill at the coast, ski one in the mountains appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

This weekend: Paddle, hike, ski

JoeMiller — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 11:05:33 +0000

True, there is a chance of rain forecast across the state, especially on Saturday. But what’s a forecast? A prediction? An educated guess? Some folks at the local TV station throwing darts? Make plans and keep checking back to see what the latest educated guess is.

Coast

Photo of Beech Mountain courtesy the drone of Jordan Nelson of NelsonAerials.com

Canoeing the millpond at Merchants Millpond State Park is, to paraphrase Julie Andrews, one of our favorite things. The canoe rentals are cheap ($5 for the first hour, $3 for each additional) and the adventure through sprawling cypress and tupelo gum trees on the 760-acre millpond is boundless. The only thing better than a self-guided trip is to tag along with someone who knows the pond.

Someone like a park ranger, who will be leading Sunday’s Waterfowl of Merchants Millpond paddle. Learn about the waterfowl who inhabit the millpond, both seasonally and year-round, as well as the millpond’s significance in their lives. And because this is a park program, there’s no fee.

Logistics: Sunday, Dec. 7, 2:30 p.m., Merchants Millpond State Park, Gatesville. Free, but pre-registration is required, by calling 252.357.1191. More about the park and the millpond here.

Saturday forecast: High of 67, chance of rain.

Piedmont

Horton Grove Nature Preserve

New trail is always a welcome thing. Saturday, you’ll have the chance to welcome three new miles of trail at the Triangle Land Conservancy’s Horton Grove Nature Preserve in northern Durham County. Horton Grove, at 708 acres, is the TLC’s largest preserve, and with three new miles of trail bringing the preserve total to eight, it’s also the preserve with the most path.

To celebrate the new trail, TLC will hold guided hikes at Horton Grove from 1-4 p.m. Saturday. Hikes on just the new trail, hikes on most of the preserve’s trails for newcomers. Horton Grove is a diverse slice of Piedmont, with upland oak-hickory forests, beech slopes, stands of mixed pine and hardwoods and a 20-acre Piedmont Prairie restoration in progress.

Logistics: Saturday, Dec. 6, 1-4 p.m., Horton Grove Nature Preserve, Durham County. For directions and more information, go here.

Saturday forecast: High of 62, chance of rain.

Mountains

Paddling Merchants Millpond (photo courtesy N.C. State Parks)

We haven’t mentioned skiing in a while — and likely won’t again until after the Christmas crush. But if you’ve got the need for white speed, North Carolina’s slopes are in good shape for this early in the season. Appalachian, Beech, Cataloochee and Sugar are all operating, generally with at least half of their respective mountains open. Snowshoe in West Virginia is open and Wintergreen in Virginia plans to reopen this weekend. Skiing or riding on a budget? Lift tickets at Appalachian are just $5 this weekend.

Intrigued? Check out your options and get the latest news at SkiSoutheast.com.

Logistics: Check SkiSoutheast.com.

Weekend forecast: Sunday looks the most promising, according to Ray’s Weather, with some sun and highs around 40.

* * *

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

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.

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.

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

* * *

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Last call for fall, weekend winter advisory

JoeMiller — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 20:05:33 +0000

Some quick notes for the weekend:

Saturday, will be cool (50s) and rainy in the Piedmont. If you’ve got stuff you need to get done (yardwork excluded), this would be the day to get it done because —

Sunday will be dry, sunny and cool (50s) in the Piedmont. Sunday could also be your last chance to catch good fall color in the region. Wondering where to go?

* NCHikes November hike recommendations. NCHikes.com, our sister site, has just posted its six recommendations for hikes especially suited to November. Why November? You’ll have to go here to see. www.nchikes.com
* BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina Health & Wellness Blog recommendations, Piedmont. Earlier this month we recommended five hikes in the Piedmont with great color and minimal crowds. Check ‘em out here.
* BlueCrossBlueShield of North Carolina recommendations, Coast. On Wednesday, we recommended five hikes at the Coast that should be starting to pop. Check those out here.
* GetGoingNC. Earlier this week, we posted five short urban walks/hikes where you’ll find good color. Revisit that post here.
* Great Outdoor Provision Co. Online Hiking Guide. If a hike close to home is a priority there’s a good chance you’ll find one on the Great Outdoor Provision Co. Online Hiking Guide, which we collaborated on. Find that guide, with 55 hikes near the state’s major metro areas, here.

One last reminder that winter weather is hitting the high country starting tonight. That means:

* Drop the ropes! One or two ski areas could open. With as much as 10 inches of snow forecast for higher elevations, and snowmaking-friendly cold temperatures, we might see two north North Carolina ski areas in operation (at least briefly). SkiSoutheast.com will keep you updated on the situation, as will the two areas most likely to open, Cataloochee and Sugar Mountain.
* Travel may be affected. Snow will close the Blue Ridge Parkway, check its status here. Check road conditions on North Carolina roads and highways here.
* North Carolina State Parks at higher elevations may be affected. Check NCparks.gov before heading out.

Have a swell weekend!

The post Last call for fall, weekend winter advisory appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

This weekend: Winter!

JoeMiller — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:31:33 +0000

Will this be the scene this weekend at Cataloochee? (Photo courtesy Cataloochee)

Yup, that’s right: winter arrives big time in North Carolina’s mountains this weekend, with heavy snow forecast for higher elevations. More important, cold overnight temperatures should support prolonged snowmaking, signaling the start of the Southeast ski season.

Coast

Though it will dip down to freezing overnight and precipitation is in the forecast, daytime highs in the 50s will forestall winter from covering up the emerging fall color at Merchants Millpond State Park.

No, fall color isn’t confined to the Piedmont. It’s starting to trickle into the coastal plain. On Saturday, a park ranger will lead a hike starting from the millpond boathouse to check out signs of fall in this swamplike park.

Logistics: Saturday, 8:30 a.m., Merchants Millpond State Park, Gatesville. For more info call 252.357.1191.

Saturday forecast: High of 59, chance of rain.

Piedmont

Tuesday, we did a little scouting along the shores of Lake Brandt, one of the Greensboro Watershed Lakes. Our scouting was sufficient to convince us that this weekend should be great for checking out fall color along the lakes. You can do this in one of two ways:

One, on the 40 miles of trail (some of which is open to mountain biking) along the lakes. Or two, on one of four pontoon boat rides scheduled for Saturday. (Though both options would give you two perspectives on what likely will be the peak weekend for fall color in the Triad.)

Logistics: Saturday, Nov. 1, at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., Lake Townsend Marina, 6332 Townsend Road, Brown Summit. $5 per person. 336.373.3694. For more on trails along the lakes, go here.

Saturday forecast: High of 49, chance of rain.

Mountains

Boone-based SkiSoutheast.com is speculating that with 3 to 6 inches of snow forecast and with overnight lows dipping into the low 20s making for prime snowmaking conditions, that Cataloochee and Sugar Mountain will both open this weekend. Those potential openings carry an asterisk:
Opening, but with minimal terrain — perhaps a slope or two.
Opening, but perhaps just for a day or two, until the cold weather moves out.

Still, it’s skiing! And you could make first tracks by keeping a close eye on developments, as mentioned below.

Logistics: To find out if any slopes do open, check in with SkiSoutheast.com. More specifically, you can check with the two prime candidates themselves, Cataloochee and Sugar Mountain.

Weekend forecast: Winter storm watches are posted for the weekend in nine North Carolina mountain counties. Follow the latest developments at Ray’s Weather.

* * *

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

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.

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.

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

* * *

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The post This weekend: Winter! appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

This weekend: Run, hike … snowshoe?

JoeMiller — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 15:00:16 +0000

Photo courtesy ridewithgps.com

There’s a half marathon at the coast and a thoughtful hike in the Piedmont this weekend in North Carolina. And, weather permitting, you can do the unexpected in the high country: go snowshoeing!

Coast

Saturday’s Ocean Isle Bridge Run for Food half marathon has been a recent topic of conversation in our household. Our oldest is running the race; a cross-country runner during his days at Enloe High School, this is his first 13.1-miler. We’ve discussed what for him are the unknowns: the advantages and disadvantages of a long flat course, the impact of a usually constant ocean breeze/wind/hurricane-force-blow, the weather. We’ve discussed pace and a target time. All of which has made me wish I was in condition to run a half marathon Saturday at Ocean Isle.

If you, on the other hand, are prepared, then this looks like a great way to start your running new year. From the route map, there appears to be a mix of scenic ocean-front running and protected passage on the second row. The forecast calls for warm (if perhaps wet) conditions, suggesting PRs for the prepared runner.

Logistics: Saturday, Jan. 11, 9 a.m., Ocean Isle. $45 for the half marathon, there’s also a 5K or $35. More info here.

Saturday forecast: 80 percent chance of rain, high of 68.

Photo courtesy ridewithgps.com

Piedmont

Every winter, the Eno River Association celebrates the Triangle’s most popular waterway with a series of Sunday afternoon hikes. The ERA’s Winter Hike Series emphasizes a different stretch of the Eno each week, and the hikes are lead by knowledgeable guides who share insights about the area’s cultural and natural history.

This Sunday’s hike: “Fanny’s Ford and the Road to Holden Mill.” Joe Liles leads this hike in the park’s Fews Ford Access, with stops at the old Holden Mill and the old roadbed that once connected the area to civilization.

Logistics: Sunday, Jan 12, 2 p.m. More info here.

Sunday forecast: Sunny, high of 58.

Photo courtesy Sugar Mountain Ski Resort

Mountains

When it comes to outdoor adventure, North Carolina is full of surprises. Scuba diving with sand tiger sharks in the Atlantic, paddling with alligators along the coast, excellent mountain biking in the non-mountainous Piedmont. This weekend you can add snowshoeing to the state’s unlikely mix.

Saturday, as part of National Winter Trails Day, Sugar Mountain Ski Resort in Banner Elk hosts a day of free snowshoeing expeditions on the mountain. The trips run every hour and the equipment is provided. If you’ve never snowshoed, you should plan to participate. Modern snowshoes let you glide across the top of the deepest snow, getting you into areas of the backcountry typically inaccessible in winter. Read more about the experience in this piece written by Asheville Citizen-Times Outdoor Editor Karen Chavez.

Logistics: Saturday, Jan. 11, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Hourly guided trips reporting every hour on the top of the hour. More info by calling 828.898.4521, ext. 200, or by going here.

Saturday forecast: The forecast for this one isn’t so good: High of 46 and a 90 percent chance of rain. But forecasts can change; check the link before heading out and check with Sugar Mountain to make sure the event is a go.

* * *

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

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.

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.

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

* * *

GetGoingNC.com

Promote Your Page Too

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